Birmingham Electoral Rolls/Voters List

[Marjorie]

I don't know if there were electoral rolls/Voters List in 1902 but I am trying to trace Harry and Leah Miranda Langley between 1902 and 1918.   They were married at Birmingham Register Office on 15 October 1902 and I cannot trace them again until in 1918 Harry is on the 1918 Absent Voters List as a sergeant in the RAMC and that his residence is 118 Hociley Hill Birmingham.   There is no trace of them on 1911 census either, or with family.
In 1902 Harry was 21 and Leah was 20.  He was born in Smethwick and she was born in Birmingham.  He was living in lodgings when they got married and she was living in Hunters Vale, and, I think, in service.  He was a Cable car conductor. Any leads would be brilliant, please.

[cad]

Is that address right, could it be Hockley Hill?

[Marjorie]

Oh sorry - I didn't read through properly - yes it is Hockley Hill

[Bojalu]

Hello,

Females were not able to vote until the year 1918,
 And had to be over the age of 30 years.
 This was lowered to 21 years for all in 1928.

So this is why you are unable to find Leah before 1918.

Early Electoral Registers tended to be for Men  who  owned  property.

The majority of Men at that time rented their property.

Have you tried variations of their Surname on 1911 Census ?

Bo

[Marjorie]

Hi Bo

Many thanks for your reply.  I didn't think about Harry having to be a property owner rather than a lodger, or, in fact when women were able to vote - that explains a lot.   Many thanks. 

I have found out that 118 Hockley Hill was, in fact, listed as a laundry in the census of 1911 - altho' by August 1911 it was residential as this was my grandfather's address on his marriage certificate where he was presumably staying with his sister, Leah.

I have tried every combination I can of the family name in the 1911 census including just looking for Leah by her Christian name only.  I have traced some of their childrens' names (as informants of their deaths) and cannot find them in the census either!  So I think they somehow got missed.   Perhaps they were in the middle of moving to the new property at Hockley Hill.   I believe the 1911 census forms were completed by the occupier themselves and wonder whose responsibility it was to return them?  If it was the occupiers the forms could have gone astray in the move.   I haven't yet received the childrens birth certificates, which took place in 1903 and 1904, but think they will show Hockley Hill.  Harry died there in 1943 so I think they were there from LATE 1911 onwards only leaving a small gap from their marriage in 1902 to at least August 1911 that I do not know where they are living, so I am happy about that, especially as she was a Smith, in service, in Birmingham, I think I have been very lucky!   I have given up on her sister Lizzie, who was also in service in Birmingham - Lizzie Smith seems to have been as popular as John Smith!   So many thanks for all the help received.

[Bojalu]

Hello Marjorie ,

Harry working on Cable cars in Birmingham ?

Tram Depot was in Rosebery Street, Brookfields - near to Hockley.


Bo

[Marjorie]

Thanks Bo.  It all ties in doesn't it?  After the war he returned, presumably, to the depot, as on his death certificate his occupation is Inspector Coporation Transport (retired).

Marjorie