Perplexed by Phoebe...

[Quinlyn]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help assist me and my friend Jennifer with our search for Phoebe Hovells.  We have tried for many months to discover what happened to this lady.  We have a few details, which are:

She was baptised on the 8 April 1821 (189 years ago exactly) and had been born to parents Henry Hovells and Phoebe (nee Powell).  We think the mother was a citizen from Gibraltar.  Phoebe gave birth (illegitimately) to one of my ancestors, Mary Jane Hovells in December 1841.  What we are not sure about is: what became of the mother Phoebe Hovells (b 1821).  We know that the family came from Suffolk, but Henry and Phoebe were married in Newcastle upon Tyne.

On the 1841 census young Phoebe is living with her parents, Phoebe and Henry at the Glassworks, Monkseaton, with brothers Benjamin and Robert.  On the 1851 census, the family are living at South Moor, Stanley, but Phoebe jnr is not listed, although her brothers Benjamin and Robert are still at home.  Phoebe jnr's daughter is living with the grandparents, but under the name of 'Stamp' or 'Stump'.  This cannot have been an official name for Mary Jane as her marriage certificate states it is 'Hovells'.

We have searched for the marriage between a Phoebe Hovells and a man called Stamp or Stump - without any luck.  We are hoping to find Phoebe's death certificate, if possible, and would appreciate any help that can be offered.  One of the difficulties we have found is that the name Hovells, has been badly misinterpreted and appeared as Hobbles and Hovvles etc, which has not made the search any easier.

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,
Michael

[angelfish58]

Hi, there are two deaths registered for a Phoebe Hovells:

SeptQ 1853 Sunderland 10a p199 (Phoebe Hovvels) and

DecQ 1855 Durham 10a page number unclear (Phoebe Hovels) but the Register Office at Bishop Auckland should be able to help www.nebmd.co.uk/

Presumably one of these is Phoebe snr. Still can't see Phoebe jnr in 1851 though.

[Quinlyn]

Thanks Angelfish58 for your help. 

We have now looked into both of those deaths; the 1853 death was the one of Phoebe snr (we have ordered the certificate) and after contacting the nebmd we have discovered that the 1855 death was of a child, sadly.  We can only assume that Phoebe jnr married someone else, and that is why the child was unofficially given the surname of 'Stamp'.  However, no marriage can be found, which means that if Phoebe was not married legally, that she would have died as a 'Hovells', so where can the death record be?  It's all quite strange...it's like the lady just vanished...

I do appreciate your help and thanks for taking the time to contact me.

Kind regards,
Michael

[mim]

Hi,

I have info on the HOVVELS surname of a later date from two headstones in Burnhope churchyard if you don't already have them.

mim

[Quinlyn]

Hi Mim,

That would be great - thank you very much for contacting me.

Jennifer and I have been working on the 'Problem with Phoebe' all weekend.  It really is a mystery, so the information you have about the gravestones may be a vital clue.  The name Hovells has been written down so many ways - that it's anybody's guess as to what she could be called on a death certificate; it's even be recorded as Hoocks and Hobbles.

Thanks again - I look forward to getting that information.

Kind regards,
Michael

[trish1120]

Possible Death;
Phoebe HOVELLS, March 1879, Camberwell, 1d 553, Age 56 ( born c 1823)

Trish

[Quinlyn]

Hi Trish,

Thanks for that, I will order the certificate.  I have never heard of Camberwell (showing my ignorance).  It seems a long way from her home town in the North East, but if she was visiting relatives and died would the death be registered where she died or her home town?  That's quite a new line of enquiry. 

You are being a great help to me and I do appreciate it.  I have been quite overwhelmed by the help I have received from people on this website - it's wonderful.

Thanks again.  I will keep you posted and let you know if it's 'My Phoebe'.  I don't think Agatha Christie could have produced a better mystery than this girl has provided us with; we have been tracking her down for months...

Kind regards,
Michael

[trish1120]

The Death would be reg where she died. Depending on who was the informant on the death cert age could be a few years out.

Hope shes yours

[Quinlyn]

Hi Trish,

Thanks for letting me know that - I wasn't sure if the registration had to occur in the person's home area or parish.  I am hoping that it is our Phoebe, as we certainly have put an awful lot of effort into looking for her.  It could be that she has been travelling or visiting relatives.  We have her baptism/Christening date as the 8 April 1821, so the date is only 2 years out.  It sounds very likely...(we are keeping our fingers crossed).

Michael