Gertrude Ayton, actress of some renown?

[MonicaL]

That would fit for her wouldn't it. If she was in Scotland for the 1891 census (5 April), wonder whether she was sent down to her brother James to have the baby? Birth date for Gertrude possibly 18 July 1891 if we are following the right trail...

mshrmh, inspired on the 'translator' for possible occupation! I am rubbish at these what do they say questions  Haven't found William Jacobs elsewhere so far to re-confirm his occupation.

Monica

[RedMystic]

That would fit for her wouldn't it. If she was in Scotland for the 1891 census (5 April), wonder whether she was sent down to her brother James to have the baby? Birth date for Gertrude possibly 18 July 1891 if we are following the right trail...
Monica

William Jacob appears to have been born Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Umberland. In 1881 he was at 30 Malvern Rd, St John Hackney, London, occupation: commercial Clerk Foils. (Does anyone have any idea what that is?)

1901 he is at 206 Richmond Road, Hackney, London.

1918 he dies in Greenwich, Greater London.


Christina's elder brother, Jonas, appears to have died in Blackpool. Perhaps there was more family there & that was why Gertrude ended up there?

[MonicaL]

Trying to push forward on that final mission of an image of Gertrude...not sure how but looking around!

Have to post this from the brlliant National Library of Scotland site, the Scottish Screen Archive. This film is from the Edinburgh Theatre Royal from 1937, sure Gertrude would have stomped the floor here at some point in her career. Gives a good feel for the period 

http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=2181&search_term=theatre&search_fields=0&search_join_type=AND&search_fuzzy=yes

Also as an aside on the 'image of Gertrude' mission, I spoke to the very helpful librarian yesterday at Glasgow University's Scottish Theatre Archive, that both mshrmh and nanny jan have mentioned previously. Unfortunately, the 25 or so records mentioned on their site for Gertrude relate solely to press cuttings (promoting the shows which for this period unlike to show photos) and show programmes. They do not hold any particular info on Gertrude in their archives.

The ever helpful librarian suggested perhaps checking with Equity, the actors' union who might be another place to try. They started I think circa the early 1930s. Not sure what they may hold...

Monica

[RedMystic]

Thanks Monica. I will get an e-mail off to Equity right away.

[RedMystic]

Thanks again to all who have helped with Gertrude along the way.

I've order Gertrude's birth certificate though Ancestry. I clicked the electronic copy option, but it appears in my confirmation that it will come by snail mail - anticipated arrival Mar 21. Arrgggggggg! That's forever!!!!!   And the cost! 

I also sent off an e-mail to Equity - nice little website they have.

So now it's a waiting game - & we red heads are not known for patience. I will report back when the fog clears.

In the meantime, I agree that it looks quite likely that Christina is Gertrude's mum.

It has occurred to me that Gertrude's birth record appears in the name Ayton while Gertrude in the 1901 census is recorded as "Gertrude Jacob". I wonder if the Jacob surname was a "cover" created after Christina married William Jacob a year after Gertrude's birth.

That may explain why Gertrude never went to London with her parents, instead staying with her grandparents.    The other reason that this popped into my mind is that William Jacob appears to have been from London, so I don't see how he & Christine would have met in the north.

That is, of course, unless that occupation occupation of Commercial Clerk Foils  took him on the road. (By 1901 he was a Translator of course, so if the occupations were something similar it's not out of the question.)

Waiting 5 weeks for arrival of the certificate is going to be painful!

[groom]

And the cost!   

Hi RM

I know it is too late now, but you are much better off ordering certificates directly from the General Register Office as it is cheaper and quicker.

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

Jan

[RedMystic]

TX Jan. Monica let me know too.

  I was quite embarrassed that I'd used SP with success but had no idea how to order an English record. I found the link you provided & then couldn't figure out how one would do the search. I know ... just call me a techno peasant.

I found a tree on *A* for Christina & William. There are lots of back-up pieces (census & such) including the 1901 census where Gertrude shows as grandaughter. There is, however, no mention of Gertrude. I've sent them a message. My fingers are crossed that they respond & know something that they haven't put in the tree.

[groom]

TX Jan. Monica let me know too.

  I was quite embarrassed that I'd used SP with success but had no idea how to order an English record. I found the link you provided & then couldn't figure out how one would do the search. I know ... just call me a techno peasant.

You need to do the search first either on Ancestry or Freebmd  http://www.freebmd.org.uk    and then use that information when you order from the GRO.

[RedMystic]

TX Jan. I'm going to be sooooo expert in England research by the time I'm done with this one.

BTW Gertrude's possible father: William Jacob's 1881 occupation: Commercial Clerk Foil had me casting about trying to figure out what he was doing. In 1891 his occupation was: Commercial Clerk Oil. I'm not sure what kind of oil, but the occupation certainly makes more sense now.