Amy PARRY b. 11 March 1889, Fulham, London, UK

[Researcher1953]

Hi.

I seem to have come to a genealogical cul-de-sac in trying to find what happened to my Grand Aunt Amy Parry. Amy is shown in the 1911 census (living at 29 Barclay Rd, Fulham, London), but that seems to be the last record for her (except when she acted as a witness in 1914 to her sister’s wedding). I have a copy of her father's will (from 1924) which shows her other two siblings being the beneficiaries (Amy is not even mentioned).  After 1914 there are no apparent records for her in the UK (I have tried all manner of wild card searches).

Amy was one of 5 siblings, 2 of which died as children.  Her other sister (Emma Elizabeth) and brother (Edward Richard - my grandfather) are well documented

I have been puzzling over this for months on and off, hence my reason to see if colleagues in RootsChat forum had any ideas. The witnesses at her brother's wedding in 1918 were both fathers of the bride & groom so not much of a clue there.

I have no living relatives who can shed any light on this. She also had a sister Ellen who simply "disappeared" until I realised that the death was recorded in the name of Helen rather than Ellen (I think/hope).

As a point of interest her mother keeps on changing her name - Christened Hephzibah Agnes Mary Baker, her marriage certificate (which I have a copy of) simply refers to her as Agnes (the Hephzibah) is dropped. This remains the case until her death is recorded in 1913 when it is re-instated. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of her will, but her husband's has been kept in the family.

Amy's profession on the 1911 UK census return is as a dressmaker, and I wondered whether she transferred her skills into nursing and went out in 1914-18 war. But this is pure speculation. She could have died, but if so, where is the record (could it have been a mis-spelling)? Or she could have emigrated or eloped hence the reason why she was not provided for in her father's will. My father would talk about his "Aunt Em" (Emma who married in 1914), but no reference was ever made to an Aunt Amy (I'm not sure that he even knew that she existed). Hence my conundrum. 

I have also considered that she may have joined a religious order (e.g. Carmelite nuns), it is not normally thought about when searching family history, but it must happen.  I’m not familiar with such matters only that they may change their name on entering the institution and when they die how are their details recorded? Do church records exist and if so who holds them?

For now I’m casting my net outside the UK to places where people emigrated to in the hope that is what she did.  Anybody who has any knowledge of Amy Parry or suggestions as to her fate would be very welcome.

Regards

Alan

[shellyesq]

So people don't duplicate their efforts, please note that there are duplicate posts about this person on US, New Zealand, Canada, & Australia boards.

[aghadowey]

It's not really a good idea to post the same query on different boards as it tends to cause confusion, duplication and extra work for those trying to help.

U.S.- http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,591506
N.Z.- http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,591504
Canada- http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,591503
Australia- http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,591502

Earlier thread on London/Middlesex board-
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,591294.0.html

[rutti tutti]

There is no reference to an amy Parry in any of our Databases. I have been "wondering" about my ggrandfather for 10 years with still no result! Eventually, hopefully, something will turn up!
Ruth

[Researcher1953]

Dear Ruth,

Thanks for the information.

Regards

Alan

[joswat100]

I've just been trying to find out about an english women called Agnes Barker as I've just found a small medical book from 1914 labelled with her name, i assume she was a nurse. It's probably nothing but a few details do match.

[Researcher1953]

Thanks for the lead.

Amy's mother was Christened Hephzibah Agnes Mary Baker before marrying Richard Parry.  It seems that in later life she dropped the first name and simply became Agnes Parry (until her death on 8 Nov 1913 when her full name was recorded).  It may be just a coincidence that the book with Agnes Barker's name in it did in fact belong to the Agnes Baker whose daughter has mysteriously disappeared, or perhaps Amy decided to adopt her mother's name.  Women at that time would not have been doctors, so it is more likely that it was used by a nurse.  Is the medical book, for example, linked to or associated with the 1914-18 war?  Would you be able to scan in the page from the book,  I know that Agnes' handwritting was not brilliant but it might be a lead.

Thanks for picking up this thread - I thought that it had gone cold.

Regards

Alan

[joswat100]

I've been trying to find out about it and I've discovered that it was my great grandmother's before she married into the name waterworth. the book is called first aid to the injured from the st johns ambulance association, the date written in it is 20/9/14, so it's from about the time WW1 started. it seems to be a small pocket guide to anyone helping medically in the war. There's my great grandmother's address (Pigsden Farm, Walmessley)and small hand-written instructions in the back for washing wounds.

[Researcher1953]

Hi,

The Amy I'm looking for was born 1889, would this have been the same year for your great grandmother?

Regards

Alan