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
