Bessie Allfrey born in Bognor Regis

[jetta]

Not sure if this is the right place for Bognor Regis (sounds strange to a Canadian) - but my G/grandmother Bessie Allfrey was apparently born there abour 1861.  Not sure if Bessie was short for something.  Also not sure if her first name may have been Christine but she went by Bessie.  Her father was Rev. A.S. Allfrey.  She married Charles James Chapman about 1879 - 1880.  She was a vocalist and had a stage name of Christine Newnam or perhaps a varied spelling of Newnam.

[Dimps]

Here she is in 1901:

RG13, Piece 942, Folio 70, Page 32, Schedule 194

194 Ditchling Road, Preston, Sussex

Bessie Chapman, Head, Widowed, 40, born Brighton, Living on own means

Albert Chapman, son, single, 19, born Hanningfield Essex, Mechanical Engineer

Edgar A Chapman, son, 11, born Shepherds Bush London

Reginald Chapman, son, 8, born Whitchurch Hampshire

Cecil Chapman, son, 6, born Whitchurch Hampshire


And here she is in 1881:

RG11, Piece 1760, Folio 76, Page 9

The Plantation, Stock Road, Hanningfield, Essex

Charles J Chapman, Head, married, age 28, born in Brighton Sussex, Musician vocalist at present unemployed

Bessie Chapman, Wife, married, age 22, born in Brighton Sussex, Musician vocalist at present unemployed

Charles F Chapman, Son, age 9 months, born in Stock, Essex

The death of a Charles J Chapman, was registered in the March quarter 1896 in Westhampnett details: Volume 26, Page 254.

Deborah



 

[sillgen]

I spent some time trying to find the Allfrey family in Brighton on other census reocrds but could not find Bessie or Elizabeth or Christine.   Did you get my reply re the ancestry message boards and another person doing this family??  if not check the ancestry site and message boards for Chapman and Dean
Andrea

[jetta]

Thank you, Deborah.  I had the 1901 and 1881 info from my Chapman query.  Didn't know when Charles died, but I had determined it had to be between 1894 and 1896 so your info is very helpful.  Don't know anything about the Westhampnett details you quote.  Mysterious wonam and mysterious Allfrey family!

Thanks also Andrea for all your help.  The searcher on the message boards you refer to are me. I did that several years ago and got nowhere.  Lots of websites but from Canada you have to pay to get the info even from most of the census'. 

Much appreciated both of you.
Lorraine

[sillgen]

Not sure how you do it out in Canada but if you can get hold of an early copy of Crockfords Clerical Directory then you can look up the Revd Allfrey.  It has details of all clergymen - where they studied and a brief biography.   Seems very odd that he does not show up in Brighton.  they must have mistranscribed the name.   It should not be too hard to find Bessie's birth though on 1837online.  Or try writing to Brighton register office and ask them to look for it as you know the approximate year.   Westhampnett is a bit further along the south coast very near Chichester.
Andrea

[Dimps]

For the purposes of the Death Certificate, Westhampnett is the Registration District, in the Chichester area as Andrea said.  You can order the certificate here:

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp

Deborah