Eugenia Owens

[toastbutler]

Morning Gayden.
If you have the marriage details for Eugenia and her mother Annie could you possibly share the witness details? In particular her first marriage to David Davies. You have probably thought of it but they may shed some light of where she was in 1881.
Thanks.

[gayden]

Morning Toastbutler

On Eugenia's Marriage Cert to David Davies in 1897 the witnesses are Rosina Woolway and James Hill, both resident in Aberdare.  If I'm right Rosina went on to marry a Fred Hutchings and James went on to marry Clara Woolway, Rosina's sister.  Eugenia was living in Cwmaman, Aberdare at the time, as was David.

On Eugenia's second Marriage to Henry Butler the witnesses are John Butler and Sybil Hill. Eugenia is now living in a different stree, but still in Cwmaman.  Now the interesting thing about this second marriage is that Eugenia puts her father's name as Stephen Davies (deceased).  She has no father on her Birth Certificate or first Marriage Certificate.  On the 1891 Census where she is living in Fforchaman, Aberdare, classed as a boarder living on her own means; she is actually living with her Grandmother, Eliza and Eliza's second husband, Stephen Davies!  Is he her father and has this only come to light later on in her life after he had died?  All very intriguing.

I don't have Annie Owen's Marriage Certificate to James Baker but the marriage was registered in Merthyr Tydfil (which covers Aberdare) on 2nd quarter of 1878.  In 1881 Annie is living in Fforchaman, Aberdare with her new family but no Eugenia.

Apart from Eugenia's disappearance from 1881 up until 1891 this family seems to have remained in the same area for several years.

Gayden

[Jo.]

I did check this out on my family tree...

She may be listed as a daughter of a foster parents..

[ballydw]

Interesting that Eugenia gives her fathers name as Stephen Davies.

On 1871 census the following
Stephen Davies 34, Eliz 41, Mary 9, Rebecca 7, Emmaly 4months children of Stephen & Elizabeth.
Mary Owens Stepdaughter, James Owens 13 Stepson. John Devonald 17 boarder.
1881. Stephen Davies, Elizabeth Davies, Emuly, James Owens, Hannah Morgan.

There is a 7 year age diff between Stephen & Elizabeth. Do you know if Elizabeths maiden name was owens?
Was she a widow when she married Stephen Davies ?

Still no trace of Eugenia Owens!!

[gayden]

Eliza's maiden name was Williams.  Her first married name was Owens and I believe she was a widow when she married Stephen Davies.

Everything seems to point that she was brought up by another family in that area - but who were they?  Did they give her another name or was she just missed off the Census?

How do I find out if she was listed as a daughter of foster parents?

The Admission and Discharge Register,  industrial school and cottage homes  Apr 1877-Dec 1881 and Admission and Discharge Register , workhouse and related institutions Feb 1878-Mar 1881 have been checked for me by Glamorgan Archives and Annie and Eugenia are not listed there.

[Jo.]

Have you checked Wills and Probates...

You say when she was 17, she was living on her own means..

Inheritance laws at the time (if I remember correctly) she wouldn't really have an automatic claim of inheritance due to her illegitimacy and the fact she's female.  So if she's inherited it's likely that she's mentioned in somebodies will...  If no will perhaps probates might show something.