Beatrice Sandford/Seward/Seaward

[PeteCarpenter]

The GRO index entry for the birth registration for Beatrice Seward in March qtr 1904 gives no mothers maiden surname indicating a probably illegitimate birth which would tie in with the baptism Claire has found

Added  - A Stapleton birth should be registered in Barton Regis RD

https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/barton%20regis.html

Hi Rosie and thanks for your reply!

Unfortunately Beatrice was born in 1903 and I believe that Stapleton as a part of the Barton Regis district ceased in 1898 and Stapleton births became a part of the Bristol District at that time. Without knowing for sure the mothers maiden name, should I just make enquiries under both names do you think?

Thank you

[avm228]

You just need to order the Mar qtr 1904 birth certificate (or, more cheaply, a £6 pdf image) from GRO Online using the reference details available from FreeBMD.  You don’t need the mother’s maiden name to do that.

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

[avm228]

Beatrice Seaward was a ‘boarder’ with the Beer family. It would suggest that when Kate remarried Beatrice was the adopted daughter of both Kate and William Martin.

Hi again,

The reason that I determined that she was boarding with family is that I have found a parish record of a marriage between Ernest Sandford and Kate Beer on Christmas day 1901 in Long Ashton, Bedminster. Should I treat this as more of a coincidence at this stage?

Sorry for all the questions!

Not just a coincidence - Kate got married but her marriage was childless and within a few years she was widowed.  By 1911 Beatrice is with Kate & her (Beer) family, but you don’t yet know when Beatrice came into her life.  It may be that she was fostered/informally “adopted” by Ernest & Kate together, before Ernest’s death.

Formal legal adoption was not introduced in England until 1927.

[keyboard86]

  Hi again, ok let's look at Kate, could she be the Kate Beer aged 20 b Ashton working as a Housemaid in a Hospital in 1901 Census ref RG13/2364/146/1
Does the marriage state her father?
Keyboard86

[avm228]

Hi again, ok let's look at Kate, could she be the Kate Beer aged 20 b Ashton working as a Housemaid in a Hospital in 1901 Census ref RG13/2364/146/1
Does the marriage state her father?
Keyboard86

Her father is shown as John Beer, per transcription.

[avm228]

I see the following from William Benjamin Martin’s WW1 military records:

Wife: Kate Sandford, married at New Wesleyan Chapel, Bedminster, 13/1/17.

Children:

Violet May - May 5, 1903 Bristol
Edward Thomas - Dec 29, 1904 Bristol
Lily Beatrice - Mar 19, 1910 Bristol
Beatrice Seward (adopted) - Dec 16, 1903 Stapleton

[keyboard86]

Hi have you followed Ernest back to see if his name changes slightly?
Is he the Earnest Sanford 24 Single occ Mill Hand b Bridgwater, Somerset shown as boarder with a John Beer 64 and Sarah Beer 56 at Luckwell Lane, Bristol in 1901 Census ref RG13/2360/94/32
Keyboard86

This one?
Keyboard86

[PeteCarpenter]

Hi again, ok let's look at Kate, could she be the Kate Beer aged 20 b Ashton working as a Housemaid in a Hospital in 1901 Census ref RG13/2364/146/1
Does the marriage state her father?
Keyboard86

Hi there,

Yes, this would certainly fit the details I have. Born in 1881 in Bedminster so within walking distance of Ashton/Ashton Gate. Her being married in the Ashton Gate area in 1901 would also point to this being the same Kate. It doesn't state her father but I have the witnesses as John Beer (who I believe is her father) and Thomas Sandford who I believe is Ernest's brother

Thanks for your input!

[PeteCarpenter]

Hi again, ok let's look at Kate, could she be the Kate Beer aged 20 b Ashton working as a Housemaid in a Hospital in 1901 Census ref RG13/2364/146/1
Does the marriage state her father?
Keyboard86

Her father is shown as John Beer, per transcription.

Absolutely right!! I completely missed that I am very tired! lol but yes, John is definitely her father.