Hi, a bit of a strange one but I have been trying to research more about my (most likely) ancestor Isabella Boyens, who I have found in two newspaper entries.
1. In the Daily Telegraph, 30 March 1895, it is reported:
"BOYENS - If ISABELLA BOYENS, the niece of Robert Potts, late of 6, Oakleigh Street, Brick-Lane, will apply of Messrs. Hewlett, Preston and Co. of 2 Raymond-buildings, Gray's Inn, London, she will HEAR of SOMETHING to her ADVANTAGE. Any person giving satisfactory proof of the date of the death of the said Isabella Boyens will be rewarded."
2. In The Bath Chronicle, 11 April 1895, it refers to the Daily Telegraph's entry on a 'Persons Wanted' list:
"BOYENS, ISABELLA, niece of Robert Potts, late of 6, Oak-leigh Street, Brick-Lane. Something to advantage, or information of wanted. Advt.
Times, March 30, 1895."
She appears to be the daughter of Henry Boyens and Isabella Potts (the latter with a brother Robert Potts, hence Isabella being the niece described). There is an Isabella Boyens born Q'2 1862, Mile End Old Town, with the MMN as Potts. However, this Isabella appears to die as an infant, with there being a corresponding death entry in the same year and same place. I have found a baptism for an Isabella
Susan Boyens from 1866 with a birth date given of 2 February 1866; however, I can't find an official birth entry for this Isabella, but it is most likely this one as there is seemingly no other.
She married an Arthur William Dickens on 16 December 1895 in Edmonton, and the two can be found still in London on the 1901, 1911 and 1921 censuses (not to be confused with a slightly older Arthur William Dickens, b. 1862, who married a Cecily Domiley).
There is a death entry for an Isabella Dickens in 1948 in Dartford, Kent, age 86 = born 1862 which could fit, but I don't seem to be able to order it as a digital image and the cost of a PDF/certificate is a bit steep, so when died is unconfirmed.
There is
an Isabella Boyens of London in a list of unclaimed estates published 1910, which may be relevant to the Daily Telegraph's entry about her. The Daily Telegraph's entry is rather strange, as they simultaneously address her as if she is alive and as if she is dead!
...So essentially what I am trying to find out is what she was 'wanted' for, whether to verify her uncle Robert Potts had died, or was it she herself had died and they were seeking someone to confirm this? For the latter, I discovered the 'Hewlett, Preston and Co.' was a Solicitors from the time who obviously would have been involved with the will.
I am confused by it all, especially the Daily Telegraph piece, but hopefully I have explained clearly enough and I would be very grateful for any suggestions about what's going on, thank you
