Missing: Fanny/Frances Swift b1840 Thorpe Arnold, Leicestershire

[Jomot]

Although her birth was registered as Fanny Swift, she was baptised at Thorpe Arnold on 1 Mar 1840 as Frances, the youngest child of John & Jane Swift, nee Mackley.

In 1841 & 1851 she was living with her family in Thorpe Arnold, but I completely lose her after that.   Her father, an Ag Lab, died in 1856, and by 1861 her mother is living in St Marylebone: RG9/82/36/18

Samuel Fitzjohn 32 Widower Licenced Victualler b Watford, Herts
Jane Swift 59 MiL, Widow, born Freeby, Leics
Mary A Swift, Sister in Law, Unmarried, born Thorpe Arnold, Leics

Samuel Fitzjohn had married Fanny’s older sister, Susannah Swift, in 1857, and following her death in 1861 he went on to marry Fanny’s other sister, Mary Ann Swift, in 1862.

I had wondered whether this marriage might be Fanny using a different forename, but I can’t find either of them afterwards to rule it in or out:

4 May 1862, St Marylebone
John Tobin, f/a, Bachelor, House Painter, St Marylebone, Father: Philip Tobin, Purser RN
Flora Swift, f/a, Spinster, St Marylebone. Father: John Swift, Farmer
Wits: John & Amelia Boylin

Fanny also had three brothers, Thomas 1825-1891, Robert 1827-1905 & Jesse 1833-1924.    Thomas & Robert had both moved to Ontario, Canada by 1861, whereas Jesse joined the Coldstream Guards and fought at the Crimea. By 1861 he had been discharged from the army and spent the rest of his life in Kingston upon Thames where he was Park Constable at Richmond Park.

Before I give up, can anyone find anything more about Fanny/Frances Swift or Flora Swift/Tobin?

[Milliepede]

Are there any Tobin/Swift births after 1862?  **

Is there a Flora Swift birth father John a farmer to rule her in or out of being your Fanny?

** Flora Annie born Dec 1862

[CaroleW]

Re: John Tobin/Flora Swift marriage 1862 Marylebone

Have a look at this 1881 entry for Marylebone

Piece 152 folio 105 page 34  - James (not John) & Flora Tobin.  Flora is 37 b Leics - childrens births show mmn Swift

[Jomot]

Sorry yes, I found three Tobin/Swift births shortly after the marriage:

TOBIN, FLORA ANNIE mmn SWIFT  GRO Ref: 1862  D Quarter in MARYLEBONE Vol 1a  p455
TOBIN, JOHN ALEXANDER mmn SWIFT  GRO Ref: 1864  M Quarter in KENSINGTON  Vol 1a p40
[Died 1864, Kensington]
TOBIN, WILLIAM mmn SWIFT GRO Ref: 1865  S Quarter in KENSINGTON  Vol 1a p93
[Died 1865 Kensington]

CaroleW, where did you find Georgina & Emma's births with the mmn Swift?  I've found Caroline's (see below) but not those two.  I've also found later school district records saying that the girls were illegitimate.

Flora Annie's 1862 birth confirms her father as John Tobin, House Painter but Caroline's birth has no father present:

28 Oct 1877 Marylebone Workhouse, Caroline d/o Flora TOBIN formerly Swift, Upholstress. Informant: Flora Tobin of 16 Richmond Street, Maida Hill

[Jomot]

I've also downloaded Flora's death, but apart from the 1881 census giving her PoB as Leicester, I still haven't found anything to confirm whether or not she's actually Fanny / Frances.

22 Apr 1883, Marylebone Infirmary, Flora TOBIN aged 40, Servant from 18 Carlisle Street.  Informant was J Merchant, Steward at Marylebone Infirmary.

[CaroleW]

Sorry - I found Caroline's birth with mmn Swift doing a "sweep" search of GRO online but my reply is misleading.

Strange no father is shown on her birth cert.  James Tobin is a horse keeper in 1881 whereas John Tobin was shown as a house painter.  The only Fanny etc  Swift births in Leics in 1840's

1840 - mmn Mackley
1843 - mmn Meadows
1844 - Frances - illegit

[Milliepede]

Are the 1862 marriage witnesses any help or completely unrelated?

[Milliepede]

Just checking have you ruled out the marriage in Mar 1860 Leicester?

Fanny Swift
Thomas Beeby

Jane Hawley
Zacc?eus Hezekiah Branston

Jane and Z are together in 1861 so Fanny should be with Thomas

No forget all that she was an older lady than yours

[Jomot]

Just checking have you ruled out the marriage in Mar 1860 Leicester?

Thanks for this.  The marriage licence looked very promising and gives their ages as '21 and upwards' but the certificate names her father as Thomas, not John.  Thomas Beeby's occupation was given as Inn Keeper, and in 1861 at the Joiners Arms, High Cross Street, Leicester is Thomas Beeby, Inn Keeper aged 39 and Fanny his wife, aged 40 born Scraptoft, Leics, so unfortunately not 'my' Fanny Swift.

Are the 1862 marriage witnesses any help or completely unrelated?

They appear to be unrelated.

Sorry - I found Caroline's birth with mmn Swift doing a "sweep" search of GRO online but my reply is misleading.

Strange no father is shown on her birth cert.  James Tobin is a horse keeper in 1881 whereas John Tobin was shown as a house painter. 

I don't think that James Tobin and John Tobin are the same man, and I'm not even certain that James's surname is really Tobin, although I can't prove it either way.  I also haven't found Flora in 1871, nor have I traced her first child, Flora Annie Tobin b1862.

I've discovered that shortly before Flora's death in 1883 the three girls from the 1881 census were sent to the Roman Catholic school at Totteridge, Hants, and all three are recorded as illegitimate.  Emma was put into service in 1894 and Caroline in 1897, but Georgina was sent to Canada in 1889, where she married William Naylor.

I'm still working on it, but it seems that Caroline also moved to Canada, in 1899, followed (eventually!) by Emma in 1926. 

Georgina's death certificate names her parents as JOHN Tobin & Florence Swift.