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I am stuck on my mother in laws grandmother.

Her name was Frances Nellie Townsley i have got her life after she is married however i cant find any information regarding her fathers life.

Frances Nellie Townsley according to her birth certificate was born 15 March 1890 at 92 Monira Road, Bow to parents Francis Townsley and Mary Ann Townsley formerley Holliday. His occupation was a barman.

I am really struggling to find her fathers life as by the 1901 census he has disappeared.

Any help would be fantastic

Which census have you found her on ?

1891 CENSUS

Nelly Townsley
Age: 1
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: F Townsley
Mother's name: Mary A Townsley
Gender: Female
Where born: Old Ford, London, England
Civil parish: Bromley St Leonard
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: London City
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Poplar
Sub-registration district: Bromley
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 321
Folio: 86
Page Number: 11
Household Members:
Name Age
F Townsley 28
Mary A Townsley 38
Henrietta Townsley 18
Augustus Townsley 16
Fredk Townsley 15
Caroline Townsley 14
Henry Townsley 11
Rosa Townsley 8
Nelly Townsley 1

The other children on the census are actually Mary's children from her first marriage and their surnames are Cairwithen

1901 census

Frances N Townsley
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1890
Relation: Visitor
Gender: Female
Where born: Old Ford, London, England
Civil parish: West Ham
Ecclesiastical parish: St Andrew
County/Island: Essex
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: West Ham
Sub-registration district: Plaistow
ED, institution, or vessel: 32
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 179
Piece: 1572
Folio: 144
Page Number: 27
Household Members:
Name Age
Mary A Carwithen 49
Augustus W Carwithen 26
Rosa Carwithen 18
Frances N Townsley 11
Elizabeth A Townsley 9

??

Name: Frederick Townsley
Birth Date: abt 1861
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1930
Age at Death: 69
Registration district: Lambeth
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume: 1d
Page: 160



Think this might be the one on 1901 census as a plumber

He was classed as Francis on her birth certificate though?

On her marriage certificate she calls her father Frank and he is deceased and that was in 1915?

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages Dec 1871 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carwithen Augustus Joseph Stepney 1c 1071
Holliday Mary Ann Stepney 1c 1071

England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915
about Augustus Joseph Carwithen
Name: Augustus Joseph Carwithen
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1882
Age at Death: 37
Registration district: Stepney
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1c
Page: 311




Andy

??

1881 England Census
about Francis Townsley
Name: Francis Townsley
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1866
Relation: Scholar
Gender: Male
Where born: London Ratcliff , London, Middlesex, England

Civil parish: Ratcliffe
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street Address: "Barnados Home" 18 To 26 Stepney Causeway
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Scholar

Registration district: Stepney
Sub-registration district: Ratcliff
ED, institution, or vessel: Home for Working and Destitute Lads
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 464
Folio: 114
Page Number: 7



Andy

Does it not give Mary's previous married name on Nellie's birth cert?

Just wondering if Mary actually married Francis as I can't see one to fit

Can't see a marriage for Mary to Townsley, so no way of confirming info about him

???????????

Deaths Mar 1921 (>99%)
Townsley Francis J 56 W. Ham 4a 84

1911 is of no help

1911 census


Person: TOWNSLEY, Frances Nellie Address: 156 Abbotts Road Bromley Poplar

KELLERS, Harriett Head Widow F 82 1829 Baker Master Dantford VIEW
EATENTON, Emma Daughter Widow F 46 1865 Assisting In Business Plymouth VIEW
EATENTON, Aethelston Grandson Single M 24 1887 Assisting In Business Exeter VIEW
TOWNSLEY, Frances Nellie Visitor Single F 21 1890 Bookkeeper Limehouse VIEW
CRESSWELL, Mary Servant Single F 21 1890 Domestic Servant Lidal Basin VIEW

Oops, Mike*, you were editing as I posted...........

The man's birthplace as per 1891 was Shadwell, and his age given as 28

Reggie I think we are both of a mind that no wedding took place.

The fact the Nellie stated her father deceased in 1915 ( if in fact the 1921 death is his) probably means he was no longer part of the family.

This would be the marriage for death found by Reggie

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
about Francis James Townsley
Name: Francis James Townsley
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Age: 30
Spouse Name: Emma Ada Andrews
Spouse Age: 20
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 3 Jun 1894
Parish: Stepney St Philip
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Father Name: Robert Townsley
Spouse Father Name: Philip Andrews
Register Type: Parish Register

Andy

So that rules him out.............?

Progress....of a sort!

Maybe Francis left Mary to marry Emma in 1894 ( Mary was alone on the 1901 census).

No divorce needed if they were never married.

Mary had reverted back to her married name in 1901 too ..... she was widow Carwithen not widow Townsley !


Mary A Carwithen 49 - widow <<<<<<<<<<<<
Augustus W Carwithen 26
Rosa Carwithen 18
Frances N Townsley 11
Elizabeth A Townsley 9

If nothing else, that proves there was never a marriage

1901 census


Person: TOWNSLEY, Emma A Address: 20, Halley Street, Limehouse

TOWNSLEY, Francis J Head Married M 36 1865 News Vendor
St Georges, London VIEW
TOWNSLEY, Emma A Wife Married F 27 1874
Essex VIEW
TOWNSLEY, Violet A Daughter F 3 1898
Stepney, London VIEW
TOWNSLEY, May Daughter F 0 (1 MOS) 1901
Limehouse, London