Genealogy Chat

Hi Paula,

I grew up in Bushey, near Watford and, yes, it is close to Aldenham. My school was on Aldenham Road.

My stepmother lives in Barnet. And I live in Kent!

Please ask if I can help.

Hi Helen,

Thanks for your offer of help.

I have attempted to post everything that I know about my "missing relatives" but it is getting me a bit confused so I hope it makes sense to anyone who is reading this post!

I was born in Watford and emigrated to Australia when I was 4 years old so I don't really know my way around the area.

As I said in an earlier post I knew that my Dad's family was from Watford,Aldenham etc(my maiden name is Matthews and Dad's mother was a Childs and her mother was a Brown).So I was surprised to end up in Barnet whilst researching my Mum's family as she is from Belfast!

As I mentioned I think I might of found Joseph Ewins(junior) in the 1881 and 1871 census.I would appreciate another opinion on that.

Do you know anything about the School/Presbytery that he is listed at?

If you read through all of my posting I would be grateful for any new perspectives.

Thanks so much,

Paula,

In 1881, on the next page from Julia, there's a Charles Ewins born c1854 in Richmond Surrey. He's still at the same address in 1891. I can't find him before this or his birth. Odd thing is, he's a postman.

Rose

Portland Rose,
Thanks for your posting.

That is weird...another Ewins...and a postman!
I just don't know why I am having so much trouble finding these relatives....is it just me???

Paula

An update on the ? boarding school.

I just had an idea of googling the name of the priest who was at the top of the household list on the 1871 and 1881 british census.His name is George Bampfield.

There is actually quite a bit on him.
He apparently started a school in 1866 called St. Andrews School in Union Street,Barnet.It was a boarding school conducted by the Fathers of St Andrew.It says that by 1896-7 St.Andrews school had been transferred to Brunswick House,Wood Street.

The "Joseph Hewins" aged 10 that I found on the 1871 census was in some sort of school-the address was Union Street,Barnet.George Bampfield was there too.

The "Joseph Ewings" aged 20 that I found on the 1881 census was in some sort of school-the address was Brunswick Hill,Chipping Barnet.George Bampfeld was there too.

Paula

Here's Julia in 1891. Transcribed as Hearns but looks like Hewins on the image;


1891 England Census
Name: Julia Hearns
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: London, England
Civil Parish: East Barnet
Ecclesiastical parish: Lyonsdown
Town: New Barnet
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Barnet
Sub registration district: Barnet
ED, institution, or vessel: 5a
Household Members:
Name Age
Julia Hearns 49

Rose

I agree with Rose that does look like Joseph's mum Julia.
Makes sense to Joseph is taken into the school 1871 and 1881 run by Brampfield. Mum is nearby, a widow and doing cleaning jobs to earn a living. Joseph finishes his schooling and then joins the army.
In 1883 when he joins up she is still in East Barnet and living at the cottage or working for the people that own that cottage. If you look through the census pages of 1881 you may be lucky enough to find that address at East Barnet. Good luck Irene

Death of George F.L.Bampfield at Barnet 1900 age 72. Irene

Have found the other man for the 1858 marriage for Julia Fitzgerald. It was John Sweeney - his page number had been mistranscribed as 161.

Do you know if Joseph had any siblings? Who are the witnesses on his marriage certificate - relatives?

Just a couple of thoughts - Is Joseph's age consistent on all the documents?

Could he have added a couple of years to his age to join the army?

Could Julia have been a single parent?

Hello Selena,Potty and Rose,

Thank you so much for yor help with this.I really appreciate it.

That entry on the 1891 census certainly seems to be the Julia I was looking for...she seems to be almost next door to where she was on the 1881 census.That is a brilliant find....thanks so much!

Thank you for clearing up the 1858 marriage of Julia Fitzgerald to the mystery groom.I can now resume my search for her marriage knowing that it isn't that entry.

I have looked at my copy of Joseph Ewins(junior) wedding certificate from 1900(to Emma Singleton).The witnesses are Mary Boland and John McManus.I would think that they are possibly people he met once he moved to Northern Ireland as that wedding took place in Lisburn.

My Aunt in Kent rang me last night and supplied answers to a few more questions.
Joseph Ewins(junior) was said to have had a sister who was also named Julia.Julia was said to have married a Mr Jones(why can't I have more unusual names Ha Ha!) and they were said to have had a son called Richard Jones.This Richard Jones moved to Perth in Western Australia and became a farmer.My Mum remembers family talk of "Uncle Dickie the tobacco farmer".

With regards to Joseph Juniors age-my Aunt said she has posted me copies of his death certificate and a photo of his grave.She told me he died in 1945-I had previously thought it was in 1948.

She says the ages don't add up,his death cerficate says he was 75(b.1870) and his grave says he was 82(b.1863)I(I will confirm this when I see the copies myself).I too thought that with him being in boarding school and then the Army that his ages could have been changed or recorded incorrectly.

I don't think that Julia was a single parent but I am not ruling anything out!
I did wonder if perhaps Joseph Ewins(senior) was much older than Julia or perhaps was married before.

Once again thank you all so much for taking an interest and helping me with this.
You are all stars!!

Thank you,
Paula.

Paula


Just one point

..................... there can be much inaccuracy on an Englsih death certificate, not sure of an Irish one.


First, the only information that you can sure of:-

date of death
place of death
cause of death
name of doctor or coroner
name of informant
address of informant
relationship of informant to deceased


All other information is hearsay ............... what the deceased told the informant (no matter whether that is wife, child or other person), so all the following may be wrong

forename(s) of deceased
surname of deceased
age of deceased/birth year of deceased
any "spouse of ....." information
occupation or previous occupation of deceased


In other words, the most important information we are looking for might be wrong!



sylvia

Hi Sylvia,

Thanks for your input.

As you say the information on the death certificate is open to the interpretation of who is supplying the information and cannot be relied upon to be totally accurate!
I really am open to any possibilities at this point in time and am keeping an open mind!!
I am discovering that throughout time many things that people have been told are quite different to may have what actually happened.

Thanks for your help.

Paula.

A big thank you to everyone who is helping me to trace these elusive relatives!!!
Your input has been so valuable and it is very much appreciated.

Any thoughts,hunches,tips etc are most welcome :)

Thanks so much,
Paula.

Hello all,

I have Ancestry but am still not sure if I am using it effectively.

Does anyone know if I can do a search of the 1871 census (East Barnet in Hertfordshire)looking for anyone with the christian name of Julia because the surname could be transcribed incorrectly?

I am looking for a mother and daughter both called Julia.(correct surname Ewins -the mother has appeared as Ewens and Hewins.Hewins was transcribed as Hearns.)

I have the mother on the 1891 and 1881 census but can't find her or her daughter anywhere else.

Also...is it possible to search Ancestry effectively using an occupation reference.The Joseph Ewins(senior) that I am looking for was a harnessmaker.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Paula.

Paula


you can search on forename only, but you need to add some other information to it so that you can reduce the number of Julia's that pop up!!


Julia <<<<<<<<<<<<< this could be mother or daughter
birth year +/- 5
birth county
and/or county of residence and place

If above Julia is daughter, put Julia in mother box


Use the wild card symbol * ....... eg, Jul* just in case it got mispelled. There have to be at least 3 letters before the *. I almost never type out either fore- or sur-name in full, "just in case"


You could try searching on the place alone, under place of residence put Hertf* in county and Barn* in place

I often leave off the place of residence or place of birth, just using county ........ because a) the name of the village or town etc is likely to be mispelled, or the ancestors change their mind!

I also use the wild card * a lot even for the county. For example, you can often find both Leicester and Leicestershire, or Yorks and Yorkshire, so using the * after the first 3 or 4 letters covers all eventualities.

I've never been particularly successful looking for occupation ...... 'cos it has to be put down eactly as it says on the census, and that's what you don't know!



Hope this helps



sylvia

Hi Sylvia,

Thanks so much for your useful advice-I will have a go at putting it to good use now!

Fingers crossed that I can move forward!

I am beginning to wonder where the Ewins family are hiding....themselves and all of their paperwork/records.

Thanks again
Paula.

Hello all,

Whilst I was searching for Julia Ewins(mother or daughter) on the 1871 census I came across a curious entry and would love someone else to have a look if possible.

I am unsure how to enter this information from Ancestry so I hope I do it correctly.

Name: Julia Kenedy
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1838
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: William
Gender: Female
Where born: London, Middlesex, England
Civil Parish: Chipping Barnet
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Registration district: Barnet
Sub registration district: Barnet
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Household schedule number: 148
Household Members:
Name Age
William Kenedy 32
Julia Kenedy 33
Richard Ewings 15
Robert Ewings 12

Could this perhaps be the Julia Ewins(senior) that I am looking for?

I was struck by her occupation listed as flowermaker because I was told that the Julia Ewins I am seeking "sold flowers".

I am thinking that perhaps her husband(Joseph Ewins senior) could have died and her son Joseph Ewins is away at boarding school.Perhaps her daughter,Julia, is living/working elsewhere.She also has two sons with the surname Ewings.
I know this is all speculation-I am thinking out loud!

What do you think?

Thanks so much for any input.
Paula.

Well Paula, guess you need to look for Joseph Ewins death and a marriage between Julia Ewins and William Kenedy.

If I was looking for Joseph's death I would start around the time the last Ewins child was conceived or when you last had a definite 'sighting' of Joseph.

Looking for the marriage to William, I would start at the time of the census and work backwards since they hadn't any children at that stage!

Happy searching

Victoria