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this elusive lady is my wife's grandmother and I am trying to find details of her birth. Throughout her life she refused to discuss her parents or whether she had any siblings. She died on 28 Mar 1950 in Cardigan at age 79 and it was said that had she lived another few weeks she would have been 80. The 1911 census of Cardigan gives her place of birth as Bristol and apparently she spoke with a strong Bristol accent despite living in Wales for all her married life. In 1905 she married Richard Jeremiah and in 1928 she married William Jones (all events in Cardigan.) Her father's name is given as Charles Clark a quarryman (deceased by 1905). I have calculated that she must have been born between 3rd April and 29th July 1871. 1911 Census says Bristol but there were no Ada Clark(e)s born in Bristol or Clifton anywhere near this date. I suspect that Ada may have been a 2nd name unless of course she was not born in Bristol. None of the other census returns have an Ada Clark born 1871/2 with father Charles and I have checked out all the 'widows' and none of them had been married to a Charles Clark. The nearest one is a Charles Clark b. c 1841 in Barrington Somerset but his daughter's name was Anna not Ada. He was a stonemason. The only quarryman I found was born 1824 in Corsham Wilts where he spent his entire life and would have been about 47 when Ada was born. I have found no link so far. I think it highly likely that she was born with a different surname and that Charles Clark came along later. Either the mother was unmarried and later married Charles Clark, or she was married to someone else who then died and she re-married Charles Clark. In any case I am going up the wall and would appreciate any help or suggestions.

yes thanks Jonesey - her father's name was Francis. Thank you anyway

There is this in the 1881 census but occupation of Charles is Lamplighter

Name: Ada Clark
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Charles
Mother's Name: Louisa
Gender: Female
Where born: Bristol

Civil parish: Bristol St Philip and Jacob Out
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England

Street Address: 2 Atlas Terrace
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Scholar

Registration district: Barton Regis
Sub-registration district: St Philip & St Jacob
ED, institution, or vessel: 52
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Clark 36 b Bristol
Louisa Clark 36
Charles Clark 16
Elijah (Eliza) Clark 14
Ada Clark 11
Elizabeth Dury 74Mother in Law

You must have seen this, though I know it's not too helpful:

1891 England Census

Name: Ada Clark
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1873
Relation: Daughter
Mother's Name: Mary Ann
Gender: Female
Where born: Bristol

Civil parish: St Mary Redcliffe
Ecclesiastical parish: Redcliffe St Mary
Town: Weston in Gordano
County/Island: Gloucestershire

Registration district: Bristol
Sub-registration district: St Mary Redcliff
Name Age
Mary Ann Clark 45
Ada Clark 18
Lilly Clark 10
Louise Parsons 24

Jan

Have you discounted this one?

Births Mar 1870 (>99%)
Clarke Ada Louisa Bristol 6a 56

Hi Londonbelle & Janet - yours is the same Ada and yes I have traced her through to her eventual marriage. Thanks for your input.

Hello Janet again,
Mary Ann had been married to a George Clark and I couldn't find a re-marriage. Thanks