Tracing Emma H Bee (1881 census) London COMPLETED

[usignuolo]

A big thank you to everyone who helped us sort out my previous query about Mary Seador-. (Turned out I had made a mistake and she was not my ancestor after all).

This query is kind of related but only kind of. Basically following the last query, we have narrowed down possible ancestors to include Lydia Bee who appears in the 1881 census with her mother, also Lydia, living in St Pancras in London. Also listed on the census is Emma H Bee, 1, granddaughter.

After that Emma disappears from the records, we cannot find her in any further censuses, or a death certificate. Lydia Jr married the following year to Charles Goss, after her own mother Lydia died. But there is no sign of baby Emma living with them. Could Emma have been adopted? Gone abroad?

Any suggestions appreciated.

[Jimmy]

Looking at the census it could be Emma M Bee, the only birth reg I can see that could fit is this one,

Births Sep 1880.
Bee Emily Mary. Pancras. 1b 102.


From, London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906.

Bad writing on this image,

This only gives the name of the father, unless the child is illegitimate,

Emily Mary Bee.
Record Type: Birth.
Estimated Birth Date: 17 Jul 1880.
Father's Name: Annie Wm Bee. don't look like Annie, but he is a shoe maker.
Parish or Poor Law Union: St Pancras.
Borough: Camden.

[Jimmy]

Deaths Jun 1881.
Bee Emily Mary. 0. Pancras. 1b. 65.

[usignuolo]

How sad. Thanks for finding that.

[usignuolo]

Following the indications found above that Emma Bee could actually be Emily Bee who died in 1881, I entered Emily Bee in the FS search engine.

The results were rather surprising

1881 census

Emma H Bee
Female
Age 1
Birth Year 1880
St Pancras
Grandaughter
6 William Street, St Pancras
in household of
Lydia Bee widow
Lydia Bee daughter
Emma Bee granddaughter


and

Emily M Bee
Female
Age 8 months
Birth Year 1880
Daughter
1 Little Drummond Street, St Pancras
Household not given


Are we sure this is one and the same little girl?

[Jimmy]

1881. 1 Little Drummond Street.
Horace W. Bee 28. Cordwainer. Staffordshire.
Mary A. Bee 31. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Caroline E. Bee 5. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Emily M. Bee 8 months. St Pancras, Middlesex.

I can only see a birth reg for this one.

[Jimmy]

The only other birth I can see is,

Births Sep 1879.
Bee Emma Stadler. Pancras. 1b. 22.

[usignuolo]

Very strange - Emma Bee of William Street is not Emily Bee of Drummond Street. My brother has been trying to locate Emma Bee's birth certificate, without success. Mrs Bee Snr died early in 1882, at the relatively early age of around 52. Lydia Jr was granted probate and married (my ancestor Charles Goss) late in 1882. Presumably if Emma had died in 1881-2 she would have been registered as a death but there does not seem to be a death certificate. Nor is there any sign of Emma being added to the Lydia's family with Charles on their marriage. What if she was taken to the Foundling Hospital ? Would they have changed Emma's name if something like that happened?

[usignuolo]

Just to let you know that we seem to have cracked this one. Lydia Bee had an illegitimate daughter, Emma M, in 1880. In 1882 Emma married Charles Goss and had a family which included my great great grandmother. However after the marriage we could not trace Emma. Then my brother had a brainwave, what if they had changed Emma's surname to Goss on their marriage (there are indications that Emma and Charles had known each other for some time but that their marriage was opposed on both sides, she was nine years older than him.) My brother looked up Emma M Goss and sadly found a death certificate for 1884, for a little girl who was born in 1880. We assume therefore that this was Lydia Bee's daughter who died at the age of 4. This was the same year incidentally that the first of Lydia and Charles's children was born. Amazing was a little lateral thinking will do.

[Antie Em]

Just to let you know that we seem to have cracked this one. Lydia Bee had an illegitimate daughter, Emma M, in 1880. In 1882 Emma married Charles Goss and had a family which included my great great grandmother. However after the marriage we could not trace Emma. Then my brother had a brainwave, what if they had changed Emma's surname to Goss on their marriage (there are indications that Emma and Charles had known each other for some time but that their marriage was opposed on both sides, she was nine years older than him.) My brother looked up Emma M Goss and sadly found a death certificate for 1884, for a little girl who was born in 1880. We assume therefore that this was Lydia Bee's daughter who died at the age of 4. This was the same year incidentally that the first of Lydia and Charles's children was born. Amazing was a little lateral thinking will do.

I think we all have to do a little lateral thinking in this game, doesn't half help sometimes