Genealogy Forum UK

mumbles wrote:Wil do Nl

Thanks chuck xx

Benjamin Johnson father Beriah Johnson died his executors in will were Aaron Rock Corn Dealer and Benjamin Johnson Labourer

Aaron Rock was a first cousin to Edith Harriett Rock who married Henry Fendall
Benjamin Johnson married Mary Ann Fendall who was brother of Henry Fendall

Mumbles,

The only child of Joseph and Ellen, I could not trace (after the 1901 census) was Joseph Harold Fendall. However, there is now a family tree on Ancestry which suggests he married an Ethel Jane Hodgkins (from Halesowen) and they had 3 children; Harold Paul (1901), Laura Edith (1904-1970) and Kenneth Horatio (1908 - 1987). The ancestry file has got a copy of the 1911 census showing Ethel and children living in Seven Kings, Essex, with Ethel's sister; but not Joseph Harold.

Unfortunately, I cannot find the 1911 census entry and no marriage record. The ancestry tree does not refer to a marriage either.

A mystery to be solved....

H

1911 Census 46 Chester Road Seven Kings Ilford Essex
Louie Hodgkins Head (s) Dressmaker
Ethel Jane Fendall sister (m) Dressmaker
Married 10 years,3 children, 3 living
Gladys Mary Hodgkins niece 17 Art Needlework Apprentice
Harold Paul Fendall nephew 9 School born Rubery Worcs.
Laura Edith Fendall niece 6 born Croydon Surrey
Kenneth Fendall nephew 3 born Seven Kings Essex

Louisa Hodgkins and Ethel Jane Fendall ( nee Hodgkins) are daughters of Paul Hodgkins born 1833 ( on Bcc)

Cannot find Joseph Harold Fendall after 1901 in any record
or Marriage to Ethel Jane Fendall

Mumbles,
I also found nothing of Joseph Henry Fendall after 1901 and in desperation 'googled' him

Up came an article in the 'CDNC' - California Digital Newspaper Collection - about a case in the USA involving a swindler – calling himself Thomas Bayley Henry and claiming to be an English barrister– who was identified as a Joseph Harold Fendall from England. His fingerprints were matched to a Harold Fendall who had been jailed in London (Wormwood Scrubs) in 1906, for 12 months, for larceny. He was an 'ironmonger'. Findmypast has a record of his conviction. The article says he was born in Surrey in 1874 (and the court record has this date also) but I cannot find a BMD record of this. From the description of his conviction in England his occupation seems to have involved trading iron and not the modern version.

It may not be our man but, as you have shown, his 'wife' and children are in Ilford, near London in 1911 and his conviction falls between the dates of birth of the children with Ethel Hodgkins. It would also explain why he appears to have disappeared after 1901......

Of course, there is nothing in his family record until that time to suggest our 'black country' Fendall' could pass himself off as a lawyer

Someone with access to overseas records on Ancestry etc may be able to shine further light on this story.

H

1900 Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire

spade and shovel manufacture
fendall joseph harold office
claremont st old hill SO
wharehouse hagley rd Halesowen

also
wall ties,
chain & chain cable
iron merchant
railway dog manufacture
staple manufacture
Manufacturer Of Chains
and others

Have added all I can with notes OK to Archive unless nailer2011 has anything to add

Flagging to archive

Thanks to all. Don't think we can take this any further until/unless any more info becomes available.

H.