Genealogy Forum UK

Hi

First time on this forum, I have been stuck for ages on this and I am mystified. I have used all the usual sites but have drawn a blank.

I am trying to find out why my late MIL is not showing on any census or electoral rolls till after her marriage.

Any help you can give me would be much appreciated.

Name is Louisa Pitt D.O.B. 1/09/1909
Mother Annie Pitt nee Hodgetts
Father Frederick James Pitt
Siblings
William
Annie
Nellie
Horace and Henry

Some of the siblings are traceable at one time or the other but not Louisa.

Her birt cert states she was born at a Canal stop.

Address I know are 91 Bordesley Street Birmingham

I cannot understand why there is no other mention of Louisa.

Can anyone help PLEASE?

Many thanks

Hello, welcome to the Forum

Louisa will only show up on one census, 1911. There could be a number of reasons why she doesn't show up in 1911. Are her parents listed in 1911? She wouldn't show up on any electoral roll until she is old enough to vote, and even then, the electoral roll isn't searchable by name, you would need to trawl through the streets where you think she might have been living. Do you have a marriage for her? The electoral rolls for this area are held in Birmingham Archives, there are some rolls on Ancestry for Birmingham, but not very much. Can you tell us where you have already searched ?

Maggie

Hi Maggie,

Thanks for the welcomw.

Well my head is buzzing, things going around and around.

I rechecked my research and I can confirm that in the 1901 cencus frederick and annie were living at 307 Bromford lane West Bromwich with the two eldest childrem William and Annie.
I know that after 1920 they lived at 91 Bordesley street Deritend in a (Wharf house?) They lived there for many years and as I said many of the siblings appear on the electoral roll but not Louisa.

However, I cannot find ANY reference toANY of the family in the 1911 census. I have tried checking by Annies birth 1874 and
1868 for comparison but to noavail.

They seem to have disappeared. Louisas birth was registered in October 1909in the West Bromwich distict.

Sorry if I am rambling but as I said my head is buzzing

Many thanks

Sue

Can't see the family in 1911..
Louisa was living at 91 Bordesley St. at the time of
her marriage in 1934 to John Edwin MASTERS.

thanks Sparkstopper

Thats exactly the information I have.

What I cant understand is why they are not on the 1911 census?

Perhaps they didn't complete the census form or they happened to be on holiday or staying somewhere else and weren't included there. The census is only a snapshot of where someone slept on a particular night. Perhaps you can find a marriage of one of the other children, nearer to 1911 and pinpoint where they were living at that time. You won't find much on line as far as electoral records go. If they were living in West Bromwich, census records are held at Smethwick Archives, but they don't start until 1919. You might find earlier ones at the William Salt Library in Staffordshire, but you will still need an address, as they aren't indexed by name. Do you live near to Birmingham ? This is might be a good search start.

Maggie

What was her fathers occupation.

1881
PITT, David Head Married M 57 1824 Toll Clerk
Parkhead Nr Dudley, Worcestershire
PITT, Phoebe Wife Married F 45 1836
Tipton, Staffordshire
PITT, Fredrick Son Single M 13 1868
Tipton, Staffordshire
PITT, Margarett A Daughter Single F 12 1869
Tipton, Staffordshire
PITT, Loisa Daughter Single F 6 1875
Tipton, Staffordshire

43, Tipton Rd, Rowley Regis
Staffordshire

1891
PITT, David Head Married M 67 1824 Canal Tool Clark
Dudley, Worcestershire
PITT, Phoebe Wife Married F 54 1837
Tipton, Staffordshire
PITT, Margaret A Daughter Single F 22 1869
Rowley Regis, Staffordshire
PITT, Louisa Daughter Single F 16 1875
Rowley, Staffordshire

Lock House Hurst, Black Brook Hills, Dudley

Staffordshire
1901
PITT, David Head Married M 76 1825 Machine Clerk (Weighing)
Netherton, Worcestershire
PITT, Phoebe Wife Married F 64 1837
Tipton, Staffordshire
PITT, Margaret A Daughter Single F 32 1869
Tividale, Staffordshire
PITT, Louisa Daughter Single F 25 1876
Tividale, Staffordshire

24, Lozells Street, Birmingham
Warwickshire

13 Jan 1907 All Saints Hockley
Moses HARRISON 29 B Gas Man G.W.F 119 PrescottSt Father Edwin Harrison (Dec) Labourer
Margaret PITT 35 S 119 Prescott St Father David Pitt (Dec) Toll Clerk
After Banns Both Signed
Wit; Frank Faulkner / Louisa Pitt


1911
HARRISON, Moses Head Married M 34 1877 Carman G W Railway Birmingham Bloomsbury Warwickshire
HARRISON, Margaret Anne Wife Married F 42 1869 Tiverdale Staffordshire
PITT, Louisa Sister In Law Single F 36 1875 Pin Manufactures Warehouse Tiverdale Staffordshire

117 Prescott St Birmingham
Warwickshire

1891
MULLETT, Hannah Head Widow F 61 1830
Amblecote, Staffordshire
MULLETT, Amelia Daughter Single F 24 1867
Rowley Regis, Staffordshire
WESTWOOD, Eli Boarder Single M 23 1868 Boatmans Labourer
Wordesley, Staffordshire
NORRIS, Thomas Boarder Married M 60 1831 Furnace Labourer
Brierley Hill, Staffordshire
PITT, Frederick Jas Boarder Single M 23 1868 Canal Toll Clerk
Rowley Regis, Staffordshire

Dudley Road, Wednesbury
Staffordshire


1901
PITT, Frederick J Head Married M 33 1868 Canal Toll Clerk
Tipton, Staffordshire
PITT, Annie Wife Married F 27 1874
Tipton, Staffordshire
PITT, William F Son M 2 1899
West Bromwich, Staffordshire
PITT, Annie M Daughter F 0 (6 MOS) 1901
West Bromwich, Staffordshire

Address: 307, Bromford Lane, West Bromwich

County: Staffordshire
1911
OWEN, John Head Married M 45 1866 Wharfinger Wolverhampton Staffs
OWEN, Emily Gertrude Wife Married
20 years F 45 1866 Housekeeper London
OWEN, Harry Son Single M 19 1892 Fitter Machine Birmingham
OWEN, Lilian Gertrude Daughter Single F 16 1895 Warehouse Birmingham
OWEN, Ethel Gladys Daughter Single F 11 1900 School Birmingham
OWEN, Edna May Daughter Single F 9 1902 School Birmingham
OWEN, Eva Daughter Single F 6 1905 School Birmingham
MILLARD, John Thomas Boarder Single M 31 1880 Laborer At Gas Works Heath Frome Wolverhampton Staffs
Wharfinger 91 Bordesley Street Birm
Warwickshire

It could be they were on the canal when the 1911 census was taken.

Some of the siblings are traceable at one time or the other but not Louisa.

Her birt cert states she was born at a Canal stop.

thanks rockyfowler and jimmy.
Does the canal stop mean just that? some sort of pull in on the canal?
Thanks for the extra info on Fredericks parents. I am very grateful
Sue

If he was a canal toll collector he could have been on the canal on the night of the census.

Jimmy wrote:What was her fathers occupation.

Marriage cert: states..
father: Frederick James PITT(Clerk).

Hi Jimmy

Yes he was a canal toll clerk.

It does then seem quite likely that they were out on the canal at the time of the census.

I would still like to know where they were actually living if anywhere between Bromford Lane and Bordesley Street.
Sue

That could be a very big task Sue. Bromford Lane is in Staffordshire and Bordesley Street is in Warwickshire. You would need to search through electoral records in both counties. It might be easier if you can, to find marriages for some of Louisa's siblings, which would probably show their address at the time.