*Arc tbc 24 hrs* -----Missing child - Townsend

[Sandykt]

Following on from a previous thread, I thought I would ask for everyone's help in trying to find out the following.

My grandfather, Frederick Townsend b.1892 West Ham, was one of six children. I can only find reference to five. How do I find the missing one?

Let's start at the beginning, My great Grandfather Charles Townsend b1863 Fareham, married Mary Ann Pipe abt 1865 West Ham on 16 May 1886. After the death of Mary Ann Townsend, Charles Townsend then went on to live with Sophia Fenton (born about 1860) who is sometimes describes as Sophia Townsend but they definitely did not marry as the number of completed years of marriage is different for Charles & Sophia in the 1911 Census.

The children I have found are as follows:

William Henry Townsend b1886 (died 1891)
Charles Townsend b1889
Frederick Townsend b1892
John Townsend b1895
Alice Townsend abt 1897/1898

All of the five children were registered in West Ham and so therefore I can say with 99.9% certainty the missing child will have been registered in West Ham. Mary Ann Townsend died around 1897 so the search timeframe is from 1886 to 1898. However, with no first name what should I do?

Any advice or help would be much appreciated.

[linell]

There are 70 Townsend births between 1886 and 1898 in West Ham Registration District. You can't possibly send for all the birth certificates, does the missing child not show up on the 1891 Census? It could have died at birth or shortly afterwards, with any still births they weren't registered, a bit of an impossible task I would think Sandy, unless anyone else has any ideas, maybe find the deaths and match them up with a birth? HTH from Linell.

[Sandykt]

The 1891 Census shows William Townsend b1886 and Charles Townsend b1889. William Townsend died in October 1891.

You're right, I can't send off for 90 birth certificates!! I need help.

[Jimmy]

I take it this is them in 1901.
1901.
Charles Townsend 36.
Sophia Townsend 41.
Charles Townsend 12.
Frederick Townsend 9.
John Townsend 6.
Alice Townsend 3.
Beatrice Fenton 8.
Charles Fenton 19. Visitor.
John Fenton 16. Visitor.

[Sandykt]

Yes, four of the Townsend children are there. William died 1891. The 1911 Census asks the question about children living and children who have died. Charles Townsend states he has had 6 children but only 4 remain.

[Maths girl]

Given they were all from a similar area -- were they by any chance christened and you could follow up on parents' names that way?

[Sandykt]

I don't think any of them were christened. Can't be sure. I know the parents names - I need to find the missing Townsend child.

[Maths girl]

I don't think any of them were christened. Can't be sure. I know the parents names - I need to find the missing Townsend child.

without census/christening details even with parental details you are going to struggle to confirm without a birth certificate

you could reduce thenumber of possibles by (assuming the missing one died) by trying to identify the death certificates for those Townsend in the right area that died approx the right age -- that might give you less to consider

[Jimmy]

Is this the death record for Mary Ann.

Deaths Sep 1897.
Townsend Mary Ann. age 32. Braintree. 4a. 427.

[Sandykt]

The death I found for Mary Ann Townsend was in London (George in the Square or something - I do not have my notes with me at the moment).

[Sandykt]

Is this the death record for Mary Ann.

Deaths Sep 1897.
Townsend Mary Ann. age 32. Braintree. 4a. 427.

Actually, this might be a possible as well.

[Jimmy]

That is the only one I can see that fits age wise.

[Sandykt]

Alice, the last child, was born in 1897. There is the possibility Mary Ann Townsend died as a result of child birth. Could there be a reason for Alice's birth and Mary Ann's death being registered in different districts?

[Jimmy]

Is this the death record for Mary Ann.

Deaths Sep 1897.
Townsend Mary Ann. age 32. Braintree. 4a. 427.

Actually, this might be a possible as well.

Could this be Alice.

Births Mar 1897.
Townsend Alice. Rochford. 4a. 601.

1891 Charles and Mary were in Essex. 1901. Charles and Sophie are in Essex.

it could that there were complications after the birth.

[Northern Lass]

Flagging for status on this thread

Is it still unsolved or may we archive?

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