Percy Joseph West

[SarahND]

Merry Christmas to you too!
It seems we'll have to come up with another trick to find them in 1901... not having much luck. Oh well, they'll turn up Probably hiding under some transcription error we haven't thought of yet!

All the best,
Sarah

[Andy]

They can be found in Islington on the 1891 census but Hettie has been recorded as Ellie as has daughter Hettie, Ellen the other daughter has been recorded correctly - there are a couple of other children listed.

[SarahND]

=D> Nice find, Andy!

The baptism of Samuel is hiding under Hetty's name:

Samuel Shey
Baptized 3 Jan 1884 Pentonville St Silas, Islington
Parent's name: Hetty
Abode: 11 Henry Place

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

FINALLY found Henrietta in 1881, indexed as "Shoe" I can see why-- that's what it looks like, but I think someone was actually spelling it Shae. Young Edward and Catherine were also with them in the 1891 census that Andy found.

1881
42 Payne Street, Islington West, London
Henrietta Shae, Head, Widow, 25, Washer, born Islington
John Shae, son, 6, Scholar, born Islington
Edward Shae, son, 5, Scholar, born Islington
Catherine Shae, Daur, 2, born Islington
Henry Wilson, Lodger, Unmarried, 34, Painters Labourer, born St Pancras

I'm beginning to think that Shea is her married name and she really was a widow when she got together with Samuel West.

John Shea married Etty Louisa Farenden 1st Quarter 1875 in Islington

This has got to be her... I think. But finding this family is a struggle at every step!

Sarah

[SarahND]

Still musing on this family
Either John died before 1881 or he ran off, so she couldn't remarry. I hope he is not the 30 yr old tailor named John Shea who is in the District Middlesex Lunatic Asylum in 1881 *

Going back on the assumption that Henrietta/Hetty/Ettie is Etty Louisa Farenden, this could well be the family in 1871 in Paddington:

Frederick Farenden, Head, 48, Bricklayer, born Sussex, Bognor
Jane Farenden, Wife, 49, born Sussex, Binsted
James Farenden, Son, 19, Bricklayer, born Middx, Paddington
Frederick Farenden, Son, 17, Bricklayer, born Middx, Paddington
Louisa Farenden, Daught, 15, Scholar, born Middx, Paddington

Cheers,
Sarah

*An online tree connects him to a death of a John Shea age 32, who died in 1880 of tuberculosis

[SarahND]

Been rummaging around in some online trees, trying to see what sources they are using for the claims they make (always a challenge).

One tree says Etty's parents were Thomas Farenden and Catherine. There were three children in that family and all three were baptized at once in 1862. Father Thomas was a bricklayer born in Bognor, Sussex and was probably a relative of Frederick mentioned above, with the same birthplace and occupation. The baptismal name is indexed as Betsy Louisa Farenden and that is what it looks like. Hmmm. Nothing about this family is ever easy! It certainly looks like it says "Daught" after Louisa in the 1871 census with parents Frederick and Jane-- not "Niece" for sure.

Children baptized with parents Frederic and Jane Farenden are James and Frederic, as in the 1871 census and also a daughter called Susan, who was born 18 Jan 1855 and baptized 7 Feb 1858.

Etty Louisa Farringdon's birth was registered in Islington in the 2nd quarter 1856 (it is indexed as "Ally Louisa Farringdon") I think if you want to know for sure whose child she was, you're going to have to order the certificate.

Have I confused you enough?
Regards,
Sarah

[Andy]

Please remember that Esthers also could be Hetties, I've been trawlling around various people born between 1852 - 1858 in Islington.

There seem to be loads of children born to Hettie Shea and then with Samuel West. I think in 1901 some, or most, of the younger children were farmed out to relations, boarding with other people or, in one case, Ada Grace, possibly ADOPTED, albeit temporarily!

This family have got me VERY interested. I don't think for an instant that Hettie's maiden name was Shea. However, even with database acrobatics, I can't find a Henrietta/Hettie/Esther/Ellie/Etta marriage to a Shea/O'Shea/Shay or any variations.

However there is a London born West granddaughter staying with a Grandmother Louisa West. (I don't have access to ancestry from here) but there is also a Percy West of the correct age staying with a "Cousin" in 1901. All this from memory for now - will try to clear it up a bit better tomorrow.

[SarahND]

Hi Andy,
Glad to see you are as intrigued by this family as I am!

However, even with database acrobatics, I can't find a Henrietta/Hettie/Esther/Ellie/Etta marriage to a Shea/O'Shea/Shay or any variations.

This one I found must have got lost in my convoluted posts last night, don't blame you for skimming over them! It's on FreeBMD:

John Shea married Etty Louisa Farenden 1st Quarter 1875 in Islington

The Percy J West staying with his cousin Charles is very tempting, but he is 6 years old in 1901 and in school. according to his birth date he would only have been 2 years old and it is unlikely he would have been in school. Still, if we can connect that Charles to Samuel I would believe it!

I have been struggling with Etty/Hetty and her family, but maybe should have a look at Samuel for awhile

Be interested to see what you come up with!

Cheers,
Sarah

[AileenA]

Wow this is amazing, you people are just magic. Merry Christmas to all!!