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Dear all,

I have made a request for my ggggg aunt Isabella Swales on here before but I have new information that only adds to the mystery and begs further research.

Isabella was born in 1852 in South Stockton, and she is living with her parents in Guisborough in 1861:

1861 census
37 Watkins Buildings, Guisborough, Yorkshire
Annable Swales, head, 50, earthenware dealer, born Durham, Yackley
Christianna, wife, 50, born Yorks, Pickering
Hannah, dau, 16, born Durham, Stockton
Richard, son, 11, scholar, born Stockton
*Isabella, dau, 9, scholar, born Stockton
James, nephew, 20, ag lab, born Yorks, Stokesley
Francis, nephew, 14, ag lab, born Stockton
Charlotte, niece, 9, scholar, born Stokesley
Thomas, brother, 36, tinner, born Durham, Yackley

Then I find a decade later she is with her brother:


1871

Name: Isabella Swailes
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1853
Relation: Sister
Gender: Female
Where born: Stockton, Durham, England
Civil Parish: Easingwold
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
Town: Easingwold
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image
Registration district: Easingwold
Sub registration district: Easingwold
ED, institution, or vessel: 6e
Household schedule number: 148
Household Members: Name Age
Daniel Dowling 18
Francis Swailes 31
Isabella Swailes 18
Margaret Swailes 27
Thomas Swailes 6 months

Isabella then married Christopher White in 1872 in Hartlepool, County Durham, and I was looking for her after this in the census with no luck!

However, I have just ordered a marriage certificate dated Oct. 6th 1884 in Redcar, Yorkshire. It is of Edward Stephenson, a 38 year old widower, and who is a hawker, the son of Alexander Stephenson, a hawker.

His wife is Isabel Swales, a 32 year old window, daughter of Annabal Swales, a hawker.

Annabal should no doubt read Hannibal - I had found this couple in 1891. They are living up a couple of house to Hannibal and Christiana Swales (my ancestors) in Old Chapel Yard, Guisborough, and it would seem, if my theory is correct, Isabella had moved a few houses away from her parents by 1891.

Also, for anyone who has been following my threads on this family, the Edward Stephenson/Isabella Swales marriage had an illiterate witness: WIlliam Pattison. If this is the one and same Isabella Swales, her brother-in-law was William Pattison was husband of her elder sister Lavinia Swales (born 1837 in Yarm, Yorkshire).

My question is:

1) Does anyone think my theory is plausible? Is this really the same Isabella Swales?

2) If so, why did Isabella revert to her maiden name and not be known as Isabella White?

3) Can anyone see then an Isabella Swales in 1881, born Stockton c. 1852 (that is if she one and same)

4) Can anyone find Edward Stephenson and his wife Isabella in 1901 (remember they are living in 1891 in Old Chapel Yard, Guisborough, Yorkshire)

Apologies for the long message - any help is great!

Peter

IGI Family Search have these children born to Hannibal Swales and mother Christina (no maiden name listed)

1. Hannah Swales - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 02 AUG 1844 St Thomas', Stockton, Durham, England

2. Isabella Swales - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 04 JUL 1852 St Thomas', Stockton, Durham, England

3. Lovina Swales - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 09 JAN 1842 St Thomas', Stockton, Durham, England

4. Margaret Swales - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 29 MAR 1848 St Thomas', Stockton, Durham, England

Thank you Gwendoline and Betty Boo - yes I do have these christenings, and the strange this is, Christiana's maiden name was Stephenson ...

So that is why I am eager to find find Isabella Swales in 1881, born Stockton c. 1852 (that is if she one and same)

I am also eager to see Edward Stephenson and his wife Isabella in 1901 (remember they are living in 1891 in Old Chapel Yard, Guisborough, Yorkshire)

Thank you!

Peter

1891 census of Edward Stephenson and wife Isabella!!

Name: Edward Stephenson
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Isabella
Gender: Male
Where born: Stokesley, Yorkshire, England

Civil Parish: Guisborough
Ecclesiastical parish: St Nicholas
Town: Guisborough
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Guisborough
Sub registration district: Guisborough
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Christiane Harker 19
Elizabeth A Harker 5/12
James Harker 24
Christiana Stephenson 2
Edward Stephenson 44
Isabella Stephenson 39
Richard Stephenson 5
Anas Swales 15
Jane Swales 11
Mary A Swales 9

NO NO ... wrong Edward Stephenson sorry!!!
sylvia

For reference ..... occupations/relationships of people on the 1891

Christiane Harker 19 Visitor
Elizabeth A Harker 5/12 Visitor
James Harker 24 Visitor
Christiana Stephenson 2 daughter
Edward Stephenson 44 Hawker
Isabella Stephenson 39 b.ca 1852, Stockton, Durham, Hawker
Richard Stephenson 5 Son
Anas Swales 15 Stepdaughter
Jane Swales 11 Stepdaughter
Mary A Swales 9 Stepdaughter



This census says Edward born Stokesley, Yorkshire .... but see the 1901 Census!



sylvia

I think this is Edward and Isabella in 1901


1901 Census

Name: Edward Stephenson
Age: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Pella
Gender: Male
Where born: Thornaby, Durham, England

Civil Parish: Middlesbrough
Ecclesiastical parish: St Hilda
Town: Middlesbro
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Registration district: Middlesbrough
Sub registration district: Middlesbrough
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 258
Household Members: Name Age
Christiana Stephenson 13 b.ca 1888, Castleton, Yorkshire
Edward Stephenson 56 General scaler (???) + Hawk added in another hand
Elizabeth Stephenson 10 b.ca 1891, Stokesley
Jane Stephenson 21 b.ca 1880, Guisbro, General Servant
Margaret A Stephenson 6 b.ca 1895, Guisbro
Pella Stephenson 53 BELLA on image, b.ca 1848, Thornaby, Durham
Richard Stephenson 15 b.ca 1886, Guisbro

Address:- 14 Back Mile (???) St



sylvia

everything fits!!!


right names for children, right ages etc etc



sylvia

This looks like your Isabella in 1881

1881 Census

Name: Isabella Swales
Age: 37
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1844
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: South Stockton, Yorkshire, England

Civil Parish: Whitby
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street address: Kiln Yard

Occupation: Hawker General

Registration district: Whitby
Sub registration district: Whitby
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Caliph Adams 35 Lodger, Hawker
Maria Mandry 13 Domestic Servant
Alice Swales 5 b.ca 1876, Darlington, Durham
Hanibal Swales 6 b.ca 1875, Middlesbro, Yorkshire
Isabella Swales 37 Unmarried
Jane Swales 1 b.ca 1880, Guisbro




sylvia

here's another queer one for you


Marriages Jun 1899 (>99%)

Stephenson Christiana Guisbro' 9d 919
Swales Hannibal Guisbro' 9d 919



This may or may not be the same Hanibal shwon o the 1881 Census

here he is in 1901 with Christiana

Name: Hannibal Swales
Age: 22
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1879
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Christiana
Gender: Male
Where born: Coxhoe, Durham, England

Civil Parish: Guisborough
Ecclesiastical parish: Guisborough
Town: Guisborough
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Registration district: Guisborough
Sub registration district: Guisborough
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 262
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Adams 33
James Adams 31
James Adams 3
Jane Adams 9 months
Mary A Adams 9
Christiana Swales 21
Hannibal Swales 22
Richard Swales 1



The Adams' are all visitors



sylvia

Are you SURE that the Isabella Swales who married Christopher White in 1872 was your Isabella????


sylvia

Hi Sylvia,

How was my 1891 census the wrong Edward Stephenson ? Its the same one you have below mine.

Betty

Wow! Thank you so much for this information - thank you both Gwendoline and Betty and Sylvia! Very interesting, if not somewhat confusing ... such an akward family to find, this one!

Yes, I am fairly sure that the Isabella Swales who married Christopher White in 1872 is 'my' Isabella.

Her marriage is Aug 26th 1872 in Hartlepool, County Durham, for Isabella Swales, aged 20, living in Hartlepool (so she moved soon from her abode in 1871 census), and her father was Hannibal Swales, a hawker.

Christopher White was 22, a hawker, and the son of a hawker, also of Hartlepool, and the witnesses were James Johnson and Ann Swales, and all of the parties who 'signed' were illiterate.

Now the 1901 is very interesting - I am almost certain the address is back Nile Street in Middlesbrough, one of the old slums.

For refernce, this is were Isabella, niece-in-law Ellen Pattison (wife of Isaac Pattison) died in March 1900, and for anyone following my threads this is were my the aforementioned Ellen's father, my most alousive ancestor Thomas Welch was living in 1901. You may find this interesting about Nile Street in 'Boro':

An investigation in 1900 in conditions in St. Hilda’s ward identified 671 houses as injurious to health and recommended the destruction of at least 150 and as many as 299. The recommendation was never acted upon. Nowhere was this failure to act coherently and systematically more starkly seen than in the notorious Nile Street area. In 1900 the density of persons per acre was 429 compared to an average of 34; the death rate per 1000 was 30 compared with a figure of 20 for the rest of the borough. Despite pressure from the medical officer of health, Nile Street remained unchanged until the 1930s. (Taylor:2002:108)

Now I am rambling and going off subject ... can I ask Sylvia what questions you may have from me being sure or unsure about the Isabella Swales-Christopher White marriage being 'mine' or not? I am very interested in this family, but even more so with all of these confusions and discrepencies ...

Thank you so much for your help so far!

Hi Betty

I wasn't referring to your census information being wrong .... but one I had posted for another Edward Stephenson! Only I managed to delete the information while typing "No No ......Wrong one.....".


Sorry for the confusion.


sylvia

Peter

I only asked if you were sure about the marriage of Isabella and Christopher because of having found that Isabella Swales on the 1881 Census with 4 illegitimate children, all surnamed Swales. No sign of a Christopher White.



Why would she have gone back to her maiden name after having married and had children. It's the same question you asked re her marriage to Edward!


And there are a number of Isabel/la Swales ..... for some reason, it is quite a common name!

As is/was Han(n)ibel Swales.


Certainly not an easy family!!!!


sylvia

Have you bought the marriage certificate of Isabella Swales and Christopher White?

If so, who does it show as fathers and witnesses?



OOOOOOPS, sorry you had answered these questions above!!


sylvia

Hi Sylvia,

No problem I have done the same thing myself many times and you end up talking to yourself saying, no thats not the correct one, or how did I manage to do that etc.

In my case its easy old age is the problem, I never used to talk to myself when I was younger, or did I, can't remember, thats another thing that goes too, your memory.

Betty

Hi Peter
Found the piece about Nile street very interesting.
It is amazing how people lived in such conditions.

Gwendoline

Well this just gets more and more confusing ... not sure I will ever work it out! Well I feel we're getting there so I might leave this a few days and come back soon to see what is what!

Cheers, and thank you all so much for your help!

Peter