Genealogy Chat

My grandmother Elizabeth Baker appears on 1871 census aged 7, family: Elizabeth Baker Mother (H) born Shoreditch Samuel Baker 9 son B. Bethnal Green Elizabeth (above) dau. 7, BG Eliza Baker dau. 4, BG (think she may have died aged 10) Charles 4 months(?). On 1881 Richard Burns 28, H Elizabeth Burns 29, wife born BG Edward R Burns 8 Jane Burns 5, John Burns 1 Samuel Baker sonl 19 BG Elizabeth Baker dinl 17 BG. Father is never there. In 1872 Edward Richard Burns married Elizabeth Black (spinster) Samuels birth cert says father Samuel Mother Elizabeth Black Eliza's says mother Betsy Baker formerly Black. (could be short for Elizabeth) In 1885 when Elizabeth Baker spinster (21) married Charles Lewis her father was named as Richard Baker, Witnesses Richard Burn and (Ann?) Lewis. In 1901 Elzabeth Burn 56, Richard Burn (H) and gr.son Samuel Baker are in Edmonton Middx. The records office have just searched 1862-1864 and told me there is not an Elizabeth Baker with father either Richard, Samuel or mother Elizabeth Black. If I could find the records office (presumably in Tower Hamlets) would I be able to get any further with this, so far this has taken nearly 2 years. Any ideas? I am starting to dispair. M

GR always mashes up the first posting in a new thread, so I've taken the liberty of rewriting your message in the hope I can make sense of it. Elizabeth Baker appears on 1871 census aged 7, family: Elizabeth Baker Mother (H) born Shoreditch Samuel Baker 9 son B. Bethnal Green Elizabeth (above) dau. 7, BG Eliza Baker dau. 4, BG (think she may have died aged 10) Charles 4 months(?) In 1872 Edward Richard Burns married Elizabeth Black (spinster) 1881 Richard Burns 28, H Elizabeth Burns 29, wife born BG Edward R Burns 8 Jane Burns 5, John Burns 1 Samuel Baker sonl 19 BG Elizabeth Baker dinl 17 BG. Father is never there. Samuels birth cert says father Samuel Mother Elizabeth Black Eliza's says mother Betsy Baker formerly Black. (could be short for Elizabeth) In 1885 when Elizabeth Baker spinster (21) married Charles Lewis her father was named as Richard Baker, Witnesses Richard Burn and (Ann?) Lewis. In 1901 Elzabeth Burn 56, Richard Burn (H) and gr.son Samuel Baker are in Edmonton Middx. The records office have just searched 1862-1864 and told me there is not an Elizabeth Baker with father either Richard, Samuel or mother Elizabeth Black.

If Elizabeth was illegitimate, her father might not have been named on the cert. Her mother might have called herself Elizabeth Baker instead of Elizabeth Black on the cert. When you say the records office looked, I think you mean the Register Office? The Register office keeps bmds. The Records office would have census info, street directories, electoral registers etc. nell

Yes, the GRO, thought of that but Samuel is older and Eliza younger than Elizabeth, and both certs say father Samuel Baker, though one does say Mother Elizabeth and the other Betsy, but I think that could be shortened form of Elizabeth. M

Any suggestions gratefully received, I'm about to give up. M

Hi Michaela Have you and the GRO checked for Elizabeth as a middle name, for example 1837online has in 1863 Sep Abigail Elizabeth Sophia Baker Bethnal Green Vol 1c p282? I have read that local register offices will do searches for a fee. There is of course the possibility that little Elizabeth was adopted. Best wishes John