Genealogy Chat

No - I don't think she did. The person who married Charles Howe in 1900 in Islington was another person altogether. She was too old and was a schoolmistress born in Brighton. The search continues....

Thanks, Helen & Pat. I'd already tried both your suggestions but I have to say I'd not been able to find the other couple in 1901 (thanks Pat, for that). It looks like I'll have to get Charles Howe's death cert. to see if there are any clues there. I just can't fathom out why , if it's the same person, she should have come to Bury from London. Then there's still the question of who was the father of William B.Graham. Did she come before or after her husband's death? I doubt my grandfather would have met her in London - he was a widower with several young children at home at that time. To answer the question re 1891. Lilley Harris was living as the niece of Arthur SMITH (!!) in St. Pancras. If anyone else has any ideas please feel free to suggest them. Thanks, Cath.

I had a look at the marriage, and looked at others on the page. I found the other couple in 1901 together, so I am assuming she married Charles Samuel Howe? There is a death for Samuel Howe in Dec 1900 in Essex. That could be relevant. Pat

Cath I am going to paraphrase your query to help me work it out: Your grandmother on 1901 census is LILIAN Augusta Graham, born Oxford, c1876, living in Bury Lancs. On her children's birth certificates she is LILIAN Augusta Graham, maiden name Harris. (She appears never to have actually married your grandfather.) Your grandmother's eldest child William Bridgman Graham was born in Bury in Feb. 1901, mother LILIAN Augusta Graham, nee Harris and the father is named as Thomas Graham. The only birth you can find which is similar is LILY Augusta Wall Harris, born (illegitimate) 1874 in the Oxford workhouse, St. Clements district. In 1881 there is no trace of either Lilian or Lily but in 1891 there is LILY Harris aged 15 born Oxford St. Clements living in St Pancras. I have a GRO index ref. for a marriage of LILY Augusta Harris (not to my grandfather) in the 2nd quarter of 1900 in Islington Question is - did LILY do a runner (possibly pregnant) and turn up in Bury changing her name to LILIAN on the way or were there two Lily/Lilian Augustas born in Oxford about the same time?? MY SUGGESTIONS Can you find Lily Augusta and her husband (the ones that married 2nd quarter of 1900 in Islington) on the 1901 census? That would prove conclusively that there are 2 different women. If you can't find Lily Augusta, can you find the man she married and is he living on his own? nell

Cath, Have you located the husband in 1901? Is he alone? You say you have her in 1891, Is that with family? If so can you get the marriage cert to see if fathers name matches? At least then you would know if it was her who married. Have you looked for a death of the husband? Pat

As some of you may know I'm trying to find my grandmother. On the 1901 census she is LILIAN Augusta Graham, born Oxford, c1876, living in Bury Lancs. On her children's birth certificates she is LILIAN Augusta Graham, maiden name Harris. (She appears never to have actually married my grandfather.) The only birth I can find which is similar is LILY Augusta Wall Harris, born (illegitimate) 1874 in the Oxford workhouse, St. Clements district. In 1881 there is no trace of either Lilian or Lily but in 1891 there is LILY Harris aged 15 born Oxford St. Clements living in St Pancras. Are you with me so far?? I have a GRO index ref. for a marriage of LILY Augusta Harris (not to my grandfather) in the 2nd quarter of 1900 in Islington BUT my grandmother's eldest child William Bridgman Graham was born in Bury in Feb. 1901, mother LILIAN Augusta Graham, nee Harris and the father is named as Thomas Graham. Question is - did LILY do a runner (possibly pregnant) and turn up in Bury changing her name to LILIAN on the way or were there two Lily/Lilian Augustas born in Oxford about the same time?? What does everyone think?? Any advice wellcomed. Cath.