Wheeler Baker tracing family members 1800s/1900s

[Morturn]

What crossed my mind with this is prior to 1914 divorce was rare. It was considered a scandal and only for the wealthy. There were a lot of legal restrictions requiring proof of adultery or violence to the truly desperate. So an alternative was to have your spouse committed to an asylum or other institution.

 

[mikejee]

No date is given, but I understand that before 1857 an Act of Parliament was necessary to get a divorce

 

[pjmburns]

Records online depend on date. Less than 100 years ago they will be closed ie not available on privacy grounds

 

[Bbithell]

are you subscribed to ancestry as they have some admissions online...if not and you would like those who are subscribed to take a look for you we would need more info ..such as a name..when born and where they lived

lyn

Ok, this is what I have so far. There is already a post on here regarding the Wheeler family and, more specifically, Liliy Baker (born 1878). She is my Great Aunt, her sister in law is my Great Grandmother.

The original post was put up by JaneMTaylor and is still an open thread I think. Please feel free to transfer this over if you'd prefer it there.

To recap, she was married to George Frederick Wheeler (born 1877) - they had 5 children, two of which died in childhood.

in the 1911 census they were living in 9bk 9 Arley Place, Tower Street :-

George Frederick
Lily
Florence. 9
Doris. 8
Ellen. 6
Eva Gertrude. 2

The family story is that there was massive falling out between the couple and that Lily had just disappeared at this point. Previous research done on here by Jane and others established that Lily didn't die and I have come to the same conclusion. To me though the story feels too black and white.

In August 1911 the youngest child, Eva Gertrude, died at the age of 2.

I think it is more likely that Lily had severe mental health issues because of it and couldn't cope. My theory is that she was admitted to either a hospital or workhouse and so effectively 'disappeared' from the community. George may have had difficulty accepting it.

On October 7th. 1912 the three remaining children were put into St. Josephs Home for Girls, Brougham Street, and George can be found in Rowton House from this point on.

I asked the question about a husband admitting his wife using her maiden name as I've found a Lily Baker on the discharge lists for Coventry Workhouse in 1918 and 1921.

I'm not suggesting that any of this is more than a theory at this point as I don't know how to search for workhouse admission lists and such like but I feel that it would be very unlikely that a mother of three young girls would simply walk away and never return unless there was some serious reason.

 

[Astoness]

ok thanks for that info...i am sure one or two of us will take a look for you...only quickly looked for now but if i have the correct person and you most likely know this but i think george frederick wheeler died in 1928 and probate given to his daughter florence spinster which indicates that for what ever reason he was not in touch with wife lily..maybe she was in a hospital..will do some more digging

lyn

 

[Bbithell]

ok thanks for that info...i am sure one or two of us will take a look for you...only quickly looked for now but if i have the correct person and you most likely know this but i think george frederick wheeler died in 1928 and probate given to his daughter florence spinster which indicates that for what ever reason he was not in touch with wife lily..maybe she was in a hospital..will do some more digging

lyn

Yes, you have the right George.

 

[Astoness]

am i correct in thinking that you have no death date for lily baker/wheeler and that the last definate sighting you have of her was on the 1911

lyn

 

[Astoness]

it may help those who are trying to help with lily baker to read the thread below...its 10 years old .i thought i remembered it i am going to lock this thread now to save confusement so that we can carry on posting on the below thread if we can help with this long running mystery...thanks

J

Thread 'Wheeler Baker tracing family members 1800s/1900s'

Aug 28, 2015

I am trying to find more information on my Gt Gran - Lily / Lillian / Lilian Wheeler (Nee Baker) She was born 20.05.1878 and married George Frederick Wheeler (DOB 19.02.1877) on 4.12.1898. They had 5 children in total as follows;
Arthur Frederick 1899-1900
Florence Lilian Wheeler 1901 - ?
Doris 1902-1926
Ellen (Helen) Mary 1904 -1992 (My Nan)
Eva Gertrude 1909-1911

I can find the family in Aston, Birmingham on the 1911 census, but then nothing!

Family history stories say that Florence, Doris and Ellen were bought up in a convent called St Josephs. I have found two listed (Brougham...

• JaneMTaylor
• baker wheeler
• Replies: 125
• Forum: U - Z

 

[Bbithell]

To answer Lyn from the other thread, the last sighting for Lily Baker/ Wheeler is the 1911 census. There are some possibilities as far as death etc. goes but the best fit is I believe was for 1952 in Birmingham, aged 74.

 

[Astoness]

To answer Lyn from the other thread, the last sighting for Lily Baker/ Wheeler is the 1911 census. There are some possibilities as far as death etc. goes but the best fit is I believe was for 1952 in Birmingham, aged 74.

its quite a mystery isnt it but if you think that the 1952 death could be for lily then i would suggest you buy the death certificate as it could contain interesting info..

lyn

 

[pjmburns]

Record is available as a digital image.

 

[Astoness]

Record is available as a digital image.

so a lot cheaper and faster than ordering a paper certificate jan

lyn

 

[pjmburns]

so a lot cheaper and faster than ordering a paper certificate jan

lyn

Yes - still £3 as far as I know and instant download.

 

[Bbithell]

I've looked at the GRO site and it doesn't give an option for an instant download for £3 - am I looking in the wrong place?

 

[Astoness]

I've looked at the GRO site and it doesn't give an option for an instant download for £3 - am I looking in the wrong place?

if you wait for janice to see your post she should be able to check the options for you as shes very good at ordering certs...

lyn

 

[pjmburns]

READ POST 91 FIRST BEFORE ORDERING

It depends how you search .

Post in thread 'Warstone Cemetery look up - Phoebe and Matilda Hall'

Nov 27, 2025

Log into GRO.
On rhs click on "search GRO online index



click on "death" and select the year.
enter details

Then hit "search". You will get 4 results. Click oin circle by the "windsor" entry

Select "digital image" and then follow instructions to pay.
After paying you will get a screen allowing you to view and download the information.

Hope that makes sense

Not sure why it doesn't come up when you do a search but there are gaps in GRO links.

• pjmburns

• 

Try reading this but obviously enter Lily Wheeler using 1952 as search year.
You should be able to order a digital image.

 

[pjmburns]

Before ordering please read this post

J

Post in thread 'Wheeler Baker tracing family members 1800s/1900s'

Jul 28, 2020

I also obtained a copy of a death cert for Lily Wheeler in 1952 and this shows her as the wife of Charles Longford Wheeler age 74 - so this would match to the DOB. The informant is stated as W E Davis, Son in Law, but I have no one with that name.

• JaneMTaylor

 

[Bbithell]

I am trying to determine if Lily went into a workhouse or hospital following the death of her daughter Eva Gertrude in 1911. How do I find admission records?

i have charles longford wheeler born 1875 on the 39 register living with a lily wheeler date of birth 20th may 1877 so this fits the date of birth for lily given on post 1..it says they are both single..so is charles lilys brother or is the single bit an error..? also i have a marriage in 1898 for a charles longford wheeler to a lilly sprigg (not baker) and on the 1921 census they are down as married... bit confusing needs more research i think

lyn

Yes, it would seem that these are the wrong couple. Thank you for pointing that out before I ordered the wrong DC.

 

[Bbithell]

READ POST 91 FIRST BEFORE ORDERING

It depends how you search .

Post in thread 'Warstone Cemetery look up - Phoebe and Matilda Hall'

Nov 27, 2025

Log into GRO.
On rhs click on "search GRO online index



click on "death" and select the year.
enter details

Then hit "search". You will get 4 results. Click oin circle by the "windsor" entry

Select "digital image" and then follow instructions to pay.
After paying you will get a screen allowing you to view and download the information.

Hope that makes sense

Not sure why it doesn't come up when you do a search but there are gaps in GRO links.

• pjmburns

• 

Try reading this but obviously enter Lily Wheeler using 1952 as search year.
You should be able to order a digital image.

Thank you so much Janice, I didn't know that I could do that, much appreciated.

 

[pjmburns]

Thank you so much Janice, I didn't know that I could do that, much appreciated.

Not all birth and death records are available in this format at the moment. No marriage records are.

 

[Bbithell]

Does anyone know where to look for workhouse or hospital admissions please?

 

[pjmburns]

A lot of hospital records are not online - probably because of the sensitive nature of such records.
All Saints records have just appeared on Ancestry.
For othe records you could look at Birmingham Archives at the library.

 

[Bbithell]

A lot of hospital records are not online - probably because of the sensitive nature of such records.
All Saints records have just appeared on Ancestry.
For othe records you could look at Birmingham Archives at the library.

Thank you Janice

 

[Astoness]

sorry if i have missed it but who were lily bakers parents..

lyn

 

[Bbithell]

sorry if i have missed it but who were lily bakers parents..

lyn

James Edward Baker b. abt 1846
Sarah Beardmore b. 8 Jan 1846

 

[Astoness]

James Edward Baker b. abt 1846
Sarah Beardmore b. 8 Jan 1846

thank you...will do a bit more delving today...who knows what may turn up

lyn

 

[Maz 60]

Excuse me if I've missed this, but think there may have been a further child to George & Lily. ANCESTRY shows a baby boy, named George Wheeler sadly died aged less than 1 year in Dec 1911, & gro site search shows a baby boy George born to mmn Baker in Bham 1911 & subsequently a death to a baby boy with same mmn. Also 1911.

 

[Astoness]

Excuse me if I've missed this, but think there may have been a further child to George & Lily. ANCESTRY shows a baby boy, named George Wheeler sadly died aged less than 1 year in Dec 1911, & gro site search shows a baby boy George born to mmn Baker in Bham 1911 & subsequently a death to a baby boy with same mmn. Also 1911.

hi maz...you could well be right...post 1 says eva gertrude died aged 2 in 1911 so if the george you have found is correct this means that lilly sadly lost 2 children in 1911 and that lily and george had 6 children not 5 as stated..thanks for pointing this out i am sure we will look into this..

lyn

 

[Bbithell]

I can confirm that you are correct Maz - I've downloaded the two certificates :-

It would appear that George only survived for two days and was born and died in the workhouse in Western Lane. Lily and George must have been completely distraught, especially coming so soon after the death of Eva..

 

[Bbithell]

Eva Gertrude died at home :-