Wheeler Baker tracing family members 1800s/1900s

[Astoness]

how sad... so lily was pregnant with george when daughter eva died and she was present at her death then 2 months later george dies...one can only imagine the heartache..if that happened today there would be plenty of help given to try and cope but back then it was just none existant

lyn

 

[Bbithell]

how sad... so lily was pregnant with george when daughter eva died and she was present at her death then 2 months later george dies...one can only imagine the heartache..if that happened today there would be plenty of help given to try and cope but back then it was just none existant

lyn

I agree, I suspect that the 'disappearance' was probably fictional and that she probably stayed in the workhouse for some time. That would also explain why the other children had to go into St. Josephs.

 

[Astoness]

I agree, I suspect that the 'disappearance' was probably fictional and that she probably stayed in the workhouse for some time. That would also explain why the other children had to go into St. Josephs.

yes lily was probably not in good physical or mental condition to look after the other children and family most likely did not have to room to take them..dad had to work so no choice but to ask st josephs to look after them

lyn

 

[Bbithell]

I've just been reading up about the attitudes to mental health in 1911 and it's not good. Postnatal depression wasn't recognised yet and society (male) wouldn't have understood what she must have been going through, bless her. It's so very sad for all concerned. Thank you for your help in this everyone. I'll be travelling to Birmingham Library in the New Year to try and track down what happened to Lily, I'll keep you informed if I find anything.

 

[pjmburns]

You might find you need to pre-order items from library and book a slot. You can no longer walk in.

 

[Vivienne14]

Threads now merged.

 

[Astoness]

I've just been reading up about the attitudes to mental health in 1911 and it's not good. Postnatal depression wasn't recognised yet and society (male) wouldn't have understood what she must have been going through, bless her. It's so very sad for all concerned. Thank you for your help in this everyone. I'll be travelling to Birmingham Library in the New Year to try and track down what happened to Lily, I'll keep you informed if I find anything.

hi Bbithell...last week on your belhalf i contacted jenny the archivist at st marys convent who has helped me a few times..she was not working there when this thread was first started..i asked her if she could search the records again to see if there was anymore info about the girls and mom lily...this is her reply..at least we know that they had certainly left st josephs by 1914...not sure if the 21 census that jenny found is of any use to us but we could have a look

lyn


Dear Lyn,



I’ve now had chance to look at the other records re. St Joseph’s Home and unfortunately the Wheeler children aren’t mentioned by name apart from that one entry in the register. As you know, it doesn’t allude to why they were here or even when they left.

The only other thing I was able to confirm is that they are not on the list of individuals at St Joseph’s Home in May 1914 so they had definitely left before then.



I did have a quick look on FindmyPast and could see a Lily Wheeler as a visitor in the Watson household at 62 Ettington Road in Aston on the 1921 census. I wondered if that could be her. She is listed as married and has what I presume is a younger daughter (Margery Wheeler, age 4) staying with her. Perhaps the family have already seen this and think it doesn’t fit.



Very best,

Jenny



Jenny Smith

Archivist, Union of the Sisters of Mercy GB

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sistersofmercyunion.org.uk

www.mercyhandsworth.co.uk

Tel: 0121 554 3271

 

[pjmburns]

I doubt the 1921 person is her. It says married and the only birth I found for a Margery Wheeler suggests mmn Smith. That birth was reg in 1917 - making her 4 on the 1921 census. I also found a marriage in 1912 of a Lily Smith to a Herbert Wheeler.

 

[Astoness]

hi Bbithell further to my post 127 i have just received this second email from jenny at st marys

lyn

Yes, these things sometimes do remain a mystery don’t they.

Just to let you know, I did speak to Fr Hudson’s origins team as they manage the record relating to Catholic children in care (including the register for the Mercy orphanage at Maryvale). They don’t have anything on the Wheeler children, so it does appear that it was probably a fairly short-term arrangement for them to be in care.



With best wishes,

Jenny

 

[Bbithell]

hi Bbithell...last week on your belhalf i contacted jenny the archivist at st marys convent who has helped me a few times..she was not working there when this thread was first started..i asked her if she could search the records again to see if there was anymore info about the girls and mom lily...this is her reply..at least we know that they had certainly left st josephs by 1914...not sure if the 21 census that jenny found is of any use to us but we could have a look

lyn


Dear Lyn,



I’ve now had chance to look at the other records re. St Joseph’s Home and unfortunately the Wheeler children aren’t mentioned by name apart from that one entry in the register. As you know, it doesn’t allude to why they were here or even when they left.

The only other thing I was able to confirm is that they are not on the list of individuals at St Joseph’s Home in May 1914 so they had definitely left before then.



I did have a quick look on FindmyPast and could see a Lily Wheeler as a visitor in the Watson household at 62 Ettington Road in Aston on the 1921 census. I wondered if that could be her. She is listed as married and has what I presume is a younger daughter (Margery Wheeler, age 4) staying with her. Perhaps the family have already seen this and think it doesn’t fit.



Very best,

Jenny



Jenny Smith

Archivist, Union of the Sisters of Mercy GB

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sistersofmercyunion.org.uk

www.mercyhandsworth.co.uk

Tel: 0121 554 3271

Thank you very much of doing that Lyn but I complicates matters a little. The initial family story I have, which came from the son of Ellen / Helen / Nellie daughter of Lily, states that she was I the care of the sisters until she was 16 years old, 1920.
I'm afraid I have no way of verifying this and the rest of the tales have proved inaccurate but I don't see any reason why she would make that up.
I suppose it is possible that they could have been moved at some point?

 

[Bbithell]

I doubt the 1921 person is her. It says married and the only birth I found for a Margery Wheeler suggests mmn Smith. That birth was reg in 1917 - making her 4 on the 1921 census. I also found a marriage in 1912 of a Lily Smith to a Herbert Wheeler.

I tend to agree. Lily would have been 40 at the time of Margery's birth. Not unusual necessarily but given the nature of her trauma of the last two children I doubt she or George would have had another. Besides, the other three daughters never saw her again and I doubt George would have hidden her away as it were.

 

[Astoness]

Thank you very much of doing that Lyn but I complicates matters a little. The initial family story I have, which came from the son of Ellen / Helen / Nellie daughter of Lily, states that she was I the care of the sisters until she was 16 years old, 1920.
I'm afraid I have no way of verifying this and the rest of the tales have proved inaccurate but I don't see any reason why she would make that up.
I suppose it is possible that they could have been moved at some point?

hi..as my post 127 says according to st josephs records the girls were not there after 1914 so maybe they were moved to another place of care...just a thought..this could be one of those mysteries that we just cant solve..over the weekend i shall try again to find any other possible deaths for lily...fingers crossed.

lyn