Help with missing grandma!

[Barmaid]

Hello you guys, thought I would post this on here, because there is always someone who sees something I don't.

I am helping a friend to try and find out what happened to his grannie. This is what I have been told. She was born in Peterborough area in 1889 - one Rachel Paul. I think her middle name may have been Ann. In 1908 she had an illegitimate child, Leslie, who was fostered out. Rachel then disappears. Apparently she had a sister who was known as Winnie Wilson. Her birthname was Wilson, but she also married a Wilson! Apparently Rachel does not appear on 1911 Census.

Anyway, this is what I have discovered. Rachel was daughter of Donald and Rose Paul. Born in Peterborough in 1889. She is on 1891 and 1901 Census. I have found her (I think) on 1911 Census in Peterborough. On 1911 Census, with her family, Winifred is also shown but with the surname Paul. I query whether Winifred was Rachel's daughter rather than her sister. I have found a Rachel Ann Wilson who marries William Wood in Whitby in 1909 (although this doesn't sit with what the 1911 Census says about Rachel Paul). I have then found a Rachel Ann WIlson who died in 1978 in Wakefield (her birth having been Dec 1889). I think this could be our lady (although I am happy to be corrected by the brainier ones on here. So my theory is that she has married (perhaps using a false name) following an relationship with a Wilson. Does anyone have any alternative suggestions, please?

My friend really wants to know what happened to his gran - and indeed whether he has any aunts and uncles!

[dothawkes31]

Have you bought the death certificate from 1978 to see who the informant was as it would show her maiden name too and if she was a widow or married. Plus the informant might be a relative of course,

[Barmaid]

No Dot, I think the next step will be to get the various certs. I only talked to him about it last night and said I would see what I could find.

It is odd that I can find no matching death or marriage of a Rachel Paul and thus can only assume she changed her name.

[dothawkes31]

oh and have you found the birth of rachel ann wilson who died in 1978 on the GRO index for births in peterborough in 1889? There's a Rachel Ann Paul registered at peterbotough Q4 1889 3b 234,

[craft1948]

Well as you say she was still Rachel Paul in 1911 as she was in service at a vicarage.
Do you think Winnie was her daughter 'cos you say she was sometimes known as Winnie Wilson.
On the 1911 census Rose is still young enough to be Winnie's mother, and it says she bore 9 children all living which would include Winnie.

[dothawkes31]

I've found Winifred Paul marrying George H Wilson at peterborough in 1932, 3b 516. That is where the wilson must come in i think. I can't see where wilson comes in earlier than that.

[dothawkes31]

was it not Rachels's parents that had 9 children, cos Rachel was only born in 1889 so she's be 22 in 1911.

[craft1948]

er dot I said Rose had 9 children not Rachel....

[dothawkes31]

Oh sorry yes i get what you meant craft, that's me confusing myself, were her daughters the ones I've listed above as marrying in 1919?

[dothawkes31]

Oh where did that go? I found 3 Paul girls marrying in 1919 in peterborough vivienne elsie and rose

[dothawkes31]

Rose had a child flora who must have died before 1901, which would mean 8 children up to 1901, i can't view the 1911 i don't think, does she have any more children listed after Cyril, who would have been 12 in 1911.

[craft1948]

In 1901 she had.....
Rachel 1890
Annie 1891
Willie 1893
Nellie 1895
Rose 1896
Donald 1897
Cyril 1899
In 1911 census....
Reginald 1902
Winnifred 1910

Which makes 9....the census shows 9 children and 9 living

Where have you got Flora from?

[craft1948]

I see you got Flora from the 1891 census yet her birth date ties up with Annie in the 1901 census.......same child?

[craft1948]

Yes have found the birth.....she was born in 1890 as Flora Annie Paul.

[dothawkes31]

Winifred Paul's birth is registered in 1909 and not as Wilson, could it just be confusion later on that makes the family think she was born a wilson?

[craft1948]

well BM.......I don't see anything to suggest that Rachel was Winnie's mum.......

[dothawkes31]

I think I agree with that to a certain extent. The fact that there was supposed to have been a child Leslie in 1908 may be true, but I can't find the original birth registration under leslie paul in 1908. There is no marriage of a Rachel (A ) Paul to a Wilson but there is the Winifred marriage. Now there is one possible explanation that i thought would explain the idea that winnie was wilson twice, she could have been widowed and then married another Mr Wilson. But that still means there is nothing found for proof of what happened to rachel. maybe an extended search of the GRO marriage will turn her up.

[Barmaid]

You two really are the genealogy goddesses!!! Thank you ladies for your hard work and clarity.

Leslie was born in Lambeth (I think). I did find his birth on Friday, but have been involved in work and unpacking boxes ever since!!!

It was just my theory that Rachel might have been WInnie's mum - given the "born a Wilson" thing. However, as we all know, family memories are terribly unreliable (remember my uncle telling me my GG grandmother was a french countess? Whereas actually she was a serial bigamist who ran off with a french teacher!!!!!!!)

I think I am going ask for this section to be renamed the "Dotty and Craft help forum"!

Thank you once again - will let you know what I discover.

BMx

[craft1948]

Cheers BM.....let us know if there are any juicy bits....

[Barmaid]

Update: Well the Rachel Ann Wilson in Whitby proved to be a total dead end.

I still have no idea what happened to Rachel. There appears to be no marriage or death entry after 1911 which would fit. Only other thing is that she has emigrated.

[Barmaid]

I forgot to say, I found her son registered in 1908 in Lambeth (that fits with what my friend said) and found him fostered in the village of Maxey near here in 1911. My grandmother actually knew the foster family so she was able to give me their background and there was no relationship there. I've found marriages for some of Rachel's siblings too, which don't seem to help. I've tried searching under Ann and variations such as Pawl, Poole, Paule. Kind of coming to the end of it really.