Genealogy Chat

I hope someone can help I'm at a loss. My Grandfather was born Carl Olsson- 1903 in Canning Town Essex. His mother is listed as Louise Olsson- formerly Garnham. Father listed as John Peter Olsson, profession Journeyman carpenter. All of this I got from the birth registry. The story goes that J.P. left for the States and died there before the family could go over.During the Great War my grandfather's name was changed to Charles Stevens, due to the Germanic sound of his name I suppose. He had an older sister named 'Loulou' real name Louise, who married a George Pearman and immigrated to Australia after WW1. But I didn't know her maiden name- Garnham, Stevens, Olsson,other...and exactly where does the Stevens fit in? I can't find a marriage for Louise and J.P. or a death for mum Louise. So with digging I found Louise Garhnam marriage listing with Henry Joseph Stevens, Mile End Old Town 1895. Thought it may be a coincidence. Then found on the 1901 census Louisa Stevens-HEAD (b. 1873 in Bethnal Green), living with her mother-in-law Elizabeth Stevens (b. 1852 Mile End), Louisa F Stevens- DAUGHTER (b. 1897 Bromley E) and Annie Garnham- sister (b. 1876 Edgware N). No listing as to any males so assume Henry passed away bteween 1895-1901. I have the understanding that the children were not raised by Louise for long so she either died or left with J.P..My Dad thinks that is where a couple named Fred and Rose may enter the picture, but I haven't got that far yet. Then I searched Australia and found a George Ewart Pearman, a serviceman in WW1 (b. 1892 Milton NSW). His spouse is listed as Louise Florence (nee.Stevens b. 1897 Poplar- which is Bromley London). So I'm trying to find out what happened to Louise Garnham/Stevens/Olsson. Many thanks again all Gail

Maybe the problem with the missing Stevens or Garning to Olsson marriage was that Henry Joseph Stevens wasn't dead!! I see Louisa was recorded as married not widowed in 1901 and there is no death reg for Henry Joseph that looks like an obvious candidate 1901-1903. I wonder why Loiusa didn't mention her previous marriage when she registered your granddad?? (maybe just a mistake?) For what it's worth, the info you have found does seem to slot together very nicely. I did find a death reg for a Louisa Olsson or Olssen (forgotten which now!) in 1913 but she wasn't within five years of your Louisa's true age. If she was using any of the other surnames then she would be really difficult to trace. I'm not sure how you can work out what happened next, given all these mysteries! Only thing I can think of is to look at the Electoral roll for where your granddad was born and see how long his dad was recorded as living there.......... Not much help really.... Merry

Thsnks Merry, Question(s) though: Why wouldn't Henry be on the 1901 census with the ladies and how do I go about looking up electoral rolls? Sorry still a newbie ;0) Gail

Added: Also Merry there are a lot of Henry Stevens' under deaths 1895-1901.(I just have to possibly narrow it down) They were married 1895. Also on the census Louise is listed as HEAD so I thought that Henry would have been deceased. Again many thanks G.

I would take the ''married'' for Louisa as more likely than her being a widow but forgetting to mention it! (though of course anything is possible and you are quite right there are lots of deaths if his middle name was not used....... As for ''where is Henry?'' - there are several options: Away from home working - though there are no completely obvious candidates.......(I did look for him in 1891 with his mother, but there was more than one possible Henry) or, more likely, away fighting in the Boer War in South Africa. This reminded me that I haven't considered the overseas deaths on 1837online. You would need to check those for possible deaths in the War. Still thinking...... Oh, electoral rolls are held by local libraries, so not very accessable from Canada!! Merry

Hi Just to show this is possibly you Henry Stevens whose mum was with Louisa in the 1901 census. this is info from the 1881 census 3 Herbert Terrace, Bethnal Green, London Henry Stevens abt 1851 Stratford, Essex, England Head Elizabeth Stevens abt 1852 Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England Wife Henry Stevens abt 1874 Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England Son Edward Stevens abt 1876 Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England Son George Stevens abt 1878 Spitalfields, Middlesex, England Son William Stevens abt 1880 Spitalfields, Middlesex, England Son Wendy

Hi And again in case you want it for you family file here he is with his mum and dad. 1891 census Living at 7 Granby Row Bethnal Green Stevens, Henry abt 1850 Stratford, London, England Head Bethnal Green London Stevens, Elizabeth abt 1851 Mile End, London, England Wife Bethnal Green London Stevens, Henry abt 1875 Stepney, London, England Son Bethnal Green London Occupation Hairdressers Assistant Stevens, Edward abt 1877 Mile End, London, England Son Bethnal Green London Stevens, George abt 1879 Mile End, London, England Son Bethnal Green London Stevens, William abt 1881 Mile End, London, England Son Bethnal Green London Wendy

Thanks guys. Another member PMed more info on Louise's family John GARNHAM born 1843 Sevenoaks, Kent [Sevenoaks V 396 Jun 1843] died 1892 Poplar, Middlesex [Poplar 1c 371 Dec 1892 age 49] Census 1851: Sevenoaks, Kent, age 8 scholar b Sevenoaks Census 1861: Westminster St Margaret, Middlesex, age 18 b Sevenoaks Census 1871: London St Bartholomew the Great, 2/3 Middlesex Passage, age 28 licensed victualler b Seven Oaks Census 1881: Southwark St George the Martyr, Surrey, 48 Marcia Road, age 37 brewer's traveller b Sevenoaks Census 1891: Battersea, Surrey married Jane CALVER 1866 Kensington, Middlesex [Kensington 1a 291 Mar 1866] born 1847 Yoxford, Suffolk [Blything 13 426 Mar 1847] dau of William CALVER and Letitia HURREN (who married 19 May 1840 Kelsale, Suffolk [William widower son of William CALVER, Letitia age 20 dau of Davy HURREN]) bap 31 Mar 1847 Yoxford, Suffolk died 1891 Battersea, Surrey [Wandsworth 1d 444 Jun 1891 age 46] children include: Louisa GARNHAM born 1870 Bethnal Green, Middlesex [Bethnal Green 1c 290 Dec 1870] Census 1871: London St Bartholomew the Great, 2/3 Middlesex Passage, age 6 months b Middlesex Census 1881: Southwark St George the Martyr, Surrey, 48 Marcia Road, [Lousia] age 9 scholar b Bethnal Green Annie GARNHAM born 1873 Paddington, Middlesex [Marylebone 1a 534 Jun 1873] Census 1881: Southwark St George the Martyr, Surrey, 48 Marcia Road, age 8 scholar b Paddington Census 1891: Battersea, Surrey ------------------------ George GARNHAM bap 20 Sep 1812 Stoke Ferry, Norfolk probably died 1872 [Bradfield, Berks] [Bradfield 2c 199 Dec 1872 age 60] Census 1851: Sevenoaks, Kent, age 38 footman b Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, for [.............] [not living with family] married Elizabeth PRATER 1837 [Marylebone I 228 Dec 1837] bap 6 May 1807 Bromley, Kent, dau of Thomas PRATER and Frances BULLEN (who married 27 Sep 1805 Lee St Margaret, Kent) died 1891 Bromley, Kent [Bromley 2a ?300 Mar 1891 age 85] Census 1851: Sevenoaks, Kent, ?The Line, [head] age 43 wife of footman b Bromley, Kent Census 1861: Bromley, Kent Census 1881: Bromely, Kent, 18 Stanley Road, widow age 70 b London ------------------------- William GARNHAM bap 11 Mar 1770 South Lopham, Norfolk, son of Robert and Susan GARNHAM bur 2 Nov 1837 Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, age 67 married Martha SPENCER 26 Aug 1794 Stoke Ferry, Norfolk [both s otp [William signs], witnessed by Charles TOULMIN & John DRAKE] born c1767 Feltwell, Norfolk died Nov 1852 Stoke Ferry, Norfolk [Downham 4b 236 Dec 1852] bur 3 Nov 1852 Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, age 85 [originally given as Mary, corrected 13 Nov 1852] Census 1841: Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, age 70 b Norfolk Census 1851: Stoke Ferry, Norfolk [GAINHAM], widow age 82 supported by daughter b Feltwell -------------------------- William seems to be their only child baptized in South Lopham - where there are numerous other GARNHAMs who may be closely related - and they have a very convoluted history - several appear patron-submitted to the IGI, often incorrectly identified

As Wendy has posted the details of the hairdresser Henry, I thought I had better post the details of the other possible Henry. (of course, there could be others - people from these areas of London hardly ever wrote the same district twice for their place of birth!!!) Anyway: 1891: Stevens, Elizabeth abt 1853 Mile End, London, England Head St George in the East London >>>>Stevens, Henry abt 1877 Mile End, London, England Son St George in the East London Stevens, John abt 1880 Mile End, London, England Son St George in the East London Needless to say, I cannot find this second Henry with certainly in 1881, when he would probably have his father at home! Maybe the marriage cert for Henry and Louisa, or the birth cert for their daughter would confirm which Henry he was. (Can't be TWO hairdressers??!). The younger Henry did not show an occupation in 1891. His mother was a tailoress. My money is still on the Boer War theory (all those soldiers would have needed a haircut! - Sorry, I just had to say that!!) Merry

nudge......

Thanks Merry, Needed the chuckle :O) Found out that there may be a Frederick Stevens in the mix. My dad mentioned a Fred and Rose as having looked after Grand Dad Carl and GAuntie Louise Florence. I found a Fred and Rose Stevens (married 1895) so I will search to find out if there is a Fred, Henry, Elizabeth entry in 1881. This is exhausting. Problem is back then, EVERYONE seems to have named their kids the same. Either a William, Henry, George, etc. Anyway thanks again for the help and the search goes on.........