Sarah CROSS was born in 1802 in Smarden, Kent. The year 1825 sees her having the first of her illegitimate daughters, Mary Ann Dean CROSS, baptised. I have all of the information that I need about Mary Ann. The 30th July 1837 sees her having another daughter baptised – Elizabeth Ann CROSS. At both Mary Ann's baptism in 1825 and Elizabeth's baptism in 1837, Sarah is recorded as 'A Single Woman' in the Parish Registers. Like mother, like daughter, Elizabeth Ann also goes on to have a couple of illegitimate daughters: Minnie Maud CROSS - baptised 21st August 1864 Alice Miriam Appleton CROSS – baptised 29th August 1869 & buried 11th September the same year. The census of 1871 sees Elizabeth Ann in Church Lane, Smarden working as a dressmaker and living with her mother Sarah and daughter Minnie Maud. In 1881, Sarah is still living in Smarden but in Water lane. She has her grandson Charles HILLS (son of Mary Ann Dean CROSS) and granddaughter Minnie Maud with her. Elizabeth Ann is nowhere to be seen. Sarah died in 1883 but I can find no trace of either Elizabeth Ann after 1871 or Minnie Maud after 1881. Grateful as always if anyone is able to help.
I think they've all gone into hiding 'cause you keep calling them names I can find hide nor hair of them. I did check the papers to see if maybe there was some sort of report as to payments for the illegitimate children, but no luck. I'm hazarding a guess that the names Dean and Appleton could account for the surnames of two of the fathers - name and shame being the order of the day
On her marriage, Mary Ann Dean CROSS named her father as William DEAN. I have not yet been able to completely identify him and there does not appear to be any APPLETON men hanging around the area. Most annoyingly, the census of 1841 for Smarden is one of the missing ones.
I think both Elizabeth & Minnie are in Chislehurst in 1891 – RG12/632/91/56 Elizabeth Grainge (?) 53 Widow Laundress b Smarden, Kent Louis Fryer 31 Son in Law, Butler, b Cheltenham, Glos Minnie Fryer 26 Daughter, Laundress b Smarden, Kent Louisa Fryer 4 G/Daur b Thornton Heath, Surrey Arthur Fryer 3 G/Son b Chislehurst, Kent Emily Fryer 4m G/Daur b Chislehurst, Kent CROSS, LOUISA FRYERS mmn CROSS GRO Reference: 1886 S Quarter in CROYDON Volume 02A Page 245 FRYER, ARTHUR GEORGE mmn CROSS GRO Reference: 1888 M Quarter in BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 457 FRYER, EMILY MAUD FRANCES mmn CROSS GRO Reference: 1891 M Quarter in BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 457 In 1901 they are at 104, Southlands Road, Bromley. Elizabeth is still with them but her surname this time looks like Grainer – RG13/684/79/25 I don’t see a marriage between Louis & Minnie, but there are baptisms giving their full names as Lewis Arthur & Minnie Maud Fryer. In 1911 they are at 138 Sangley Road, Lewisham, but Minnie is now a widow. Elizabeth’s surname is Grainge again, and it looks like she died 12 Jan 1912 at the Lewisham Union Infirmary.
@Andromeda WOW! You is good! Thank you so much! I had searched for marriages but, as I could not find any, dismissed the idea. I will have a better rummage this morning, now I know what I am looking for.
It is interesting that, against Minnie's entry, it shows 7 children of whom 4 are still living, 3 having died. But.... there is no entry in the number of years married. Now, this might be because she is widowed but alternatively, the couple may never have wed.
Brilliant, Andromeda From the Creed Register of Lewisham Infirmary, Lewisham High Street - Grainge Elizth. born 1835 admitted 5.1.12, no occupation, Church of England, admitted from 52 Elswick Rd., nearest known relative Mrs Fryer same address, on Night Ward [presumably Nightingale Ward?] Died 12.1.12, Widow
Ooh! The little fibbers! Meanwhile, Lewis is living at 97 Canon Road, Bromley, working as a waiter and saying that he is a widower. He died in Bromley in 1924.
I do think that some people who suddenly find themselves without a spouse, grab onto the 'widow' / 'widower' title a bit hastily, whether or not said spouse is deceased. Works for separation/ divorce as well.
That really came back and bit my great-grandmother on the derriere, though. She'd been a respectable widow for twenty years (while my deceased great-grandfather was running a pub thirty miles away). Unfortunately when she suddenly declared him to be alive, she ended up in an asylum. It was part of the reason she was committed. Her medical notes read, "...but everyone knows that her husband is dead!" They weren't married either. Fibbers, DB, the lot of 'em.
