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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 9) |
| Author | Comment |
Helen
Jul 10, 08 - 9:21 PM |
Sophia Wheeler James
Hi, This is my first posting, though I won't say I am new to the forum. I have been reading and learning for a while now. I have been reluctant to post a query until I had something to give back to the group. The BMD Certificates seems to be something I think I can figure out, so now I am ready to dive into the forum with my first question. Sophia Mary James nee Wheeler was my great grandmother. I have her birth Apr. 30, 1873 in Grimesthorpe, in the 1881 census at 98 Carlisle Rd., in the 1891 census at Swallow St., in 1893 Kelly's directory as a Teacher of Music at 47 Baker St., her marriage certificate on Nov. 25, 1895 to Walter Titus James, in the 1901 census as a young mother and wife at 53 Regent St. and her death certificate Nov. 2, 1913 at Edna or Etna Villa, Greenhill, Norton. The final 2 entries I have for her are her burial record and a notation on the cwgc site when her son died in WW2. My query is, What is or was Etna or Edna Villa? She died of post partum embolism and heart failure. The story in the family is that she had an affair with a lodger and became pregnant. When Walter found out, he threw her out and never allowed her name to be mentioned again. The part about her being pregnant seems to be true, whether the child was Walter's or the lodger's I guess we will never know. But I would like to know where she died. I am guessing it is some type of institution. Thank you in advance for any help. Helen from Calgary |
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Hugh
Jul 11th, 2008 - 2:52 AM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Hello Helen, and welcome! There was a fashion in the period before WW1 for calling houses something 'villa'. This could be a private house later used as a refuge/home for unmarried mothers. I found the following in the 1911 Directory. Greenhill Nichols, Chas. Christopher, waiter, Etna cottage This might be the same house, with a less pretentious name! But it at least suggests the correct spelling. This address is not listed in the corresponding section in 1905 or 1919/20. Hugh |
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Tony
Jul 11th, 2008 - 2:53 AM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Hi Helen, Welcome to the Forum I would say The address on the death certificate would most likely be a private address. There was a trend in the late 19th century to label either single dwellings or blocks of houses with the term Villa, preceeded with a name of the builders/owners choice, This was usually displayed on a stone block on the upper floor I live quite close to Greenhill and will keep my eyes peeled for you, although funnily enough I was looking at at row of houses on Chesterfield Road South only the other day that are all named as "villas" I will check those out first Tony Sheffield |
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Tony
Jul 11th, 2008 - 3:05 AM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Hi Helen, I found Sophia is buried at City Rd and it confirms the Address James, Sophia Mary (Wife of Walter T, age 34) Died at Etna Villa, Greenhill; Buried on November 6, 1913 in General Portion ground; Grave Number 10765, Section Z of City Road Cemetery I have checked my collection but there does not appear to be a headstone Tony Sheffield |
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Helen
Jul 15th, 2008 - 12:14 AM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Thank You,Tony and Hugh for the welcome and the replies. I had rather hoped that Etna House might be an institution of sorts, as that could have been another source of information as to who Sophia's child was. Sophia was an only child, both parents deceased and she was estranged from her husband and children when she died. The name on her death certificate was B.W. Moore present at death. Unfortunately that name doesn't help me. But I appreciate your time and efforts. Helen |
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Tony
Jul 15th, 2008 - 3:43 AM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Hi Helen, I checked out the row of houses on Chesterfield Rd South and although there are 20 "Villas" in a row they look to be named with a theme of West Midland towns / areas Litchfield etc. I also found one more "villa" on Greenhill Main Rd (near the junction of School Lane) but again it wasn't Etna. With the property being named "cottage" before I get the feeling it may not be one of those where it is "written in stone" I checked the maps on the old maps site and the buildings did not show on the 1906 map but they were showing by the time the 1924 map was produced so the trend would seem to be early 20th Century. Regarding the name B E Moore I couldn't see anyone listed in the private residents section of the Kellys Directory under that name in 1925 but in 1936 there is an entry for a Miss Beatrice E MOORE 56 Wood Rd S6 and I also noticed a Miss Bessie MOORE A.L.C,M Music teacher 7 Harrogate Rd Attercliffe Both addresses are on the opposite side of town to Greenhill and may be red herrings but worth a note Tony Sheffield |
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Helen
Jul 18th, 2008 - 12:48 AM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Tony, thank you once again for your assistance in unravelling where Sophia died. I would like to think that B.W. Moore was a friend and that poor Sophia did not die alone. If I may expand a little further on the Wheeler family puzzle, I am still trying to sort out a few other loose ends. Grandma had written to me many years ago that Sophia was an only child and my recent research does support this. But in another letter, she wrote of Sophia's sister Phoebe. Also a nephew Douglas Wheeler who apparently was a head master at a school in ?Mexborough? and a cousin Archie who committed suicide in the south of England by drowning sometime in the 1930's or early 1940's. Grandma has passed on so can't elaborate on this information. My dad and aunts have confirmed that they recall visiting great aunt Phoebe but they only knew her as an elderly aunt, no last name. I suspect Phoebe was a cousin or cousin's wife but can't find anything to identify her. Dad says he thinks she lived in Masborough and he is sure she was still alive though very old in the early 1940's. Any suggestions as to how I can find great great aunt Phoebe? Helen from Calgary |
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Tony
Jul 18th, 2008 - 5:18 AM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Hello Helen, I had a walk around the old part of Greenhill Village looking for clues on Etna villa, although there are quite a few named cottages I couldn't see anything with the title "Etna" Looking at the burial book for City Road I noticed that Sophia Marys' burial was the first burial in what is a purchased (or private) plot so there may be later, related burials, that turn up when we resume indexing. Regarding Pheobe, I noticed Sophia Marys mother is also a Sophia, so I wonder if the sister of Sophia, mentioned in your grandmothers letter, could be Sophia Marys maternal Aunt ? Not sure if you have this but George & Sophia are buried in Tinsley Park Cemetery Section A Plot 132 WHEELER,George, Turner,aged 50,resided at 47 Baker St,Attercliffe buried on 22 May 1892 WHEELER, Sophia, Widow age of 56 Resided at 47 Baker St, Attercliffe and buried on 28 Apr 1896 Tony Sheffield |
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Helen
Jul 19th, 2008 - 2:03 PM |
Re: Sophia Wheeler James
Thank You very much for the info re burials of George and Sophia. I didn't have that. I'll wait and see if anything shows up on Phoebe in the future. Helen |
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