Help needed. Looking to trace what happened to my nannan's sister after she left FCH to go into service around 1917. She promised to go back and get my nan but never returned. Can't find a likely marriage or death, and 1921 census is drawing a blank. Could someone just disappear? Would more info be found in FCH records? At a loss, so any guidance would be welcome.

Could she have emigrated

Mary Oldham was her birth name i assume ie not illegitimate.

Helen, in that period the school leaving age was 12, so if Mary was born in 1901 she should have left the cottage homes to go out to work in 1913.
What evidence do you have that she was there in 1917?.
You should look at the Cottage Home records in Sheffield Archives. That will tell you when she left and perhaps where she was going.
Dave

Hello Dave, I got the date she left from the FCH Admissions Register - it says 22/07/1917, and it all it says about destination is "to service". My nan left in 1921 (aged 16) to the service of a Mrs Wolstenholme.

Hello John, yes on her birth certificate there is a father named. Her full name is Mary Bonsall Oldham. Her father was never present as far as I can tell, and I don't know how much to read into the fact that his first name doesn't match the name of the man her mother was married to.

Hello Nicholas, wouldn't emigrating have been an expensive business? I guess that would require a check on passenger lists, would it?

I saw that on the birth index. Is Bonsall in the family? If you have birth certificate what was her date of birth and when was it registered

Hi John, yes I ordered a copy. The date of birth was 02.04.1901, and it was registered on 10.05.1901 (by her mother, also called Mary). Bonsall is not a name that crops up anywhere else in the family.

Have you found the rest of the family in 1921? Did mum remarry between 1911 and 1921 and mary took new surname?

Unfortunately, her mum died in 1915 in the workhouse, and there never seems to have been much of a family structure to lean on.

Wonder if she was adopted then so hence new name?

Helen, have you found the family in the 1901 and 1911 censuses?
What was the alternative first name for her father which you found on the 1901 birth certificate?
Dave

Hi Dave, there's probably too much here 😀
Mary Oldham (the senior) born Mary Durham in 1871 in Misson.
1871 census - aged 1 month living with mother and grandparents
1881 census - aged 10 living with uncle in Lincs.
1891 census - aged 20 - servant in Sheffield
Married Charles Wagstaff Oldham (occupation - brewer) in 1896 (his middle name was his father's surname - born before his parents married)
1901 census - aged 30 - head of household, no occupation, no one else listed. On the eve of Mary (the junior) being born.
Mary's birth certificate - Mary Bonsall, name of father John Henry Oldham - hay and straw dealer
1905 birth of my nan - Frances May Oldham, father's name John Oldham - stone mason
1911 census - Mary senior, Mary junior and Frances living with George Nicholson and his son. Mary senior is listed as a servant however there is another child, William Nicholson Oldham - who I think it's safe to say, Mary and George were the parents of.
Mary senior died in the workhouse in April 1915, and the children went to FCH in May 2015.

Helen, pretty sure I found Charles in 1901, Married age 25. His surname was spelled Oldom. He is grandson to Mary A Wagstaff and there is a Wilfred Durham in the house.
Dave

Ah yes, got that. And in 1911 he's living with his mum (Sarah Elizabeth). On both occasions, he's listed as married, but no spouse is evident. I guess they must have separated. He did go on to remarry in later years, I've found.

Still, as you can see, a pretty rootless existence for Mary senior and her children. My nan never knew what happened to her mum or sister. I've found out about Mary senior, and was hoping to find Mary junior. My nan was convinced she would have gone and got her out of FCH if she could have.

I'm beginning to wonder if she could have died and not been identified.

When they were admitted to FCH who signed the paperwork?

Hi John, The only document I saw was the admissions register, and I don't recall it saying who signed the paperwork. There was no parent details and they were listed as illegitimate.

Do you know where mary senior is buried?

Yes, in the catacombs at Sheffield General Cemetery.

"Mary Bonsall Oldham" into Google takes you to a MyHeritage possibility.

Terry, that does look really promising. I'm at work today, but will dive in later. Thank you.

Helen
On Free BMD there is a marriage of Mary Oldham to Francis Faulkner in Blackburn in 1928. Mary Faulkner (married) is on the 1939 Register in Manchester with a few children. No sign of husband but one of the children, George Faulkner, is not redacted and he checks out on GRO Index as MMN Oldham. The exciting thing is that Mary Faulkner nee Oldham gives her birthday as 2nd April 1900.
The Mary Oldham you are looking for had birthday 2nd April 1901. People never forget their birthday month and year, but frequently get the year wrong.
The marriage cert may be worth a look.
Dave

Dave what do you think but looking at deaths for a mary faulkner there is a mary ? Faulkner death 1968 in leigh is the ? For an unknown letter?

Hi Dave,

I'm almost 100% certain this is our Mary. I've just taken a look at the 1939 Register. You mentioned her son George, but she also had a daughter listed on there...called Frances. And you'll never guess what my nan was called...Frances. I can't thank you enough for taking the time and trouble to help me. Still puzzled about her 1921 whereabouts, but feel very happy to know so much more.

With very best wishes,
Helen

Helen, thank you for your kind remarks. I have to say I wonder who she named as her father on her 1928 marriage cert. Also perhaps it will give her occupation.
Unfortunately there is no alternative to the full certificate at £12.50. If you decide to invest, please let me know what you find.
Glad to have been of help
Dave

Another name on the little MyHeritage tree is Philip Faulkner 1932-1998.

Ancestry also has a modest family tree including the same Philip Faulkner. His mother is Mary Oldham 1901-1955. According to this tree Mary had three other children.

This tree is owned by Joanne Faulkner.

If you have Ancestry you can contact the owner. If you don’t have Ancestry your library might have the library version and you can make contact via that.

That should lead to a conclusion one way or another.

Thank you so much, Terry, that sounds like definitely something to pursue.

I really appreciate you taking the time and trouble to help me out.

With best wishes,
Helen

A little update...In a little over two weeks, I have gone from knowing nothing about Mary Bonsall Oldham, to knowing who she married and when, knowing she had children and named her only daughter after my nannan, knowing that she sadly died aged 54, to knowing where she's laid to rest. I've even found some lovely living relatives across the Pennines.

There is no doubt that all of this is down to the help and support you've given me both on this forum and by email. Your kindness to a stranger has meant a whole lot to me and my family. Thank you.

I told my mum that it was my life's work, to find some answers, and I've (we've) done it!

With sincere thanks,
Helen

That is what we are here for to help people. Have you now solved where Bonsall comes from?