Hi everyone
I am a complete newbie to this site. After posting an query/problem on another site and totally confusing everybody and getting no nearer to an answer, it was suggested by an existing member that I give this site a try, as many people here like a challenge!! I hope this is true.
My problem is that I have a person who I cannot find prior to 1871 and I cannot find a (possible) marriage. Her name is Susan Annells.
She appears as a lodger in 1871, living with Levi Dunford (a widower twice over) in Southampton (on Ancestry she is transcribed as Annabs). She is shown as 23yrs and her place of birth looks like Sulton, Hampshire (?) July 1871 she gives birth to Eli William Annells, although no father is shown, I am positive Levi (often confused with Eli), is the father - Susan is shown as dependant on friends. Upon Eli’s death in Dec 1874 his death cert shows him as William Dunford (not Eli William Annells) and she is Susan Dunford. Subsequent children born to Susan and Levi are all Dunford’s.
In the 1881 census her place of birth is Southampton, 1891 Winchester and 1901 Sutton, Surrey.
In the 1891 census one of her daughters, Nellie, is shown staying a few doors away with Harriet Annalls and is listed as granddaughter (Levi and Susan are shown as Danford). At the same address is an Elizabeth Annalls 29yrs, shown as daughter to Harriett (Elizabeth is the birth informant for Levi and Susan’s youngest daughter); I assume these are Susan’s mother and sister, but even with this information have been unable to find a suitable match in censuses prior to 1871. I have even tried to find Elizabeth's birth around 1861/62 to no avail. I have found a death certificate for a Harriet Annells in 1896 she is shown as widow of William Annells, she is in turn buried in the same plot as a 44yr old William who died in 1891. This info would fit with an 1881 census entry, surname given as Anell, which shows Harriet living with William 34 (son) and Mary 25 (daughter). So it would seem Susan’s mother is Harriet, father William with siblings William, Elizabeth and Mary, but I have no definite proof.
As to a marriage between Susan and Levi I have found nothing in the GRO indexes, parish records or marriage licence books at the local archives.
The 1891 census has the surname as Danford and Levi is shown as Ellie! they are living at 1 Brewhouse Lane, Holy Rood. Harriet & Co are shown at 6 Goaters Alley (Ancestry has their surname as Annello). Susan and Levi die in 1926 & 1910 respectively and are buried together.
My nan who is in her 90's is convinced they were married and is upset to think they may not have been, so I can't probe too deeply with her and as she would have been only 9 when Susan died, alot of her memories would have been via her mother. I have a gut instinct that they didn't marry and Susan assumed Levi's name (I haven't even been able to find all the birth/baptism records for their kids either, but that's a different story!).
I would just love to find something of her prior to 1871. From the info I have gathered about Harriet, I am sure I have the connection between Susan and Harriet but no definite paper proof!
I hope the above makes sense and that somebody may be able to help me. Sorry that this is such an essay.
Thank you
Terri
I am a complete newbie to this site. After posting an query/problem on another site and totally confusing everybody and getting no nearer to an answer, it was suggested by an existing member that I give this site a try, as many people here like a challenge!! I hope this is true.
My problem is that I have a person who I cannot find prior to 1871 and I cannot find a (possible) marriage. Her name is Susan Annells.
She appears as a lodger in 1871, living with Levi Dunford (a widower twice over) in Southampton (on Ancestry she is transcribed as Annabs). She is shown as 23yrs and her place of birth looks like Sulton, Hampshire (?) July 1871 she gives birth to Eli William Annells, although no father is shown, I am positive Levi (often confused with Eli), is the father - Susan is shown as dependant on friends. Upon Eli’s death in Dec 1874 his death cert shows him as William Dunford (not Eli William Annells) and she is Susan Dunford. Subsequent children born to Susan and Levi are all Dunford’s.
In the 1881 census her place of birth is Southampton, 1891 Winchester and 1901 Sutton, Surrey.
In the 1891 census one of her daughters, Nellie, is shown staying a few doors away with Harriet Annalls and is listed as granddaughter (Levi and Susan are shown as Danford). At the same address is an Elizabeth Annalls 29yrs, shown as daughter to Harriett (Elizabeth is the birth informant for Levi and Susan’s youngest daughter); I assume these are Susan’s mother and sister, but even with this information have been unable to find a suitable match in censuses prior to 1871. I have even tried to find Elizabeth's birth around 1861/62 to no avail. I have found a death certificate for a Harriet Annells in 1896 she is shown as widow of William Annells, she is in turn buried in the same plot as a 44yr old William who died in 1891. This info would fit with an 1881 census entry, surname given as Anell, which shows Harriet living with William 34 (son) and Mary 25 (daughter). So it would seem Susan’s mother is Harriet, father William with siblings William, Elizabeth and Mary, but I have no definite proof.
As to a marriage between Susan and Levi I have found nothing in the GRO indexes, parish records or marriage licence books at the local archives.
The 1891 census has the surname as Danford and Levi is shown as Ellie! they are living at 1 Brewhouse Lane, Holy Rood. Harriet & Co are shown at 6 Goaters Alley (Ancestry has their surname as Annello). Susan and Levi die in 1926 & 1910 respectively and are buried together.
My nan who is in her 90's is convinced they were married and is upset to think they may not have been, so I can't probe too deeply with her and as she would have been only 9 when Susan died, alot of her memories would have been via her mother. I have a gut instinct that they didn't marry and Susan assumed Levi's name (I haven't even been able to find all the birth/baptism records for their kids either, but that's a different story!).
I would just love to find something of her prior to 1871. From the info I have gathered about Harriet, I am sure I have the connection between Susan and Harriet but no definite paper proof!
I hope the above makes sense and that somebody may be able to help me. Sorry that this is such an essay.
Thank you
Terri
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