Help needed with a brickwall ... please!

[Elaine ..Spain]

Trying to find birth and parents of Mary Jessop / Lawrence / Lea born 1855-1861

I have four definite events:

Birth certificate of Florence Jessop Lea 13th May 1881, Rochester Row, Westminster.
Mother: Mary Lea, formerly Lawrence
Father: Alexander Lea, occupation coachman
Birth registered by Mary Lea, mother, 45 Rochester Row, Westminster on 24 June 1881.

1891 census: RG12/1652/79/12
Alexander Lee, born c1854, Middlesex - occupation Mineral Water Manufacturer
Mary Lee, born c1855, Middlesex
Florence b1882
Annie 1885
Edith 1887

1901 census: RG13/2579/17/25
Alexander Lea born c1859, Walworth - occupation Minteral Water Manufacturer
Mary Lea born c1861, Highbury London
Darcy b1894
Freddy b1899

February 1927 : Death certificate/burial records – name recorded as Mary Jessop Lea, died aged 71.


I have checked the 1881 census and Mary and/or Alexander are not living at 45 Rochester Row (RG11/0113/76/4)

I do not think Mary and Alexander ever married. (Alexander was already married with three children!)

Can anyone find them in the 1881 census, or work back on Mary?

[KiteRunner]

Presumably Alexander isn't with his other family in 1881?

[Elaine ..Spain]

No he isn't Kate. He left them 1878/1879

[Elaine ..Spain]

Oops - my apologies - forgot some important information about Alexander.

He didn't like telling the truth with his age!
On 1851 census he is recorded as born 1849 Lambeth
On 1861 census he is recorded as born 1850 Walworth
On 1871 census he is recorded as born 1850 Lambeth

I guess that in later life he decided to knock a few years off his page.

[KiteRunner]

I'm looking for Mary on earlier censuses now as I got nowhere with 1881. But if she doesn't give her middle name on the censuses it could be tricky finding her - I have Laurences and Lees in my tree so I know!

[Elaine ..Spain]

The birth certificate of Florence Jessop Lea is the first link I have had with the use of Jessop as the middle name (as recorded on Mary's burial records in 1927)

I originally wondered if mother was actually Mary Jessop, and when she "met" Alexander she used the name Mary Jessop Lea - but the BC of Florence shows MMN of Lawrence.

I have searched for a Jessop/Lawrence connection but cannot see anything!

I just don't know how I can work back on this one.

[KiteRunner]

I thought maybe Mary was illegitimate and her original name was Jessop then her mother married a Lawrence, or vice versa, but I haven't found a likely Jessop / Lawrence marriage either.

[Elaine ..Spain]

The only place of birth I have for Mary is Highbury. Am I right in thinking that would come under the Islington registration district?

[KiteRunner]

Yes, it would, assuming she's right about being born there!

[Elaine ..Spain]

Kate, thanks for trying. I have a feeling that this one will never be knocked down! :(

[Selena]

Just curious but I couldn't see a birth reference for Darcy. Have you found one? I wondered if all the children had Jessop in their names.

Selena

[Elaine ..Spain]

Sorry, I actually gave the Ancestry transcription - it should be Daisy!