What can you tell me about my grandmother?
Q
My grandmother, Louisa Godfrey (born c1877–1890), married my grandfather, Charles Worth, a glassblower, at Islington Registry Office on 2 February 1902. She was 23 and gave her address as 69 Liverpool Road Buildings, Islington. Her father was William Godfrey, fruit salesman. On 15 May 1905, Louisa died at St Bartholomew’s Hospital,
London, her death certificate stating she was 27. How can I find out more about her? Janet Watson
A
There’s a good chance Louisa was living in London when the 1901 census was taken, so use an address search to check whether she was at the address on her marriage certificate. If she isn’t, look at all Louisa/Louise Godfrey entries in
London. In 1901, there’s a Louisa Godfrey (born c1879) working as a housemaid in St Michael Cornhill, Islington. Is this her? Then use the family/householdmember fields to look for a Louisa Godfrey with a father named William in earlier censuses.
Next, search for a baptism on several websites, as the county coverage varies. If you find any with a father called William, was he a fruit salesman? Since he may have changed occupation between Louisa’s birth and her marriage, note possible baptisms and trace the families through later censuses. Finding a family who moved to London might be a clue that it is the one you want.
You may need to get certificates for the births of any Louisa Godfreys registered in 1876– 1880. I suggest starting with the two from London (March 1876, Holborn, and December 1878, Islington). However, before you do, see whether any of the index entries match with the baptisms you found; this may help you rule out registrations where the baptism reveals that the father was not called William. As with the baptisms, trace each one through later censuses. Hopefully you will be able to rule everyone out apart from just one candidate.
Katherine Cobb