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Hi there

Trying to track more on a Catherine Portman – born 1877 Ipsley, Warwickshire, England. Daughter of James Portman and Harriet Wells. I can find the Birth record and 1881 census but nothing afterwards ( looking or Marriage and Death for her and I cannot find either)

She has a sister Elizabeth who married a George Willis (this is the couple I am researching and have birth and marriage dates) in 1896. The had 2 kids Lizzie and Emma. Now there is a rumour that George married or lived with Catherine before marrying a 3rd women called Maud. I cannot see a death cert for Elizabeth either – even tried to see if she had remarried?
So,
1. Can anyone find anything more about Catherine?
2. Can anyone see if there is a death cert for Elizabeth or perhaps she remarried?

Any help gratefully received

Cheers

Gaynor

Could this be Catherine?


1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Wilton Street, Aston, Warwickshire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William H Grice Head Married Male 34 1857 Grocer & Beer Retailar Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
Eliza Grice Wife Married Female 37 1854 - Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
Lillian U Grice Daughter - Female 11 1880 Scholar Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
Florence E Grice Daughter - Female 5 1886 Scholar Aston, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
Helda M Grice Daughter - Female 4 1887 - Aston, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
William S Grice Son Single Male 1 1890 - Aston, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
>>Kate Portman Servant Single Female 14 1877 Domestic Servant Crabbs Cross, Worcestershire, England


EDIT Seems likely as this is the 1881 for reference.



1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Crabbs Cross, Feckenham (Worcs), Alcester, Warwickshire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
James Portman Head Married Male 29 1852 Labourer Feckenham, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Harriet Portman Wife Married Female 28 1853 Needle Maker Feckenham, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Edith Portman Daughter Single Female 8 1873 Scholar Feckenham, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Elizabeth Portman Daughter Single Female 5 1876 Scholar Feckenham, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Catherine Portman Daughter Single Female 4 1877 - Ipsley, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
Alfred Portman Son Single Male 1 1880 - Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Bertha Portman Daughter Single Female 0 1881 - Feckenham, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Annie Wells Lodger Single Female 17 1864 Needle Maker Feckenham, Worcestershire, England

I'm not seeing anything more on Kate just yet but do you have more details on Elizabeth? When were her daughters born and where did they live?

8,Crabbs Cross Crescent Bdgs,1,Charles Portman,Head,M,37,,General Labourer,Employed,Feckenham Worcestershire,,
,,,Harriett Portman,Wife,M,,35,,,Dormston Worcestershire,,
,,,Frank Portman,Son,S,8,,Scholar,,Birmingham Warwickshire,,
,,,Rosina Portman,Dau,S,,6,Scholar,,Feckenham Worcestershire,,
,,,Ethel Portman,Dau,S,,1,,,Feckenham Worcestershire,,
,,,James Portman,Brothr,W,39,,General Labourer,Employed,Feckenham Worcestershire,,
,,,Alfred Portman,Nephew,S,11,,Scholar,,Redditch Worcestershire,,

Warwickshire Ancestors Project — 1891
Transcript of Piece RG12/2482

http://www.hunimex.net/warwick/freecens/2482.html

Chris :)

Hi
Crabbs Cross seems about right

Ok may have some more info

George and Elizabeth lived around the Redditch are of Worcester 1901 census - Hadzor, Worcestershire, England

Looks like Maud was his Georges 2nd wife and they had 2 children Walter and Charles - ( this is according to a relative who is now in her 90's) Georges 3rd wife was kate/Caterine who was the sister of his first wife and may havehad a surname of Bookes?

Cheers

Thanks Gaynor. So for info, this is George and Elizabeth.


1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Hadzor, Droitwich, Worcestershire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
George Willis Head Married Male 28 1873 Waggoner Oddingley, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Elizabeth Willis Wife Married Female 25 1876 Gloveress Feckenham, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Lizzie Willis Daughter Single Female 4 1897 - Hanbury, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Emma Willis Daughter Single Female 2 1899 - Hanbury, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Charles Broom Boarder Single Male 25 1876 Cowman Studley, Worcestershire, England


Still with Elizabeth in 1911,




1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Dean Ditch Himbleton Droitwich, Himbleton, Worcestershire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place
George Willis Head Married Male Farm Labourer 38 1873 Worc Oddingley Parish
Transcription
Elizabeth Willis Wife Married Female - 36 1875 Ipsley Parish
Transcription
Nellie Willis Daughter - Female At School 9 1902 Worct Hadzor Parish
Transcription
Georgie Willis Son - Male At School 8 1903 Worct Himbleton Parish
Transcription
Elsie Willis Daughter - Female - 4 1907 Worct Himbleton Parish
Transcription
Doris Willis Daughter - Female - 2 1909 Worct Himbleton Parish

So perhaps this is George with Catherine in 1939.

Willis Household (5 People) 3 Lower Izods Yard , Redditch U.D., Worcestershire, England

First name(s) Last name(s) DOB Sex Occupation Marital status Schedule Schedule Sub Number
George Willis 18 Feb 1873 Male General Labourer Gas Married 127 1
Catherine Willis 10 Mar 1877 Female Factory Hand Glass Married 127 2
James Ellis 19 Aug 1895 Male Labourer (General) Gas Single 127 3
Harold P Biddle 24 Aug 1898 Male General Labourer Gas Single 127 4
Thomas Wilson ? Jul 1907 Male Foreman Mainlayer Heavy Single 127 5

Hi thanks - the 1939 link is interesting :)

What I am looking for is
1) a death cert for Elizabeth ( which I cant find) and any proof that George married Catherine ( they may have just lived together I suppose)
2. Did Catherine marry anyone else and her death cert.

Cheers

In the meantime I will see if I can trace George and this Maud lady

George's marriage to Elizabeth.


England Marriages 1538-1973 Transcription
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First name(s) George
Last name Willis
Name note -
Age 23
Marriage year 1896
Marriage date 01 Mar 1896
Marriage place Feckenham
Father's first name(s) Henry
Father's last name Willis
Spouse's first name(s) Elizabeth
Spouse's last name Portman
Spouse's birth year 1876
Spouse's birth date 1876
Spouse's father's first name(s) James
Spouse's father's last name Portman
Residence Feckenham, Worcester, England
County Worcestershire

OOh
Just found a marriage with a Kate Portman and Richard Booker 1899 - in Bromsgrove

This seems a good lead :)

Well done Gaynor!


1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Court House, 3, Walford Street, Township, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
George Lewis Head Married Male 36 1865 Needle Filer Redditch, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Annie E Lewis Wife Married Female 34 1867 Needle Spitter Crabbs Cross, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Ada Lewis Daughter Single Female 9 1892 - Redditch, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Elizabeth E Lewis Daughter Single Female 2 1899 - Redditch, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
>>Catherine Booker Visitor Married Female 24 1877 Glass Clower Crabbs Cross, Worcestershire, England
Transcription
Albert E Portman Visitor Single Male 3 1898 - Alcester, Warwickshire, England




1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Court 8 House 2 Walford St Redditch, Redditch, Worcestershire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place
Harriet Dee Head Widow Female - 72 1839 Enville Staffs
Transcription
>>Kate Bucker Lodger Married Female Glass Blower 34 1877 Crabbs Cross
Transcription
William Farr Grandson Single Male Box Making 15 1896 Headless Cross
Transcription
Albert Bucker Lodger Single Male Fishing Tackle 13 1898 Alcester


Sorry, must go now just when it's getting interesting!

Interesting - I wonder what happened to Richard Booker?

Well here's her marriage to George,


England & Wales marriages 1837-2008 Transcription

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First name(s) CATHERINE
Last name BOOKER
Marriage quarter 1
Marriage year 1931
Registration month -
MarriageFinder™ CATHERINE BOOKER married
GEORGE WILLIS
Spouse's last name WILLIS
District BROMSGROVE
District number -
County Worcestershire
Country England
Volume 6C
Page 351

Wonder if this is Richard?


British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

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First name(s) Richard
Last name Booker
Birth year 1872
Birth parish Feekinham
Birth town Redditch
Birth county Worcestershire
Birth country England
Service number 3416
Regiment "Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) - 72nd & 78th Foot"
Year 1891
Attestation date 16 Sep 1891
Attestation age years 19
Attestation age months 1
Attestation service number 3416
Attestation corps "Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-Shire Buffs, The Duke Of Albany'S)"
Discharge corps "Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-Shire Buffs, The Duke Of Albany'S)"
Document type Attestation
Series WO 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference WO 97
Box 4382


Sarah was his mother's name and he was in S Africa 1900-02 and discharged in July 1903 on conviction of felony.


Here he is before joining up. Looks like he adjusted his age a bit.



1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Bleachfield Street, Alcester, Warwickshire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Sarah Booker Head Widow Female 65 1826 Washerwoman Haselor, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
Bertha Booker Daughter Single Female 22 1869 Needle Eyer Alcester, Warwickshire, England
Transcription
Richard Booker Son Single Male 17 1874 Needle Filer Alcester, Warwickshire, England

Hmm...(just reading about who I think might be that Richard!, in lodgings with a Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, Bleachfield Street. 1905)

Chris :)

http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/whats-black-and-white-and-red-all-over.html

Edits (if relating, there is a Richard Booker (b. 1875) Passenger to Australia, 1914)

Brilliant - thanks all

Looks like George and Kate got together in their 50's .( still cant find a death date for his first wife Elizabeth)

Interesting tail of George and his 3 wives :)

I have found a marriage record for a George Willis and a Maud Nice in 1919 - wondering if this is wife no 2, * cant find a George Willis marring any other Maud)

Every feel you are going around in circles ?

That was a good find Chris! I must admit my first impression was, Oh dear, he was a murderer, but after reading the facts that first impression was very wrong.

The service records read 'he was convicted and impd by Civil Power 'Felony' 14 days impt H.L.' 22.06.03 and was discharged 'on conviction of felony' 04.07.03.

He was a Lance Corporal in May '03 and a Private when discharged. Perhaps he did emigrate to Oz to escape the stigma that must have followed him.



EDIT Looking at the dates, the RB in the paper was convicted of manslaughter in Feb 1905. In March he was found not guilty and discharged. I wonder if he was estranged from his wife after whatever got him discharged from the army and that was why he was lodging with Mrs Jones. Of course, they could be two different people altogether!

Possibly Catherine's death ??

Catherine Willis
in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Catherine Willis
Birth Date: abt 1877
Date of Registration: Dec 1948
Age at Death: 71
Registration district: Worcester
Inferred County: Worcestershire
Volume: 9d
Page: 228

Kate appears to have had a son before her marriage to Richard Booker. He is Albert E Portman in 1901 and Albert Bucker (that is the correct spelling in the original) in 1911.

??


British Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1924 Transcription

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First name(s) Albert Edward
Last name Portman
Service number J28682
Birth year 1898
Birth date 07 Feb 1898
Birth place Alcester
Birth county Warwickshire
Birth country England
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference ADM 188/704/28682

and ??

Record set England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935
Piece number 36
Series MEPO6
Source Habitual Criminals Register 1924
First name(s) Albert Edward
Last name Portman
Year 1923
Birth year 1899
Occupation Labourer
Place Worcester
Birth date ? ? 1899
Date ? ? 1923


He got 15 months for larceny and his address on release was 27, Walford St, Redditch. This is the same street he's in in 1901 and 1911.

Can't see an obvious death of Elizabeth - but then Elizabeth Willis isn't an uncommon name.

Just a VERY long shot - if perhaps she and George divorced or separated, and she reverted to her maiden name and went home to Crabbs Cross -

Deaths Mar 1925 (>99%)
Portman Elizabeth 48 Alcester 6d 988


Actually, I can't see a record of her birth either.