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I am trying to locate my paternal grandfather's family but cannot find them in census docs!! Edith Birch was born in 1896, George Birch in 1900 & William Birch in circa 1902-4. We believe their father to also be George Birch, mother's name unknown. No middle initials for any. The family spent many years in Hammersmith. Can anyone help?

Carol

A long shot for the boys in 1911:

Census 1911:

Person: BIRCH, William
Institution: Kensington Workhouse, KENSINGTON WORKHOUSE

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BIRCH, William Inmate Single M 6 1905 London Kensington


Person: BIRCH, George
Institution: Kensington Workhouse, KENSINGTON WORKHOUSE


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BIRCH, George Inmate Single M 10 1901 London Kensington

Possible for Edith?

Person: BIRCH, Edith
Address: 478 Uxbridge Road


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HARTWELL, Richard F Head Married M 42 1869 Retired Butcher Kent Blackwall

HARTWELL, Annie D Wife Married F 42 1869 Surrey Redhill

SUMMERS, Henry R Brother In Law Married M 44 1867 Organizing Agent N S P C C Surrey Redhill

SUMMERS, Dorothy C Wife To Above Married F 21 1890 Middlesex Ealing

HARDY, Annie M Boarder Single F 21 1890 Student Monmouth Swansea

ADAMS, Rupert B Boarder Single M 26 1885 Medical Student Hants Portsmouth

SANDS, Emma Servant Single F 62 1849 Cook Surrey Redhill

>>>BIRCH, Edith Servant F 14 1897 General Servant London Kensington

Death of the children's father, if indeed it is them in the workhouse?

Death: Birch George 34 Kensington 1a 67 JAS 1907.

What makes you believe their father was George Birch? Do you have the marriage certificate of one of his offspring?

Thank you for the info - I think my mum has the marriage crt for George Birch (b 1900) so this his father's name to be George. This is all quite new to me - under what circumstances would they have ended up in the workhouse?

It seems correct, as the birth record entries are all Kensington.

How do you access workhouse records??

Carol

1901 England Census
about Edith M A Brich
Name: Edith M A Brich
Age: 4
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Edith
Gender: Female
Where born: Kensington, London, England

Civil parish: Kensington
Ecclesiastical parish: St Andrew and St Phillip
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

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Registration district: Kensington
Sub-registration district: Kensington Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 64
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 137
Household Members:
Name Age
George Brich 29
Edith Brich 24
Edith M A Brich 4
Minnie L Brich 2
George Brich 5 months

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Original
Record

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London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
about William Birch
Name: William Birch
Record Type: Baptism
Date: 19 Jun 1904
Father's Name: George Birch
Mother's Name: Edith Birch
Parish: Christ Church, Notting Hill
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
County: Middlesex

A possible

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
about George Birch
Name: George Birch
Age: 24
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Spouse Name: Edith Hopes
Spouse Age: 19
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 2 Feb 1896
Parish: St Mary Magdalene, Paddington
County: Middlesex
Borough: Westminster
Father Name: William Birch

1881 England Census
about Edith Hopes
Name: Edith Hopes
Age: 4
Estimated birth year: abt 1877
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Mary Ann
Gender: Female
Where born: Reading, Berkshire, England

Civil parish: Whitchurch
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England

Street Address: Bridge Cottages
Education:

Employment status:

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Registration district: Bradfield
Sub-registration district: Tilehurst
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
George Hopes 28
Mary Ann Hopes 30
Edith Hopes 4
William Henry Hopes 3
Thomas Hopes 2

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Original
Record

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I did say it was a long shot that the boys in the workhouse were your two.

However it was usually poverty or having no one to take care of them that would result in children being in the workhouse.

It's a bit of a stretch, but if the George Birch who died in 1907 was their father, then his wife might not have been able to cope afterwards, resulting in the children ending up in the workhouse.

Looking more likely your family was in the workhouse.

Here is Minnie from census 1901 as supplied by Helen, in census 1911:

Person: BIRCH, Minnie
Institution: Kensington Workhouse, KENSINGTON WORKHOUSE

BIRCH, Minnie Inmate F 12 1899 London Westbourne Park


Birth: Birch Minnie Louisa Kensington 1a 134 OND 1898.

Edited to add possible marriage:

Birch Minnie L Reynolds Hammersmith 1a 502 OND 1925.
Reynolds Jonathan Birch Hammersmith 1a 502 OND 1925.

1881 England Census
about William Birch
Name: William Birch
Age: 60
Estimated birth year: abt 1821
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Louisa
Gender: Male
Where born: Gloucestershire, England

Civil parish: Paddington
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street Address: 13 Welling Pl
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Carman

Registration district: Kensington
Sub-registration district: St Mary Paddington
ED, institution, or vessel: 10a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
William Birch 60
Louisa Birch 50
George Birch 9

Marriage for Edith M A Birch (Middle initials supplied by census 1901 as posted by Helen):

Marriage:
Birch Edith M A Churchill Hammersmith 1a 520 OND 1923.
Churchill Alfred Birch Hammersmith 1a 520 OND 1923.


Birth: Birch Edith Mary A Kensington 1a 157 AMJ 1896.

Baptisms:

Name: Edith Mary Ann Birch
Record Type: Baptism
Date: 12 Jul 1896
Father's Name: George Birch
Mother's Name: Edith Birch
Parish: St Andrew and St Philip, Kensal Green
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
County: Middlesex
Father a cellarman.

Name: Minnie Louisa Birch
Record Type: Baptism
Date: 20 Feb 1901
Father's Name: George Birch
Mother's Name: Edith Birch
Parish: St Augustine, Paddington
Borough: Westminster
County: Middlesex
Born Oct 1898. Bpatised same day as brother George. Address 16 Golbourne Rd, West Bourne Park. Father a dustman.

Name: George Birch
Record Type: Baptism
Date: 20 Feb 1901
Father's Name: George Birch
Mother's Name: Edith Birch
Parish: St Augustine, Paddington
Borough: Westminster
County: Middlesex

Name: William Birch
Record Type: Baptism
Date: 19 Jun 1904
Father's Name: George Birch
Mother's Name: Edith Birch
Parish: Christ Church, Notting Hill
Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
County: Middlesex
Born 4th Jun 1904. Address 16 Golborne Rd, Father a carman

Seems that the long shot is correct! Which is great in terms of finding them in the 1901 census but sad in terms of the 1911 census as it appears that Edith Birch (nee Hopes) died in 1906, and potentially George Birch in 1907 leaving the four siblings as orphans. If anyone comes across more information on this line of the family, or has any idea how to find out more information on how / when the brothers & sister entered the workhouse, this would be most helpful!

Thank you all so much for your help so far

Carol

You may find that the local council or family history society has workhouse records - some do, some don't.

They could have been in the workhouse hospital, as being the only place to go if they were ill.

I would imagine any original records still in existence would be held at The London Metropolitan Archives.

Might be worth seeing if you can search their catalogue online to check if it's worth making a trip there.