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There is this marriage in Middlesbrough for an Ellen:-


England & Wales, Marriage Index: 1916-2005
about Ellen Coward
Name: Ellen Coward
Spouse Surname: Parker
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1921
Registration district: Middlesbrough
Registration county (inferred): Yorkshire
Volume Number: 9d
Page Number: 1301
Find Spouse: Francis Parker

and children?

Births Jun 1922
Parker Olive Coward Middlesbro' 9d 1001

Births Sep 1925
Parker Francis W Coward Middlesbro' 9d 902

maybe.......................... or maybe not?


England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Ellen Margaret Coward
Name: Ellen Margaret Coward
Year of Registration: 1901
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Gateshead
County: Durham, Tyne and Wear
Volume: 10a
Page: 1063

UPDATE: Alice`s obituary reads: BLOTT (otherwise Coward),-On July 13, at 76 Telford-street, North Ormesby, Alice, dearly loved mother of Mary, Ellen, Evelyn and Annie Cortege leaves above address Friday 3.30, for service and interment at North Ormesby Cemetery. Funeral private.

This seems to confirm the work you all did here, so thank you!
I can't a reference for Ellen's birth, and I've looked under the different surnames but no sign yet ... will keep looking though!

Thank you for this help; I would never have worked outthe mystery otherwise! Thank you! I have lokoed for military records for J.W. Cowen/Coward, but no such luck as yet! Perhaps I really need to order his birth cert! Thank you !

Well, that explains why I couldn't find John William's birth under Coward or Blott.

Alice must have had another partner between Frederick and John.

Rose

Could this be his death?


England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
about John W Coward
Name: John W Coward
Death Registration Month/Year: 1918
Age at death (estimated): 22
Registration district: Lambeth
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume: 1d
Page: 434



# 4th London General. A TF General Hospital in Denmark Hill. 300 officers and 1625 other ranks.
- Neurological section established by early 1915, acting as clearing hospital for these cases. Formerly the Maudsley Memorial Hospital at Denmark Hill. By June 18 known as Maudsley Neurological Clearing Hospital.


Who operated and manned these hospitals?

These military hospitals were manned and operated by the Royal Army Medical Corps and Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, supplemented by voluntary workers from a number of organisations including the Voluntary Aid Detachments, Red Cross, St John's Ambulance and YMCA.


From:- Denmark Hill, Camberwell
to:- Lambeth, London
distance:-1.8 miles

possible birth for the son but why Cowen?


England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about John William Cowen
Name: John William Cowen
Year of Registration: 1897
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Gateshead
County: Durham, Tyne and Wear
Volume: 10a
Page: 900

Now I have been looking through my notes; Alice's father, is buried with these two men, who I assume are Alice's son and husband?

1) J.W. Coward, otherwise Cowen - aged 22 years, of 59 Blake Street, buried 20th May 1918 (4th London General Hospital Britton?)

2) John Coward - aged 79 years, 76 Telford Street, North Ormesby, buried 26th October 1945.

Alice Blott age 87
Middlesbro
3rd qtr 1955
vol 1b page 580


Just checked , and the reference details are exactly the same which would indicate that she never married John Coward but was indeed a commom law wife.that is why her death is registered under both surnames.

Wow, this definitley makes sense! John George Smitheringale was my gg granddad!

I'll keep looking for a marriage ... funny though as there is also an Alice Blott dying in 1955 aged 87 years ... is the same person as Alice Coward, and if so why is she registered under two different names?!

Re 1901 census:-

15 Thomas St Middlesbro( same address as Alice Coward but different households)

John George Smitheringale age 32, Slag Lighterman on Barges born Frieston Lincolnshire
Mary J Smitheringale age 32, wife, born Stockton Durham
Fred Smitheringale age 8, son born Middlesbro
William age 6 son born Middlesbro
Elizabeth age 5 daughter born Middlesbro
Harriett age 3 daughter born Middlesbro
Amelia age 1 daughter born Middlesbro


Have not been able to locate a marriage for John coward to Alice Blott/Smitheringale.

Oh my this is amazing; you have all solved a mass problem I had had for years. Alice Smitherinbgale's father John died and was buried with people named Coward. I could nver find a connection, and I assumed that once hewas buried the grave had been resold or something etc. But this makes sense! Wow, thank you ... I can't thank you enough! You have really solved a riddle here for me!!!!!

In 1901 who are the Smitheringale's next door?! Also, does it look as though Alice Smitheringale and John Coward where 'common-law' spouses (so not married). I am so thankful for this!!!!

another?


England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Annie Coward
Name: Annie Coward
Year of Registration: 1909
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Middlesbrough (1875-1968)
County: Yorkshire - North Riding
Volume: 9d
Page: 528

Birth of Alice's daughter Evelyn?


England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Eveline Coward
Name: Eveline Coward
Year of Registration: 1906
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Middlesbrough (1875-1968)
County: Yorkshire - North Riding
Volume: 9d
Page: 555

Well, this appears to be Fred's death:-

Deaths Jun 1920
BLOTT Frederick 63 Middlesbro' 9d 684

possibly Alice?

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
about Alice Coward
Name: Alice Coward
Death Registration Month/Year: 1955
Age at death (estimated): 87
Registration district: Middlesbrough
Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
Volume: 1b
Page: 580

And there are Smitheringales next door. Has to be the correct family.

Looks like Alice and Fred. had separated if Peter says he was still alive in 1911.

Rose

Found them:

1901 England Census
about Alice Poward
Name: Alice Poward
Age: 34
Estimated birth year: abt 1867
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: John
Gender: Female
Where born: London, England

Civil parish: Middlesbrough
Ecclesiastical parish: St Hilda
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England
Registration district: Middlesbrough
Sub-registration district: Middlesbrough
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 148
Household Members: Name Age
John Poward 36
Alice Poward 34
Mary A Poward 12
John W Poward 4
Charles Legge 39

Rose


Rose

Anyone else notice that the head of the house was an Alice born the same time as Alice Smitheringale/Blott? Wonder if she had separated from Fred. Blott.

Can't see to find the Cowards in 1901.

Rose

This entry on 1911?

1911 census transcription details for: 1 St James Place Middlesbro
National Archive Reference:
RG14PN29268 RG78PN1696 RD535 SD3 ED5 SN186

Reg. District: Middlesbrough Sub District: Middlesbrough West
Parish: Middlesbrough Enum. District: 5
Address: 1 St James Place Middlesbro
County: Yorkshire (North riding)
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth
Year Occupation Where Born
COWARD, Alice Wife Married
24 years F 43 1868 No Occapation Middlesbro Yorks
COWARD, William Son M 15 1896 No Occapation Gateshead Durham
COWARD, Helen Daughter F 9 1902 School Gateshead Durham
COWARD, Evelyn Daughter F 5 1906 School Middlesbrough Yorks
COWARD, Annie Daughter F 2 1909 Middlesbrough Yorks
>>>>>>>HERMAN Visitor Married
2 years F 23 1888 Middlesbrough
>>>>>>>HERMAN, Mary Daughter F 2 1909 Middlesbrough


unable to read the christian name but could be just Mrs.

Also could not find a birth for a Mary Herman born 1909 but did find this entry:


England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Mary Ann Blott
Name: Mary Ann Blott
Year of Registration: 1909
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Middlesbrough (1875-1968)
County: Yorkshire - North Riding
Volume: 9d
Page: 600


wondering if there is a connection?


Sorry Choccy, so engrossed in searching, I did not see that you had got there first going down the same path.

Is this - perhaps - the birth of the child listed as Herman in 1911?

Births Jun 1909 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BLOTT Mary Ann Middlesbro' 9d 600

No birth for Mary Herman in 1908/9

The mother (on 1911 image) states that she has been married for two years, but that's probably due to the age of her child..................