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I am on a detective trail but have ground to a halt! I am looking for Ellen Louisa Hurdley, born Luton c 1873, in 1881 but can't find her.

I received my great grandfather Samuel Hall Parks' death certificate today - he died 4 March 1928 Lewes, Sussex and found the death was registered by W. Lawson, step-daughter. First I'd heard of a step-daugher! FreeBMD gives marriage Sep 1919 Lewes of Samuel H Parks and Ellen L Lawson.

I couldn't find a Lawson marriage to an Ellen in Sussex where the husband died in the right period, so widened the search and found Thomas William Lawson in Newcastle upon Tyne, draper's assistant aged 35 in 1901, born West Auckland, Durham, with wife Ellen Louisa aged 28, born Luton, Beds and daughter Winifred, 3. There are connections on this side of the family with Luton, and as Thomas William Lawson died aged 52 in June 1918 I'm guessing this is the right family.

FreeBMD gives a marriage in March 1896 Newcastle T between Thomas William Lawson and Ellen Louisa Hurdley. I have found a Hurdley family in Luton in 1871, father Richard aged 41, draper and Local Wesleyan Methodist Preacher but I can't find them in 1881 and wonder if anyone can help please? Many thanks.

I should have added that Samuel Hall Parks's first wife Sarah Ann (Penfold) died in 1918, so a remarriage in 1919 is not surprising - I just hadn't thought to look for one!

is this her in 1891
HURDLEY, Martha Head Widow F 56 1835 Straw Hat Finisher
Upper Clapton
London VIEW
HURDLEY, Ellen L Daughter Single F 19 1872 Straw Hat Finisher
?
Bedfordshire VIEW
Piece:
1271 Folio:
109 Page:
24 Registration District:
Luton

Civil Parish:
Luton Municipal Borough:
Luton Address:
98, Collingdon Street, Luton County:
Bedfordshire

this is the above martha 1881
HURDLEY, Martha Head Widow F 50 1831
Upper Clapton (London) VIEW
HURDLEY, Richard Son Single M 21 1860 Clerk
Luton
Bedfordshire VIEW
HURDLEY, Beatrice Daughter Single F 19 1862 Straw Hat Finisher
Luton
Bedfordshire VIEW
HURDLEY, Arthur Son Single M 17 1864 Clerk
Luton
Bedfordshire VIEW
HURDLEY, Annie Daughter Single F 15 1866 Scholar
Luton
Bedfordshire VIEW
HURDLEY, Thomas Son Single M 13 1868 Scholar
Luton
Bedfordshire VIEW
HURDLEY, Debbe Daughter Single F 11 1870 Scholar
Luton
Bedfordshire VIEW
Piece:
1650 Folio:
25 Page:
43 Registration District:
Luton

Civil Parish:
Luton Municipal Borough:
Address:
Albion Road, Luton County:
Bedfordshire

Looks like it yes. :-) I should also have said that FeeBMD doesn't have her birth either, so she's proving somewhat elusive!

Until 1875 it was possible to avoid registering births, as there were no penalties for not doing so

OK, I didn't know that. Thanks. :-0

just wondering if this could be the parents marraige

Civil registration event: Marriage
View the original image

Name: HURDLEY, Richard

Registration district: [?] Hackney

County: London

Year of registration: 1857

Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep

Spouse's last name Not available before 1912

Volume no: [?] 1B

Page no: [?] 507
MarriageFinder™: [?] Richard Hurdley married married one of the following people Transcript
HAILSTONE, Martha VIEW
KELSEY, Ann VIEW
BURGE, George William

richards death ?
Civil registration event: Death
View the original image

Name: HURDLEY, Richard

Registration district: [?] Luton

County: Bedfordshire

Year of registration: 1881

Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar

Age at death:51

Volume no: 3B

Page no: 295

Looks right doesn't it. Thank you. But still no Ellen. And I'll still need to prove a connection with my Luton folk to be sure that this is the right Ellen. Samuel Hall Parks's daughter Alice (my grandmother) married in 1911 in Eastbourne Albert Cook, born Kensworth, Herts (now Beds), a village near Luton. It was his 2nd marriage, and he'd been a baker in Luton.

1911 Martha Hurdley says 9 children born 2 died.
Emily 1858 died 1864
Annie Elizabeth 1866 died 1892.

Richard Waters Hurdley 1864
Arthur 1864
Mary jane 1861
Martha D 1862
Henry Thomas @ 1886/7
Emily Beatrice 1865?
Debbe 1871
Total above the 7 who survived,but where is the birth record for the Debbe or Ellen??Debbe no where to be seen in 1881??
I think that the Debbe above could be the Ellen Louisa

All the other births have been recorded.

Mary b

Has anyone been able to find the Lawson family on the 1911?

I can't see them.

there is no debbie/deborah hurdley in 1891 nor any marraige so I think Mary could be right

ellen in 1911
LAWSON, Thomas William Head Married M 44 1867 Drapers Assistant West Auckland C Durham VIEW
LAWSON, Ellen Louisa Wife Married
15 years F 38 1873 Luton Bradfordshire VIEW
LAWSON, Winifred May Daughter F 13 1898 School Newcastle/ Tyne Northberld VIEW
LAWSON, Walter Leslie Son M 6 1905 School Newcastle/ Tyne Northld VIEW
LAWSON, Arthur William Son M 3 1908 Newcastle/ Tyne Northld VIEW
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
30691 Reference:
RG14PN30691 RG78PN1756 RD558 SD6 ED35 SN248

Registration District:
Newcastle upon Tyne Sub District:
Byker Enumeration District:
35 Parish:
Heaton

Address:
54 Falmouth Road Heaton Newcastle upon Tyne County:
Northumberland

Not all the Hurdley births had made it onto FMP births, could it be that Ellen Louisa has been missed off free bmd, it might be worth taking a punt with GRO for a no name birth with parents Richard Hurdley and Martha 1871 approx. They search a couple of years either side I think if you don't have a reference - I had my £9.25 returned to me when one of mine couldn't be found.

Just as an aside I found the family as THEADLEY on the 1861 census on FMP, with Mary Jane as MAry Inn - have reported it.

Also for future reference if you do follow the family back, it's possible Richard married in Luton 1853 to Ann Thompson (or Hannah Wootley). Looking at deaths after that, an Ann Hurdley died Luton 1854 and an Ann Thompson Hurdley in Luton 1855 (b 1854)

Thanks for the 1911 Maddie. Mm - no excuse for missing that one.

Ann Thompson married Richard Hurdley in Luton O/N/D 1853 3b 1014.
had Ann Thompson Hurdley Oct 1854 a Ann Hurdley died Oct 1854 so was that the mum Ann!!

Martha D Hurdley 1862- 1951 was up in Durham 1881 as a drapers assistant.

Maryb.

Martha in 1881 (as MAry says above) is with Theophilus and MAry Duff. MAry is from Luton and their marriage is 1863 in Luton - she was Mary THOMPSON - surely not just a coincidence??? (Tongue in cheek, the Duffs have a daughter Ellen b 1873!)

The ellen /helen Duff born Durham 1873 is with mary Duff mum in 1901.

Sorry Stuart.

So Ellen louisa only appears after she is married to Thomas W lawson,as I can't see her 1881/91

Maryb.

Many thanks everyone - plenty to think about! Very confusing when people change their names. But it's also fascinating finding the things that do link up - Luton seems to be a common thread here.

I wonder where the death is for Ellen louisa Parks,that would have given her birth year maybe.

If her daughter registered Samuel H parks death in 1928 had Ellen died prior to that??

This one is so annoying.

Maryb.