Here are the facts we know about my great-grandmother-in-law:
- Her name was Annie Dyer Beaver, and her full name may have been Jane Ann or Ann Jane. This is common knowledge among her descendants.
- She was born in England (as all her U.S. census documents attest)
- There is a marriage registration for Ann Jane Dyer and Thomas Alfred Beaver, second quarter of 1899, in St. Giles, London.[1]
- In the 1901 UK Census, she was head of household, living with three of her husband's siblings (Albert J, 23, printer (I think - it's hard to read); William H., 18, copper plate printer; and Victoria H., 14). Her age is given as 31 (for a birth year of 1870), and her birth place as Clerkenwell (a region of central London).[2]
- She arrived, with her children, in the United States on Oct. 16, 1913, to join her husband, who was already working in Ohio. We have the passenger manifest from the ship Haverford, which docked in Philadelphia. She gives her age as 39 (which would mean a birth year of 1874), her husband's address as South Euclid, Ohio, and her nearest relative in England as "Mrs. Puleston" of 47 Arlington Rd., London. (Deciphering that name was, um, difficult. See below).[3]
OK, those are the basic facts. Several ancestry.com users have her in their family trees, and most put her birth year as 1877 in Lancashire, and her parents as George Dyer and Margaret Smith. I believe this is incorrect, and the result of the poor British records. There is a "Jane Ann Dyer" who shows up in a record search as the daughter of George and Margaret in Lancashire, born 1877. But the facts of this Ann's life don't fit those of "our" Annie.
First, Annie's 1901 census record clearly gives her birthplace as London (granted, it could be wrong), and her birth year as 1870 (making her 4 years older than her husband). Although she self-reported a later birth date in the passenger manifest (making herself 39 instead of 43, because no woman ever lies about being over 40!), in the 1920 census documents she gives her age as 50 [4]. She didn't record her age in the 1930 census, but she gave her age at first marriage (in 1899) as 29. Both of these records correspond to a birth year of 1870, not 1877.[5]
So is there another Annie Dyer, one born in 1870 in Clerkwell? The short answer is "no". However, there's a record for an Ann Jane Dyer, born Oct-Nov-Dec, 1869, in Holborn.[6] Holborn is very close to Clerkenwell, less than an mile away in central London.
The next logical place to look, of course, is the UK Census for 1871. There is more than one Dyer family in London in 1871, but here is my best bet for the correct family: John Robert Dyer, 35, an electroplating worker born in Holborn, living in St. James Clerkenwell, with his wife Mary Ann, 35, who was born in Birmingham. Living in their household are son George, 13, born in St. Pancras; daughter Mary Ann, 11, born in Holborn; son John, 6, born in Holborn; daughter Clara, 4, born in Holborn; and daughter Ann, 1, born in St. Pancras.[7]
First, a note about the locations. St. James parish in Clerkenwell, which is where the family was living in 1871, is the area around St. James Church of England, which is located in central London, NE of King's Cross Road (A201) and Clerkenwell Rd. The census was taken in the summer, so if Ann was born in the last quarter of 1869, she would still be one at the time of the census. Although the 1871 census says she was born in St. Pancras, and the birth record says she was born in Holborn, it is easy to see how, as an adult, she would have given her birth place as Clerkenwell, since apparently the family was living there when she was very young, and, as we will see, she lost her parents soon after. It's hard to know the exact location of St. Pancras (listed as Annie's place of birth in the 1871 census) relative to Holborn (where her birth was registered), because St. Pancras is no longer a separate political entity. It is, in fact, put together with Holborn in the UK Parliament, as the borough of Holborn-St. Pancras. I can only guess that, even at the time, a birth that took place in the parish of St. Pancras was registered in the civil registry of Holborn.
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| Clerkenwell Green and St. James's Church Nothing proves that England and the U.S. are two nations divided by a common language quite like the realization that anyone could call this a "green" |
First, a note about the locations. St. James parish in Clerkenwell, which is where the family was living in 1871, is the area around St. James Church of England, which is located in central London, NE of King's Cross Road (A201) and Clerkenwell Rd. The census was taken in the summer, so if Ann was born in the last quarter of 1869, she would still be one at the time of the census. Although the 1871 census says she was born in St. Pancras, and the birth record says she was born in Holborn, it is easy to see how, as an adult, she would have given her birth place as Clerkenwell, since apparently the family was living there when she was very young, and, as we will see, she lost her parents soon after. It's hard to know the exact location of St. Pancras (listed as Annie's place of birth in the 1871 census) relative to Holborn (where her birth was registered), because St. Pancras is no longer a separate political entity. It is, in fact, put together with Holborn in the UK Parliament, as the borough of Holborn-St. Pancras. I can only guess that, even at the time, a birth that took place in the parish of St. Pancras was registered in the civil registry of Holborn.
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| 47 Arlington Rd, London Google Map Street View |
Further evidence that our Annie Dyer was the daughter of John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer comes from the 1891 Census, in which Ann J. Dyer, born in Clerkenwell, is listed as "sister" in the household of Henry R. Louch, 34, and his wife Mary Ann Louch, 31. Mary Ann was the name of the oldest daughter of John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer, and since she was 11 in 1871, she would have been 31 in 1891. Confirmation that this woman is indeed Ann J Dyer's sister (and that the census taker's handwriting was horrific) can be found in the marriage record for Mary Ann Dyer and Henry Robert Leach, in the winter of 1882.[10]
The most obvious next step would be to trace the Dyer family from the 1871 census to the 1881 census, but here we run into a common problem among the poverty-stricken families of London's Victorian slums: the family had split apart and the children were scattered. Where the parents were remains mystery. My best guess is that one or more of them died, and the children were divided out among relatives. There was a John Dyer, 44, electroplator, living at 43 Gloucester St., Holborn, in 1881. He was living with a wife named Fanny, their one-year old child Jessie, and two step-daughters aged 8 and 11.[11] This may be John Robert, Annie's father, and his new family. But where were the children of the previous marriage?
The oldest son, George, was out on his own, following his father's professional footsteps. George E. Dyer, 23, Electroplate Maker, was living in 1881 in St. Pancras, with his wife, Mary Anne Dyer, age 20.[12] The eldest daughter of John Robert was named Mary Anne Dyer, and she would have been around 20 in 1881. Since I can find no other Mary Anne Dyers in the 1881 census, I wonder if this census document erred in listing Mary Anne as George's wife, and if in fact she was his sister.
The second son, John, would have been 16 in 1881. There are two possible census records for him. One is a John Dyer, age 16, who's a patient in the Royal Naval Hospital, and gives his birth location as St. Pancras. Alternatively, there is a John A. Dyer, age 17, living and born in Shoreditch, with his younger sister, Emily, age 8.[13] I'm not sure which, if any, of these are our John Dyer.
The second daughter, Clara, would have been 14 in 1881. The only plausible census entry is for a Clara Dyer, 14, born in Mile End, who lived in West Ham, 20 Leyton Rd., Albert Cot, with her grandparents Samuel Hersom, 53, and Elizabeth Hersom, 63, as well as another of the couple's granddaughters, Annie Hersom, aged 1. Samuel was born in Horsleydonn, Surrey, and Elizabeth was born in Clifton, Somerset. None of these birth places fit with Annie's mother, Mary Ann Dyer, who gave Birmingham as her birth place. Furthermore, I can't find any record of a Mary Ann Hersom married to a John Robert Dyer. Attempts to follow Samuel and Elizabeth Hersom into the past show no daughters of the correct age or name. This remains a possible lead to follow later. It would be exciting if we had some insight into Annie's mother's family! Unfortunately, it's entirely plausible that one or more of the Dyer children were just left out of the 1881 census, having dropped through the cracks, so to speak.
What about Annie herself? Where was she in 1881? I am fairly confident I have found her. There is an Annie Dyer, age 12, listed as "niece" to the head of the household, Sophia Ward, widow, age 38, living in 1 Huntley Place, Shoreditch. Sophia Ward gives her birthplace as Shoreditch, as well. A nephew, Thomas Dyer, aged 10, presumably a brother of Annie's, is also living in the household.[14]
I determined the name of Sophia Ward's deceased husband by looking at the 1871 census, which lists her as wife in the household of William Ward, 31, born St. Andrew's Middlesex, England, and living in Shoreditch.[15] There is a Sophia Dyer who married a William Thomas Ward in Shoreditch in 1862, which is about right for the birth year of their first child.[16] I'm guessing, therefore, that Sophia was Annie's paternal aunt.
But how do I know that the Sophia Dyer who married William Ward was the sister of John Robert Dyer? Unfortunately, I can't find that smoking gun document to prove the connection. However, I have a strong circumstantial case based on the names that John Robert and Sophia gave to their children. First, Sophia Ward's children, as listed in the 1881 census, are Edwin, Charles, Albert, and Eliza.[14] John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer's first son was named George, but he was christened George Edwin Dyer, born March 8, 1858, and christened May 2, 1858 in St. Anne, Soho, Westminster.[17] Their eldest daughter was named for her mother, Mary Ann, but their second daughter, Clara, was christened Clara Sophia Dyer.[18] And, of course, the two families both named a daughter Annie.
I searched for John Robert and Sophia Dyer as young siblings in the 1851 census, but I was not successful. I did find a census record for a family living in St. Giles-in-the-fields, Middlesex (which, believe it or not, is in the middle of London). The family consists of Edwin (or Edward) Dyer, a bookmaker, his wife Sophia, and their children Anne, John, and Edwin. Edwin/Edward was born in Devonshire, and his wife was born in Suffolk. All of their children had been born in Middlesex. Each of the family names were also used by John Robert Dyer and Sophia Dyer Ward for their children. But young Sophia, who would have been around seven at the time of the census, is not listed as a member of the family. Could she have been living with another relative? Or do I have the wrong census record?[19]
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| Huntley Street, London (Google street view) This is the closest to the likely address I could find. Number 1 is on the left in this picture. |
I determined the name of Sophia Ward's deceased husband by looking at the 1871 census, which lists her as wife in the household of William Ward, 31, born St. Andrew's Middlesex, England, and living in Shoreditch.[15] There is a Sophia Dyer who married a William Thomas Ward in Shoreditch in 1862, which is about right for the birth year of their first child.[16] I'm guessing, therefore, that Sophia was Annie's paternal aunt.
But how do I know that the Sophia Dyer who married William Ward was the sister of John Robert Dyer? Unfortunately, I can't find that smoking gun document to prove the connection. However, I have a strong circumstantial case based on the names that John Robert and Sophia gave to their children. First, Sophia Ward's children, as listed in the 1881 census, are Edwin, Charles, Albert, and Eliza.[14] John Robert and Mary Ann Dyer's first son was named George, but he was christened George Edwin Dyer, born March 8, 1858, and christened May 2, 1858 in St. Anne, Soho, Westminster.[17] Their eldest daughter was named for her mother, Mary Ann, but their second daughter, Clara, was christened Clara Sophia Dyer.[18] And, of course, the two families both named a daughter Annie.
I searched for John Robert and Sophia Dyer as young siblings in the 1851 census, but I was not successful. I did find a census record for a family living in St. Giles-in-the-fields, Middlesex (which, believe it or not, is in the middle of London). The family consists of Edwin (or Edward) Dyer, a bookmaker, his wife Sophia, and their children Anne, John, and Edwin. Edwin/Edward was born in Devonshire, and his wife was born in Suffolk. All of their children had been born in Middlesex. Each of the family names were also used by John Robert Dyer and Sophia Dyer Ward for their children. But young Sophia, who would have been around seven at the time of the census, is not listed as a member of the family. Could she have been living with another relative? Or do I have the wrong census record?[19]
To summarize, at this point I'd say with 99% certainty that Annie Dyer Beaver was the daughter of John Robert and Mary Anne Dyer. I have about 85% certainty that John Robert Dyer and Sophia Dyer Ward were the children of Edwin and Sophia Dyer. Someday, I hope, I'll be able to find some trace of Annie's mother's family.
Sources:
1. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:269F-SYR : accessed 17 September 2015), Ann Jane Dyer, 1899; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, St. Giles, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9D4-WGW : accessed 19 September 2015), Ann J Beaver, Islington, London, Middlesex, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Islington South East subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1883-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2379-QBL : accessed 17 September 2015), Annie Beaver, 1913; citing Immigration, NARA microfilm publication T840 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,402,621.
4. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDBX-VXH : accessed 17 September 2015), Ann Jane D Beaver in household of Thomas A Beaver, Euclid, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing sheet 4A, family 92, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,374.
5. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4QF-KKW : accessed 17 September 2015), Ann Jane Beaver in household of Harley Brown, South Euclid, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0710, sheet 5A, family 115, line 27, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1788; FHL microfilm 2,341,522.
6. "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2X7S-M46 : accessed 20 September 2015), Ann Jane Dyer, 1869; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Holborn, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
7. 1871 UK Census, Ancestry.com Class: RG10; Piece: 387; Folio: 4; Page: 2; GSU roll: 824620
8. http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/112417/rec/13
9. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DD4-GDS : accessed 20 February 2016), William Edwin Puleston, 1886; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, Lambeth, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
10. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DTH-LL9 : accessed 20 February 2016), Mary Ann Dyer, 1882; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast(http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, St. Giles, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
11. Class: RG11; Piece: 337; Folio: 68; Page: 32; GSU roll: 1341073. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
12. Class: RG11; Piece: 321; Folio: 132; Page: 32; GSU roll: 1341069. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
13. Class: RG11; Piece: 390; Folio: 15; Page: 23; GSU roll: 1341084. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
14. England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6T-HFD5 : accessed 22 February 2016), Sophia Ward, Shoreditch, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 29, Piece/Folio 399/109, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,255.
15. "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRJX-296 : accessed 20 February 2016), Sophia Ward in entry for William Ward, 1871.
16. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DVS-JTQ : accessed 20 February 2016), William Thomas Ward, 1862; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast(http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Marriage, Shoreditch, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
17. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWXR-HRS : accessed 22 February 2016), John Robert Dyer in entry for George Edwin Dyer, 02 May 1858; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 918,608.
18. England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915, FreeBMD, Ancestry.com Operations Inc
19. Class: HO107; Piece: 1508; Folio: 103; Page: 68; GSU roll: 87842 Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
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