I am trying to confirm a maiden name for a Caroline WATKINS who was born in 1872 at Upper Dorsy (Dorsey) Farm, Cluton/Clunton, Shropshire. She may have been the Niece of John Hammond, 1831 of Stoke in Millbrook/ Salop, Shropshire. She may have been a RUDD. I can't find a farm with that name in the area on any maps, so possibly an incorrect spelling? She was a Housekeeper and a Laundress. She lodged with her Uncle in Kings Norton in 1901. She lived in Dukestown, Tredegar in 1911.
As Caroline Watkins is the niece of John Hammond have you investigated how she could be related to him? Was John related to Caroline's father or mother? Although I guess there is a faint chance that John was related to Caroline's husband. If you search on John Hammond(s) born c.1831 in Shropshire, you can find him in various Census dating back to 1851 born in Stoke St. Milborough (spelt in various ways). John married Hannah Hands (a widower, 12 years older than John) in Birmingham in 1864. As Hannah was born in Warwickshire it is unlikely that Hannah was blood related to Caroline, given Caroline's birth place.
Did her mother marry a Hammond (i.e. a sibling of John Hammond)?
However I did a search of Caroline Hammond(s) to someone named Watkins in 1890-1900, but without success. So perhaps Caroline's relationship to John is through her mother.
Stoke St. Milborough is about 20 miles to east of Clunton in south Shropshire.
I'm not sure about the 1911 Census record you found, as if I've picked up the right one it states she was born in Monmouthshire.
Sorry if the above is of little help, but hopefully it will give you some thoughts on how to widen your research.
Best of luck
Phil
Hello Debra
You are most unfortunate to have located two census entries both of which have a place of birth that is not entirely readable.
I notice on the 1901 census that Caroline is listed as Married even though her husband is not shown but by 1911 she is a widow. One possibility you might like to bear in mind is that her husband may have been fighting in the Boer War in South Africa. If he died there you can probably find a casualty list on the Internet.
You mentioned that Caroline's maiden name may have been RUDD. Looking at the 1891 census there is a Caroline H RUDD Servant single age 19 Domestic servant general born Shropshire Cleeton at Moss Side, Lancashire Ref: RG.12/3201 folio 92 page 14. The birth place probably refers to Cleeton St Mary or one of the places close by.
Looking at a large scale map of Cleeton St Mary, slightly less than a mile WNW on the modern map is Dovey Cottage. It is named the same on the six inch Ordnance Survey map of 1903. I have spoken to a local farmer and he tells me that Dovey Cottage has about 7 acres of land with it. It has been unoccupied for 10-15 years. He has never heard of Upper Dovey Farm so I am guessing that the cottage and farm could well be the same place. The easiest way for you to find it on a map is to use Bing maps and search for Cleeton St Mary. When the initial map comes up you will see in the top right hand corner 'Road' with a drop down arrow. From the drop down select Ordnance Survey. To the west of Cleeton St Mary you should see Cleetongate and to the west of that Dovey Cottage. You may need to zoom in or out to get the correct scale image.
Whilst there is a church at Cleeton St Mary, looking at the Shropshire parish registers on Find my Past
(Put Shropshire in the search box) I find that Caroline RUDD's baptism is recorded in the Bitterley baptisms on 4 Sep 1870 and she was the daughter of James & Caroline RUDD of Cleeton labourer.
A search of the marriage indexes reveals that Caroline RUDD almost certainly married Frank James WATKINS in Jul-Aug-Sep (Q3) 1895 in Kings Norton Reg. Dist. Worcestershire. Ref: 6C 711.
Mike
Debra,
Following up on Mike's suggestion ... If she was Caroline Rudd, then you can also find her in the 1871 and 1881 Census living with her parents James and Caroline Rudd in Bitterley / Stottesdon. Also note that Caroline (the mother) was born in Stoke St. Milborough. The two Census records state that Caroline (the daughter) was born in Bitterley, whilst the 1871 Census states that her siblings were born in Stoke St. Milborough.
If you subscribe to the Ancestry website search on Caroline Rudd born 1871 =/- 2 years and you will find at least 3 family trees that give information on Carolne, her parents and siblings.
Finally, and this is a bit of a long shot, but there was a marriage in 1853 in Stanton Lacy between Thomas Rudd and Margaret Hammond. Thomas was a Blacksmith from Ludlow, and Margaret was a Laundress from Stanton Lacy. Both were widowed at the time of their marriage. You can find the marriage certificate on the Findmypast website. The Hammond connection may lead to John Hammomd in the 1901 Census.
Phil
Caroline Watkins was the sister of my Great Grand mother who was born in Stanton Lacy near Ludlow on 21st September 1837. Hope this info helps.
Bob Griffiths
Thank you all very much for your advice and tips and I'll follow them up. Caroline is not family but she did bring my illegitimate Grandmother up. My Grandmother shows up as Caroline's daughter (Queenie Ilona Annie Watkins) in the 1911 census in Tredegar. Ideally I'd like to connect Caroline to the Procters of Lainger House, Bordley, Skipton most likely in a domestic capacity. My Grandmother's name was Patience Annie Procter and she was born in Dalton in Furness. I'm trying to find out how Caroline came to have my Grandmother! Bob, if it's possible that this Caroline is a relative to you, are you able to shed any light? I notice there is a death for Caroline Watkins in Ludlow.
Hello Bob
Are you able to shed any light on Caroline's past. If it is the same Caroline, she was the woman who brought my Grandmother up. I would like to find some sort of conncection or any pieces of information to help me with my search.
Debra
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Hello,
As I live in Australia and as I am unfamiliar with the geography of Shropshire, I may be way out with this suggestion. Because looking at a map of Shropshire, I do think that Prior's Lee and Clunton where you mention Caroline lived by 1901, are quite a distance apart. Never the less, just for your interest, I did find a marriage of Caroline JONES to a William WATKINS in FindMyPast Shropshire marriages.
Details as follows: Place of Marriage: Ketley, (Red Lake).
William WATKINS aged 24 years, Place of Residence - The Rock
Married Caroline JONES aged 22 years, Place of Residence - Prior's Lee. I note that the Marriage Registration shows this Caroline is 3 years older than your ancestress.
Date of Marriage 25th December 1891.
Regardless, good luck with your search. Cheers, Helen