Religious Affiliation and Who’s the mom?
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 Filed under: Genealogy issues, Research strategy, Sue's family research | Tags: 50 Marriage Mondays, baptist, church of england, Coulson, Hitcham, illegitimacy, Smith, Wattisham 2 CommentsWhen I examined the original parish register at the Bury St Edmunds branch of Suffolk Record Office, back in 2002, the name of this bride’s father stood out. As I was following my Coulson relatives, I did not investigate further at the time.
Bride: Lily May Smith, age 20
Groom: George William Coulson, age 27
Date: 23 June 1905
Location: All Saints, Hitcham
Father of Bride: Alice Jane Smith (deceased)
Father of Groom: John Coulson (deceased)
Alice Jane Smith does not sound like a man’s name, so why would a woman be recorded as a ‘father’? Could Lily May have been the illegitimate daughter of Alice Jane Smith? My first step in pursuing this question was to verify the marriage entry from an independent source. A gravestone at the Wattisham Strict Baptist chapel commemorates this couple and confirms their approximate dates of birth. The Baptist chapel at Cross Green in Hitcham was a satellite of the Wattisham chapel. In my experience, people who are missing from the established Church of England registers for All Saints, Hitcham, often turn up in the Baptist records. George was baptised at All Saints. The couple could have married in the Baptist chapel at this date. As there is a long history of non-conformists marrying in the established Church of England, we can’t assume that this couple’s choice indicates their religious affiliation.
Lily & George W Coulson gravestone
Wattisham Strict Baptist Chapel, Suffolk, England
In loving memory of
LILY
beloved wife of
GEORGE W COULSON
died 9th Dec 1958
in her 73rd year
safe in the arms of Jesus
also of
GEORGE W COULSON
died 31st July 1959
aged 8[1] years
for ever with the Lord
George and Lily appear on the 1911 census at Brettenham Road, Hitcham, with daughter, Violet; brother-in-law, William Smith, aged 61; and mother-in-law, Susannah Smith, a widow aged 72. The mother-in-law relationship to George suggests Susannah was Lily’s mother, but her age is too old for that to be likely. I found no reasonable match for Alice Jane Smith, which is consistent with her deceased status on the 1905 marriage register.
In 1901, Lily was living and working as a servant in the household of a farmer in neighbouring Bildeston, so we can glean no helpful relationships from that record. Susannah (aged 65) is recorded on the Hitcham census with husband Robert Smith (aged 79) and two adult un-married daughters, Alice (aged 35) and Elizabeth (aged 21). The 1891 Hitcham census is even more helpful as Robert Smith’s household contained wife Susan (aged 50), daughter Alice (aged 23) and granddaughter Lily M (aged 5). It does not identify Alice as Lily’s mother, but I will be surprised if the civil birth registration for Lily (1886, Jan-Mar quarter Cosford district, vol. 4a, p. 691) does not confirm my suspicions. The evidence so far clearly suggests Lily May was raised with the support of her grandparents, Robert and Susannah Smith.
© Sue Adams 2013
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Provenance of a Personal Collection – Archival Accession, Arrangement and Description
Posted: 20 May 2013 Filed under: Genealogy issues, Genealogy resources, Genealogy software and data, Sue's family research | Tags: 50 Marriage Mondays, archival accession, archival arrangement, archival description, archive catalogue, Birmingham, Coulson, Davis, provenance, Smith 10 CommentsGenealogists have a lot to learn from archivists when it comes to the personal collection of documents we accumulate.
Accession
When new materials are received, the first thing an archivist does is record:
- where it came from
- who it belongs to
- roughly what is included
- any legal agreements or conditions of use imposed by the donor
My parents gave me a box of genealogical goodies few months back as they had moved to a smaller residence without stairs. Dad said he doesn’t mind what I do with it. These statements comprise a very informal, and somewhat vague, accession record. When presented with such a collection, we often do not make notes of the provenance or context of the acquisition, but we should.
Accession information is generally included in archive catalogues only as a reference or access category, as some of it may be private e.g. the donor’s identity. Acquired collections may resemble an auction job lot you bought for the one item that was not junk, so they need to be sorted and organised. In archival terms, the collection needs to be arranged.
Arrangement
Archival arrangement collects items together in a way that preserves the provenance and context in which they were created and used. The arrangement is reflected in the structure of the catalogue. Each item is assigned a logical position within a hierarchy of categories. Taking an example from my personal archive, the marriage certificate for Joshua Arthur Smith & Beatrice Elizabeth Davis (RWC/1/6/4), was acquired as part of a discrete bundle from Winifred Clarke (RWC/1/6) in connection with the death of Raymond Walter Coulson (RWC) and filed by his administrator (RWC/1). I sorted the items in Winifred’s bundle by date of creation, as they weren’t in any order.
In a big archive’s online catalogue, you might only see the entry for the marriage certificate, but you need to check the hierarchy to get the full story. My personal catalogue looks like this.
| Reference | Title | Description | Dates |
| RWC | Raymond Walter Coulson (1922-1997) collection | Papers, photographs, correspondence, memorabilia and probate documents of Raymond Walter Coulson of 322 Aston Hall Road, Aston, Birmingham, who died intestate on 24 May 1997. | |
| RWC/1 | Probate file | Compiled by [my dad], administrator for the estate of Raymond Walter Coulson, between May 1997 and January 1998. | |
| RWC/1/6 | Winifred Clarke late Coulson, nee Smith (1906-1996) collection | Bundle of birth, marriage and death certificates, probate and burial documents, 1 photograph. Given to [my dad] in 1997 by the residential home where Winifred Clarke last resided, as no other relative had claimed them. | 1860-1996 |
| RWC/1/6/1 | Marriage Certificate – George Smith & Clara Webster | 20 Jul 1860 | |
| RWC/1/6/2 | Marriage Certificate – Walter Davis & Elizabeth Walton | 06 Jul 1874 | |
| RWC/1/6/3 | Birth Certificate – George Edward Coulson | 21 Nov 1902 | |
| RWC/1/6/4 | Marriage Certificate – Joshua Arthur Smith & Beatrice Elizabeth Davis | Church of England, St Saviour’s church, Saltley parish, County of Warwick. Original certified copy of the Marriage Register, page 109, no 217, 23 May 1904 | 23 May 1904 |
| RWC/1/6/5 | Birth Certificate – Joshua Arthur Smith | 28 Aug 1923 | |
| RWC/1/6/6 | Marriage Certificate – George Edward Coulson & Winifred Smith | 14 Dec 1929 | |
| RWC/1/6/7 | Death Certificate – George Edward Coulson | 04 Feb 1957 | |
| RWC/1/6/8 | Death Certificate – George Edward Coulson | 04 Feb 1957 | |
| RWC/1/6/9 | Bill for funeral of George Edward Coulson | 22 Feb 1957 | |
| RWC/1/6/10 | Grant of exclusive Right of Burial | 01 Mar 1957 | |
| RWC/1/6/11 | Will of Winfred Clarke | 14 Jan 1971 | |
| RWC/1/6/12 | First Codicil to Will of Winfred Clarke | 16 Nov 1973 | |
| RWC/1/6/13 | Death Registration certificate – Winifred Clarke | 03 Jul 1996 | |
| RWC/1/6/14 | photograph – elderly woman & baby | n.d. |
Description
Archival description pulls together the information needed to identify, manage, locate, and interpret the contents of a collection and explains the context of a collection’s creation and functions. Information that applies to a whole group of items is included in the record for that level, becoming more specific at deeper levels of arrangement. My example includes an item level description of the marriage certificate, and how and why it was acquired (i.e. the context) in other levels of the hierarchy.
Genealogical citation geeks may recognise many of the elements of a genealogical citation are included in my catalogue. That makes me wonder why catalogue details are not embedded in digital images of documents we routinely download. Now that would really add value to online data offerings.
Detailed description takes lots of time and archives receive many accessions, so do not expect archive catalogues to contain item level descriptions with names of people. Only very important collections may be fully described.
Winnie’s collection
The collection accumulated by Winifred, known as Winnie, is an excellent springboard for researching her family, particularly the Smith side. If you want to put a face to the name, she featured in ‘Is it George or Jack? Engagement photograph identification’. This collection identifies her parents, grandparents, and all 4 great-grandfathers.
Chart showing Winnie’s ancestors and the relationships of custodians of her collection
The chart presents Winnie’s relatives and shows people who have had custody of her parent’s marriage certificate (green), and the person whose death lead to its acquisition (red). A bread crumb trail of custody is:
Beatrice & Joshua > Winnie > elderly residential home > Dad > Me
Marriage Certificate – Joshua Arthur Smith & Beatrice Elizabeth Davis
Bride: Beatrice Elizabeth Davis, aged 26
Groom: Joshua Arthur Smith, aged 41
Date: 23 May 1904
Location: St Saviours, Saltley, Warwickshire
Beatrice and Joshua appear on the 1911 census at 13 Ash Tree Cottages, Alum Rock Road, Saltley, Birmingham. The household was headed by Clara Smith, Joshua’s mother and included 4 year old Winifred, the couple’s daughter. I can’t help wondering if the mystery photo of an old woman and baby might be Winnie and her grandma Clara.
The National Archives reference for this census record is RG 14/18344/25. Fancy trying out the catalogue? Can you work out what each of the reference elements means?
The 25 item refers to the number marked on the schedule, a form comprised of one sheet of paper. The catalogue does not include any item level information i.e. individual schedules, but the group of schedules.
| RG | Records of the General Register Office… |
| 14 | 1911 Census Schedules |
| 18344 | Registration district no 385 (Aston), Registration Sub-District no 5 (Erdington), Enumeration district no 25 |
© Sue Adams 2013
Correction 20 January 2015: The National Archives reference should be RG 14/181344 not RG 14/18172, so this post has been updated accordingly.
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Is it George or Jack? Engagement Photograph Identification
Posted: 10 Dec 2012 Filed under: Photo dating, Sue's family research | Tags: 50 Marriage Mondays, Coulson, Saltley, Smith 2 CommentsThe 15th post in the 50 Marriage Mondays series illustrates how documents handed down through the family can both clarify and confuse. Winifred (known as Winnie) Smith’s papers included her marriage certificate.
Marriage Certificate – Coulson, George Edward & Smith, Winifred
Bride: Winifred Smith
Groom: George Edward Coulson
Date: 14 December 1929
Location: St Saviour church, Saltley, Birmingham
The photograph collection that belonged to Mabel Coulson, Winnie’s sister–in-law, includes pictures of Winnie. This pair of photos clearly represents a couple. The young woman is Winnie, so it would be natural to assume that the young man is her husband George.
Winnie & Jack engagement photos
However, the family folklore says that the young man is John William (known as Jack) Coulson, George’s brother. Winnie and Jack were engaged and it is thought that the photos commemorate the betrothal. Tragically Jack died of tetanus on 11 April 1927. Can the photos be dated to confirm or refute the story?
The Local Photographer
Portrait of Winnie in fox fur
Mabel’s collection includes another photo of Winnie. All three are postcard prints, a format popular from the 1890s to the 1960s, marked with the photographer’s details:
LOUIS, 104 Alum Rock Road Studio, Birmingham
Arthur Louis is listed as a photographer at the address in the 1932 and 1939 Kelly’s Directory of Birmingham. I have not yet consulted earlier trade directories, but there is evidence that Louis was in business as early as 1924. Pictures from a Family History attributes wedding photographs for a couple who married on 26 July 1924 to Louis. Winnie was recorded on the 1911 census at 13 Ash Tree Cottages, Alum Rock Road, Saltley, Birmingham, the same address as her residence on her marriage to George. Winnie lived at 131 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham in 1957 when George died and in 1971 and 1973 when she first made and altered a will. All of Winnie’s known addresses are in close proximity to the photographic studio. The 1924-1939 date range of Louis’ business does not rule out either Jack or George as the subject.
Costume evidence
In the engagement photos, Winnie’s round neckline and long, single string of pearls suggests a 1920s date. Winnie’s short waved bob and Jack’s very short hairstyles were popular throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Jack’s tie-bar suggests a 1920s date, but wearing a V-necked pullover rather than a waistcoat was more popular in the 1930s. So, the internal dating evidence is not definitive, but points more to the 1920s.
The fox fur stole dates Winnie’s portrait to the 1930s. As the composition and studio background differs from the engagement photos, I think this photo was taken on a separate occasion. I also think Winnie looks a little older in this picture, putting the engagement photos at an earlier date.
Now turn over
From the front, the two engagement photos match in composition, background and possibly date. You won’t have noticed from the digital copies presented that they are slightly different sizes. Stacking photos like a pack of cards is a quick, accurate way of comparing by size.
| Photo | Width (mm) | Length (mm) |
| Winnie engagement | 87 | 135 |
| Jack engagement | 85 | 135 |
| Winnie in fox fur | 85 | 135 |
Winnie’s engagement photo is 2mm wider and also has subtle differences on the printed post card back compared to the other photos.
Back of Winnie’s engagement photo
An interpretation
What do I make of all this? A possible explanation that is consistent with all the evidence is as follows:
Winnie and Jack had their photos taken when they became engaged. Copies were distributed to friends and relatives, which is how Mabel, the sister of Jack and George, came to own the engagement photo of Winnie. After Jack’s death and probably a few years after the engagement, Winnie decided to have her photo taken. By that time Mabel had no photo of Jack, so asked for a copy. Winnie obliged and also gave Mabel a copy of herself in the fox fur. Consequently, the same card stock was used for these two prints.
Shrimpton, Jayne. (2008). Family Photographs and How to Date Them. Countryside Books: Newbury.
© Sue Adams 2012
