Families can be intricately connected. In 1911, Jim married Florence Georgina Springett. In 1898, his sister, Mary Ann, married Florence’s brother, George William Springett.

Jim Allen

Born: 14 JUL 1880 in Bagworth, Leicestershire, England

Father: George Henry Allen (1853 to 1933)
Mother: Frances Blower (1851 to 1930)

Spouse: Florence Georgina Springett (1879 to 1950)

Married: 1911 in Nailstone, Leicestershire, England

Children: None

Died: 1962 in Ibstock, Leicestershire, England

Probate:

Timeline:

1881 Markfield, Leicestershire, England
1891 Nailstone, Leicestershire, England
1901 Nailstone, Leicestershire, England
1911 Death of sister, Sarah
1911 Nailstone, Leicestershire, England
1911 Marriage to Florence
1930 Death of mother, Frances
1933 Death of father, George
1939 Ibstock, Leicestershire, England
1941 Death of brother, David
1950 Death of wife, Florence
1961 Death of sister, Eliza
1962 Death and Burial

Occupation: coal miner

Records:

1881 to 1911 England Census Records
1939 England Census Record
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995

Variations of Surname: none

Jim’s Wife:

Florence Georgina Springett:

Florence was born on 24 JUN 1879 in Glemsford, Sussex, England. She died in 1950 in Ibstock, Leicestershire, England.

Florence’s First Marriage:

Florence married Thomas Swingler in 1899 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Two children were born during their marriage:

Ellen Margaret Swingler (1900)
Winifred Swingler (1905)

Thomas Swingler was born in 1880 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. He died in 1908 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Thomas was 28 years old when he died.

Florence’s Parents:

Florence’s father was John Henry Springett. He was born in 1844 in Bures St Mary, Suffolk, England. He died in 1917 in Ibstock, Leicestershire, England.

Florence’s mother was Ann. I do not know her maiden name. She was born in 1850 in Barford, Norfolk, England. She died in 1915 in Ibstock, Leicestershire, England.

Florence had seven known brothers and sisters. The oldest two children were born in Northamptonshire. The third child was born in Norfolk. The fourth youngest children were born in Nailstone Wood, Leicestershire, England.

Enoch Springett (1872)
William Springett (1874)
John Henry Springett (1877 to 1891)
Rose Springett (1883 to 1896)
Nellie Springett (1886)
Ernest Clifford Springett (1888)
Philip Springett (1890)

A Little History and A Little Mystery:

This line of the Springett family lived in Ibstock, Leicestershire, England. Their home was located in an area known as Nailstone Wood.

As I researched this family, I noticed that Henry’s age and birthplace differed on several documents. I originally found Florence living with her parents in the 1891 England Census. Henry did not work because he was blind.

The 1891 England Census listed Henry’s age as 53 years old (1838) and his birthplace as Islington Green, London, England.

The 1901 England Census listed Henry’s age as 64 years old (1837) and his birthplace as Bures, Essex, England.

The 1911 England Census listed Henry’s age as 70 years old (1841) and his birthplace as Bures, Essex, England.

With this information, I backtracked and searched the 1881 England Census. Henry and his son, Enoch, were part of a traveling caravan that had stopped in Capel St Andrew, Suffolk, England. The census taker did not include a marital status on this document. I could not find Ann or the children in the 1881 census.

I could not find Henry or Ann in the 1871 England Census. In the 1911 England Census, Henry indicated that they had been married for 42 years (1869). But where? I could not find a marriage record for them in Essex, Norfolk, or Suffolk counties. Could the given name Ann be her middle name?

I could not find birth records for Henry and Ann’s two oldest children. The 1891 England Census listed their birthplaces as Somersham (Isle of Ely) and Northampton (Northamptonshire), respectively.

This might indicate that their surnames were not Springett. Could Ann have given birth to two illegitimate children before she married Henry? Ann was 22 years old when Enoch was born.

The 1861 England Census shows Henry Springett was 17 years old (1844). He was living with his family in Bures St Mary, Essex, England.

The 1851 England Census shows Henry Springett was 6 years old (1845). His birthplace was listed as Bures St Mary, Essex, England.

I believe the individual in these census records was Florence’s father. I am not sure why he listed Islington Green as his birthplace. I could speculate that his parents lived in Islington Green before settling in Bures. Yet, another unanswered question.

If anyone has information on this family they would like to share, please contact me. My email is dlwakenight@yahoo.com. You can also leave a message in the Comments Section of this post.

The Allen Family:

The Surname Database indicates that the surname Allen is of Gaelic and Breton origins:  

“The Bretons, who were originally British settlers in France, returned as invaders with William, Duke of Normandy, otherwise known as ‘The Conqueror’ in 1066, and in so doing it is claimed, re-introduced the name into England.”

The House of Names website explains:

“The name was popular among the Breton followers of William the Conqueror due to St. Alan (St Alain), a 5th-century bishop from Quimper, Brittany. During the Middle Ages, parents often named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.”

“The surname Allen was first found in the lands of Shropshire, where Walter Fitz Alan of Brittany held a family seat after the Norman Conquest of 1066.”

An article on Wikipedia indicates that Walter was a son of Alan Fitz Flaad:

“Alan Fitz Flaad, a Breton knight, was awarded lands in Shropshire by King Henry I.  Although the surname was also common in Scotland and Ireland, it was probably Alan’s descendants who populated these counties.”

The Allen ancestors that you find in this family tree settled in the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire in England. Shropshire lies directly northwest of these counties.

The progenitor of this family tree was Philip Allen. He was the second illegitimate son of Lucy Allen. Her parents were William and Mary Allen. They remain a mystery at this time.

Do you have Allen ancestors who lived in this area of England? Do you have information on Lucy’s parents? If you know the answer to this question, please contact me. My email is dlwakenight@yahoo.com. You can also leave a message in the Comments Section of this post.

Creating Your Family Tree:

Are you interested in building a great family tree? Do you want to preserve your family history? Here are some tips on how to become a family genealogist.

Genealogy:

Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” You start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add parents, grandparents, etc., and continue down the line. Your family tree will grow when you add your ancestors’ descendants, their children, their grandchildren, etc.

Choose a Family Tree Website:

There are family tree websites that require paid memberships. These include Ancestry, My Heritage, and Find My Past. If you want a family tree website that is free of charge, you can try FamilySearch. These family tree websites allow you to search millions of records and build your family tree.

WikiTree is another family tree website that is free of charge. This site does not have searchable databases.

Add Photographs and Documents:

Have you heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words“?  All of these family tree websites allow you to upload photographs and scanned documents to your family tree.

Ask your parents, grandparents, and cousins for copies of their family photos. They may also have documents such as letters, diaries, family bibles, and newspaper articles. These are all excellent sources of vital records.

Create Family Stories:

Every family has a story to tell! Did you have an ancestor who served in the military? Did your ancestor become a doctor, lawyer, or well-known actor? Did your ancestor have a “skeleton in the closet“? These stories can be uploaded to your family tree website.

What’s In A Name?

Have you ever wondered what your last name means?  The SurnameDB.com is a great website for finding the origins of English surnames. There are also websites for other parts of the world like Eastern Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

Thank You!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to the Family Tree Insider. If you notice an error or want to comment on a post, please contact me.  I appreciate any feedback that will improve your experience on this website.