What happened to Phoebe and Thomas Barber? Could Alfred Adams be the father of Hannah Barber’s three youngest children? Maybe a descendant of this family can answer these questions.

John Oxborough

Born: 1814 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Father: Charles Oxborough (1784 to 1869)
Mother: Frances Rayner (1787 to 1845)

Spouse: Maria Piper (1815 to 1892)

Married: 1842 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Children:

Mary Ann Oxborough (1842 to 1895)
Eliza Oxborough (1844 to 1908)
Harriet Oxborough (1846 to 1890)
Phoebe Oxborough (1849 to Unknown)
Jemima Oxborough (1852 to 1931)
Elizabeth Oxborough (1854 to 1929)
John Oxborough (1856 to 1934)
Stephen Oxborough (1858 to 1906)
Harry Oxborough (1860 to 22 NOV 1936)

Died: 1889 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England

Timeline:

1823 Death of sister, Elizabeth
1824 Death of sister, Charlotte
1825 Death of 2nd sister, Charlotte
1826 Death of 2nd sister, Elizabeth
1826 Death of brother, Henry
1828 Death of 2nd brother, Henry
1841 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1842 Marriage to Maria
1842 Birth of daughter, Mary Ann
1844 Birth of daughter, Eliza
1845 Death of brother, Stephen
1845 Death of mother, Frances
1846 Birth of daughter, Harriet
1849 Birth of daughter, Phoebe
1851 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1852 Birth of daughter, Jemima
1854 Birth of daughter, Elizabeth
1856 Birth of son, John
1858 Birth of son, Stephen
1860 Birth of son, Harry
1861 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1863 Death of brother, Charles
1869 Death of father, Charles
1870 Death of sister, Harriet
1871 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1878 Death of sister, Frances
1881 Beccles, Suffolk County, England
1883 Death of brother, George
1889 Death and Burial

Occupation: bricklayer journeyman

Records:

1851 to 1881 England Census Records
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1915

Variations of Surname: none

Spouse:

Maria Piper:

Maria was born in 1815 in Heveningham, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1892 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Maria’s father was Isaac Piper. He was born in 1781 in Shadingfield, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1867 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Maria’s mother was Mary Norman. She was born in 1787 in North Creake, Norfolk County, England. She died in 1871 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Maria had ten known brothers and sisters. The five oldest children were born in Heveningham, Suffolk County, England. The five youngest children were born in Beccles.

Mary Ann Piper (1811)
Isaac Piper (1814)
Eliza Piper (1817)
William Piper (1819)
Charlotte Piper (1820)
Charles Piper (1821)
Phoebe Piper (1822)
Harriet Piper (1825)
George Piper (1829)
John Henry Piper (1831)

Maria had one child out of wedlock:

Henry Piper (1838)

Daughters:

Mary Ann Oxborough:

Mary Ann was born in 1842 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1895 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England.

Mary Ann married Joseph Woolner in 1865 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Three known children were born to this marriage:

Martha M A Woolner (1867)
Harriet Woolner (1869)
Joseph Woolner (1870)

Joseph Woolner was born in 1844 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. He died on 19 MAR 1913 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England.

Probate:

After Mary Ann died, Joseph married a widow, Hannah Bailey Smith, in 1896 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

Hannah Bailey was born in 1850 in Redenhall, Norfolk County, England. She died in 1934 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England.

Hannah had one child out of wedlock:

Jane Louisa Bailey (1870 to 1872)

Hannah had previously married Francis Smith in 1873 in Norwich, Norfolk County, England. Four known children were born to this marriage:

Francis George Smith (1876)
Charles Henry Smith (1879)
Herbert William Smith (1882)
John Frederick Smith (1884)

Francis Smith was born in 1847 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1887 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England. Francis was 40 years old when he died.

Eliza Oxborough:

Eliza was born in 1844 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1908 in Toft Monks, Norfolk County, England.

Eliza married Charles Borrett in 1867 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

Charles Borrett was born in 1840 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1895 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

After Charles died, Eliza married James William Randlesome on 20 DEC 1903 in Toft Monks, Norfolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

James William Randlesome was born in 1846 in Toft Monks, Norfolk County, England. I do not know when James died.

The surname, Randlesome, has many variations. That might be why I could not find a death record. It is also possible that his death was accidentally omitted when the index was compiled.

James had previously married Mary Dyer in 1870 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Six known children were born to this marriage. The four oldest children were born in Barsham, Suffolk County, England. The two youngest children were born in Beccles.

Rose Randlesome (1870)
Charles Randlesome (1873)
Amelia Randlesome (1874)
James Randlesome (1876)
Arthur Randlesome (1878)
Ellen Randlesome (1883)

Mary Dyer was born in 1846 in Barsham, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1900 in Toft Monks, Norfolk County, England.

Harriet Oxborough:

Harriet was born in 1846 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1890 in Southwold, Suffolk County, England. Harriet was 44 years old when she died.

Harriet married Edward Laws on 12 JUN 1866 at the All Church in Islington, Middlesex, England. Eight known children were born to this marriage. The two oldest children were born in Islington. The six younger children were born in Southwold, Suffolk County, England.

Harriet Laws (1867)
Edward Laws (1869)
Henry Laws (1872)
Alice Laws (1874)
Benjamin Laws (1877)
Ernest Laws (1879)
Ellen Laws (1882)
Edith Laws (1885)

Edward Laws was born in 1845 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1916 in Southwold, Suffolk County, England.

After Harriet died, Edward married a widow, Ellen Louisa Smith Winter, in 1892 in Southwold, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

Ellen Louisa Smith was born in 1851 in Southwold, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1928 in Southwold, Suffolk County, England.

Ellen had previously married James Tyler Winter in 1871 in Southwold, Suffolk County, England. Three known children were born to this marriage:

Annie Winter (1873)
Ellen Winter (1876)
James Winter (1877)

James Tyler Winter was born in 1842 in Southwold, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1876 in Lowestoft, Suffolk County, England.

Phoebe Oxborough:

Phoebe was born in 1849 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. I do not know when she died.

Phoebe married Thomas Barber in 1872 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. No known children were born to this marriage.

Thomas Barber was born in 1852 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. I do not know when he died.

What Happened to Phoebe and Thomas?

The 1881 England census shows that Phoebe and Thomas moved to Westminster, Middlesex County, England. His occupation was described as a house decorator.

My search of the 1891 to 1911 England censuses proved futile. The area around London is densely populated. Trying to find an individual is difficult if their name, age, and birthplace are not exact.

Several scenarios may have caused this disappearance:

1.) They could have immigrated to another country.
2.) They could have changed their names to avoid creditors.
3.) Thomas could have died before 1891 and Phoebe remarried.
3.) They both could have died before 1891.

Thomas Barber’s Mother:

Hannah Boon was born in 1818 in Gillingham, Norfolk County, England. She died in 1864 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Hannah was 46 years old when she died.

Hannah married Benjamin Barber around 1838. I do not know where they were married. Six known children were born to this marriage. The five oldest children were born in Chelmsford, Essex County, England. The youngest child was born in Beccles.

Benjamin Barber (1839)
Isabella Barber (1841)
Sarah Barber (1843)
Frederick Barber (1844)
Alfred Barber (1846)
William Barber (1851)

Benjamin Barber was born in 1821 in Bungay, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1850 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Benjamin was 29 years old when he died.

After Benjamin died, Hannah did not remarry. She gave birth to three illegitimate children that carried the surname of Barber. The children were born in Beccles.

Thomas Barber (1852)
Edward Barber (1854)
Emily Barber (1859)

Another Ancestry.com member scanned Edward’s birth certificate onto her family tree. There was no father listed on this document.

The 1861 England census shows that Hannah had a lodger living in the house on Newgate Street. Alfred Adams was 30 years old and unmarried.

In 1852, when Thomas was born, Hannah would have been 34 years old. Alfred Adams would have been 22 years old.

Could Alfred be the father of Hannah’s three illegitimate children? I do not know. This is purely speculation on my part.

I did think it was interesting that Hannah died one day before Alfred Adams. Here are the two death record indexes:

Hannah’s death was recorded under the second quarter of 1864 under volume 4a, page 475.

Alfred’s death was recorded under the second quarter of 1864 under volume 4a, page 476.

What happened to Phoebe and Thomas? Could Alfred Adams be the father of Hannah’s three youngest children? Maybe a descendant of this family can answer these questions.

Jemima Oxborough:

Jemima was born in 1852 in North Cove, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1931 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Jemima married Henry Shiplee in 1870 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. Ten known children were born to this marriage:

Alice Shiplee (1875)
Ellen M Shiplee (1878)
Rosa Shiplee (1879)
Harry Shiplee (1880)
Thomas Shiplee (1882)
Edward J Shiplee (1886)
Florence L Shiplee (1887)
Ernest Bernard Shiplee (1889)
Alfred Shiplee (1890)
James Donald Shiplee (1897)

Henry Shiplee was born on 9 AUG 1850 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1924 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Elizabeth Oxborough:

Elizabeth was born in 1854 in North Cove, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1929 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire County, England.

Elizabeth married Daniel Hindes on 25 JUN 1876 at St James Church in Bermondsey, Surrey, England. Two known children were born to this marriage. Both children were born in Beccles, Suffolk County, England.

Edward Daniel Hindes (1875)
Edith Lydia Hindes (1878)

Daniel Hindes was born in 1857 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. He died on 14 MAY 1927 in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland.

Probate:

Daniel was the illegitimate child of Ann Elizabeth Hindes.

Daniel’s Mother:

Ann Elizabeth Hindes was born in 1838 in Beccles, Suffolk County, England. She died on 11 JUL 1927 in Crawley, Sussex County, England.

Probate:

Daniel’s mother married Frederick John Baker in 1864 at St Mary the Virgin Church in Twickenham, Middlesex County, England. Seven known children were born to this marriage. The six oldest children were born in Twickenham. The youngest child was born in Forest Row.

Louisa A Baker (1865)
Marion E Baker (1867)
Mary C Baker (1869)
Frederick L Baker (1870)
Edward John Baker (1872)
Edith Ann Baker (1874)
Adela Ivy Baker (1879)

Frederick John Baker was born in 1844 in Hampton Wick, Middlesex County, England. He died on 4 JAN 1916 in Brighton, Sussex County, England.

Probate:

Name Change:

Frederick and Ann must have changed their surname before the 1891 England census was enumerated. Their new surname was listed as Budd Budd.

I do not know why they used this double-surname. If any descendants 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.

Back to Daniel Hindes:

I could not find Daniel and Elizabeth on the 1881 England census. I did discover that their two children were living with their maternal grandparents, John and Maria Oxborough.

The 1891 England census shows that Edward and Edith were living with their widowed grandmother, Maria Oxborough.

What Happened to Daniel?

I discovered that Daniel had moved to Ireland. He must have left Britain before the 1881 England census was enumerated.

The 1901 Ireland census shows that Daniel was working as a court crier for James Murphy, a High Court Judge. He was living in Murphystown, Glencullen, Dublin, Ireland. Daniel’s marital status was listed as widowed. His son, Edward, was working as a footman.

The 1911 Ireland census shows that Daniel and his daughter, Edith, were living at 6 Belmont Park, Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland.

What Happened to Elizabeth?

Elizabeth and Daniel must have separated.

The 1881 England census shows that Elizabeth was working for Lady Catherine Maria Dawson in Kensington, London, England. It was in London that Elizabeth met John Stevenson.

The 1891 England census shows that Elizabeth and John were living in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England. This document shows that their oldest child was born in London.

One family tree member suggested that Elizabeth and John never got married. I do know that they lived in Beeston until the time of their respective deaths.

Five known children were born to Elizabeth Oxborough Hindes and John Stevenson:

Harry Hindes Stevenson (1884)
Mabel Stevenson (1887)
John Stevenson (1889)
Annie Stevenson (1893)
Ellen Stevenson (1896)

John Stevenson was born in 1859 in Hickling, Nottinghamshire County, England. He died in 1936 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire County, England.

Confirmation:

At first, I had thought Elizabeth died before the 1881 England census was enumerated. Her children were living with their grandparents in Beccles. Daniel Hindes claimed to be a widow in 1901 and 1911.

I changed my mind when I found a birth record on another family tree. It was for Elizabeth and John’s oldest son, Harry. The birth record included the surname of Hindes. If not for that, I would never have found out what happened to Elizabeth.

Notes:

The surname, Oxborough, originated in Norfolk County, England. It appears in church registers as early as the mid-16th century. As the world population grew, these Oxborough ancestors moved to other counties in England. By the late 19th century, some had immigrated to Canada and Australia.

Creating Your Family Tree

Interested in building a great family tree? Remember these important steps:

Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also excellent sources for births, marriages, and deaths.

Talk to your older relatives to find out about your ancestry. They may relate stories about an ancestor that you can add to your family tree. Family history is usually not found in newspapers. It is more of a verbal memory that is passed down from generation to generation.

Find the right family tree builder that suits your needs. You can choose one that has a paid subscription like Ancestry.com. There are also free sites like FamilySearch.org.

When you start building your family tree, add documentation to your ancestor’s profile. The records can include birth, marriage, death, census, military, city, and county directory listings. Any information that you can find will help create a life story about your ancestor.

If you have a unique surname, like Wakenight, you may find databases on the internet that are useful in your search. I use SurnameDB.com for my English surnames. There are many others on the internet for other countries like Ireland, Italy, and Germany.

Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” As you create your family tree, you would typically start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add their parents, grandparents, and so on.  There are also family trees that go “forward into time.”  Many of these family trees start with a famous person, such as a president or royalty, and move forward into the present time.  The purpose of this type of pedigree is to establish a person’s bloodline with that famous person.

There is no limit on how big your family tree can grow. The blank canvas is there for you to use. Cherish your family history, and it will be there for generations to come!