Another fresh lead, I know I should know my grandmothers' maiden name, and now I do!
While you are reading this, here is a picture of the family tree as a Treedraw image - you will also need the viewer if you do not already have it.
Arthur John Evans married Julie Wickham (i.e. my grandparents), Julie (Nelllie) had around five sisters whom many died living in Norfolk. The main ones I remember are Minnie, who we visited every Christmas in Nothumberland Avenue,Edmonton. She later moved to Ash Hill, Norfolk. Another sister was Cissie, who again lived in Neckton, Norfolk. Two other of the sisters lived next door in adjoining bungalows. All these were in the region of Swaffham (I haven't checked the geography).
The other sister lived around Southampton, and I remember her daughter Bonnie well, at Christmas get-togethers.
It has been said that Julies mother lived in Romford at some stage in her life, sometime between say 1875 and 1940, and in the area of Romford along the London Road heading towards Chadwell Heath ? This is now a proven fact. Her father Ejester (strange and unique name) married a Mercy Murphy.
The BMD civil registrations show her as Nancy Murphy, but this is a simple error. Mercy Murphy was born in Dalston about 1873, but her siblings born before her were all born in Romford! Interestingly, Mercy's mother is also a Mercy, but I have not yet proven who her father is (obviously a Murphy).
Mercy is born in Dalston (or maybe Plaistow) in 1873, and the whole family is living in West ham by 1881 or probably ealier.
Wills offer a great many leads into the family names.
On 31 Dec 1993. Minnie Frances Wickham died in Dereham, Norfolk. The civil registration index gives her birth date as 28 Apr 1909.
Also, on 23 May 1990, Cecilia Nancy Baxter (nee Wickham) died. Her residence prior to this at St Andrews Way, Necton. She is probably born before March, 1906 in Kingston,Middx.
Julias death was registered in March 1984 in Brentwood, Essex and she was born 5 Jan 1903.
They both leave an equal share to brothers and sisters.
So, Cecilia (Cissy) leaves equal shares to:
Doris May Wickham shows as being born before March 1900, in Kingston, Surrey. In fact this is 19 Jan 1900, if all this is correct. There is a Julia Ellen Wickham born in1903 in Kingston.
I now need to order the 1901 census document , and then tie this up with 1891 census data.
There are three Doris Wickham aged one year, in the 1901 census, that I could find.
I like number two - why? Firstly, Teddington is just across the water (Thames) from Kingston where later children are born. Secondly, the father is called Ejester - which links to Alfred Ejester Evans! A strange name, which on searching the 1891 census in its entirety I cam across one only. Thirdly, the link back to Norfolk, where many of the sisters decided to retire.
So, on the 1901 census, we have :
Ejester Wickham, aged 33, born in Swainsthorpe, and his wife Mercy , aged 28, and born in Dalston. Then there are two children Doris M. and Harriet, aged 1 and 1 month, both born in Teddington.
Also Ejesters brother Charles H. is boarding with them. He is aged 25, and again from Swainsthorpe.
I have just searched on Swainsthorpe to get the correct spelling and find about this place ;
In the 1891 census, we have - well this is all in the family tree, or will be in the next couple of days.
Briefly, Ejester is the son of Edward & Ellen Wickham, and grandson of Edward & Harriet.. This latter Edward is the farmer mentioned in Whites Directory of 1845. There is also an Ejester Wickham, who is aged 60 in the 1841 census, and shows in the Dunston census of 1821 too, as a farmer. In 1841, he is living with his wife Sarah, and a niece Anna Wickham, probably a daughter of Edward & Harriet.
I think Ejester is Edwards father, but as yet to prove it. He is mort by 1851, but his wife Sarah is aged 77 and living in Swainsthorpe. Her birthplace is Carlton, Norfolk.
There is a record of an Ejester Wickham marrying in 1894 in Islington. London, Middx. This could be our Ejester?