Cecilia Clarissa Jay 1883 - 1967

Cecilia Clarissa Jay 1883 - 1967 

My ancestry link to the Jay family is somewhat dubious, my initial link via a Great Aunt’s marriage. I had encountered a brick wall in my own direct line, so I became focused on this fascinating family. With the excuse of helping my cousin, the granddaughter of said Great Aunt. I started on a discovery of a family worthy of their own Sunday evening drama series. From Drapers with Royal Warrants to Soft drink manufacturers. Charismatic clergy, actresses, artists exhibiting at the Royal Academy and motor racing drivers, with associated scandals, divorces and sadness. During this period of research, I was able to establish that the lady who became by Grandfather’s long term partner/ companion, herself, was a member of this family despite a later name change. I have hinted at the number of actresses within the wider family, working within music hall or recognised Gaiety Girls. However I am still unable to be certain with a link to the Doily Carte actress Isabel Jay. I believe that I am close but am unable to find the definitive documented proof, online, from the early to mid 1700’s. So why bother documenting the life of a lady who has only a tenuous link to me, well I often take time to look at those single females within the family and have noted how many have had their own fascinating stories, but as they have no children of their own they may be overlooked. So in this case Cecilia had 2 daughters Margaret (Peggy) and Joan, neither having children of their own, so as Peggy’s non official sort of step granddaughter, I take it upon myself to remember them.

Cecilia, Margaret and Joan Catling circa 1920

with kind permission from family member NR

Cecilia Clarissa Jay was born on 30^th Sept 1883 only daughter of Herbert Jay, a draper and Clarissa nee Naylor. This is information from the baptism record, however the 1939 England and Wales Register suggests a birth day of 29^th Sept.

Records shows her to have been baptised in Parish of St George, Camberwell on the 11^th Nov 1883, the home address being given as 27, Willington Rd, Clapham. Her father Herbert Jay is documented as a draper, there being a long line of the Jay family involved on this type of business.

The 1891 census record shows a young Cecilia living with her parents and 1 year old younger brother Hubert at 16, Rodney Road Putney. Her father, Herbert, gives his occupation now, as a drapery agent. Later that same year, September 2^nd, there is a notice that Herbert Jay, Fancy Trimming Importer of 6 Argyle Place, Regent St and Rodney Rd had been declared bankrupt.

By 1901 the family had moved to 103, Godolphin Rd, Shepherds Bush, Cecilia’s grandmother Clarissa Naylor is with the family and Herbert is now working as a ‘Commercial Scale shop worker.

On the 5^th January 1908, Cecilia married Sidney Catling b 3rd Jun 1881, a valuer, son of Fred Catling, another draper living in Gospel Oak at St Martin, Gospel Oak, Kentish Town.

@crown copyright

Three years later for the 1911 census, Cecilia and Sidney Catling are found living at 12 Linden Ave, Wembley a six room property. Sidney gives his occupation as Surveyor and Estate Agent

Of course, children then followed, Margaret Catling (Peggy) being born on October 18^th 1911 then Joan (aka Jon, within the family) September 7^th 1913.

But then a document shows a change of course from what would be the general course of domestic life in this era.

SS GALEKA @ wikipedia

Cecilia Jay appears as an arrival to Southampton from Cape Port South Africa on the Union-Castle Steamship Company:- Galeka

Her occupation is shown as a Music Hall Artist and she is travelling 2^nd class with a group of other such artists.

Further investigation shows her as a member of the touring cast member of a hit comedy revue  Splash Me.

Leeds Hippodrome playbill.

Mr Rufe Naylor also despatched per the Grantully Castle last Saturday the following well known ladies and gentleman:- Miss Flora Cromer, Miss Enil Zajah, Miss Lois Matheson, Sisters Caselli, Sisters Linden, Sisters Gilby, Miss May Mack, Miss Dorothy Wise, Miss Eva Compton, Miss Cecilia Jay, Mr Woolmer Young, Messrs Wheeler and Wilson, and Whistleing Wilson to play a tour in South Africa with the seaside review, 'Splash Me'.

The Era 14 Jan 1914

So it would appear that Cecilia left her 2 young children to pursue her career for a period soon after the birth of Joan.

With the commencement of WW1 it would appear that Sidney joined the Royal Navy Voluntary Service in Jun 1915.

              @ crown copyright

Whilst this document shows that Sidney was involved in the War effort until 1919, Cecilia appears to have still had some relationship with the theatre as according to ‘The Stage’ she was nominated for re-election to the Actors Association in 1919.

Meanwhile electoral rolls show that the family had moved to 14 Union Rd Harrow in 1918 and remained there for the 1920 roll. However it is unclear how long the couple continued to live together.

What is clear, however, is that in 1923, Sidney became the father of the first child of his second family. Cecilia appears on the electoral roll of 1925-26 living back with her parents, Herbert and Clarissa in Harrow, before setting up on her own in 1927 in Willesden.

Finding both Margaret. Peggy, now 23 years old and her mother Cecilia on the 1934 electoral roll, it becomes clear that both have now changed their surname to ‘Cecille’. This is the name we knew Peggy under. Both the girls are found with Cecilia and Joan’s future husband, Cecil Boddington on the 1939 register at 104 Greenford Rd Wembley. All 3 are registered under the surname Cecille and Cecilia has given an occupation of ‘typewriting' bureau.

Despite vague family recollections that Cecilia wasn’t without her fair share of gentleman admirers, Cecilia did not remarry.

Cecilia died in 1967, her registration is under her married name, Cecilia Clarissa Catling. From a lack of documents it would suggest that Sidney and Cecilia did not divorce and he was unable to marry the mother of his 2^nd family. In checking my facts for this article I have discovered an ebook novella, Living a lie, by John Catling, which may offer another perspective on the sad circumstances of 2 people who fell out of love.