In search of the family

  JOAN EDITH PERRY  1932-1999 Joan Edith Perry was the middle daughter, of three, born to Percival David Perry and Milly (Millicent Lillian) nee Daines, on the 4th Dec 1932. She is the niece of my Grandfather. Joan is one of those spinster women, who's story intrigues me, whilst I have found some documented evidence of her story, I know, from family stories, she was a lady that was much travelled. I believe she was part of the Girl Guide movement during the 1940's/50's and trained as a primary school teacher in countries such as India and Afghanistan. The first evidence of Joan's travel adventures is when she appears on the ship manifest of the Empress of France (Canadian Pacific line), on the 8th Jun 1956 sailing from Liverpool to Montreal, Canada. At this time her occupation was a laboratory assistant.   www.liverpoolships.org Her cabin would have been similar to this:   www.liverpoolships.org Tourist class 2 berth cabin. The next documented evidence is not until 1...

  DOROTHY MARY JAY 1884-1959 with kind permission of the owner of this image. O.D. (Ancestry) Dorothy Mary Jay was the eldest daughter and child of the Reverend William (Willie) Parkinson Jay and his wife Priscilla Amelia nee Sterry born on the 27th June 1884. cropped from image above. The Reverend Willie Parkinson Jay was the brother of the Rev Arthur Osborne Montgomery Jay, who I have previously written about. Unlike his more flamboyant brother the Reverend Willie P Jay was less controversial in his ministry, although he and his wife were both innovative in their ministry at Christ Church, Watney Street in the East End of London.  It was at this church that the Rev Jay baptised his own daughter in 1884 on Aug 6th.                                                                        crown copyrigh...

 MARIAN PYE 1861-1936   It may appear a little strange for me to chose a Victorian lady for this weeks theme of work. No less so when you discover that she was the daughter of the Gentleman Farmer Henry Pye, the so called King of the Hundreds and an innovator in his own right. But such men as Henry can be relatively easily researched using internet search engines, whereas someone like his daughter disappears into the ether and needs a bit more of an effort to discover her story. Those of you who may have discovered my family history stories may have noted that I have labelled some of my posts:- 'All the single ladies', this weeks 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks story also comes under this category. Marian Pye was a spinster with no children, who's story would get lost in time but like other ladies I have written about, Marian has a story of her own to tell. As I write each of these posts I review all the information I may have and look to see if there is anything new that may have...

  JANE YOUELL 1874-1895 CAUSE OF DEATH: MURDER!  image: Western Mail 2nd May 1895 Last week I wrote about my 3x Great Grandfather for the theme 'In the City' This week I am writing about his Grandaughter, Jane Youell, who was murdered by the lodger. Jane Youell was the daughter of Charles Youell and Emily nee Williams. She was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire in 1874, the couples youngest child. The newspapers of the time were awash with the story, but the report I have transcribed is perhaps the most comprehensive WESTERN MAIL MONDAY APRIL 29 1895 Page 5. TERRIBLE CRIME IN LONDON   A WELSH GIRL MURDERED   KILLED BY LODGER IN HER FATHERS HOUSE   STORY OF THE CRIME   ANTECEDENTS OF THE VICTIMS FAMILY   SURRENDER OF THE MURDERER   FULL CONFESSION OF HIS GUILT   A young woman of Welsh parentage 21 years of age named Jane Youell living with her parents at 41 Delaford Rd South Bermondsey, was murdered by her sweetheart shortly before midnight on Frida...