Dear Listers,
I’ve been trying to help a friend research a mystery in his family tree and although I’ve
made progress there are still gaps that I thought those of you experienced in
Monmouthshire records might be able to plug.
His grandmother was a May H Cheddy, but the family tale was that she was a twin, whose
unmarried mother could not keep them, and they were adopted separately. She was brought up
in the Cheddy family. This family was James J Cheddy and his wife Elizabeth nee Harrison.
May Cheddy was born 2 years before her “parent’s”marriage in 1892, but there is nothing in
the census to suggest she was other than a daughter. I have found entries for a May and a
Lilian Harrison born in the Sept. qt 1890 in Newport District. Without getting the birth
certificates we can not be certain they were twins, or who precisely the mother was, but
my guess would be that Elizabeth Harrison was the natural mother and her husband James
accepted one daughter at least.
In 1881 a likely candidate for Elizabeth Harrison appears at the King’s Head Inn in Risca
with parents and siblings.
In 1891 I have found all of the Harrison family, bar Alice. One sister Amelia is married
to William Mosely in Risca, another Gertrude, now married to George Perkins, has her
widowed father with them in Bedwelty.The unmarried sisters, including Elizabeth are all in
service. There is however, no trace of twin daughters with either Elizabeth or any of her
siblings. I can’t find a death for Lilian either.
Would there be any sort of orphanage or fostering situation in which these small girls
could have been placed pending the mother being able to resume care? What happened to
Lilian?
Any light that can be thrown on this mystery would be much appreciated.
Best wishes and fingers crossed!
Mary
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