After the death of Joseph Henry Peters in 1910, Hannah would have struggled I’m sure to make ends meet. Perhaps the Great West Railway helped her out.
My curiosity got the better of my wallet and I paid Find My Past to see the 1921 Census for Hannah. And I got a BIG surprize!
Hannah Peters; Head; 51y4m; F; Widow; … Office Clearner @ Great West Railway, Paddington
Ellen Peters; Daughter; 27y10m; F; Single; … quilt Machinist @ Manor Park Works, Harlesden
Edith Peters; Daughter; 18y4m; F; Single; …Quilt Machinist @ Manor Park Works, Harlesden
Albert Peters; Son; 16y2m; M; Single; … Shop Assistant @ Matthews & Steel, Harlesden
Phyllis Peters; Daughter; 7y5m; F; Father Dead; Full Time student
Rose Smith; Sister; 39y2m; F; Single; … Calander & Laundry @ Highfield Model Laundry
Phyllis? Daughter? Born 1924? When Joseph is dead and Hannah is 44? Nah nah, I say. (quoting John Pinet!!)
Who is this Phyllis?
This is totally Hannah throwing herself under the bus for someone. And I have much admiration for her. But who is she covering for?? Ellen or Florence? That in itself is question that may never be answered, even with DNA. But I know its one of them. All I have is the evidence and you can make your own decision.
I now know where Vera comes from – Phyllis Vera Peters. Gramma Gallson (Florence) named her 2nd born JoanVera.
Gramma Gallson’s oldest child, Jean, named her first “born” Colleen Phyllis. She doesn’t know why she chose Phyllis – says she just “liked” the name.
We know that Gramma Gallson names her children after special people – how special is Phyllis Vera to her?
Gramma Gallson was 16 when Phyllis was born (Ellen was 18) – could have been either.
My sister Carol thinks Gramma Gallson would not have left her child in England and immigrated to Canada in 1920. But I think she may have, if she had the intention of bringing her over once she got established. And with that in mind, she would have talked about Phyllis to her American born children. Aunt Jean would have heard Phyllis’s name repeatedly. Aunt Jean and Mom were VERY chatty people and Gramma Gallson was likely the same.
Phyllis looks amazingly like Aunt Jean.
If I have it right, Phyllis is a half-sister to Jean, Joan & Phil. And now the children’s names had a “ring” to them: Phyllis & Phillip, Jean & Joan.
The resemblance could follow through Ellen as well.
So now I moved forwarded:
42A St. Mary’s, Willesden, London
Phyllis wouldn’t be of voting age yet.
1935 Electoral Register – 67 Victoria Ave., Wembley, London
1936 Electoral Register has the same address, same people
1937 Electoral Register – same address, same people with the addition of
Bernard Bramwell Thorpe. Bernard and Phyllis were married Q2 1937
Interesting piece of history here:
About 1939 England and Wales Register
Historical Context
Initially taken due to the onset of war with the purpose of producing National Identity Cards, the register later came to be multi-functional, first as an aid in the use of ration books and later helping officials record the movement of the civilian population over the following decades and from 1948, as the basis for the National Health Service Register. The 1939 Register is an extremely important genealogical resource, not only for the rich detail and information recorded for each person and household, but also in helping to bridge a thirty-year gap in census data. The census taken in 1931 was destroyed during the Second World War and no census was carried out in 1941 due to the ongoing conflict. The register, as held by The National Archives, contains data only for England and Wales and does not include records from households in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
1939 Electoral Register
Same address, only Hannah, Ellen and Edith and one “still living” therefore redacted. Not sure who this would be since Phyllis and Bernard moved out. (see below) Perhaps Albert moved back in?
1939 Electoral Register
Hannah Louisa – passed away January 28, 1948 leaving £1070 to her two daughters. I note that Phyllis is not mentioned and even though Phyllis was married and on her own, I think that if Phyllis were Hannah’s true daughter, she would have been included in the probate.
