Genealogy Chat

This is doing my head in - have spent all day on this ! Firstly an update - we have ordered Reuben's birth and marriage certificates so will let you know what they say when they arrive. I've looked very closely at the Nelson family in 1891. I am now convinced they are Elsons because of the daughter Blanche. I have found a birth of Florence Blanche L Elson in Q1,1889 in Poplar. This is not a bad match for Blanche's details - aged 3 in 1891, born Bow (which registers in Poplar). There's also a death for her aged 10 as Blanche Florence L Elson in 1899 in Lambeth. So now we have John Elson in 1891 but no other years and he's a showman. I've also been looking at the witnesses to William Joshua Elson and Emily Mary Green's wedding, WIlliam Poole and Eliza Mackenzie. Eliza is Emily's sister and I've found Emily recorded as Mary in 1861 and 1871 with her parents Isaac and Emily Green. Eliza is there in 71 too. In 1901 the Elsons have a niece Esther with them and she is the daughter of Emily and Eliza's brother Henry - also there in 71. I can't find Emily in 81 or 91 as Green even though she is down as a spinster at her marriage in 93. Help !! Rick.

Thanks Everyone Except Maz!! lol I think I will get Ruebens birth cert now and see who the parents are on that. what a mystery Love Jan xx

Just read the title hun and sorry but its TOO LATE roflmao !!! Maz. XX

I'm going to have to draw this out and stare at it for a loooooooong time Jan.

If they were show people is it possible that, like Romanies they had their own form of marriage but considered themselves husband and wife, the decided to comply with the law and get married later? Ann Glos

One thing I can find lol Birth Jun 1879 Elson Reuben Marylebone 1a 611

nudge xx

not Reubens - havent as yet found a birth for him only have John Oxford and Albert Edward

Do you have Reubens birth cert?

Hi Tracy Ok - we're having a hard time explaining this lol ! William Joshua Elson married Emily Mary Green (a spinster) in 1893. Albert Edward Elson (who says his father is William Joshua Green) was born in 1885 - eight years before - father John William Elson mother Emma Green. Something doesn't add up ! Jan.xx

If they were indeed show people, I guess it's possible that William Joshua/John William and Emma/Emily are the same person. A psuedonym if you like. There is only one marriage for William Joshua Elson.

Hi Tracy, We've traced William Joshua back to 1851 (and his parents back to 1841) and got his birth cert but thought the extra info might confuse things even more. The first thing Jan is trying to work out is are John William Elson, showman/commercial traveller and William Joshua Elson, plasterer and later a street sweeper different people. If so, which one was really her great grandfather. Thirdly, did they marry two different Emily/Emma Greens (one born Essex, one born Paddington of different ages). If it's the same woman then why did she marry William Joshua under her maiden name as a spinster ? Finally, what are John and William to each other ? They never appear on a census together. Rick :-)

thanks for yr replies so far - William joshua did not marry emily mary green until 1893 when she was a spinster the woman that william elson was married to in 1881 was Emma brn essex 3 years older than emily. the families in 1881 and 1901 seem to be the same because of son Reuben however alberts birth cert names his father John william Elson and mother Emily Green how can that be?? and coincudence that John oxfords mother is Emma Green?

I'm wondering if Albert was adopted by William Joshua after John William went off with the circus or something? Did find this.... Births Dec 1848 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Elson William Joshua Kensington 3 381 You probably already had that though. 1851 William Elson abt 1828 Devon, England Head Paddington Middlesex Mary Ann Elson abt 1828 Marylebone Wife Paddington Middlesex William Elson abt 1849 Paddington Son Paddington Middlesex

I would have thought Nelson and Elson are the same family more than likely registra miss heard her married name and in 1901 perhaps they got miss heard again as the jobs seem to sound the same. hopefully some one else will reply I am getting confused already LOL what did you want looking up? Jeanette

This is soooo confusing will do my best to explain...... My grandad was Albert Edward Elson I have his marriage cert Feb 1904 to my grandmother - he claims to be 21 - and that his father is William Joshua Elson - street cleaner Witnesses were Florence Elson and Reuben Elson. 1901 census - Lambeth W. Joshua Elson - street sweeper age 50 brn paddington Emily M Elson - wife 46 brn paddington Ruben son 22 Albert son 16 there is also a niece esther green. We have a marriage cert from 1893 of William Joshua Elson age 44 widower and plasterer to Emily Mary Green age 39 a spinster. good so far!!! (Emily looks like his second wife and not Rueben and Alberts mother) going back to 1881 (coulnt find them in 1891) William J Elson age 22 plasterer Emma Elson age 29 brn essex John oxford Elson age 8 brn gravesend. william Elson age 6 Robert Henry Elson age 4 Rueben Elson aged 2 Amy Elson aged 4 days this seems to be the same family Williams first wife being Emma. Now the fun begins John oxfords Elsons birth cert - Dec 1873 has father John Elson - theatrical artist - Mother Emma Nelson crossed out replaced with Elson Formerly Green Also have a birth cert for Albert Edward Elson Jan 1885 in bermondsey Father John William Elson - commercial traveller Mother Emily elson formerly Green in 1891 there is a family surname nelson John age 43 showman brn paddington emma wife 40 showwoman florence 7 bermondsey (name from earlier as witness) albert edward son age 5 brn bermondsey blanche age 3 bow and that concludes my mystery - any help sooo very much appreciated (i have seen the details on igi) Love Jan xx

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