Find Living Relatives

I hve in my possession a miniature framed picture (?painting) of a young woman. On the back of the picture is written "N.G.Best's maternal grandmother at the age of 18'. There follows a date - 1825. Does this ring a bell for you - and could this be part of your ancestry? At the back of the picture is part of an old postcard (used for backing I assume) which is addressed to H. Holden, Reigate and, on the reverse, part of a note from a "Laura Fitschen" living at an address in Reigate and dated "25th June '09). Has this any connection with the picture? Please contact me if you have an interest.

Hi Albert.
Chances of anyone who knows who this is seeing your message is pretty much nil.
So let's go looking!

Maybe this is Laura in 1911?

1911 England Census

Name: Laura Marie Fitschen
Age in 1911: 51
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860
Relation to Head: Daughter
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Clerkenwell, London, England
Civil parish: Reigate
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England
Street Address: 52 Chart Lane, Reigate Surrey, Upland
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Private Means
Registration district: Reigate
Registration District Number: 37
Sub-registration district: Reigate

Hannah Fitschen 77
Laura Marie Fitschen 51
Minnie Theresa Fitschen 41
James Alfred Mason 38
William Charles Hoye 23

Deaths Dec 1950 (>99%)
FITSCHEN Laura M 90 Thanet 5b 819

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915 a
Name: Minnie Theresa Fitschen
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1898
Registration district: Hemel Hempstead
Inferred County: Hertfordshire
Volume Number: 3a
Page Number: 1202b

Spouse: James Alfred MASON

Deaths Dec 1954 (>99%)
MASON Minnie T 86 Thanet 5b 764

1871 England Census

Name: Laura Fitschen
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860
Relation: Granddaughter
Gender: Female
Where born: Middlesex, England
Civil parish: St James Clerkenwell
Ecclesiastical parish: St James
County/Island: London
Country: England
Registration district: Holborn
Sub-registration district: St James Clerkenwell
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Household schedule number: 139
Piece: 381
Folio: 45
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Roberts 64
Hannah Roberts 65
Laura Fitschen 11
George Hildersley 22
Betsy Glover 18

1891 England Census about Martin J Fitschen
Name: Martin J Fitschen
Age: 40
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1851
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Hannah Fitschen
Gender: Male
Where born: Preußen, Naturalized
Civil parish: Hornsey
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Hornsey
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England


Registration district: Edmonton
Sub-registration district: Hornsey
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1059
Folio: 111
Page Number: 13
Household Members:
Name Age
Martin J Fitschen 40
Hannah Fitschen 57
Laura M Fitschen 31
Minnie T Fitschen 21
Hannah R 85
Eliza Hopcroft 18

871 England Census
Name: Martin J Fitschen
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1841
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Hannah Fitschen
Gender: Male
Where born: Bridport, Germany
[British Subject]
Civil parish: Hornsey
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary Hornsey
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Registration district: Edmonton
Sub-registration district: Hornsey
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Household schedule number: 9
Piece: 1335
Folio: 5
Page Number: 2
Household Members:
Name Age
Martin J Fitschen 30
Hannah Fitschen 28
Minnie Fitschen 1 Year, 7 Months
Alice Ellis 18

From her attire, does it look as though she was born c1807?

N.G. Best must have been born 40-60 years later, there are no matching births on FreeBMD.

Are you sure the first initial is an N?

Rose

I'll try from the H holden angle


name: Henry Holden
baptism/christening date: 27 May 1842
Baptism/christening place: REIGATE,SURREY,ENGLAND
father's name:John Holden
mother's name:Louisa

1851
Name: John Holden
Age: 47
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1804
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Lousia Holden
Gender: M (Male)
Where born: Reigate, Surrey, England

Civil parish: Reigate
Ecclesiastical parish: Winchester
Town: Reigate
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England


Registration district: Reigate
Sub-registration district: Reigate
ED, institution, or vessel: 5b
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 125
Piece: 1599
Folio: 141
Page Number: 42
Household Members: Name Age
John Holden 47
Lousia Holden 41
John S Holden 13
Henry Holden 8
Charles Holden 6
Alfred Holden 1

Living on London Road, father works for Gas company
HH is a scholar

There is a Nancy Best Marries in Reigate in 1838 - clutching at straws a bit!

1911 census has Hannah Fitschen age 77 widow [Hannah Roberts married
Martin Joseph Fitschen 1857] Laura Marie Fitschen daughter age 51,
Minnie Theresa Fitschen daughter age 41 married 12 years, James Alfred Mason
age 38 son in law [ marriage1898 Minnie T Fitschen to James T Mason],
Laura and Minnie Fitschen are both in GR Tree of a David Mason.

Hello to Jan, Reggie, Penny & Kenneth
I am overwhelmed at the flood of information received during the past few days in reply to my search for information relating to N G Best. I have to admit that this is the first time I have done any serious research via the membership of GR since I joined in 2004 (Shame on you Albert !!!!!!!!!!!)
I shall now sift through all the info. you have provided and at a first glance it would appear that Laura Fischen may well be the link between N G Best and his/her maternal grandmother and I shall be looking for a family tree that may provide this information. Incidentally Laura M Fitschen's address is"Innisfallen, Reigate" which may of some help.
The end result of my research, and not forgetting the help too that you have all provided, will be to gift the miniature of a beautiful young woman born over 200 years ago to her living relatives. Any further help will be much appreciated.

THey may well not be connected at all! Perhaps just a random peice of postcard used as a 'packer'.

Fo you have any connection with either name?