Charlotte OLNEY
CHARLOTTE OLNEY – HER STORY – as far as can be ascertained.
Charlotte was recorded in the Long Grove list of burials as age 41 when she died in September 1917, so we assumed a birth year of about 1876. Next question – was she single or married? Checking the General Register Office records showed no Charlotte Olney born within 5 years of 1876, so it seemed she was married.
We managed to find the marriage of a Richard Olney and Charlotte Eliza Webb in Reigate in September quarter of 1891, but no others, even in London. This may need confirmation when access to more records is possible.
Fortunately for us, a later search found her in the Newington Workhouse, Lambeth with two daughters. Hannah Elizabeth whose birth was registered in the December quarter of 1894 in Lambeth and her mother’s maiden name was Webb. [Hannah’s baptism records her as Ann Elizabeth with parents Richard and Charlotte]. Lilly (or Lily) Charlotte whose birth was registered in the December quarter of 1897, again in Lambeth and mother’s maiden name Webb.
The Olney family
Father Richard, Charlotte and the two girls are in Southwark in the 1901 Census. Richard is an ostler. His brother-in-law William H Webb is there too – the 1881 census confirms he is Charlotte’s brother.
Between then and 1911 the records paint a portrait of a family in difficulty the cause of which may never be known, only surmised.
Charlotte, sometimes with her daughters, was in and out of the workhouse from 1904, eventually being transferred to Long Grove in 1908.
On 12th August 1905, Charlotte was discharged ‘to husband’ from Newington workhouse. London SE.
Hannah – Charlotte’s Daughter
Hannah is moved from school to school and parent noted as ‘Guardian’. The poor and destitute were often in the care of the local Guardians of the poor.
Hannah had been admitted to Norwood Schools, Elder Road, Norwood on 13th March 1905 her birthday recorded as 29.9.95 so her age as 12. And the following comment,
On 23rd June 1909, Hannah is discharged to ‘Miss McPherson’s home’ – below which ‘for Canada’ was stated.
An internet search for Annie McPherson described her as an Scottish Evangelical Quaker who took destitute children to ‘homes of industry’ for training and education. An example of which was the “Revival Refuge and Home of Industry” in Spitalfields, London. She also opened children’s homes in Canada. Over 8000 children were sent across to these homes. In June 1909, young Hannah and many others travelled from Liverpool, 3rd class on the ‘Tunisian’ to Montreal. We have not followed her life in Canada.
1911
In 1911, Richard and Lilly are together at 166 Brook Street. Richard claims to be a widower and has a female housekeeper – Lily Flynn. They have 1 room. His occupation is ostler.
At the time, it was not unusual for people just to live together and maybe Richard felt a social stigma with a wife in an asylum? It is also possible the children were told their mother had died for the same reason.
Lily has not been found in any poor law schools, but she married in 1918.
Have we found the correct Charlotte Olney? In the 1911 Census of Long Grove, the only female with the initials ‘CO’ is registered as a laundress who does not know her date or place of birth but we are fairly sure we have the correct family.
Hannah appears to have had a family in Canada, so let us hope both girls found happiness.