Daisy MEEK 6/4/1892 - why work in service in London ? (Urgent)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Monday, January 08, 2024, 22:56 (110 days ago) @ MARTINDWIL

Hi again Martin,
you are very welcome for that info, just hope it helps.

Looking again at my tree, the first time for some years, I'm reminded that my particular branch of Meeks lived in Joys Green rather than Ruardean (albeit only a mile away) which is presumably why one of them married my Aunt Iris Jones - I may be wrong but I recall getting the distinct impression that the Jones and Taylor surnames seemed the most common in Lydbrook and it's surroundings. But my Meeks do appear to have originally come Ruardean in the early 1800s, but then went to Staffordshire (mines, for work) before returning to their Forest roots again. I canot see any obvious links in my tree to your Jonah and Elizabeth Meek, but then again I do think it fair to say that most of us are indeed related in some way if we travel back in time far enough. I've been unable to trace my own paternal roots (Jones/Taylor/Tailer) much father past the 1841 census simply because there are just too many people with similar names and surnames for me to sort-out my line from all the others.

Completely irrelevant, but last year my Aunt on my mum's side passed away and was buried at Ruardean Church, she was the last of her generation in my extended family, her home for most her long married life was on Morse Road at Drybrook, so perhaps not many yards from your Meek great grandparents ?.
(Apologies if you know this, but the "East Dean" district essentially comprised my home town Cinderford, and the outlying villages including Drybrook and Ruardean.)

Finally, you mention your Grandmother Daisy;

Record_ID: 49990
Entry_Number: 249
Year: 1921
Month: Mar
Day: 26
Grooms_Surname: WILLIAMS
Grooms_Forenames: Harry William
Grooms_Age: 26
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Harry Hill
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: unknown
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: unknown
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Surname: MEEK
Brides_Forenames: Daisy
Brides_Age: 28
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Morse Road
Brides_Fathers_Surname: MEEK
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Jonah
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Jonah Meek
Witness_2: Henrietta Janette Meek
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 125
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex_Groom: W452
Soundex_Bride: M200

GlosBMD confirms mother is nee Taylor

Birth Details
Child Surname Child Forename Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
MEEK Daisey TAYLOR 1892 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 62 485

I think this is Daisy's brother, your Great Uncle;

Record_ID: 50058
Entry_Number: 67
Year: 1924
Month: Aug
Day: 8
Grooms_Surname: MEEK
Grooms_Forenames: Ralph Thomas
Grooms_Age: 27
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Holy Trinity
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: MEEK
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Jonah
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: MEEK
Brides_Forenames: Henretta Janetta
Brides_Age: 27
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Residence: Holy Trinity
Brides_Fathers_Surname: MEEK
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: John
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Alfred Meek
Witness_2: Charles Meek
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: W M Bellamy Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/21
Page_Number: 34
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex_Groom: M200
Soundex_Bride: M200

Again, the GlosBMD site confirms Ralph's mother is nee Taylor.

The similar dates, addresses and witness names suggest these are the same family.
So HOPEFULLY my hunch is correct ?.

My reason for posting this is because I googled "Jonas Meek Ruardean" and found this webpage, and I wondered if you'd also seen it ?. It has a photo of Mr and Mrs Jabez Meek, and the notes suggest he is your Jonah's brother ?.
https://www.sungreen.co.uk/Can-You-Help/Meek-Ruardean.htm

Hope it's of interest, J.