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Hi,

I am trying to find out who the father was of Flossie Wood. Flossie (my grandmother) was born in a workhouse in Westbury On Severn. Flossie's mother Martha Wood was a domestic servant however I do not know where she worked. I know that Martha and Flossie lived with Martha's mother Sarah Wood (Nee Head).

Thank you for your help.
Erica H

2455 views

Hi Erica,
a warm welcome to this great website and forum. Please don't forget that you can search this forum for old posts that may relate to your enquiries, plus the huge number of other items within the site including old documents and newspaper articles, wills, old photos, etc etc.

I guess you've already been searching the database of Parish Registers ie Church records of births, marriages and deaths ? If so then you'll know that Flossie's baptism doesn't seem to be there ?

I presume this is her birth;

from FreeBMD

Births Mar 1901 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wood Flossie Westbury S. 6a 275

And from GlosBMD;

Birth Details
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
WOOD Flossie WOOD 1900 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham (from 1893) 3 314
http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/bmd/SimpleSearch.aspx

These records confirm Flossie was born in late 1900 and her birth registered early 1901 (in the first Jan/Feb/Mar quarter), so seem the correct records for your Flossie.

(I had wondered if her records would be found under the more formal version of Flossie, Florence, but it seems not in this case).

Which sadly gives NO clues whatsoever as to her father. Indeed, this suggests to me her mother perhaps wanted there to be no record, at least if this was a Church PR. However if she was born in the workhouse then maybe this is their preference/assumption rather than the mother's ??. (Sometimes a PR will give clues, but sadly not here).
I have no idea whether her official Birth Certificate will give more information, do you have it ?. Is this how you know her precise birthday and that she was born in the Workhouse - or is this from family records ?

I guess this is her Marriage, am I correct ?
From GlosBMD;

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
TAYLOR George Laurence WOOD Flossie Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office 1919 27 1
FreeBMD confirms it was in the July/Aug/Sept Quarter.

Being a Registry Office wedding means there's no Church PR - I cannot find her in this FoD site's PRs - which is a shame as sometimes a Marriage Certificate will include details or clues as to the father, if they are still close.

Do you have 1901 & 1911 Census Records for Flossie ?. They can sometimes give clues as to a possible father, always assuming he is still in the household which seems unlikely in this instance.

I don't have full Census access, but can see the 1881 c/o LDS/FamilySearch, I presume this is Flossie's mother Martha ?

"England and Wales Census, 1881"
Name: Martha E Wood
Age (Original): 4
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1877
Birthplace: Sewdley Valley, Gloucestershire, England
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Scholar
Address: Cinderford Tump
Event Place: East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Disability:
Record Type: Household
GS Film number: 1341609
Affiliate Publication Number: RG11
Piece/Folio: 2523 / 13
Page Number: 20
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Thomas Wood M 50 Bream, Gloucestershire, England
Wife Sarah Wood F 40 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Daughter Agnes M Wood F 12 Sewdley Valley, Gloucestershire, England
Daughter Harriet G Wood F 7 Sewdley Valley, Gloucestershire, England
Daughter Martha E Wood F 4 Sewdley Valley, Gloucestershire, England

And from GlosBMD;

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
WOOD Thomas HEAD Sarah Forest of Dean Cinderford St John the Evangelist 1866 1 462

Confirmed by this site's PR;

Record_ID: 37480
Entry_Number: 462
Year: 1866
Month: Feb
Day: 17
Grooms_Surname: WOOD
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Age: 36
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Labourer
Grooms_Residence: Steple Edge Lodge
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Wood
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: William
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Woodman
Brides_Surname: HEAD
Brides_Forenames: Sarah
Brides_Age: 25
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Cinderford
Brides_Fathers_Surname: [not stated]
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: [not stated]
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He signs She marks
Witness_1: Samuel Woolford
Witness_2: Susan Woolford
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Tho[ma]s Gosselin Smythies
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 231
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John
Soundex_Groom: W300
Soundex_Bride: H300

You said Martha was woking in service, do you know this from family records, or is this shown by her later Census Records. Don't they show where she was working ?

Look forward to your reply, Jeff

2503 views

1901 Census, Glos East Dean

WOOD

Sarah - 61 - born Wiltshire
Martha - 22 - born East Dean
Flossie - 4 months born East Dean

and on the 1911 Census -

Wood : Lamb Lane living in 2 rooms

Sarah - 70 Widow - 6 children born alive, 3 living, Old Age Pension - born near Southampton
Martha - daughter - 24 - single, Charwoman - born Cinderford, Glos
Florience - grand child - 10 - born Cinderford, Glos
Gruty - grand-children (female) - 5 - born Cinderford, Glos

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Hi,

Thank you so much for this information!! I had got a copy of the 1901 and 1911 census. On the 1901 census she is down as 'Flossie' however 1911 Florience. I had a GRO search completed on Florence Emily Wood(s) as we were told and Florence Wood for 16.12.1900 which was definitely her D.O.B. I spoke to my aunt who said that her mother was always known as Flossie and bingo, the GRO found her birth and luckily only ONE Florence/Flossie. She never told her children anything about her family. All they knew was she was brought up in Cinderford, her D.O.B and that she had a sister. The 1911 census has a Gruty however we can not find any trace of her. My aunt has an envelope only as the letter went to her brother and he has forgotten about it. The envelope has a hospital address in Bristol and the name E or G Wood on it.
Thank you for your help.
Kind regards,
Erica

2285 views

Hi,

Thank you for the time and trouble you have gone to, to try and help me. I have a copy of Flossies birth certificate however we knew her as Florence Emily Woods. My mum sadly is no longer with us however her sister is and brother and 16.12.1900 was definitely her (Florence's) birthday. My Aunty told me that everyone called her mother Flossie. When I had a search completed at the GRO no Florence Emily Wood was found however there was just the ONE Flossie born. No other Florence's etc. On the 1901 census she is put down as Flossie however on the 1911 census she is put as Florence. I only saw my grandmother once as I remember however my older sister remembers her well. My aunt told me that her mother told them nothing about her family so she suspected there was something and of course being an unmarried mother wasn't good in those days. Martha worked as a domestic servant (which is added to the line where Flossie is a baby on the census1901 by mistake) . There is East Dean along side Martha's name, so not sure if this is where she was working. By the 1911 census she is working as a charwoman. On the 1911 census there is another child Gruty, however we can not find her. My aunt has an envelope only, with E or G Wood on it from a hospital in Bristol in 1980 where she died however we haven't traced this person. My aunt thought she was her sister. In 1916 Martha married William George who was a widower. I guess that Martha's baby/babies were maybe the master of the house she worked for/someone she was seeing or even the man she married as he was married at the time. This is all guess work!

Was there any records kept on domestic servants?

By the way the workhouse where my grandmother was born was on her birth certificate.

Thank you so much for your help. It is a great website however I must be honest i found it difficult getting into the replies. Easy when you know how. That's why I am late getting back to you.

Thank you so much once again!!!

2318 views

Gloucester Citizen Gloucestershire, England
26 Jan 1901

LITTLEDEAN PETTY SESSIONS
William Phelps, of Littledean, labourer, was summoned by Martha Wood, of Cinderford, single woman, to show cause, etc.—Defendant, who did not appear, was ordered to pay 2s. 6d. per week until the child is 16 years of age.

There is also this:

Gloucester Journal
Publication date:Saturday 16 February 1901

William Phelps, labourer, Littledean, was fined 5s and 7s. 6d. costs for being drunk and disorderly at Cinderford on the 8th inst.

Further info:

http://www.genguide.co.uk/source/bastardy-bonds-amp-documents-parish-amp-poor-law/140/

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Brilliant Chris !, well done, looks like you could well be onto our man.

Mind, from LDS Census's theres quite a few Wm Phelps in the East Dean area, so which one?
This one is the best fit I can see, St Stephens Woodside is Cinderford/Littledean Hill.

"England and Wales Census, 1901"
Name: William M Phelps
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 31 Mar 1901
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: East Dean, Gloucestershire
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: Westbury On Severn
Sub-District: East Dean
Ecclesiastical Parish: Woodside St Stephens
Civil Parish: East Dean
District/Parish/County: Gloucestershire

Clearly needs a lot more work to be certain, but oddly I cannot see him for sure in the 1911 ?, or the PRs etc. Several Williams, but not "William M"s, altho that's no guarantee of course.

???

Thanks a lot Chris, very educational for me too !.

2352 views

Wooooooo thank you so much!!!

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Gloucester Citizen
Saturday 22 October 1904

LITTLEDEAN PETTY SESSIONS

Joe Powell, of Cinderford, collier, was summoned by Martha Wood, single woman, of Lamb-lane, Cinderford, to show cause, etc. This case was adjourned from last week for the defendant to attend.-Mr Williams defended.-After hearing Charles Wilsted, collier, Cinderford, the Court dismissed the case.

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Hi,
Do you think this is to do with Gruty (as per the 1911 census). I are having trouble finding her.
Thank you,
Erica

2284 views

If you look closely at the 1911 census for Sarah Wood she is described as age 70, Widow, Old Age Pensioner. Looking even closer at the word age and the letter e you will see that it is the same as the second character in the name Gerty Wood. Gruty is an error in transcription. The correct transcription should be Gerty.

2286 views

Thank you for your help!

Kind regards,
Erica

2241 views

THANK YOU so very much. This is great news!

Would you know if Martha had another child as there is a Gruty on the 1911 census. My aunt (Flossies daughter) told me she thought her mother had a sister. My Aunty June has an envelope only dated 1980 from a hospital where this person died. There is E Wood on the envelope however there seems to be a dispute over who had the letter in the family.

I also have the hospital address.

I can not thank you enough! It is really great to know. Yippee:)

I love this website.

Very best wishes,
Erica

2305 views

Hi Chris,
I sent you an email last night however I wanted to send you a very big thank you for this email. This has been like winning thousands of pounds!!! I didn't know my grandmother very much as | only met her once (as I can remember) however my oldest sister remembers her well. Some of my aunts and uncles are still alive, so have been very helpful. Granny never spoke of her family and she was known as Florence Emily Wood. Flossie Wood was the only 'Florence' born on 16.12.1900 and we know that my aunts and uncles knew very little about her except she was born in Cinderford and spoke of growing up there, fondly. On her marriage certificate, she put her fathers name as William Wood. Perhaps she knew her fathers Christian name. She lived in Bletchley Milton Keynes for a lot of her adult live with her husband Thomas Goss. She married in Newport Pagnell. She had a hard life as he left her with a big family (my mum being the second oldest who has sadly passed away)and went off with another woman.

In the 1911 census there is a mention of a Gruty who is five years old. It is strange as I can not trace her. My aunty has an envelope (she thinks her brother had the letter but Uncle David can not remember it) and it was from a hospital in Bristol in 1980. The envelope had a G or E Woods on it. My aunt thinks it was the death notification of Gruty/Emily. Aunty June thought her name was Emily however no one in the family was allowed to know anything about 'Flossie's family.

Thank you for your help once again, JUST GREAT!

Kind Regards,
Erica

2294 views

If Gertrude didn't marry - this is the only death on Ancestry in Bristol

Name: Gertrude E WOOD

Birth date: abt 1907

Date of Registration: Mar 1943

Age at death: 36

Registration District: Bristol

Inferred County: Gloucestershire

Volume: 6a

Page: 294

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Thank you. I have a friend helping me (who has been family tree tracking for 40 years) and I think we have tried with this one (with the mother Martha) but no luck. We have even tried Gruty as Florence was Flossie!! I will double check. Thank you!
Erica

2288 views

Maybe this one?

1901

Street HAZEL HILL (Old Pike House)
Parish EAST DEAN
Town
City
County Gloucestershire
Country ENGLAND
Ecclesiastical District HOLY TRINITY
Enumeration District 11
Municipal Ward
Parliamentary Borough FOREST OF DEAN
Registration District WESTBURY ON SEVERN
Category Census, Land & Surveys
Record set 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Collections from Great Britain
Person 1
First Name CHARLES
Last Name PHELPS
Birth Year 1838
Age 63
Birth Town EAST DEAN
Birth County GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Birth Place
Relationship To Head of Household HEAD
Gender Male
Occupation LIVING ON OWN MEANS
Condition MARRIED
Archive Reference RG13
Folio 155
Page 9
Piece Number 2419
Person 2
First Name HANNAH
Last Name PHELPS
Birth Year 1839
Age 62
Birth Town EAST DEAN
Birth County GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Birth Place
Relationship To Head of Household WIFE
Gender Female
Occupation
Condition MARRIED
Archive Reference RG13
Folio 155
Page 9
Piece Number 2419
Person 3
First Name ALBERT
Last Name PHELPS
Birth Year 1872
Age 29
Birth Town EAST DEAN
Birth County GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Birth Place
Relationship To Head of Household SON
Gender Male
Occupation MASON
Condition SINGLE
Archive Reference RG13
Folio 155
Page 9
Piece Number 2419
Person 4
First Name WILLIAM
Last Name PHELPS
Birth Year 1877
Age 24
Birth Town EAST DEAN
Birth County GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Birth Place
Relationship To Head of Household SON
Gender Male
Occupation RAILWAY GANGER
Condition SINGLE
Archive Reference RG13
Folio 155
Page 9
Piece Number 2419
Person 5
First Name TIMOTHY
Last Name PHELPS
Birth Year 1882
Age 19
Birth Town EAST DEAN
Birth County GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Birth Place
Relationship To Head of Household SON
Gender Male
Occupation RAILWAY GANGER
Condition SINGLE
Archive Reference RG13
Folio 155
Page 9
Piece Number 2419
© brightsolid online publishing ltd

1911

Lane End, Littledean (now a Roadman for the County Council). With parents who had been married 49 years. Ten children born alive, three had died.

Record_ID: 33733
Entry_Number: 508
Year: 1884
Month: Sep
Day: 7
Parents_Surname: PHELPS
Child_Forenames: William
Fathers_Forenames: Charles
Mothers_Forenames: Hannah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Littledean
Occupation: Miner
Officiating_Minister: William Lockitt
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Boy aged 8
Register_Reference: P110 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 64
Parish_Chapel: Littledean
Soundex: P412

2358 views

Hi Paul

I've just been trying to find out who 'Gruty' belonged to, and you go and find an earlier one! I suppose she could have been the daughter of another Wood son or daughter. I looked at the image on the 1911 and it definitely says 'Gruty' - thought it might be Gerty.

2361 views

Looks like Gerty to me. Could be the child Martha was expecting when she summoned Joe Powell in October 1904.

FreeBMD: Births Sep 1904 (>99%)

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

WOOD Gertrude Westbury S 6a 289

This child is also recorded in Gloucestershire BMD indexes without the father's name.

2365 views

From this site's PRs; Gertrude was also born at Westbury Poor Union aka Workhouse.

Record_ID: 67058
Entry_Number: 193
Year: 1904
Month: Sep
Day: 26
Parents_Surname: WOOD
Child_Forenames: Gertrude
Fathers_Forenames: [base child]
Mothers_Forenames: Matilda
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Union
Occupation: Unmarried Woman
Officiating_Minister: C Victor Stillingfleet Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P354 IN 1/18
Page_Number: 25
Parish_Chapel: Westbury on Severn
Soundex: W300

Presume the mother's name maybe a transcription error wrt Martha ?

I cannot find an obvious match for her future marriage or death, although this looks a "possible"

???

Marriages Jun 1923 (>99%)
------------------------------------------
Luter James Wood Pontypool 11a 321
Wood Gertrude Luter Pontypool 11a 321

2409 views

Thank you so much....I did see a mother as Matilda and thought it wasn't anything to do with our Martha. Thank you, will let you know the outcome.
THANK YOU to all of you for your hard work. I really appreciate your help and will be making a donation in due course!

2324 views

This baptism entry has been checked today and we find that Gertrude's mother is Martha and not Matilda as recorded in the original transcription. The database has therefore been updated.

Mike

2272 views

Thank you so much!

Can I also tell you that Martha wood married and became Martha George. On your records you have her death as 71 however on her death certificate which I have she is 67.

Thank you for all your help.

Kind regards,
Erica

2249 views

Thank you so much!
Kind regards.
Erica

2281 views

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