Dorothy Gwendoline

[Phoenix]

In 1921, one of my great aunts was lodging with Louie Emily Moore (aged 40, born S Kensington) and her daughter Dorothy Gwen, aged 12 and born Leyton.

I was curious about this family, particularly when I could not find Dorothy's birth.

They were easy enoug to find in 1911. Louisa Emily, aged 30 was already a widow, married 6 years, with one child, Dorothy Gwendoline aged 2.

I could not find a marriage.

The only relevant birth in the RD covering Leyton was this:

FRUIN, DOROTHY GWENDOLINE BURNDAY
GRO Reference: 1908 D Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 348


Not Moore, and Burnday does not exist as a surname in Freebmd.


This Dorothy was baptised a year later: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1558/images/31280_198960-00342?pId=318198437


She was born 24 September 1908, and was the daughter of William John and Louisa Emily Fruin. He was a private secretary. Address 79a St Anne's Road - which coincides with the 1911 census.


By 1939, mother and daughter are still together, at 12 Glenhill Close, Finchley: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FR39%2F0767%2F0767C%2F017&parentid=TNA%2FR39%2F0767%2F0767C%2F017%2F42

and in 1941, Dorothy married Daniel Carmichael, the boy next door.


So, that's all neatly sorted out. Meanwhile, Louisa lost her mother at a young age, gained a stepmother, and by 1901 was working away from home as a servant.


But why did Louisa change her name? Was William John "Fruin" actually William John Moore? Where did Burnday come from?



This is only my great aunt's landlady, but I am curious!

[ElizabethHerts]

There is a divorce on FMP:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBOR%2FDIV%2FJ7846%2F00317&parentid=GBOR%2FDIV%2F399829



Title -
First name(s) William Jno
Last name Fruin
Petition year 1896
Party number 2
Country England & Wales
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Civil Marriage & Divorce
Collections from Great Britain, UK None

[Phoenix]

I know, Elizabeth. Who would have believed there were two William John and Louisa Fruins.

That Louisa was born in 1873 and this is her in 1911: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2352/images/rg14_01828_0391_03?pId=379855


She is divorced, and a cook. And she says she has no children.

[ElizabethHerts]

First name(s) William John
Last name Fruin
Name note -
Age 21
Marriage year 1893
Marriage date 29 May 1893
Marriage place Walworth
Father's first name(s) William J.
Father's last name Fruin
Spouse's first name(s) Louisa
Spouse's last name Fiveash
Spouse's age 20
Spouse's birth year 1873
Spouse's birth date 1873
Spouse's father's first name(s) George
Spouse's father's last name Fiveash
Residence Walworth, Surrey, England
County Surrey
Country England
Record set England Marriages 1538-1973
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Marriages
Collections from England, Great Britain


I haven't a clue whether this is pertinent to your couple!

[Phoenix]

This is the baptism of Louisa Emily the mother: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/5412451:1558?tid=&pid=&queryId=fe6165481b99c047f9235487b24734ea&_phsrc=nUX3456&_phstart=successSource

Her date of birth - 1 January 1880 - agrees with the details on the 1939 register.

[kiterunner]

Could it not be the same William John Fruin, even if it is a different Louisa?

[Phoenix]

Anything is possible, Kite. The actual divorce papers are on Ancestry, and he appears to have taken up with a Louisa Spencer in the 1890s, so that's only THREE Louisas in the mix!

[Olde Crone]

Well, there's this marriage -

Louisa Emily Atkins
William John Irwin
Sept 1902

Irwin looks much the same as Fruin in outline I think.

I searched Bund*y for Louisa but didn't come up with anything.

OC

[Olde Crone]

Phoenix

Post #5 - what is Louisa's surname at baptism p!ease and does it give her father's name? (Ancestry won't let me in).

The only Louisa Emily I can see on freebmd is a Louisa Emily FRUIN, lol - and we don't want her, do we!

OC

[Phoenix]

Yes we do, OC! Louisa Emily Fruin was born in Kensington, daughter of John and Louisa. I can follow her through the censuses to 1901. Presumably she was known to the authorities in 1908 wen her daughter was born, and 1909 wen er daughter was baptised. But between then and 1911 she changed her name (but not her address!) to Moore. She kept the name Moore for the rest of her life.

[Olde Crone]

Louisa Maria's maiden name was Potbury, which doesn't sound anything like Burnday, dear me. I was thinking she might have given her mother's maiden name when she registered Dorothy's birth.

OC

[Phoenix]

It doesn't sound like Burnday, but I suppose at a pinch it might look like Burnday. I bet you're right, OC.