Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I am trying to find further details on this lady for a friend. I have found the Marriage in 1874 at Emmanuel Church, Everton to Robert Thomas Davis. I have also found them on the 1901 Census with Robert as a ships steward and Augusta as a Stewardess.

I can't find details of any birth for Augusta although her marriage certificate states her father as Theodore Zerega and his occupation as a Broker. I have found on Ancestry details for a tree including a George Theodore di Zerega which includes Augusta Helena as a child of his first unkown spouse. Unfortunately I no longer subscribe to Ancestry (Got Find my Past for 1911) so I can't find any further details.

According to the marriage she was 21 which makes her b 1853 but the Census seems to be b 1856 Liverpool.

I have been led to believe that Robert was killed in New York but that Augusta had other children after his death, not sure if she married again. She also carried on her job as a Stewardess.

Can anyone help please

Eileen

I have had a quick look at the Tree on Ancestry. If you are in the UK go to your local library you can get onto Ancestry Library Collection for free and have a look yourself.

That gives a birth year of 1856 and marriage in 1874 no sources given. The father is given as george Theodore di Zerega born 1831 again no sources.

there is an attached story that says Robert was killed in new York by a cresw member (no date given) and that Augsuta had 3 xhildren after he was killed and never remarried. It also says she was a stewardess until she was 70.

Children listed are Alfie, Emily, Frank, Jackie, Augusta. The only one with a date of birth is Augusta 1874 and the fact that she married in 1891 to John Fenton.

This is just a quick abbreviation you probably will wish to see it yourself

I think you need to try and find the death in new York of Robert Thomas Davis. Perhaps there is a clue in 3 children born after his death.

Ed Officer

Here's the family in 1881. Robert is a Storekeeper.

DAVIES, Robert T - Head - Married - 27 - 1854 - Storekeeper - L'pool,
Lancashire.
DAVIES, Augusta - Wife - Married - 23 - 1858 - L'pool, Lancashire
DAVIES, Augusta - Dtr - 6 - 1875 - L'pool, Lancashire
DAVIES, Robert - Son - 2 - 1879 - L'pool, Lancashire
RG number: RG11 Piece: 3682 Folio: 63 Page: 55
Address: 73, Evelyn St, Kirkdale.

Haven't found them yet in the 1891 or the 1901. Can you post the census page reference for the latter where you found them?

Here's the marriage for the daughter to John Fenton that Education Officer posted:
Marriages Jun 1894:
Davis, Augusta Mary to Fenton, John - W. Derby - 8b - 665

Dickiesam

Hmmm she's a bit economical with the truth over her age isn't she? but she doesn't seem to be married to Robert the Steward .... this census entry is confusing in relation to the information given.

1901 all born Liverpool
106 Walton Road, Kirkdale
Augusta H Davis (Mother crossed out) Head Widow 39 Stewardess
Robert T son S 22 Ship's Steward
Emily J daur 17 Confectioner Assistant
Florence daur 13 Scholar
John James son 5 "
Francis son 3
RG13; Piece: 3465; Folio: 114; Page: 33.

Trying to find something about the death of Robert Davis lead me to the fact that according to the 1901 census, there was a son Francis born abt 1898. I looked for a likely birth and found there two:
Searched 1897 - 1899. Found Births Mar 1898:
Davis, Francis - W. Derby - 8b - 380.
Davis, Francis - W. Derby - 8b - 273.

Making the assumption that if Francis is Robert's son, Robert was still alive in 1897 but dead before April 1901, I searched the GRO Overseas, Marine and Consular deaths but didn't find one Robert Davi(e)s. I do find that strange, because if he was killed on board ship the master would have reported the death and if Robert died on the streets of New York as a foreign national, the British consul would have been involved.

Just a wayward sideways thought... Is the family story that Robert was killed in NY just a story to account for the fact he had left the family home? Might be why Augusta had described herself in 1901 as 'Mother' before the enumerator crossed it out and inserted 'Head' and then wrote 'Wid', when he asked about the 'man of the house'.

Also noted that it was a census page 'checker' who later wrote the note 'Ship's' in front of the son Robert's occupation. He may not have been at sea at all. There were occupations such as 'Private Club Stewards' aka 'posh waiters and waitresses'. 'Ship's steward' might be a red herring.

Might be useful to apply for one of the two birth certs from 1898, specifying the parents in the Reference Checking Points because only one of the certs will be the right one and a wrong choice will only cost the search fee of £4.00. If he is Robert's son it will give Robert's then current occupation.

Dickiesam

I was wondering that if the story of Robert's death in New York was true and there were 3 children after the death could the big gap between Florence and John James be explained that John James, Francis and AN Other had a different father.

Like Dickie Sam I would have expected the death to be reported but I think it should be looked over a much wider time scale.

Has the 1911 census been found for Augusta or the 1891 census for that matter. I do wonder how she a widow with young children managed to be a ship's stewardess - who looked after the children?

Ed Officer

Well Augusta Mary Fenton 36, is there with family Augusta Jessie 16, John 14, and Florence Mary 7, but with a couple of others - Francis Drane 34 and Mary Pierpoint 48

No mother in sight in 1911 as I believe this might be Emily and Francis.

I notice that they seem to use the spelling Davis not Davies.
Emily J Davis married Maurice Cross 1910 Liverpool, Presbyterian Church, Breeze Hill

Maurice Cross 25, Emily Jesepha Cross 26, Francis Davis 13, John James MCQUSIR 16

In view of John James surname I would recommend this census be investigated further.

Thanks to everyone for your help. Much of the information confirms what I have. My friend had told me that Robert Thomas Davis was believed to have been killed either on board ship or in New York. I have just checked his daughter Augusta Marys Marriage Certificate for 1894 and she has Robert as deceased.

This looks like the children born to Robert were Augusta Mary, Robert T, Emily J and Florence. Then on the 1901 Census we also have John James born 1896 and Francis b 1898. I think that we need to get the birth certificate for one of these to see if Augusta Helena has put a fathers name.

Has anyone had any luck in finding a birth for Augusta Helena Zerega. It could also be di Zerega as the Ancestry Tree has father with this spelling.

I have looked at the 1911 Census original for Emily Jesepha Cross with John James McQusir and Francis Davis. These look promising for the other children. I will check the marriage for Emily that Mary A has found and we can then confirm if this is the correct family.

Eileen

Forgot to say, I made an error saying Robert Thomas Davis was on the 1901 as a Ships Steward, it was his son Robert.

I have also found Augusta Mary Fenton with children Augusta Jessie age 16, John Fenton age 14 and Florence Mary Fenton age 7 on the 1911. Her husband John Fenton is not at home but she is not down as a widow just married. There are so many John Fentons I haven't even tried to check where he is on the 1911.

He was a Barman age 21 on his marriage in 1894 so maybe I should check on his occupation.

Eileen

Unfortunately I haven't had any luck finding a birth, there's always the thought that her parents weren't married until afterwards and she may have been registered in her mother's name which would cause a lot of problems, but nevertheless is possible.

Is it possible to make out anything more clearly about John James surname ? I was wondering if it was a clue to a missing father - not Fenton.

Could this be John James birth registration?

West Derby Registration District June Quarter 1894 volume 8b page 395

John James MCQUAIR

Ed Officer

A Mc name is far from the easiest to search for, but in the 1901 census I don't see another that could fit McQuair. I'd be very curious to see what was on that birth cert.

I have been able to confirm that the marriage found for Emily Jesepha Davis and Maurice Cross is the correct Emily Davis, so Francis and John James will be her brothers. I will be seeing my friend tomorrow and will suggest that she orders the birth certificate for John James McQuair as long as the mother is Augusta. Hopefully this may give us the fathers name of the other children.

I doubt if we will find Augusta Helena's birth as I spoke to the registrar in Liverpool today and she said that many children were not registered in the 1850's. I have left the name and details with her to see if she can find anything if she gets a chance. However they are so busy that I doubt I will get anything as she has been so economical with the truth about her age!!!!!

I would be grateful if Dickie Sam could check the Overseas deaths from 1887-1897 for Robert Thomas Davis as he was deceased in 1894 when Augusta Mary married John Fenton and Florence appears to have been born 1888.

Thanks to you all for your interest

Eileen

Overseas GRO death indexes are on Find my Past

Ed Officer

Thanks for that Education Officer, seems I still need educating as to what is on Find my Past

By the way on zooming in on the 1911 Census I think that you have found the birth for John James McQuair as it does look as if that is how it is spelt on the original. I have checked the MQuair name for 1901 and found a John and a James both single living with their mother. John is still with his mother in 1911 but no sign of James. There are only 8 in all counties and all in West Derby, 5 of which are related.

Also found births for Harold R Cross in 1911 and Maurice Cross in 1916 both maiden name Davis.

Thanks again to all.

Just to update you on the above.

My friend has got the birth reg for John James McQuair, born at 274 Commercial Road, 1894 - Father James McQuair - Ships Steward - Mother Augusta Helena McQuair late Davis formerly Zereaga.

She also has the later one for Francis Davis in 1897 born 30 Elstow Street - Father Robert Davis - Ships Steward - Mother down as Helena Davis nee Zereaga.

Emily Jesepha Davis born 1883 and Robert Theodore Davis born 1879 both have Robert Thomas Davis as Father and Augusta Helena Davis nee Zereaga as Mother. Robert is a Ships Steward on both of these.

This doesn't help us with Robert Thomas Davis's death. I have also checked for a marriage to a James McQuair for Augusta and nothing.

Must have been some white lies told on these later certificates I think.

Eileen

42aitch wrote:Must have been some white lies told on these later certificates I think.

What's new with our ancestors?

It's a bonus that you actually do have a father's name for John James, although like you I can find no marriage for the parents. I searched all "Augusta's" for a number of years, taking special note of any Helen/a's but with nobody that appeared to have the surname Davies or Zereaga, or spouse with a name anything like McQuair.

I noticed that at the beginning of this post you said you didn't have a birth for Augusta - then there is an entry in the 1881 census for the Davies's including Augusta age 6 - this is probably her birth although I doubt that it would give you any more information than you already have
Augusta H Zerega Q3 1874 West Derby 8b 546

McQuair being very much a Scottish name, is there a chance they could have been married up north?

Mary,

The 1874 birth will be Augusta Mary Davis, the one I would like to find is her mother B c1853-1856 - Augusta Helena Zerega, Zereaga or Di Zerega, with father George Theodore Di Zerega. As Augusta named her son Robert Theodore Davis and on her marriage to Robert Davis she named her father Theodore Zerega he could be down as George or Theodore but can't find him either.

Eileen

Could this be a possibility

Augusta marries Robert Davis and has children

Robert dies or disappears possibly in New York Augusta may not have official notification of this

Augusta takes up with MCQuair and has a child she calls herself McQuair but isn't married to him either he doesn't wish to, can't, or she can't. they have a child which she registers giving her assumed name.

McQuair leaves Augusta takes up with A N Other and has a child she is still legally Davis so gives her name and Robert Davis her husband as the father even though she may well know he isn't because he's disappeared it'd sound better.

Education Officer