NORAH DAVIES - SYDNEY USHER

Post by **Sue H** » 19 Dec 2011 23:37

I become more confused by the hour!!

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 07:40

Agnes Longley Taylor was born Hanley, Staffs..c 1877/79 she is on census with parents in 1881 and 1891 She is then with William Watson Gurney in 1901,

1891 at Rusholme
RG12; Piece: 3171; Folio 23; Page 40

1881 at Birkinhead
RG11; Piece: 3588; Folio: 43; Page: 32

1901 in West Derby
RG13; Piece: 3499; Folio: 139; Page: 10

all showing she was born in Hanley..
her father was William as stated on marriage to John William Davies

Here are both of her marriages... sig the same, so same lady

possible for her on passenger list to Canada as Gurney.

so maybe John William never married Norah as he was legally married to Agnes.. Perhaps Agnes took the chance and then emigrated

Post by **Sue H** » 20 Dec 2011 11:44

Hi thank you so much for all this information.

I found something that has Edward A Biggs death in 1906. I am also wondering if Norah was Norah and Edward Briggs not John William Davies. Wiould explain why they said Norahs birth certificate didnt have same father.............and why oh why didnt I ask her to give me the name!!

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 12:06

I wondered that, but Norah Biggs married Harry Coventry in March just before 1911 census, and we also have Norah Davies with Norah and Sarah on the 1911

so if Harry and Norah have married before census they should be on 1911 as Coventry.. will have to try and find them later

Post by **MaryA** » 20 Dec 2011 12:26

I'm so glad you two can follow your train of thought since it's just made my head spin trying to make head or tail of it and I'm lost!

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 13:05

brief summary of what we know

Sue's nan Sarah b 1908 has parents John William Davies, Painter and Norah nee Prendegast. she puts dad as Professional dancer in 1926 at her marriage, but he is dec'd. (reckon dancer could just be a story she has been told

)

Sarah's sister Norah married Sydney Usher in 1948, dad is John William Davies, Painter.

John William Davies, Painter, married Agnes Longley Taylor in 1896.. something happens and she later married William Watson Gurney in 1900, pretends to be spinster, deffo same lady from signatures.

Norah Davies is at Solway Street in 1911 with young Norah and Sarah.(transcribed as Darius) John William, Painter, is listed and then crossed out

away from home..

Norah Davies nee Prendegast b c 1880 not definite about her

There is one that fits, daughter of James and Jane, but she marries Edward A Biggs in 1901.. and the father fits with James

Mr Biggs dies in 1906 and she married Harry Coventry in 1911 just before census. Same father, James Prendegast, shoemaker. Possibly a red herring and just a lady with same name as Norah we are looking for

but can't find the Coventry's in 1911

John William Davies looks to have died in 1915...

I am thinking he never married Norah as he was still married to Agnes

although Agnes seems to have taken her chance and married again, then possibly skipped it to Canada,

Post by **Sue H** » 20 Dec 2011 13:14

To add to this

I have just found an Edward Albert Biggs who married Norah Prenegast on 7th April 1901

She was a servant in the 1901 census and he was on that as a visitor

I have found a death for Edward Albert Biggs april/may/june in 1906 at the age of 31 i cheshire could this be him!

This could make Norah their child............and my nan father John William Davies and it does look like they werent married

Post by **dickiesam** » 20 Dec 2011 13:23

MaryA wrote:I'm so glad you two can follow your train of thought since it's just made my head spin trying to make head or tail of it and I'm lost!

I ditto that MaryA.

So I stuck my oar in to try and find Norah Coventry shortly after her marriage. I think this could be her as a 'live-in' servant.
COVENTRY, Norah - Servant - married - 31 - General Servant Domestic - Bootle.
Address: The Willows, Hinderton Road, Neston, Cheshire.
[Looks like a very good address!]

And this could be Harry, at home with his parents...
COVENTRY, Harry - Son - Married - 22 - Collier Hewer - Neston, Cheshire.
Address: Poplar Wient, Neston, Cheshire.
Bit young though isn't he? What was his age on the marriage cert?

DS

Post by **Alison C** » 20 Dec 2011 13:27

So that means that Norah Prendergast Biggs Coventry isn't our Norah?? or she's in two places at once

But that means there is another Norah Prendergast born 1880 who is our Norah...but there's only one on FreeBMD

Post by **Sue H** » 20 Dec 2011 13:46

Found the marriage certificate for John Coventry and Sarah Prendegast, davies, biggs................she was a widow at 32 and he was 22

Post by **Sue H** » 20 Dec 2011 13:47

Just seen your comments about maybe not right one.............am going to lay down in a dark room!!!!!!!

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 13:48

Alison C wrote:So that means that Norah Prendergast Biggs Coventry isn't our Norah?? or she's in two places at once

But that means there is another Norah Prendergast born 1880 who is our Norah...but there's only one on FreeBMD

yes Alison

I did notice one who came in from Boston, but don't have full access and think she was too old.

here's the Biggs/ Prendegast marriage

Post by **Sue H** » 20 Dec 2011 13:54

looked at witness on the marriage with john coventry, they are Geoffery prendergast and beatrice

Post by **Sue H** » 20 Dec 2011 14:13

I meant Hary Coventry not John who I think was his father.

having to leave this now, must go out shopping!!

Just can I say thanks again to all of you, I am so sorry its getting like hard work!!

Post by **dickiesam** » 20 Dec 2011 14:56

Alison C wrote:So that means that Norah Prendergast Biggs Coventry isn't our Norah?? or she's in two places at once

But that means there is another Norah Prendergast born 1880 who is our Norah...but there's only one on FreeBMD

Hi Alison,
I don't think there are two Norah Coventrys. The Norah in the census is a live-in servant just up the road from her hubby who is on his ownsome with his parents and siblings on census night.

DS

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 15:21

reckon it's 1 Norah Coventry late Biggs nee Prendegast.. which is likely the one you found DS.

There must be another Norah who was with John William Davies

I wonder if Norah wasn't actually her real name... maybe it was like a pet name

or maybe her surname is different and Prendegast was her adoptive name if mum has remarried

Post by **dickiesam** » 20 Dec 2011 16:12

The plot thickens... again!

I am teasing out doubts that the Harry Coventry I found in Neston is Norah's husband.

In the household where Harry is described as 'son - married' there's an Annie Coventry described as 'daughter - 20 - married'. But she should be a daughter-in-law' and since her age is so close to Harry's, she could be his wife. I think!

EDITED TO ADD:
However, there isn't a marriage for Harry/Henry Coventry and an Annie within the timeframe, but there's a marriage of an Annie Coventry in Birkenhead in Dec qtr 1910 to either Thomas Hughes or Edward Meadows. So did the head of household, Annie's father, make a mistake with her surname? And the young Harry really did marry the ten-year-his senior Norah?

DS

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 16:13

Leonora, Honora, Honor, Annora, Eleanora, Helen

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 16:15

dickiesam wrote:The plot thickens... again!

I now have serious doubts that the Harry Coventry I found in Neston is Norah's husband.

In the household where Harry is described as 'son - married' there's an Annie Coventry described as 'daughter - 20 - married'. But she must be a daughter-in-law' and since her age is so close to Harry's, she is his wife. I think!

DS

so maybe although Norah at marriage could she really be Annora and so known either as Annie or Nora

I know of an Annora known as Norah

too many derivations now

Post by **simone** » 20 Dec 2011 16:16

Sue .. do you have anything else yet to arrive in the post, or are we up to date with certs...sorry can't remember

Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

NORAH DAVIES - SYDNEY USHER

Norah Coventry in 19**