Genealogy Chat

Can those of you good at deciphering old handwriting please look at the 1881 WALES census entry for 'Harriet Irony' age 48 - so it will say born 1833 - piece 5280 folio 115 page 34 and say whether you think the surname really is Irony or suggest any alternatives? Background follows. Kate.

My great-great-great grandparents were John Vowles born 1815 in Bedminster, Bristol and his wife Ann (nee Sage) born about 1815 or 1816 in Bristol. Both their names were pretty common in that area and it would help to know who some of their relatives were to sort them out! Well, one of their daughters, Amelia Ann Vowles, married a John Seaborn at Bedminster in the June quarter of 1849, and the census entry in question is her and her children, plus cousin 'Harriet Irony'. Harriet was born about 1832-3 in Bristol (she is unmarried in 1881) but I haven't been able to find her on any other census, nor any trace of her birth or death. I'm not sure if her surname was really Irony or if it has been mistranscribed, what do you think? I would appreciate any help in finding anything about her. Let me know if you need any more background info about the Vowles family so you don't waste time looking for stuff I already have. Kate.

I think it's Bony, however, I can't find her on any other census either.

I think it could be Bony - but that's not much better!

I have searched on ancestry with the name Harriet and her birth details only on the 1871 and 1891. She could have married by 91 of course. Everyone who came up on the 71 was married. No one came up on the '91. Alice

I *think* it's the same surname as the Mary who appears a couple of doors up from them. I can't find her in 1871 either though lol

Thanks everybody who has looked so far. There are no entries for the surname Irony on FreeBMD and several for Bony though no Harriets and not many in Bristol. Any other suggestions? Kate.

Can't read it but think it may be a poorly transcripted (by enumerator) version of Vowles - this was Amelia's maiden name and the name of the people Amelia and family lived with in the house in 1871. There is a Harriet Vowles in Bristol on 1871 - similar age, though has two children, so it may not be same person. S:>

Her birth won't be on FreeBMD as she was born before Civil Registration came into effect. Could try the IGI - which county did Bristol come under then?

It would be Gloucestershire but I don't think that many Bristol births are up on there. There are only 5 entries for Irony and none in Bristol.

I haven't looked ,but from replies cname that springs to mind as across between all these - Byrony, Bryony Briony will have look tho now

By the way, when I said none on FreeBMD I meant no entries at all for that surname, I wasn't looking for Harriet's birth on there!

Could it be IVory? ~jess~

Possibly but if so I still can't find her anywhere else! thanks everybody for trying. Kate.

There is a Harriett Mone in 1871 born Bristol. This could be pronounced Moan or Mony?

I just typed in Harriet, 38 born Bristol,1871 it came up with one a Harriet AMY Lewis , as a needlewoman in the right area of Cardiff. Could it be the Enumerator left off the surname and just entered her as Harriet Amy?? The occupation dressmaker, would fit with needlewoman and the age and place of birth tally?? hope this helps Kim

Thanks Tracy, I noticed that too but it's not much easier to read that version either, is it? I think it shows the enumerator was getting tired or careless! Kate.

Kim - You could be onto something there as Harriet Amy Lewis is a visitor at 31 Bute Street and another of the Vowles girls, Emily, was living in the same street under her married name of Summers. Mind you, she lived at number 216 so I wouldn't think it would be that close to number 31... I am now trying to make that surname look like 'Amy'!! Err... now I think about it, Emily was living there in 1881 not 1871. Kate.

Jim - The Harriett Mone in 1871 was married, so I don't think that would be her. Thanks anyway. Kate.

have you tried 'Fray' there are a few others in Cardiff and the writing looks similar... Kim