| Home Page | Root Page | Census Records | GRO Records | Parish Records | Names Directory |
Frances (2) Woodhurst was born in 1864 to parents Edwin Woodhurst and his partner Ann (nee) Wilson. Her birth certificate [Birth Index: Edmonton 3a 129, 1864 (Sept)] states that she was born on July 24th 1864 at her parents' address 4, Milford Place, Allen Road in Albert Town, situated in the Hornsey subdistrict of Edmonton. Edwin is described as a "brickmaker labourer". Her mother, who was the informant, is named as "Ann Woodhurst, late Hunt formerly Wilson". Edwin and Ann were not married to each other at this time, although they did marry later on, in 1867.
The 1871 Census finds her as an inmate of the Whitechapel Union's Industrial School located on a site formerly known as Jackass Field in Forest Lane, Forest Gate in West Ham. It had been built during 1852-54 by the Whitechapel Union, and in 1869 was sold to the newly-formed Forest Gate School District. Also in the school with her was her brother Harry (2).
The 1881 Census finds her named as "Fanny Woodhurst" and living as a domestic servant in the household of a carpenter Thomas Brinton at 185, Queen's Road in Hackney. It gives her age as 15 - though she was actually 16 - and her birthplace as (a little inaccurately) Hackney.
The 1891 Census probably finds her named as "Frances Woodhurst" and living as a domestic servant in the household of a Sym family at 7, Queen's Terrace in Monkton and Prestwick parish, Ayrshire [Scotland Census, Roll CSSCT1891_212, ED3, REG. NO. 606, Sched. 120]. It gives her age as 26 and her birthplace as England.
In August 1900 she may have made a journey to America. The manifest of the ship Minneapolis sailing from London to New York includes an unmarried woman "Fanny Woodhurst" of no specified age or address and occupied as a maid; she was one of several maids apparently accompanying the family of a merchant Winslow Pierce.
The 1901 Census finds her at age "35" occupied as a domestic servant but now living at a house named "Airdale" in Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire in the household of a widow Helen Taylor. The entry gives her birthplace as "N.K." (not known).
Nothing more is currently known of her. She may have been the Frances Woodhurst who died in Hampshire in 1923 with age cited as "45" [Death Index: Christchurch 2b 768, 1923 (June)], although her true age would then have been nearly 59.