| Name |
Bertha Barrett [1, 2] |
| Birth |
22 Nov 1884 |
Longworth, Berkshire, England  [1, 2] |
| Gender |
Female |
| Address |
3 Jan 1954 |
981 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Census |
1891 |
Main Street, Fyfield, Berkshire, England [3] |
 |
1891 England
|
| Census |
1901 |
Tubney, Berkshire, England [4] |
 |
1901 England
|
| Census |
1911 |
119 The Baulk, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England [5] |
 |
1911 England
|
| Death |
1950 |
 Siblings |
10 siblings |
| |
| 2. Gertrude Emma Barrett, b. 02 Sep 1868, Fyfield, Berkshire, England d. 23 Sep 1930, Newton, Pangbourne, Berkshire, England |
|
| |
| 4. Millicent Barrett, b. 02 Oct 1872, Fyfield, Berkshire, England d. 12 Feb 1875, Fyfield, Berkshire, England |
|
| 5. Charlotte Barrett, b. 03 Jan 1875, Fyfield, Berkshire, England d. Dec 1962, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, England |
|
| 6. Ferberd Barrett, b. 17 Nov 1876, Longworth, Berkshire, England d. 10 Feb 1943, Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, Wales |
|
| 7. Ellen Barrett, b. 18 Dec 1878, Longworth, Berkshire, England d. 20 Mar 1958, Greet House, Upton Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England |
|
| 8. Kate Barrett, b. 02 Mar 1881, Longworth, Berkshire, England d. 8 Oct 1908, Victoria Hospital, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England |
|
| |
| 10. Percival Barrett, b. 15 Aug 1888, Fyfield, Berkshire, England d. Sep 1888, Fyfield, Berkshire, England |
|
| Notes |
- Bertha Barrett born 1884 6:31 10th child of Ferberd & Ellen born on 22nd November 1884 @ Longworth. Found on 1901 census with parents age 16.
She was a witness at brother Ferberd’s wedding on12th August 1900, at sister Kate’s wedding on 25th August 1900 and also at sister Annie’s wedding in December 1902, when her surname was still Barrett. Any other information about her is confusing and at present (August 2008) cannot be positively substantiated.
1. Her father died in 1923 and one Bertha Vera Simpson, daughter, is recorded as being present at his death. Any marriage references for a Bertha Barrett do not cross reference to the surname Simpson. Conclusions; Bertha Vera Simpson has been incorrectly recorded as daughter and may not be a relation at all, or possibly Bertha lived with a man named Simpson without being married. Also am not aware that Bertha had a second Christian name > she is just Bertha on birth certificate.
2. A chance contact through an ancestry website, Carol, who had been searching for Bertha’s brother, Harry informed me Bertha was her grandmother and married a William Harold Ashford a carpenter in the Merchant Navy on board ship when it was docked in New York. The year of marriage is not known but their eldest son Ferberd Ashford was born in 1908, also aboard ship in New York.
Their second son James and Carol’s father Barnett Pender Ashford were born in England, the latter in 1911. Bertha was supposed to have travelled on board in the early days but I cannot find any concrete proof of this on passenger lists.
If she did marry a William Ashford abroad, they don’t seem to have registered the marriage in this country. Bertha is referred to in the letter from Nellie to great granny Barrett as having her youngest son die in the war. Carol’s information states that Barnet was the youngest and he did not die in the war. All this is still under investigation and evidence is very conflicting. The first name Ferberd makes for an impressive connection but not much else is adding up.
Carol also said that when her father was 6 weeks old, Bertha put the 3 boys in a home and sent William a telegram to inform him. He came home on compassionate leave and took the boys to his mother in the Scilly isles. No one really knows why she did this, the story is that she was a singer and went off to pursue her career. It is possible that she may have had post natal depression and found it difficult to cope with a six week old baby, a one year old and a three year old and William away at sea.
Carol also says that Ferberd the eldest was present at Bertha’s death in 1950 and the death certificate confirms this but will not be added to the family tree record until it is certain that this is our Bertha. What can be done to prove any of the stories. Search for marriage references for Bertha Barrett found the following: @ Barrow S volume 7a page 215 1st quarter 1903 @ Plymouth v 5b p 589 3rd quarter 1903 @ Burnley v 8e p 430 2nd quarter 1904 @ Carlisle v 10b p 958 3rd quarter 1905 @ St. Austell v 5c page 172 or 472 1st quarter 1907 @Wycombe v 3a p 184 3rd quarter 1907 @Haslingden v 8c p26 3rd quarter 1907 @ Aston v 8d p 945 4th quarter 1911 @Luton v 3b p 1041 4th quarter 1911 With the last reference, did find a Fred Simpson @ Luton 3b p1040, But think this unlikely as references usually match exactly.
Passenger list search for Bertha Barrett or Bertha Ashford for the right age or time span found nothing. Found a William Ashford travelling in 1905 and 1906 both possibly the right age, but single. Found Ferberd Ashford and family who emigrated to USA in 1953. Visit National Maritime Museum for marriages and births on board ship. Wait for 1911 census to see if it reveals any information on Berth’s whereabouts. Bertha Additional Notes The 1911 census has been quite helpful. It appears to confirm that the information from Carol could well be accurate i.e. Bertha Barrett married William Harold Ashford and can now be added to the family tree.
he census gives Bertha’s birth place as Longworth. She is 26 and William is 25 and they have been married for 4 years. Which means their marriage took place in 1907/6. The eldest son Ferberd is 3 so born 1908/7 in New Jersey USA. The second son James is 1 year and born in Worksop. Barnet has not yet been born; he was born in the last quarter of 1911.
William is a joiner and Bertha is working on her own means. The marriage date is now more defined, so means that Bertha was travelling between 1906 and 1908. Having searched over 600 records on passenger lists to USA can’t find any convincing relevant Bertha Barrett or Ashford going out to USA. Found: 1 record for William Ashford, a carpenter, sailing on 14th April 1906 1 record for a Bertha Ashford, Wm H Ashford and Herbert Ashford returning to the UK on 30th November 1907. This could be them but it describes William as a farmer and Herbert not Ferberd [Paul: But Herbert is a common transcription error for Ferberd]. 1 record for William H Ashford travelling back to UK from Calcutta 2nd February 1917.
Have found nothing concrete to indicate William travelling out to or back from anywhere between later parts of 1911 or early 1912, when he was supposed to have been called home by Bertha. No marriage reference found for them or birth reference for Ferberd but if both these events happened in USA or aboard ship then this may account for it, neither events seem to have been registered in this country.
Had great difficulty finding a birth reference for James Ashford who was supposedly 1 year old at time of 1911 census and born in Worksop. Found: James William @ Marylebone 3rd quarter 1909 1a 469 Henry James @West Brom. 1st quarter 1910 6b 770 Douglas Graham @ Worksop 2nd quarter 1910 7b 63 Frederick B @ Worksop 3rd quarter 1910 7b 53 Did find a James Percival Barrett @ Bingham 1st quarter 1910 7b 538. Bingham ain’t that far away from Worksop! Found Barnet Ashford with no trouble 4th quarter 1911 7b 60 Still feel some things are not quite adding up.
Sheila Wheatley
|
| Person ID |
I1047 |
Main Tree |
| Last Modified |
30 Sep 2017 |
1884 - 1950
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set