Gertrude Emma Barrett

Gertrude Emma Barrett

Female 1868 - 1930  (62 years)

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  • Name Gertrude Emma Barrett  [1, 2, 3, 4
    Birth 02 Sep 1868  Fyfield, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [1, 2, 3, 4
    Gender Female 
    Census 1881  Churches Cottages, Fyfield, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [5
    1881 England
    1881 England
    Census 1901  Tubney, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [6
    1901 England
    1901 England
    Census 1891  Denmans Farm, Cumnor, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [7
    1891 England
    1891 England
    Census 1911  Star Inn, 39 St Clements, Oxfordshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [8
    1911 England
    1911 England
    Death 23 Sep 1930  Newton, Pangbourne, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place 
    Siblings 10 siblings 
    Histories
    Letter from Nellie (Ellen) Costar (née Barrett) to Gertrude
    Letter from Nellie (Ellen) Costar (née Barrett) to Gertrude
    Notes 
    • ** Gertrude Emma Barrett born 1868 6:23 Second child of Ferberd & Ellen. Birth certificate confirms she was born on 2nd September 1868 in Fyfield.

      On 1871 census age 2 and 1881 census age 12 with parents.

      Married Walter Costar on 23rd December 1888.

      The 1891 census shows Walter age 24 and a Game-keeper and Gertrude with 2 children, Lizzie age 1 and Christopher age 8 months, living at Denman’s Farm, Chawley, Cumnor,Berkshire.

      The 1901 census finds Gertrude with parents in Tubney, age 32. So, where is Walter? He is at 5 Station Road, Stratfield Mortimer, and is a coachman and hotel groom. Children: Lizzie age 11 Christopher age 10 Gertrude age 9 Walter Henry age 6 Frederick age 5 Annie age 3 Sydney age 1 Also there is, Ellen Sister in law age 22 and described as housemaid.

      Why is Gertrude with parents and Ellen with Walter and children? A thought for investigation, which surrounds a letter from one Nellie Costar to great grandfather Harry’s wife Annie (Mary Anne Chandler).Because the author of the letter is one Nellie Costar, I had assumed initially that it was written by Gertrude as her married name was Costar. However, Gertrude’s middle name was Emma and Nellie is usually a nick name for Ellen. What if Gertrude died and Ellen married Walter afterwards? The letter is thought to have been written between 1939 and 1943, as the author had omitted the year from the letter.

      Found a death reference for Gertrude age 62 @ Bradfield 2c page 351a 3rd quarter 1930. Then found a marriage reference for Walter for the 4th quarter of 1930 which cross references with one for an Ellen Barrett. (Did Walter and Gertrude separate and could have Ellen and Walter have lived together for some time before their marriage?

      The 1911 census could be quite interesting!)

      Death reference found for Walter@ Bingham 7b page 407 3rd quarter 1938. May need to check if all children listed above are Gertrude’s or whether some could be Ellen’s

      Gertrude's death certificate is quite revealing. She is described as Gertrude Emma Costar Rockall wife of Frank Thomas Rockall, a domestic gardener. But there is a registrar's note in column 9 basically stating that Walter Costar produced a Statutory Declaration that she was his widow and not Frank Rockall's.

      Gertrude died on 23 September 1930 at Newtown Pangbourne. Walter promptly married Ellen on 18th October 1930!

      Further Information January 2009 The 1911 census is now available in part. Found Gertrude on 1911 census age 42 as a boarder and assistant at The Star Inn, 39 St. Clements, Oxford. The publican is one Phillip Webb and his wife is Martha.

      There is an earlier connection with the Webbs’ with John Barrett (4: 10).His second wife was a Webb. There is a Phillip Webb living with them in 1851. He was 16 in 1851 so born around 1835.On 1911 census that Phillip is 76, - 1835 plus 76 equals 1911. Most likely to be one in the same person. Gertrude is at the inn by herself without family, so where are her husband Walter and children, Lizzie, Christopher, Gertrude, Walter Henry, Frederick, Annie and Sydney?

      Search for Husband Walter* on 1911 census finds nothing but it is known that he is alive until 1938. Also not found on this census are Christopher, Gertrude, Walter Henry and Sydney*. It is probable that this census is not yet complete, so they may be found later.

      *Update 12 Mar 2018: Walter Costar has now been found on the 1911 census. He is at Worksop, Nottinghamshire with son Sidney age 10 and adopted son Fitzroy Harold Smith age 4.

      I find this interesting as FH Smith reported Ellen's death and he is on her death certificate as her adopted son.

      What if, for appearances sake, for the 1911 census, Ellen went back to her father's for a couple of days. She was certainly in Worksop at the time of her death.


      The death references were checked between the censuses and nothing was found for any of these children. Lizzie was found age 21 as a housemaid in Southport Lancashire. Annie was found age 13 as domestic servant in Wortley near Sheffield. Frederick was found as a servant at St. Cuthbert’s College, Worksop. Possible marriage references have been found for all children except Christopher and Walter Henry.

      Details to following the next generation line. There is nothing to indicate that Gertrude (senior) has met Frank Rockall yet, according to the 1911 census he is residing in Islington. It might appear on the surface that Walter and Gertrude have split, although Walter may be away looking for work, but it would appear that the rest of the children may be with him as none of them can be found on census. Oh, for the 1921 census!!!!

      Sheila Wheatley
    Person ID I143  Main Tree
    Last Modified 24 Sep 2017 

    Parent Ferberd Barrett,   b. 28 Jul 1846, Fyfield, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this placed. 12 Nov 1924, Woodhouse Cottage, Fyfield, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place (Age 78 years) 
    Parent Ellen Richings,   b. 18 Nov 1844, Longworth, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this placebur. Dec 1908, Abingdon, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place 
    Marriage 03 Feb 1866  Longworth, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [9
    Marriage Certificate
    Marriage Certificate
    Marriage Index
    Marriage Index
    Marriage Index
    Marriage Index
    Family ID F48  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Spouse / Partner Walter Costar,   b. 1867, Northmoor, Oxfordshire, England View who/what we know about this placed. 04 Sep 1938, Bingham, Nottinghamshire, England View who/what we know about this place 
    Marriage 23 Dec 1888  St Barnabas Church, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England View who/what we know about this place 
    Children 
     1. Lizzie Costar,   b. 1889, Fyfield, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this placed. Abt 1966, Montreal, Quebec, Canada View who/what we know about this place  [Parent: natural]
    +2. Gertrude Ellen Costar,   b. Apr 1892, Cumnor, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this placed. 05 Jan 1961, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England View who/what we know about this place
     3. Christopher C Costar,   b. Abt 1891, Fyfield, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this placed. Canada View who/what we know about this place  [Parent: natural]
     4. Walter Henry Costar,   b. 1894, Appleton, Berkshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [Parent: natural]
     5. Frederick G Costar,   b. 1895, Ducklington, Oxfordshire, England View who/what we know about this place
     6. Fitzroy Harold Smith,   b. Abt 1896, Wilton, Wiltshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [Parent: Adopted]
     7. Annie Costar,   b. 1897, Ducklington, Oxfordshire, England View who/what we know about this place  [Parent: natural]
     8. Sydney Costar,   b. 1900, Burford, Oxfordshire, England View who/what we know about this placed. Mar 1955, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England View who/what we know about this place
    Family ID F96  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Mar 2018 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 02 Sep 1868 - Fyfield, Berkshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1881 - Churches Cottages, Fyfield, Berkshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1901 - Tubney, Berkshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1891 - Denmans Farm, Cumnor, Berkshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1911 - Star Inn, 39 St Clements, Oxfordshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 23 Dec 1888 - St Barnabas Church, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 23 Sep 1930 - Newton, Pangbourne, Berkshire, England Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S30] 1871 England Census, Class: RG10; Piece: 1261; Folio: 28; Page: 5; GSU roll: 827845.

    2. [S32] 1901 England Census, Class: RG13; Piece: 1130; Folio: 17; Page: 23.
      Birth date: abt 1869),
      (Birth place: Fyfield, Berkshire, England),
      (Residence date: 1901),
      (Residence place: Tubney, Berkshire, England

    3. [S31] 1881 England Census, Class: RG11; Piece: 1279; Folio: 121; Page: 8; GSU roll: 1341312.
      Birth date: abt 1869),
      (Birth place: Fyfield, Berkshire, England),
      (Residence date: 1881),
      (Residence place: Longworth, Berkshire, England

    4. [S33] 1891 England Census, Class: RG12; Piece: 977; Folio 52; Page 18; GSU roll: 6096087.
      Birth date: abt 1869),
      (Birth place: Fyfield, Berkshire, England),
      (Residence date: 1891),
      (Residence place: Cumnor, Berkshire, England

    5. [S31] 1881 England Census, RG11 1279 Page 8 (Reliability: 3).

    6. [S32] 1901 England Census, RG13 1130 17 28 (Reliability: 3).

    7. [S33] 1891 England Census, RG12 977 52 18 (Reliability: 3).

    8. [S45] 1911 England Census, RG14PN8130RG78PN412RD152SD2ED19SN56 (Reliability: 3).

    9. [S13] FreeBMD, England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915.