Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1881, Churches Cottages, Fyfield, Berkshire, England
• Census: 1901, Tubney, Berkshire, England
• Census: 1891, Denmans Farm, Cumnor, Berkshire, England
• Census: 1911, Star Inn, 39 St Clements, Oxfordshire, England

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

Gertrude married Walter Costar on 23 Dec 1888 in St Barnabas Church, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Walter was born in 1867 in Northmoor, Oxfordshire, England; died on 04 Sep 1938 in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1901, Near Railway Bridge, Station Road, Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, England
• Census: 1891, Denmans Farm, Cumnor, Berkshire, England

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1901, Near Railway Bridge, Station Road, Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, England
• Census: 1891, Denmans Farm, Cumnor, Berkshire, England

Gertrude married James Downing in Dec 1918 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1901, Near Railway Bridge, Station Road, Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, England

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1901, Near Railway Bridge, Station Road, Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, England

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1841

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1901, Near Railway Bridge, Station Road, Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, England

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1901, Near Railway Bridge, Station Road, Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, England
• Census: 2 Apr 1911, Osberton, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England