Great Great Grandmother, Emily Beatrice Merton (Mrs Ingpen), has been somewhat of an enigma in terms of her origins. In a nutshell ...
- Emily's parents have not yet been identified
- Emily's date of arrival in New Zealand nor the ship she travelled on has not yet been identified.
- Nor has Ernest been identified on a shiplists.
She and Ernest were married in 1876 ... parent's names were not included on the marriage entry until 1880 - four years later! I have considered that it may be worth a shot, to try to obtain the notice of intention to marry.
A recap on the available info :
1. DETAILS - MARRIAGE
Copy of Register of Marriage, Marriages in the District of Riverton.
27 May 1876 at the office of the Registrar,
Riverton
Ernest Henry Ingpen aged 37 years School Master, Bachelor
Emily Beatrice Merton aged 22 years, Lady, Spinster
by Barry Bailey Registrar.
Witnesses :
Catherine Mary Kellow, Riverton &
William Hopcroft, Gummies Bush.
Usable Details
- 1854 - Approximate Birth date (from age provided)
- 1876 - Arrived in New Zealand before this date
 |
| Marriage - 1876 |
2. DETAILS - DAUGHTER'S BIRTH
 |
| Daughter's Birth Details |
Mother : Emily Beatrice Ingpen formerly Merton, 35, [born] Croyden, Surrey, England.
Usable Detail :
- Birth Place : Croydon, SURREY
THERE ARE 3 EMILY MERTONS THAT SHOW UP IN DOCS FROM THE UK.
OPTION A - 1871 Census - resident of Surrey 👍
The first option seems to be the "nearest". The Emily Merton in this source lived with her elder sister, Mrs Elizabeth Wybrow and family. This is also the closest location to Croyden Surrey.
The Residence of Henry Wybrow, Cottage Pond, St Thomas, St Olave Southwark, London & Surrey, England. Source : 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription : http://www.findmypast.co.uk,
Name Relationship Sex Age Birth year Birth place
Henry Wybrow
Head
Male
28
1843
Essex, England
Elizabeth Wybrow
Wife
Female
23
1848, Middlesex,
Henry T G Wybrow Son
Male
3
1868, Warwickshire,
Emily E Wybrow
Daughter
Female
1
1870
Surrey, England
Emily Merton Wife's Sister Female 19 1852 Middlesex, England
[on original, Emily Merton works as a Fruit Seller].
A sister of Mrs Elizabeth Wybrow.
http://www.ancestry.com had the same Census, except the actual document was there, whereas, at findmypast.co.uk it was a transcript. Looking at the age next to Emily,
it could easily have read 14 than 19. Which would change the birth year from 1852 to 1857, or thereabouts? Also on the original, it has
Hoxton, Middlesex as the
birth place for both sisters, Elizabeth and Emily.
Note : the address of the Wybrows was Cottage Pond, St Thomas Parish, Southwark, SURREY, London.
ELIZABETH WYBROWS DETAILS FROM SAME DOC.
Elizabeth Wybrow, wife of Henry Wybrow.
Age 23 at year of the Census 1871. Her birth year stated as 1848. Her son Henry is 3, so perhaps married at 19, Possible Marriage Date : 1867
4. 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
11, Bryett Road, Islington, London & Middlesex, England
In the next Census, Elizabeth Wybrow and her husband Henry are listed, as well as the children Henry Jr and Emily, and a few more children!
Walter Wybrow Son Single Male 9 1872
Louisa Wybrow Daughter Single Female 6 1875
Frederick Wybrow Son Single Male 3 1878
Charles Wybrow Son Single Male 0 1881
No Aunt Emily staying with them at this stage. If this was our Emily in the 1871 Census by 1881, she has already arrived in New Zealand and been married to Ernest for 5 years!
OPTION B - 1871 Census, resident of Yorkshire 👎
While this Emily Merton is the correct age, the birth place is Cawood ... way the heck up in Yorkshire, a very long way from Surrey. After processing more than 20 other English Ancestors, ALL of them have spent their whole lives in the place of their birth. Mobility is NOT a factor. Also, on Emily's Burial record, there is no birth date for her. I would imagine if her daughter knew the date, it would have been recorded somewhere. If her own daughter doesn't know the date, then it is more than likely that Emily herself didn't know the date, which would suggest she was orphaned early (definitely what I'm feeling on this). The Emily Merton below, has living parents.
Name: Emily Merton
[Emily Morton]
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Relation: Daughter
Father's name: John Merton
Mother's name: Ellen Merton
Gender: Female
Where born: Cawood, Yorkshire, England
Registration district: Selby
Sub-registration district: Selby
ED, institution, or vessel: 21
Household schedule number: 94
Piece: 4735
Folio: 146
Page Number: 15
Household Members:
Name Age
John Merton 60, Ellen Merton 58, Thomas Merton 24, Jane Ann Merton 25, Emily Merton 16, Ramshaw Merton 2, John T Merton 7 Months
Thomas Jessop 84
OPTION C - An Emily Merton, from Norfolk (which is even further away) and who was still in England in 1891, long after our Emily had arrived in New Zealand, married Ernest and daughter Maud, would have been a year old.
PLAN MOVING FORWARD >>>
- Attempt to acquire Ernest and Emily's Notice of intention to Marry
- Purchase Emily's Death Entry
- Upload Elizabeth Wybrow's family onto the Wiki Tree, to attempt to identify any of her descendants that may have been DNA tested.
