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Memorabilia
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It is not always easy to track someone through the years from a known correct event back to their birth and hence to the names of their parents. If they have an unusual name it can prove very helpful. The story of Tamson Deane is a good example. The starting point is the marriage certificate for Henry James Burgess and Elizabeth Lucy Hely, which is dated 5 October 1890. As this is the original document passed down through the family, rather than a copy, it has to be correct. Elizabeth’s father was given as James Joseph Hely, confectioner, and the inclusion of his middle name and profession is very fortunate. It leads directly to an entry in the 1891 Census where Elizabeth’s mother was listed as Tomson.
Reassuringly, there are several pointers to this being the correct family.
Now the name “Tomson” has appeared and because it is unusual, or even unique, it should stand out during searches. Unfortunately the census enumerators had difficulty spelling her name over the years so it doesn’t always appear as expected. The 1901 census corrected the spelling to Tamson but should it be something else entirely? After a lot of searching I think I have found all the right references to Tamson.
A little explanation is required. Going back to the 1861 census there were many points of agreement which confirmed this to be the same person from the same family throughout.
There are also clues to Tamson’s maiden name. In 1881 Susannah Deane (aged 71) was included in the household. She was born in Bath, Somerset, a widow, and listed as “mother” in relation to the head of the family. Surely she was "mother-in-law", otherwise she should have been a Hely. In 1871 Tamson, James J and James H were living at one address while the rest of the family were listed as grandchildren in the household of Elizabeth “Heby”, a widow aged 59. Also there was Susannah Deane, visitor. So it does look as if she was Tamson’s mother. Armed with her maiden name it didn’t take long to find the reference to Tamson in the 1851 census. Particularly as I had sent for her marriage certificate which indicated that her father was a cabinet maker called John Deane. Before her marriage she lived with her parents and siblings at 5 Bull Court, Shoreditch, Tower Hamlets. Her mother is shown to be Susan Deane, as suspected. 1841 proved to be a problem. There was no sign of the name Tamson in any of its forms. Only one family came close but with a significant discrepancy. She was a boy!
There are so many points of agreement that I think it must be the same family. John Dean’s age appears wrong but this is not unusual. Look how Tamson aged unevenly after she was married. Louise became Lucy but that is not difficult to explain. Neither is the change from Thomas to Tamzone if you think about the enumerator hearing the name for the first time and trying to interpret it on the census form. Even if it is not the same household there is still enough information in the 1851 census to try to trace the family further back.
Some progress at last! The birth certificate for Lucy/Louise Dean has solved a few problems. First, her name was Lucy Matilda Dean and she was born on 4 Jan 1840 at 11 Butlers Buildings, Great George Street, Middlesex. Her father was John Dean, with no "e", and he was a cabinet maker. Her mother was Susannah Dean, formerly Lee. I had already found the marriage for this couple. The details are that they were married on 27 April 1825 at St Anne, Soho, Westminster. This fits well with the eldest child being 16 in 1841. Also the location makes sense as Great George Street is just by Westminster Bridge. Even better, while searching for John Dean's christening in the Devonport records I came across Charles Dean, christened on 28 Apr 1797 at Stoke Damerel, Devon (the old parish name before it became Devonport). The interesting point being that his parents were John and TAMIZON. Is there a connection?
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