My mother's maiden name is Baldry. I have managed to go back five generations so far but have now hit a brick wall. My great, great, great grandfather and grandmother are George Baldry & Mary Sweetland Hutt - they are listed on the London Baldry page.

Here is a brief outline of my Baldry lineage.

My great great great great grandfather was George Baldry, on the census it states he was born in Banham, Norfolk in about 1806/7. He married Ann Woollard from Kirtling, Newmarket & married there in 1826.

The 1841 Census. I can't find any trace of George but I did find his wife Ann 25 with three children Mary 11 born in Dalham, Thomas 8 born in Dalham and George II aged 12 born in Kirtling, Newmarket. They live in Borough Road, Ipswich, Civil parish - St Clement.

The 1851 Census. In 1851 they have moved to Cambridge - Gloucester Road, St Giles and have two children at home George 1828 born in Kirtling, Cambridgeshire & Mary Ann 1837 born in Dalham, Suffolk. I can't track down Thomas, but I did find a marriage between a Thomas Baldry from Dalham & an Elizabeth Berry from Hamble, Hampshire in 1856. The marriage took place in Farnham, Hampshire but they settle in Aston, Warwickshire? I will have to look into this one further!

They have remained in Cambridge and are living in Chesterton, Ferry Path. Mary Ann still lives at home with George Senior & Ann, there son George II is now married and also lives in Ferry Path. George II wife is Mary Sweetland Hutt who was also born in Kirtling, Newmarket. They have two children - Helena 4 and Alice 3 both born in Cambridge. George II occupation is a farmer of 44 acres employing 3 men & 8 boys. Seems like things are going well for them.

The 1871 Census. I can no longer find George Senior or Ann. Daughter Mary Ann is now living in Hertfordshire and is married to James Dellar. As for George & Mary Sweetland they have uprooted and moved to Brick Lane, Spitalfields, Tower Hamlets, East London with five children, Helena Mary 14, Alice 13, Elizabeth 9, George Baldwin Sweetland 4 and Frederick Ernest 5. All children were born in Cambridge. It seems odd why someone owning 44 acres in Cambridgeshire would want to move there family into rooms in the East End of London??

The 1881 Census. Mary is widowed (George died in 1878 at the age of 47) & lives in Bull Inn Yard, Aldgate not far from the previous address in Brick Lane. She lives with her 5 children. Mary Sweetland Baldry is to only live another 6 years – she dies in 1887 (St George in the East) at the age of 59.

In 1882 daughter, Elizabeth Kate 1861 marries Charles Henry Dutch 1854 in Whitechapel. They have three children – Elizabeth Alice 1884, Louisa 1888 & Sophia 1890. They settle in Bermondsey, South London.

The 1891 Census Mary's son George Baldwin Sweetland Baldry is married to Harriet Jane Culley 1867, they have two son’s George Sweetland Baldry (1888-1890 St George in the East) and Reuben Valentine 1890 (my great grandfather). George's brother Ernest (Frederick Ernest) is also living with them in Whitechapel. Sadly in 1896 Harriet died leaving the one son Reuben Valentine.

In 1891 Helena Marie Baldry 1856 is living with Ephraim Peace Miller 1857 in St George in the East (census states wife & Miller as surname) In 1896 they marry in Mile End Old town and go on to have two son’s Ephraim Percy 1898 & Thomas B S Miller 1900

The 1901 Census George B S Baldry is living with Lizzie, daughter Hetty Baldry and Reuben Valentine – deceased Harriet’s son. (Census states wife & surname as Baldry – I can’t find a marriage for George BS to Lizzie or any birth for a Hetty “Baldry” 1898?).

Helena Marie 1856 & Ephraim Peace Miller now live in East Ham with there children.

Elizabeth Kate 1861 & Charles Dutch are still shown as married – but Elizabeth shows on the census as a patient at Farmfield Inebriates Home, Charlwood, Surrey. It seems that Farmfield was one of many institutions set up at the time to take in women with alcohol related issues. It was seen that they were unfit of running or looking after children and the family home.

Elizabeth & Charles’s children have been placed in a home in Addlestone, Surrey - Princess Mary Village Homes. “For Poor Law unions, cottage homes offered pauper children an alternative to the physical conditions and "malign influence" of the workhouse accommodation”. http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?cottagehomes/cottagehomes.shtml

By 1901 I haven't been able to find Alice Baldry 1858 or Frederick Ernest 1865 both born in Cambridge – but I will keep looking…

AFTER 1901 Reuben Valentine Baldry 1890-1968 married Elizabeth Hart 1889-1987 in 1911 Mile End Old Town. They lived in Heckford Street, Shadwell. They went on to have 9 children. Catherine E 1912, my grandfather Reuben Thomas 1914-1976, Annie E 1915, George J 1919, William E 1921, Edward 1924-1926, Peter & Paul (twins) 1929-1929 and Miriam 1931. Reuben Valentine’s marriage certificate states occupation as Musician. Apparently Reuben was a wonderfully pianist and formed part of a double act named Well’s & White – they would travel around the East End performing in various pubs & music halls. Up until the war Reuben & Elizabeth remained in Heckford Street until they were evacuated to Luton in Bedfordshire. After the war the older children Catherine, Reuben Thomas (my grandfather) and George, all of who were married and had homes in London before the war, went back to there families and homes in the East End – the others remained and settled in Luton.

My grandfather Reuben Thomas married in 1937 to Ellen Elizabeth Russell at St Dunstan’s church Stepney. After the war they lived in a prefab in Emmott Street, Stepney and moved in 1959 to a house in Bow. They had three daughters Yvonne, Sandra & Jacqueline. Reuben worked as a Docker and in his spare time would play the mandolin with his brother George who played the banjo – they formed a band with neighbours & friends and like his father, would play the East End Pubs.

ANY IDEAS?

I have tried to trace George 1806, Banham, parents but with so many George Baldry's scattered around Norfolk & Suffolk it's not easy. I can't even find any siblings in connection with my George. I have tried guess work but haven't been able to find any hard evidence to back my suspicions.

I did find a website with some interesting information about a George Baldry, Miller in 1806 who had for auction his mill in Banham. The auction was held in the village pub. Could this be my Georges father? I can't find any other George born in Banham before 1806, so George the Miller must have been born elsewhere ?

This is the link about the mill if you want to take a look: