Gertrude Mary Wright/Springate

[marineliferescue]

Hi. Hope everyone on here is well and staying safe. Am looking for advice as to where I can find a birth for Gertrude Mary Wright. I know quite a lot about this lady (her stage name was Gertie Stirling) but am absolutely stumped as to where she was born. I have her marriage cert, she was married in Burnley in 1878 to James Springate) and her father is named as Thomas Wright, Commercial Traveller, deceased at the time of her marriage. Coincidently I found a baptism record for Gertrude Mary in Burnley (27/9/1876) a few months prior to her marriage stating her d.o.b. was 31/10/1861, father named as Thomas, mother Fanny. I thought that I had cracked it as Gertrude named her 1st child Gertrude Fanny. On checking marriage records I found a marriage for Thomas Wright to Fanny Hargreaves in 1860 Burnley, but on checking subsequent census records I really don't think this is the same family as Thomas was still alive in 1891. I can find no birth record in Burnley in 1861 for Gertrude Wright and can't find any birth record anywhere in the country for a Gertrude Wright. On one census return Gertrude is showing as being born Stafford, on another it shows St Saviour, London. Gertrude was a dancer, singer and comedienne and someone has suggested that her mother Fanny was also a singer. Can anyone suggest where I go next, am so interested in her life and that of her husband's family Springate, as many of them were variety hall artists and I believe 2 of her nephews appeared on stage with Charlie Chaplin at the start of his career. If I could find her mother and discover she too appeared on stage it will give me something more to research. I would be so grateful for any advice as to what I should do next. Take care you all

 

[juliejtp]

Baptism
27 Sept 1876 - Holy Trinity - Habergham Eaves Lancashire
Gertrude Wright
Born 31 Oct 1861
Father Thomas Wright - traveller - deceased
Mother transcribed as Janny
Abode Barrack Road

Baptism
5 May 1882 - St Thomas Barrowford Lancashire
Fanny Wright
Born 25 Dec 1863
Father Thomas Wright - commercial traveller
Mother Fanny
Abode Barrowford
Note adult

 

[marineliferescue]

Baptism
27 Sept 1876 - Holy Trinity - Habergham Eaves Lancashire
Gertrude Wright
Born 31 Oct 1861
Father Thomas Wright - traveller - deceased
Mother transcribed as Janny
Abode Barrack Road

Baptism
5 May 1882 - St Thomas Barrowford Lancashire
Fanny Wright
Born 25 Dec 1863
Father Thomas Wright - commercial traveller
Mother Fanny
Abode Barrowford
Note adult

 

[marineliferescue]

Hi. The first one you mentioned appears to be the correct one as I know her father Thomas was deceased at the time of her marriage a few months later. Have checked many birth record sites and can't find a record for Gertrude being born in 1861. I am so stumped as to where to go next.

 

[juliejtp]

Gertrude's birth may have not been registered. Think I’ve found sister Fanny on the 1881 census.
1881 - Barrowford Lancashire
RG11
Piece/Folio 4165/87
Page 4

Betty Midgley head of household plus relatives.
Fanny Wright - age 19 - servant general - born Birmingham

From the baptism’s it looks like Gertrude and Fanny are sisters.

 

[juliejtp]

Hi,

I’ve posted this and see what you think.

1871 - Wolverhampton Staffordshire
William Long - age 35 - picture dealer - born Watton Norfolk
Fanny - wife - age 32 - born Willenhall Staffordshire
Mary Ann Wright - Stepdaughter - age 9 - born Hilltop Staffordshire
Fanny Wright - Stepdaughter - age 7 - born Birmingham

I couldn’t find a marriage between William and Fanny

1861 - West Bromwich - RG09 - Piece/Folio 2028/126

Residence Harvills Hawthorn

Thomas J Wright - age 21 - occ axell tree turner - born Birmingham
Fanny - wife - age 23 - born Willenhall

I know that daughter is Mary Ann and not Gertrude Mary and Thomas occupation is not the same, but it may be worth keeping in mind.

 

[juliejtp]

Hi,

Have you the witnesses names to James and Gertrude’s marriage?.