Hi Geoff and Julie
Thank you both very much for your posts.
This is the first branch of our family that we started researching three years ago - and the most baffling and perplexing!!! We didn't even know that this family existed until several months ago as we only knew (Grace) as Mrs (Grace) Alice Maud Mary Solomon and non-birth maiden name Miss (Grace) Alice Maud Mary Courtenay - but she was in fact born as Alice Mary Thrasher. When her illegitimate son Horace Courtenay died in 1959 his solicitors were unable to find his birth certificate and his mother's family and his father's family - it is no wonder as Horace was birth registered as Horace Thrasher in 1893 and baptised in 1896 as Horace Thresher - we do not know when he first took on the name Horace Courtenay - our first knowledge is the 1901 census at the boarding school with cousin Violet Alice Louise Jezard born 1890.
Yes, Eliza is a sister.
Robert Thrasher and Priscilla May Thrasher (Pope) had four known daughters in London:
Eliza Priscilla Thrasher born 1868
Alice Mary Thrasher born 1871
Louisa Thrasher born 1873
Ruth Thrasher born 1879
Yes, Alice had several names:
1871 born Alice Mary Thrasher
1881 census Alice Thrasher
1891 census Alice Maud Mary Thrasher
1893 son Horace Thrasher's birth certificate Grace Thrasher, formerly Grace Courtenay
1901 census spinster Grace Alice Maud Mary Courtenay
1901 marriage Grace Alice Courtenay spinster, Grace Alice Solomon wife - and her father is named as Robert Courtenay a cab proprietor deceased
1911 census Grace Solomon
1941 death Grace Alice Maud Mary Solomon widow
Yes, that is the wedding for Albert Edward Court and Ruth Thrasher (Ruby Jezard). On their wedding certificate Ruby names her father as Robert Jezard - a combination of her birth father Robert Thrasher and step-father John Jezard. With their theatrical connections and looking at the electoral registers their wedding witnesses could have been - Arthur Brooks comedian and Albert Kingsley artist - the last witness is Mrs Ellen Seymour. When Ruth/Ruby has her son Edward Leslie Court in 1905, she calls herself Ruth Court, formerly Ruth Jezzard.
Yes, why such a close assocation with Horace and Violet - born close together in 1890 and 1893, baptised together in 1896, living together in 1896 and then at boarding school together in 1901 census. Could they both be illegitimate children - could they both be children of the same aristocrat?
After looking at this for so long now - sleeping, dreaming, daydreaming - you start to notice other aspects - only because so many official records for this family are not forthcoming, this is just a theory. Where false names are being used, false transport related jobs are being used and could the family be staying with unknown family abroad.
1881
Priscilla Thrasher is a widow by the 1881 census. Her brother Alfred Pope born 1836 Hartest is living with Priscilla and her daughters Eliza, Alice and Ruth - despite being a domestic servant, working as a cook, Priscilla is able to send her daughter Louisa to a boarding school. We are still trying to trace the family of Robert Thrasher and his whereabouts in the 1851 census and 1861 census (the Robert Thrasher we have found in the 1841 census as a servant may or may not be our Robert and provides no clue to his family) - unfortunately with no marriage certificate for Priscilla and Robert, we also do not know his father's name. We believe that Priscilla emigrated from East Anglia between 1851 and 1861, as her mother is a widowed pauper laundress in 1851 and Priscilla is not found on the 1861 census. As there is no other record of Priscilla's brother Alfred, except the 1881 census, perhaps he had already emigrated and Priscilla went to live with him abroad and that is where she met and married Robert. It may be that as Robert came from Southampton he also had other family members that lived elsewhere in the Empire, as soldiers, sailors, merchants - and perhaps Robert and Priscilla had children who died or stayed living abroad - and that is where their daughters and grandchildren born in London go and visit and are therefore not found on many official records - Priscilla and Robert are older parents when Eliza Priscilla Thrasher is born in 1868 London.
1890
Violet Alice Louise Jezard Born 109 Finborough Road, Kensington
Mother Eliza Jezard, formerly Eliza Thrasher
Father Alfred Jezard - tram line cleaner - could this job enable Violet to be sent away to a boarding school in 1901? However, if grandmother Priscilla Jezard is Violet's guardian Priscilla dies in 1900 - is this why both Violet and Horace were sent away?
We have been unable to find a marriage for Eliza and Alfred
We cannot find Violet in the 1891 census, 1911 census, getting married or dying.
1891 HAS PRISCILLA RE-NAMED HER FAMILY TO TORPLOW
Violet's mother Eliza is found on the 1891 census with her mother Priscilla and sisters Louisa and Ruth - where is Violet and Eliza's husband Alfred - or why is Eliza not living in a separate household with Violet and Alfred? We cannot find Violet in the 1891 census, we cannot find Alfred in the 1891 census. Also, the family are named Torplow - and should either be called Thrasher or Jezard (according to Priscilla's 1900 death certificate she is the widow of John Jezard living at 133 Finborough Road). Was this just an error by the census recorder or Priscilla deliberately renaming her family due to Violet's birth?
We have been unable to trace Eliza in the 1901 census and 1911 census
1893
Horace Thrasher born 81 Archel Road
Father Robert Thrasher (this is actually Alice Thrasher's father) - a road car timekeeper - could this job enable Horace to be sent away to a boarding school in 1901? However, if grandmother Priscilla Jezard is Violet's guardian Priscilla dies in 1900 - is this why both Violet and Horace were sent away?
Mother Grace Thrasher, formerly Grace Courtenay (this is actually Alice Thrasher)
1894 HAS PRISCILLA RENAMED HER FAMILY TO JEZARD
Horace's grandmother Priscilla May Thrasher, remarried as Priscilla May Jezard is found living at 81 Archel Road in the 1894 electoral roll
We have not been able to find a marriage for Priscilla May Pope/Priscilla May Thrasher marrying John Jezard. Priscilla May Jezard is listed on the 1894 electoral roll - where is John Jezard (a tram car conductor according to Priscilla's 1900 death certificate) - we cannot find John Jezard on any census or dying or Priscilla's daughter-in-law Ellen Jezard present at her death at 133 Finborough Road.
Did Priscilla re-name her family due to Horace's illegitimate birth?
1896
Violet and Horace are baptised - with false baptism parents
Violet's 'father' George Jezard is a P&O steward, Violet's mother is May Jezard (possibly grandmother Priscilla May Jezard) living at 133 Finborough Road.
1897
Horace and Violet's grandmother Priscilla May Jezard is found in the 1897 electoral register living at 133 Finborough Road.
Just for information, Eliza Priscilla Thrasher born 1868, is baptised in 1869 as Eliza Priscilla Thresher and Robert is a messenger.
Another researcher has recently found the baptism for Alice, Louisa and Ruth baptised together in 1880 - with no indication that father Robert Thrasher a messenger has died - therefore the 1879 London Strand death certificate for Robert Thrasher who is a fireman and with no family present is not likely to be our Robert - our Robert possibly went abroad again to work and died abroad.
When Horace Courtenay marries to Adelaide May Cook in 1924 he names his father as H Courtenay clerk deceased.
Why, oh why, the need for this cover-up? Not only does it make us wonder who was the father to Horace and Violet - but who was Robert Thrasher?
Well as the saying goes 'the truth is out there' - but just about where is the mystery! Horace wanted to tell us about a family secret - but unfortunately circumstances overtook and he died without telling us. It was only when Horace's wife Adelaide became frailer in the 1980's that their nephew told our family about the very old rumour of being related to an aristocrat so that the story would not be forgotten.
