Fanny Richards of Melksham (born 1865)
Several family trees on Family Search and Ancestry have connected Fanny Peapell nee Richards born in Newport, Wales (Fanny Richards of Newport) incorrectly with Fanny Richards born in Melksham in 1865 (Fanny Richards of Melksham). This is understandable as Melksham is only 25 miles away from Swindon where the marriage of Fanny Richards to John Crook Peapell took place. However, linking these two different people with the same name can be shown to be incorrect as Fanny Richards of Melksham was born, lived, was married, and had a family in Melksham.
From the GRO Fanny Richards of Melksham, Wiltshire (born 1865 Q2) had a mother’s maiden name of “Townsend”.
Searching the 1851 Census shows Thomas and Mary Richards who have a “Mother” who is widowed. Thomas Richards is a gardener and their family of Eliza, Sarah and Jane live in King Street Melksham, Wiltshire.
In 1861 the census shows that Thomas and Mary are still living in King Street, Melksham with their family of Eliza Jane and Fred. Thomas is a Domestic Gardener
In the June quarter of 1865 Fanny Richards was born in Melksham (mother maiden name “Townsend” from the GRO Website)
In the 1871 census Fanny Richards is living with her parents Thomas and Mary Richards and their family are still living in King Street, Melksham with their family. Thomas’s occupation is “Gardener”
In the 1881 Census Fanny Richards is still living with her parents Thomas and Mary Richards at King Street, Melksham. Thomas’s occupation is still “Gardener”
No other Richards families have been found living in King Street, Melksham in the Census’s
On 27th December 1884 the marriage of Henry Baker Harvey to Agnes Fanny Richards took place in the Wesley Chapel in Melksham. From the GRO copy of the marriage certificate Agnes Fanny Richards is aged 19 and therefore born in 1865. She is living in King Street Melksham. Her Father is Thomas Richards “Gardener”.
So is Agnes Fanny Richards the same person as Fanny Richards just using a different first name. . A search of the GRO records and FreeBMD shows that there is no Agnes Richards born in Melksham at the right time. A search on both FindMyPast and Ancestry shows there are no census or other records of Agnes Richards born in Melksham at the right time either.
It is very likely from this that Agnes Fanny Richards the same person as Fanny Richards. So qhat happened to Agnes Fanny (or Just Fanny) Richards after her Marriage?
In the 1891 Census she is now known as Fanny Harvey (her married name) living with her husband Henry Harvey a Railway Porter and children Charles Mary and Daisy, in Old Broughton Road, Melksham, In 1901 she gives her name as Agnes F Harvey living with her husband Henry Harvey and children back in King Street Melksham. in the 1911 census she is still living with her husband Henry Harvey in King Street.
From this it is clear that Fanny Richards of Melksham is not the same as Fanny Richards of Newport.
If anyone wants the links to the documents to see copies please contact me or leave a comment