Main Menu

For those of you who have been following the Winifred / Norah Saga you might be interested in this twist and perhaps be able to offer some light on this additional problem!

When Winifred MERRICK’s parents were married in 1892 her mother gave her name as Charlotte Rosina PHILLIPS with her father’s name as William PHILLIPS.

On the 1901 census of 191, Church Lane, Smethwick (Staffordshire), Kings Norton, Worcestershire,

Winifred and her parents appear as shown below.

First name(s)	Last name	Relation-ship	Marital status	Age	Birth year	Occupation	Birth place
Robert F	Merrick	Head	Married	31	1870	Oil & Paint Manufacturer	Smethwick, Staffordshire,
Charlotte	Merrick	Wife	Married	29	1872	-	Birmingham, Warwickshire
Bernard	Merrick	Son	-	7	1894	-	Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Winifred	Merrick	Daughter	-	2	1899	-	Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Rosina	Cockshott	Aunt	Widow	58	1843	Living on Own Means	London, Middlesex,
Emily	Egleton	Servant	Widow	29	1872	General Servant	Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire,

I have been unable to find a birth of a Charlotte Rosina PHILLIPS (Winifred's mother) in Birmingham in 1872 but I did find the birth of a Charlotte Rosina DOUGLAS registered in Birmingham in 1871 with no mother’s maiden name given.

Note that living with the family above is an Aunt – widow, Rosina COCKSHOTT. But whose Aunt is she? A Rosina DOUGLAS married Henry William COCKSHOTT in 1891 and on the 1891 census (before their marriage) they can be found as shown below – with a Charlotte PHILLIPS! (Rosina’s daughter?)

In 1891 At Bath Road, Stanwell, Staines, Middlesex, England

First name(s)	Last name	Relation-ship	Marital Status	Age	Birth year	Occupation	Birth Place
Henry W	Cockshott	Head	Widower	60	1831	Living on Own Means	London, Middlesex,
Rosina	Douglas	Servant	Single	46	1845	House Keeper	London, Middlesex,
Charlotte R	Phillips	Visitor	Single	19	1872	Scholar	-

When looking for a Henry COCKSHOTT in 1871 I found this – with a discrepancy in the age of Henry but a Henry William COCKSHOTT had married Charlotte ARMSTRONG in 1844 but whose niece is Rosina DOUGLAS?

1871 Census Transcription of Haslucks Green, Solihull, Warwickshire, England

First name(s)	Last name	Relation-ship	Marital status	Age	Birth year	Occupation	Birth place
Henry W	Cockshott	Head	mar	49	1822	Farmer	Middlesex, England
Charlotte	Cockshott	Wife	mar	51	1820	-	Middlesex, England
George W	Cockshott	Father	wid	76	1795	Coal Dealer	Middlesex, England
Rosina	Douglas	Niece	un	28	1843	-	Middlesex, England
George	Coleman	-	-	75	1796	Labourer	Gloucestershire,

I look forward to your suggestions about these various relationships - as with all family history research everything you find seems to ask another question.

Was Winifred MERRICK a niece of Charles CHARSLEY? Did Rosina DOUGLAS marry her Uncle?

Comments ..

Submitted by on Mon, 10/07/2017 - 16:26

http://wsmfhs.org.uk/sites/wsmfhs/files/users/%5Bcurrent-user%3Aname-raw%5D/census-assumptions.jpg

1 Some time before 1871 - Rosina Douglas goes to live with her 'uncle and aunt'. At this point she does not have a child.

2 Some time between 1871 and 1891 - Henry Cuckshott's wife, Charlotte Armstrong dies.

3 Some time around 1872 - Rosina Douglas had a child 'Charlotte Rosina' out of wedlock by a 'Mr Phillips' - The naming of the child as 'Charlotte Rosina' is interesting and indicative of some relationship or kindness between Henry's wife and 'niece'.

3a Unlikely alternatively, Some time after 1871 - Rosina Douglas and Henry Cuckshott (and Charlotte Cuckshott?) 'adopted' a 'somebody' Phillips and named her after Rosina and Charlotte.. taking Rosina's surname (seems unlikely)

4 Late in 1891 - Rosina Douglas marries her 'uncle' and is promoted from 'servant' to 'wife'.

5 Some time around 1892 - 'Charlotte Rosina' (Phillips/Douglas) marries Robert Frank Merrick.

6 Some time prior to 1901 - Rosina Douglas/Cuckshott goes to live with Charlotte Rosina (Phillips/Douglas) Merrick and Robert Merrick but is identified as 'aunt'â€¦

Notes
------

Charlotte Rosina (Phillips/Douglas) Merrick's Father is identified as 'William Phillips' - Henry Cockshott's middle name Is Williamâ€¦ coincidence?

Henry and Charlotte Cuckshott don't have any children of their ownâ€¦

Is there any evidence for a real 'Mr Phillips'?

Henry may have been considerably younger than Charlotte Armstrong/Cuckshott? - changed their ages to make it 'look better'?

Submitted by on Mon, 10/07/2017 - 17:46

AHA!!!!! - I found the following in the 1881 census:

England and Wales Census, 1881
---------------------------------
Charlotte Rosina Phillips

Daughter

DOB: 1872
Place of Birth: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Parents:
*William* RD Phillips
Ursula Phillips

Siblings: Ada Phillips

Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

It doesn't eliminate the tie up with Henry/Charlotte/Rosina though...

I DO still suspect it is the same 'Charlotte Rosina Phillips' that's staying with the CockShott's as a 'scholar'. But is it coincidence that they are both 'Rosinas'? - I think its more likely that 'Rosina Douglas' is a relative of the Birmingham 'Phillips'.

It's a less intriguing interpretation though...

Is your research stuck?

Use our research forum and

(If you are already a member please login (if not already logged in). If not why not join us now - see the link to the membership page.

Forthcoming Events

	Physical Members' Meeting Wednesday, 14th May, 2025 14:30 - 17:00
	Library Help Session Monday, 19th May, 2025 10:30 - 13:00
	Workshop by Zoom: Henry Smith: A Most Notorious, Naughty, False, Lying Fellow: A Global Black Sheep or Maligned Character? Wednesday, 28th May, 2025 19:30 - 21:00
	Library Help Session Saturday, 7th June, 2025 14:00 - 15:30
	Physical Members' Meeting Wednesday, 11th June, 2025 14:30 - 17:00
<- View calendar for more

Main Menu

Research Forum

Comments ..

Is your research stuck?

Forthcoming Events

Recent Comments