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Ella/Ellen Barrett is listed as a companion in the 1901 Census age 31 born in Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk and may have been the mother of Dorothy Barrett who was illegitimate and was born at 129 St. Johns Rd Islington a work house. Ellen/Ella Barrett gives her age as 36 at the workhouse.Dorothy was adopted by Charles Frederick and Annie Lilian Smitten (nee Richardson) before aged 2. Annie Smitten was sister to Elizabeth Ellis (nee Richardson) in whose house Ella Barrett is listed as a companion in 1901. Looking for Ella/Ellen Barrett and family.

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Clarendon Villas, 16, Hove, Steyning, Sussex, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
James J A Ellis Head Married Male 41 1860 Assurance Agent -
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Elizabeth Ellis Wife Married Female 37 1864 - Hereford, Herefordshire, England
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Cecil A Ellis Son - Male 7 1894 - Hove, Sussex, England
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Lillian F Ellis Daughter - Female 4 1897 - Hove, Sussex, England
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Dorothy H Ellis Daughter - Female 0 1901 - Hove, Sussex, England
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Ella Barrett Companion Single Female 31 1870 Companion (Domestic) Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
28 Wandle Road Wimbledon, Wimbledon, Surrey, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place
Charles Frederick Smitten Head - Male Green Grocer 42 1869 England Islington Middlesex
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Lilian Smitten Wife - Female - 42 1869 England Islington Middlesex


married 20 years no children born

?????????



Ella Barrett

England and Wales Census, 1881




Name Ella Barrett
Event Type Census
Event Date 1881
Event Place Ss James And Paul (United Out), Gloucestershire, England
Registration District Barton Regis
Residence Note Ashley Down
Gender Female
Age 11
Marital Status (Original) Single
Occupation Scholar
Relationship to Head of Household Scholar
Birth Year (Estimated) 1870
Birthplace Norton, Suffolk, England
Page Number 3
Registration Number RG11
Piece/Folio 2488/123
Affiliate Record Type Household

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Dog Inn, Norton, Stow, Suffolk, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William Barrett Head - Male 39 1832 - Suffolk, England
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Betsy Barrett Wife - Female 34 1837 - Suffolk, England
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Charles M Barrett Son - Male 10 1861 - Suffolk, England
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Willie Barrett Son - Male 8 1863 - Suffolk, England
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Ernest Barrett Son - Male 7 1864 - Suffolk, England
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Ida Lousia Barrett Daughter - Female 5 1866 - Suffolk, England
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Harry Barrett Son - Male 2 1869 - Suffolk, England
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Ella Barrett Daughter - Female 0 1871 - Suffolk, England
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Emma Parr Servant - Female 18 1853 - Suffolk, England

Births Mar 1871 (>99%)
BARRETT Ella Stow 4a 545

Name Dorothy Barrett
Event Type Census
Event Date 1911
County London
Parish Islington
Sub-District Islington South East
Registration District Islington
Gender Female
Age 19
Birthplace London Islington, London
Record Type Household

Name Dorothy Barrett
Event Type Death
Registration Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year 1909
Registration District Wandsworth
County London
Event Place Wandsworth, London, England
Age (available after 1866) 39
Birth Year (Estimated) 1870
Volume 1D
Page 410
Line Number 169

is this Dorothy barretts birth


Births Jun 1912 (>99%)

Barrett Dorothy Barrett Islington 1b 333

(if relating below)

Chris :)

Deaths Sep 1872 (>99%)
-----------------------------------------------------
BARRETT Betsey 35 Yarmouth 4b 21


07 September 1872 - Bury Free Press - Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk,

Death
Barrett - 25th ult., at Yarmouth, Betsy the wife William Barrett, late of Norton,


Burial
County Norfolk
Place Great Yarmouth
Church name St Nicholas
Register type Parish Register
Register entry number 716
Burial date 30 Aug 1872
Person age 35
Burial person forename Betsy
Burial person surname BARRETT
Burial person abode S Market Rd
Register note Cemy

http://www.freereg.org.uk/

Annie Lilian Smitten
in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995
Name: Annie Lilian Smitten
Death Date: 19 Jan 1953
Death Place: London, England
Probate Date: 9 Feb 1953
Registry: London, England


Smitten, Annie Lilian , widow, of 51 Carholme road, Forest Hill, London, died 19 January 1953 at Lewisham Hospital, Lewisham, London. Administration London 2 April to DOROTHY BEATRICE HALL, (wife of Alfred Henry Hall). Effects £1496 2s 3d.


Charles Frederick, her husband, had died 18 October 1937, and administration of his Will was also to Dorothy Beatrice Hall.


Marriages Sep 1939 (>99%)
Hall Alfred H Smitten Lewisham 1d 3819
Smitten Dorothy B Hall Lewisham 1d 3819


Is this their adopted daughter Dorothy Barrett??

Living with Annie Lilian;

Dorothy Beatrice Smitten
in the London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965

Name: Dorothy Beatrice Smitten
Year: 1939
County or Borough: Lewisham
Ward or Division/Constituency: Lewisham West

Dorothy Beatrice Hall
in the England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Dorothy Beatrice Hall
Birth Date: 12 Jan 1912
Date of Registration: Dec 1996
Age at Death: 84
Registration district: Sutton
Inferred County: Surrey
Register Number: B8B
District and Subdistrict: 2541B
Entry Number: 21

There are 3 Hall / Smitten births in Birkenhead, 1942. 1944. and 1950

But Dorothy was living in Lewisham, so maybe they're children of another marriage ??? BUT can't see another likely Hall /Smitten marriage, so I suppose they're Dorothy's children, although born in Birkenhead..

Dorothy B Hall
in the London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965
Name: Dorothy B Hall
Year: 1945
County or Borough: Lewisham
Ward or Division/Constituency: Lewisham
Street address: 51 Tehidy (Image says 51 Carholme Road)

Dorothy B Hall
in the London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965
Name: Dorothy B Hall
Year: 1953
County or Borough: Lewisham
Ward or Division/Constituency: Lewisham
Street address: 51 Carholme Road


Dorothy B Hall
in the London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965
Name: Dorothy B Hall
Year: 1954
County or Borough: Lewisham
Ward or Division/Constituency: Lewisham
Street address: 51 Carholme Road


Dorothy B Hall
in the London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965
Name: Dorothy B Hall
Year: 1957
County or Borough: Lewisham
Ward or Division/Constituency: Lewisham West

Ah - I see from "Unknown"'s name that she already knows all about Dorothy.

It's Ella / Ellen's previous history she's looking for. Parents, siblings, ancestors.

Thank you for all your hints. My own mother is Dorothy Barrett renamed Smitten. I know Dorothy's mother's name was Ellen Barrett from workhouse and WW1 military pension records but there is an Ella Barrett listed in the 1901 census that I think could be the same person. It seems to much of a coincidence the names being so alike. ELLA Barrett is listed as a companion to Dorothy's stepmother's sister. Dorothy's stepmother (Annie Lilian Smitten) was childless until she adopted Dorothy in her 40's 1912-14. Not sure why I'm shown as "unknown" will have to correct that.

I don't think you'll ever manage to prove it, but it does seem too much of a coincidence for them to be two different people.

I wonder if she called her baby Dorothy because of (presumably) having helped to look after the Ellises' baby daughter Dorothy?

I never thought of that. I also wonder if my mother was adopted legally as I can't find any adoption records and she certainly did not know she was adopted. I did not find out until I started all this researching a few years ago.

Legal adoption didn't start until 1920's so I doubt it