Sketch – Edward Lamb (b. 1864)

Edward Lamb (1864-___) – son of 2nd great-grandparents Edward and Isabella (Atkinson) Lamb

Darling-McAllister-Lamb
By Don Taylor

During my Isabella (Atkinson) Lamb research, I found I needed to look more closely at her children in hopes to understand her life better. Following her son Edward, I was able to add more information about Isabella’s life.

Relationships

• • Grandfather: Robert Harry Darling(1907-1969)
  • 1^stGreat-grandmother: Hannah McAllister Darling White (1886-1913)
  • 2^ndGreat-grandmother: Margaret Mary Lamb (1860-1929)
  • 2^nd Great-granduncle[i] – Edward Lamb (1864-___)

What I Know

Birth – Edward was born between 1 April and 22 May 1864 (Christening date) in Kendal, Westmorland, England.[ii]

Christening – Edward was Christened on 22 May 1864 in Kendal, Westmorland, England. His father is Edward Lamb, who was an innkeeper and whose abode was Exchange Inn. Vicar John Cooper performed the ceremony. His mother was Isabella [Lamb].[iii]

Military Service – Family tradition indicated that Margaret Lamb had a brother who was an officer in the Indian Army, British Service. Subsequent research showed the brother mentioned was likely James Cooper Lamb and not Edward.

What Others Think They Know

Family Search ID is 9KKX-M2Q.

Ancestry: Edward is not in any trees except for mine.

My New Research – Ancestry

1901 Census

The 1901 Census record appears to be a key document in understanding much of Edward and his mother’s life. It shows that both Edward and his mother were mobile, as the 1901 Census finds them 40 miles from Appleby-in-Westmorland in Broughton, Lancashire, living at 6 Kenneth Street. The household consists of:

Clearly, 34-year-old Edward is not old enough to have two granddaughters, so it appears that the relationship must not be with the “head;” instead, it must be with his mother, Isabella.

Isabella had three known daughters. Margaret married Peter McAllister in 1878, so 14-year-old Lily can’t be her daughter. So, Isabella and Lily Jeffrey must be the daughters of either Jane, Ann, or a heretofore unknown daughter.[iv]

1891 Census

Finding Edward and his mother, Isabella, made it easy to find them in the 1891 England Census. Again, they live at 6 Kenneth Street, Broughton (Near Salford), Lancashire, England. However, this time William Carruthers is both the husband of Isabella and the “father” of Edward. Eleven-year-old Isabella Jeffrey is listed as the daughter.

Of course, this Census makes me wonder where Lily Jeffrey is. I also wonder if this family unit was ever “legal” or was it an “apparent relationship.” With so many relationships inconsistent between the 1891 and 1901 censuses, the data is suspect. Further clarification is needed.

I believe William and Isabella were living together and just said they were married. This is particularly interesting because Edward’s actual father (Edward Lamb Sr.) was still living.

1881 Census

The 1881 Census is again a confusing set of relationships. It indicates that Edward the head of the household, even though he is only 17-years-old. They live at 109 Charlotte Street, Broughton in Salford, Lancashire.

 Although some of the relationships don’t make sense, it is clear that little two-year-old Isabel is the daughter of Ann, and Ann was likely married a [FNU] Jeffey. It also keeps the question alive, where was Isabella, the wife of Edward Lamb, in 1881 if not with her husband and not with her son Edward?

1871 Census

A further search for Edward Lamb, born in Westmorland, failed to yield any results. There was an 8-year-old Edward Lamb, the son of Joseph and Ellen Lamb, living in Lancashire. However, this is an unlikely match.

Conflicts / Do not confuse with

Do Not Confuse with:

• • Edward Lamb, born Oct 1864, Chorlton, Lancashire.
  • Edward Lamb, born Jan 1864, Salford, Lancashire.
  • Edward Lamb, born Oct 1863, Bolton, Lancashire.

I find many of the relationships reported in the census records confusing and conflicting. I do discuss some of the relationships in the above texts.

Conclusion

Thanks to my tracing Edward, the son, I found Isabella in the 1901 and 1891 censuses.

Follow-up – Plans

Perform a similar search of Isabella (Atkinson) Lamb’s other children.

Endnotes

[i] Some would say Edward is a Third-Great Uncle. I prefer 2^nd great-granduncle. To me the brother of a parent is an uncle. The brother of a grandparent is then a grand uncle and the brother of a great-grand parent would be a great-grand uncle.

[ii] England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008, Family Search, Edward Lamb – 1864 – Keldal, Westmorland, England. “England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XM7-1M6 : 1 October 2014), Edward Lamb, 1864; from “England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (https://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Kendal, Westmorland, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XM7-1M6.

[iii] England Births and Christenings, 1538-­1975, Family Search, Edward Lamb – Kendal, Westmorland, England – 1864. “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7FS-B8Y : 10 February 2018, Isabella in entry for Edward Lamb, ); citing – 2:2ZKX01V, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,471,686. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7FS-B8R.

[iv] The 1881 Census helped provide clarification regarding the Jeffey girls.