Elizabeth Sarah Windebank b.1849: her siblings
My great-great grandmother Elizabeth Sarah Windebank was the daughter of David Windebank and Elizabeth Topper . She was born on 17th October 1849 in Upton-cum-Chalvey, near Slough. At the time of the 1851 census, she is living in the family home in Dorney, Berkshire (aged 15 months) with her parents and older brother David, aged 3.
David Windebank was born in 1848, according to the 1851 census, and there is an IGI baptism record for a David Windebank, son of David and Elizabeth, at St Mary's Reading on 6th August 1848. He is recorded in the family home at Pave Court, Lambeth, at the time of the 1861 census, a 'scholar' aged 12. I have yet to find him in subsequent censuses, but have not found a death or burial record for him yet either.
Susan Windebank was born in around 1852 in Reading. She appears with the rest of the family, aged 9, at the time of the 1861 census, but disappears from the family home by 1871, when she would have been 19. I haven't found a record in any of the online indexes of her birth, baptism or marriage. There is a death entry at FreeBMD for a Susan Windebank in South Stoneford in Hampshire in the December quarter of 1863 (2c 29) but I have no idea why she should have been there, and this may not be the same Susan.
Caroline Windebank was born in 1853 in Reading. Caroline was christened on 2nd October 1853 at St Mary's, Reading. She is not at home at the time of the 1871 census, but by 1881 she is in her sister Elizabeth Sarah's household on census night, described as 'sister-in-law' to John Hill, head of household. She is single, aged 27, and working as a 'cuff trimmer (shirt maker)'. There is a Caroline Windebank, Servant, born around 1853 in Reading, aged 18 and living in Kew at the time of the 1871 census. Head is Norman Beklin? aged38, with wife Martha, a 23-year old from Dublin. Norman is a 'Tutor, Languages', born in Hamburg and a Naturalised British Subject. There is a marriage record for a Caroline Windebank in FreeBMD, with possible husband John Stratford, in St Olave, in 1884. A search of the censuses reveal Caroline Stratford, with husband John, living in Lambeth in 1901. She was born in Reading around 1853, so is likely to be the 'right' Caroline.
Charles J Windebank was born in Reading in 1854. At the time of the 1871 census he is described as a stoker, aged 17. He may have married (Anna) Elizabeth Tilley in 1875. By 1881 he is shown with wife 'AE' Windebank, and one-week old son (D)avid. Charles is by then working as a Farrier like his father, and his mother Elizabeth, a monthly nurse, is staying with the young family. They are living at 35 Cole Street, Newington. By the time of the 1901 census, the only likely Charles Windebank is a patient, aged 46, at the London County Lunatic Asylum, Coulsdon, Surrey (occupation, farrier). Although he is described as married, there is no obvious trace of Anna Elizabeth or their son David in this or the 1891 census. However, there is a David Windebank born around 1881 in Newington who appears with his mother Adelaide and siblings in the 1891 census. Adelaide, like 'AE' in the 1871 census, was born in Southwark. They also appear in the 1891 census, and there is some indication in Ancestry.co.uk that Adelaide's former name was Harrison. More detective work is needed to make or break the connections between these people.
Charlotte Windebank was born in Turnham Green in 1859. She married Charles Jenner in 188 in Southwark and by the 1891 census had one son, Charles J, aged 6. The family is living at no.4, Blue Anchor Lane, Bermondsey, sharing two rooms with Charlotte's parents, by then in their sixties. Her husband is a blacksmith's labourer, possibly working with his father-in-law who is still described as a farrier. By the time of the 1901 census, Charles Jenner is still working as a blacksmith's labourer. The family has expanded to include: Charles J, now 16 and a Signal Lad on Railway; Rosetta, 9, William, 5, Samel 4 and nine-month old Henry. They are living in three rooms at 8 Rock Grove, Bermondsey. The Charles Booth archive describes the Grove in 1899: "2 st(ories); trees trained against the house walls with good effect. 4 rooms 8/-, others pay 9/-, some 11/- for the same accommodation. Half house for 6/- ... none have been in the Grove less than 3 yrs". (Charles Booth Archive, B365. p237). I haven't traced this family any further yet.
William G Windebank was born in Chalvey nr. Slough, (or Acton, Middlesex), depending on what is recorded in the 1861 and 1871 censuses. His year of birth is consistent, around 1860. I have yet to find him in later censuses (but haven't spent much time looking!).
Thomas Windebank was born in Lambeth in 1861. There is a Thomas Windebank of the right age and brithplace (19, Lambeth) lodging at 3 Marlborough Street, Christchurch, Southwark, at the time of the 1881 census. He is unmarried and working as a commercial traveller. Two doors away is a leather factory 'unoccupied at night'. Another possible Thomas appears in the 1891 census, married to Annie B, and with a three-year old daughter Beatrice. This Thomas is working as a milkman and they are living in two rooms in at 118 Derby Buildings, St Pancras. His wife was born in Brighton, Sussex, so perhaps they met during his commercial travelling days. There is a marriage record for 1891 for Annie B Kirby and Thomas Windebank in Hendon, Middlesex. An Anne Kirby was working as a general servant, aged 15, at a lodging house in Brighton in 1881, so perhaps Thomas met her whilst staying in lodgings in Brighton. It seems their daughter Beatrice was born illegitimately as there is a birth record for Beatrice Kirby in 1887 in Hendon. Another possible daughter, Annie Elizabeth Windebank, was also born in Hendon in September 1891. I haven't yet found the family in the 1901 census.
Rose Windebank was born in 1869 in Lambeth. She is the only one of the family at home with her father on census night 1881, when she was 12 years old. She doesn't obviously appear in the 1891 census and, aged 22 by then, she had probably married. There are a number of marriage entries in the indexes for a Rose or Rosa Windebank between 1887 and 1891, so it would be difficult to tell which was 'our' Rose.