See also

Emily Louisa Ray (1837?-1923)

Individual Events and Attributes

  • Birth:

  • 1837 (est)

  • Pill, Somerset2

  •  

  • Her year of birth is calculated from her age given in the 1851 Census which also gives her place of birth. Her birth was not registered.

  • Census 1901:

  • 31 Mar 1901 (age 63-64)

  • 108, Bath Road, Bristol, Gloucestershire3

  •  

  • She is living with her son Henry. The household consisted of Henry; his wife Margaret; their sons Reginald, George, and Albert; their adopted daughter Lena; his sister Mabel; and 2 brother-in-laws Herbert Allen and Frank Allen who were probably Margaret's brothers. The family had the whole house to themselves. The size is not known.

  • Census 19011:

  • 2 Apr 1911 (age 73-74)

  • 7 Royal York Crescent, Bristol, Gloucestershire4

  •  

  • She was living with her son-in-law Archer Barrow Ray who had married her youngest daughter Mabel Kate Ray. The household consisted of Archer; his wife Mabel; their chidren Archer, Mabel and Edna; and Emily.

  • Death:

  • 1923 (age 85-86)

  • Bristol, Gloucestershire5

  • Death:

  • Mar 1923 (age 85-86)

  • Bristol, Gloucestershire5

  •  

  • Her registered age was 84

Marriage

  • Spouse:

  • Henry George Lester (1836-1900)

  • Marriage:

  • 1863 (age 25-26)

  • Bristol, Gloucestershire6

  •  

  • In the 1881 Census return for Charlotte Ray she was working as a general servant in the household of Henry George Lester. It was noticed that his wife Sarah was born in Pill so it was possible that she knew Charlotte who was also born in Pill. Using the age of Henry and Sarah's oldest child (17) as a guide to when they were married a search of the marriage registrations showed that Henry George Lester married Emily Louisa Ray. The 1881 Census gave Emily's age as 43, i.e. born in 1838 which means she is almost certainly the daughter of John and Sarah Ray. In the 1861 Census for the household of John Ray she is recorded as Emily L. Ray.

  • Marriage:

  • Mar 1863 (age 25-26)

  • Bristol, Gloucestershire6

  • Census 1881:

  • 3 Apr 1881 (age 43-44)

  • Silver Street, Nailsea, Somerset1

  •  

  • The household consisted of Henry George; his wife Emily Louisa; their children Henry George, Emily Hannah, Albert John, Amy Helen, Ada Eliza & Mable Kate; and Charlotte Ray who was a general servant. Henry was a beer retailer and grocer. It is certain that Emily knew Charlotte as they had both been born in Pill and Emily's maiden name was Ray so it is highly likely that they were related by marriage and Emily gave Charlotte work when she was widowed. It was later discovered that Charlotte was Emily's sister-in-law having married Emily's younger brother Edmund Ray

  • Census 1891:

  • 5 Apr 1891 (age 53-54)

  • 13 Claremont Street, St Philip & St Jacob, Bristol, Gloucestershire7

  •  

  • The household consisted of Henry, his wife Emily and their children Henry, Albert, Edmund, Amy and Mabel. The family had the whole house to themselves. The size is unknown. It would seem that Henry's business as a beer retailer and grocer had failed because he is now employed as a gasworks labourer and they no longer has a servant. All their sons are employed and presumably contributing to the household expenses. Their youngest daughter is going to school.

Note on Marriage to Henry George Lester

had 6 children:-

 

NameBorn

Henry George 1864 Nailsea, Somerset

Emily Hannah1865 Nailsea, Somerset

Albert John1867 Nailsea, Somerset

Amy Helen1871 Brettle Lane, Warwickshire

Ada Eliza1876 Spon Lane, Warwickshire

Mable Kate1879 Bristol, Gloucestershire

 

they have not been included in the family tree.8

Sources

1.

1881 England Census for Household of Henry George Lester in Nailsea, Somerset, Census Type: 1881, Census Place: Nailsea, Bedminster, Somerset, Folio: 5, Page: 4. 881 Census for Henry George Lester (687)Registration District:Sub-DistrictCivil Parish:BedminsterYattonNailseaEcclesiastical Parish:Christ ChurchAddress:Silver Street, NailseaId NamesRelCondAge OccupationWhere Born687Henry George LesterHeadMar45Beer retailer and GrocerNailsea, Somerset644Emily Louisa LesterWifeMar43Pill, SomersetHenry George LesterSonSingle17Nailsea, SomersetEmily Hannah LesterDaugSingle16Nailsea, SomersetAlbert John LesterSon14Nailsea, SomersetAmy Helen LesterDaug10Brettle Lane, WarwickshireAda Eliza LesterDaug5Spon Lane, WarwickshireMable Kate LesterDaug2Bristol, Gloucestershire638Charlotte RayWidow27 General servantPill, Somerset. National Archives. Call Number: RG11/2462.

2.

1851 England Census for Pill, Somerset for Household of John Ray, Census Type: 1851 England, Census Place: Bedminster, Somerset, Folio: 616, Page: 7. Emily Ray son of John and Sarah Ray age 14 (i.e. born in 1837) in Pill, Somerset. National Archives. Call Number: HO107/1946.

3.

1901 England Census for Household of Henry C. Lester in Bristol, Census Type: 1901 England, Census Place: Bristol, Folio: 63, Page: 13. 1901 Census for Henry C. LesterAdministrative County:Registration District:Sub-District:GloucestershireBristolKnowleCivil Parish:Ecclesiastical Parish:Borough or Urban District:BristolHoly NativityParliamentary Borough:Bristol SouthAddress:108, Bath Road, BristolId NamesRelCondAge OccupationWorkingWhere BornHenry C LesterHeadMarried37Tailor's cutterWorkerNailsea, SomersetMargaret L LesterWifeMarried30St Georges, GloucestershireReginald C LesterSon7BristolGeorge W LesterSon4BristolAlbert H LesterSon3BristolLena H LesterAdopted daughter10Bristol644Emily L LesterMotherWidow64Pill, SomersetMabel K LesterSisterSingle21Draper's assistantWorkerBristolHerbert J. AllenB-in-LSingle21Grocer's assistantWorkerBristolFrank J. AllenB-in-LSingle20Tailor's trimmerWorkerBristolNotes: The family had the whole house to themselves. The size is not known. National Archives. Call Number: RG13/2386.

4.

1911 England Census for Household of Archer Barrow Ray in Clifton, Bristol, Census Type: 1911 England, Census Place: Clifton, Bristol. 1911 Census for Archer Barrow RayCounty:Registration District:Sub-District:Civil Parish:GloucestershireBristolCliftonBristolAddress:7 Royal York Crescent, BristolId NamesRelAge Yrs marOccupationWorkingWhere BornArcher Barrow RayHead31MarriedClub waiterWorkerSt Johns, WorcesterMabel Kate RayWife32Married/8Barton Hall, BristolArcher Thomas Lewis RaySon7Totterdown, BristolMabel Emily Kate RayDaug5Totterdown, BristolEdna RayDaug11 mthsTotterdown, Bristol644Emily Lousia LesterM-in-L72PillNumber of Rooms: 3Signature: Archer Barrow Ray. National Archives. Call Number: RG14/14837.

5.

CRI(E&W) for Death of Emil L. Lester, Event Type: Death, Registration District: Bristol, Volume: 6a, Page: 5, (Period, Jan-Mar 1823). CRI(E&W) for Death of Emily L. Lester (644)Quarter and Year Jan-Mar 1923Surname LesterGiven Names Emily L.Age 84Registration District Bristol. General Register Office. Call Number: Deaths.

6.

CRI(E&W) for Marriage of Henry George Lester and Emily Louisa Ray, Event Type: Marriage, Registration District: Bristol, Volume: 6a, Page: 30, (Period, Jan-Mar 1863). CRI(E&W) for Marriage of Henry George Lester (687) and Emily Louisa Ray (644)In the 1881 Census return for Charlotte Ray she was working as a general servant in the household of Henry George Lester. It was noticed that his wife Sarah was born in Pill so it was possible that she knew Charlotte who was also born in Pill. Using the age of Henry and Sarah's oldest child (17) as a guide to when they were married a search of FreeBMD produced the following entries:-QuarterRegistration DistrictJan-Mar 1863BristolSurnameFirst name(s)BENCE William DAY ElizabethLESTER Henry GeorgeRAY Emily Louisa It is therefore certain that Henry George Lester married Emily Louisa Ray. The 1881 Census gave Emily's age as 43, i.e. born in 1838 which means she is almost certainly the daughter of John and Sarah Ray. In the 1861 Census for the household of John Ray she is recorded as Emily L. Ray. General Register Office. Call Number: Marriages.

7.

1891 England Census for Household of Henry Lester in Bristol, Census Type: 1891 England, Census Place: Bristol, Gloucestershire, Folio: 5, Page: 4. 1891 Census for Henry Lester (687)Administrative County:Registration District:Registration Sub-DistrictGloucestershireBarton RegisSt Philip & St JacobCivil Parish:Municipal BoroughUrban Sanitary District:St Philip & St JacobBristolBristolBristolParliamentary Borough:Ecclesiastical Parish:Bristol NorthSt GabrielAddress:13 Claremont Street, St Philip & St JacobId NamesRelCondAge OccupationEmployment Where Born687Henry LesterHeadMarried55Gasworks labourerEmployedNailsea, Somerset644Emily LesterWifeMarried53Pill, SomersetHenry C LesterSon Single26Tailor's cutterEmployedNailsea, SomersetAlbert J LesterSonSingle24Foreman in aerated mineral water factoryEmployedNailsea, SomersetEdmund J LesterSonSingle22Chemist's assistantEmployedNailsea, SomersetAmy H LesterDaugSingle20Brittle Lane, StaffordshireMabel K LesterDaug12Scholar BristolThe family had the whole house to themselves. The size is unknown. National Archives. Call Number: RG12/1981.

8.

1881 England Census for Household of Henry George Lester in Nailsea, Somerset, Census Type: 1881, Census Place: Nailsea, Bedminster, Somerset, Folio: 5, Page: 4. 1881 Census for Henry George Lester (687)Id NamesRelCondAge Wher born687Henry George LesterHeadMar45Nailsea, Somerset644Emily Louisa LesterWifeMar43Pill, SomersetHenry George LesterSonSingle17Nailsea, SomersetEmily Hannah LesterDaugSingle16Nailsea, SomersetAlbert John LesterSon14Nailsea, SomersetAmy Helen LesterDaug10Brettle Lane, WarwickshireAda Eliza LesterDaug5Spon Lane, WarwickshireMable Kate LesterDaug2Bristol, Gloucestershire. National Archives. Call Number: RG11/2462.