Emily Dawson’s oldest daughter with Charles Blakemore, and the only one who didn’t get placed in th Middlemore home and sent to Canada. Even so, her life was far from straightforward. She was working at 12, living with John Miller in London at 22, in Blackburn at 32 before marrying William Edwin Steward at 37(ish). By 42 she was living in army pensioner accommodation in Fulwood, under an assumed name. She died there of stomach cancer aged 43.

The details:

Birth: According to her baptism record, Jane was born on 16th September 1868. She was baptised ten years later alongside most of her siblings. (where does this fit with Charles’ disintegration?)

1871 census: aged 2, she was living with her parents, her half-sister Amelia, two older brothers and a lodger at 207 Gooch Street. Charles was a bailiff.

1881 census: aged 12, she was in service and claiming to be 14. Living at 165 Hampton Street with a Gunmaker, his wife and their 17 year old daughter.

1891 census: There was a Sophie Miller, Charwoman, aged 22 and born in Birmingham living at 100 Lancaster Street, Southwark in London. There are five couples at this address; Sophie is listed as the wife of John Miller, a 25 year old Seaman born in London. I think this is most likely “our” Sophie beacause of the 1901 census and her second marriage below, but I can’t find any record of this first “wedding”?

1901 census: Sophie Millar, aged 32, a Cook and a Widow, was listed as a Visitor at the house where her mother Emma Dawson was boarding – 26 Cobden Street, Fenniscliffe, Blackburn.

Marriage: On 1st November 1904 aged 37 she married William Edwin Steward (Brass Worker, aged 35) in Birmingham; both bride and groom are listed as living at 11 Ct 1 back of New John Street. Her father Charles is listed as deceased, both witnesses are from William’s family.

The 1911 census appears to show William (now an Army Pensioner) and Jane calling themselves “Newey” and living at North Lancs Cottage, Fullwood (see below; Jane died here the following year.) This must be them as Jane’s mother, Emily Blakemore (nee Dawson) was living with them. I have found records for a William Newey seving with the Loyal North Lancs, but not for a William Steward. Newey was William’s mother’s maiden name. So did he serve under a different name or is he impersonating someone for the accommodation (and pension?)

Jane died of stomach cancer on 13th March 1912 while living in the “Loyal North Lancashire Cottage Homes“, Fulwood with William Edwin, described as an Army Pensioner.