Her father was Robert Low, a Bread and Biscuit Baker from Newborough in Scotland born around 1817. Her mother Mary Ann Low (née Hunt) was 4 years younger (b 1822?) and came from London – Middlesex, St Pancras.
Eleanor’s birth certificate
shows that Robert and Mary were living at 20, Snowsfields Bermondsey from which
address her mother registered her birth on 4th January 1850.
I cannot find any reliable prior records for Robert Low or Mary Ann Hunt so it is not possible to trace this line any further back. They were born (and possibly also married) before official registrations of BMDs began in 1837. There is an 1841 Census record of Robert and Mary Low which fits with 1851 Census with regard to their ages and Robert's occupation as Baker and origins in Scotland but this record has them in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Also if they were married by 1841 one might expect to see some more children born in the intervening years before Eleanor. I am thus not convinced that these are the correct Lows.
|
1841 Census Silver Street, Allsaints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
|||
|
Names of each Person who abode therein the preceding night |
Age |
Profession Trade Employment |
Whether born in same county, Scotland Ireland or Foreign Parts |
|
Robert Low |
23 |
Baker |
Scotland |
|
Mary Low |
19 |
|
N |
1851 Census
Eleanor first appears on the 1851 census at the age of 1 month. She appears to be the eldest child of Robert and Mary who were living in Tower Hamlets in London at 3, Kingsland Gardens.
|
1851 Census 3 Kingsland Gardens, West Hackney, Tower Hamlets |
|||
|
Name and Surname of each Person |
Age |
Profession or Occupation |
Where Born |
|
Robert Low (head) |
32 |
Bread and Biscuit Baker |
Scotland, Newborough |
|
Mary A Low (wife) |
27 |
|
Middlesex, St Pancras |
|
Eleanor (daughter) |
1m |
|
Surrey, Bermondsey |
1861 Census
The Low family had grown considerably and was living at 31, Marshall Street.
|
1861 Census 31, Marshall Street Westminster |
|||
|
Name and Surname of each Person |
Age |
Profession or Occupation |
Where Born |
|
Robert Nicol Low (head) |
42 |
? Baker |
Scotland |
|
Mary Ann Low (wife) |
37 |
|
Middlesex, St Pancras |
|
Eleanor (daughter) |
12 |
|
Surrey, Bermondsey |
|
Sarah Ann (daughter) |
10 |
|
Kingsland |
|
Isabella (daughter) |
8 |
|
Kingsland |
|
Mary Ann (daughter) |
5 |
|
Middlesex, Marylebone |
|
William Albert (son) |
3 |
|
Middlesex, Marylebone |
|
George Alex (son) |
1mth |
|
Middlesex, St James |
1871 Census
Roger Lingley and his family are listed as part of the same household. However the relationship ‘father’ given for Roger is confusing as he is clearly not father to Robert Low. There are a number of other separate families living at 2 Up Kennington Lane so perhaps the Lingleys are nothing really to do with the Lows.
|
1871 Census 2, Up Kennington Lane, Lambeth |
|||
|
Name and Surname of each Person |
Age |
Profession or Occupation |
Where Born |
|
Robert Low (head) (widower) |
54 |
Biscuit Baker |
Scotland |
|
Eleanor (daughter) |
21 |
Machinist |
Surrey, London |
|
Sarah Ann (daughter) |
19 |
Machinist |
Middlesex, London |
|
Isabella (daughter) |
17 |
House servant |
Middlesex, London |
|
William A (son) |
12 |
Errand Boy |
Middlesex, London |
|
George A (son) |
10 |
Scholar |
Middlesex, London |
|
Henry T (son) |
7 |
Scholar |
Middlesex, London |
|
Roger Lingley (father) |
39 |
Coachman |
Suffolk, Stoke |
|
Elizabeth Lingley (wife) |
39 |
Housekeeper |
Bucks, Beaconsfield |
|
Ellen Lingley (daughter) |
12 |
|
Surrey, Lambeth |
|
Henry Lingley (son) |
6 |
|
Surrey, Lambeth |
1881 & 1891 Census
Eleanor – now calling herself Helena, is married to Frederick Hale (see Hale Line and Bella's Story).
Robert Nicol Low died in 1890 at the age of 76.
He should thus be somewhere
on the 1881 census but a search has been unable to locate him. The handwriting
on this In Memoriam card is that of Isabel Hale. I cannot find any record of his death apart from this card.
1901 Census
In 1901
Helena now a widow, is living with two of her daughters, Louisa and Isabel - See Bella's Story for details.