Abigail (Paice) Courtney (abt. 1845 - 1933)

Born about 28 Jan 1845 in Droxford, Hampshire, England

Ancestors

Daughter of James Paice and Harriet (Parker) Paice

Wife of Arthur George Courtney — married after 1867 in No marriage found

Descendants

Died 15 Apr 1933 at about age 88 in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Veronica Williams [send private message]

Biography

Abigail (Paice) Courtney was born in Droxford, Hampshire, England.

Abigail PAICE.^[1]

Abigail was the third of five children, Harriet, James, Abigail, Charles Ambrose and Mary Ann born to Harriet PARKER and James PAICE of Droxford, Hampshire, England. The family bible indicates that Abigail was born on 28th January 1843, on Friday, at half past one in the morning.^[2]

Early Life

Abigails birth at Droxford, Hampshire was registered on 25th February 1845, ^[3] following her christening on 23rd February 1845.^[4] The birth certificate indicates a birth date of 28th January 1845.^[5]28th January in 1843 was a Saturday, 1844 a Sunday and 1845 a Tuesday, it seems given this that the 1843 birth date seems more likely, Friday at half past one in the morning could have been early Saturday morning. Most official records however align with the birthdate of about 1845.

Paice Family Bible

When Abigail was about five years old, her mother Harriet died from consumption on 25th March 1850..^[6] Harriet was only 32 and left Abigail's father James Paice a widower at age 33 needing to care for their surviving four children, James having died as an infant in 1844 . ^[7]By the time of the 1851 census, Abigail aged 6, her sisters Harriet 8 and Mary Ann 2 and brother Charles 4 were still living with their father at the Manor House in Droxford Street, with a house servant Sarah Ann Marsh, aged 20. ^[8]

Veronica @ The Manor House, Droxford 2011

James married Sarah Ann MARSH on 3rd August 1851 and they had a further 13 children together. It seems likely that the page in the family bible that detailed Abigail's birth may have been later prepared by Sarah Ann or James (given the consistent handwriting) and the children of James and Harriet also included, the birth details of several of Harriet's children being slightly inaccurate. If so, this gives further weight to the 1845 birthdate being correct, particularly given the birth was registered in 1845.

By 1861 Abigail is 16 and can be found living away from home and working as a general servant for a grocer named Mr James A Game in Park Lane, Droxford.^[9]

Some years later, on 5th November 1867 Abigail gave birth at age 22 to a daughter Edith Mary PAICE. By this time Abigail is living at Forton Hampshire, near Gosport at 16 Elm Grove. No fathers name was listed on Edith's birth certificate.^[10]

Married life

By the time of the 1871 census Abigail appears to have married and is listed as living at 14 Sun Street, Woolwich, Kent with her husband Arthur George COURTENAY aged 30 who states he was born in Marlybone, Middlesex. The census record indicates they are living with their three children Edith Mary COURTENAY aged 4 and twins aged one month Abigail and Alberta COURTENAY. A nursemaid is also in attendance Ann Muggeridge, aged 50 also from Middlesex Marlybone.^[11]

Abigails husband is a bit of a mystery. On the birth certificate of her daughter Abigail Ann's she indicates his name was George William COURTNEY. Abigail also indicates on the birth certificates of the twins that her name is Abigail COURTNEY formerly PAICE, this seems to suggest a change of status since Edith's birth in 1867 and that she had by this time married. However no record can be found for a marriage to either Arthur George or George William COURTNEY/COURTENAY or a range of name variations.

One theory is that the father of Abigail and Alberta may have been George COURTNEY of New Shoreham, Sussex. This is a deduced relationship, yet to be proven and may be incorrect. After over 10 years of DNA analysis no links to this family have yet been found.^[12]

At the time of the 1881 census Abigail COURTNEY/PAICE is unable to be located, however her daughters Edith and Abigail are lodging at Holdenhurst, Madeira Vale in Bournemouth with William and Jane BROWN, the twins are listed as scholars so presumably attending school nearby. Martha Paice (nee Marsh) and Henry Paice, are also visiting the Brown household at this time. Martha and Henry are Abigail's half brother and sister (children of Sarah Ann MARSH and her father James PAICE), aunt and uncle to the twins.^[13] No record can be found in 1881 for daughter Alberta and she is presumed to either be with her mother or perhaps may have died by this time. However, no death certificate can be located nor any record of her in subsequent censuses.

Later life

By 1891 Abigail is living at Holdenhurst, 1 Madeira Vale Bournemouth and is now listed as a widow. She is working in domestic service as a housekeeper. Her daughter Abigail Ann is living with her as well as her grandson Albert E COURTNEY aged 4.^[14] Albert is the son of her daughter Edith and whilst his birth certificate is registered under the name of PAICE, he appears to go by the family name of COURTNEY. His mother Edith is away at this time working in domestic service in Wiltshire, still going by the name of COURTNEY.

Is Abigail really a widow or have she and her husband just separated?

Abigail continues to live at the same address and is with her grandson Albert in the 1901 census at Holdenhurst, 1 Madeira Vale, Stafford Road, Bournemouth, still listed as a widow.^[15]

In 1911, they are at the same address, her grandson Albert now described as a nephew. By this time the family has taken in a lodger, Edward William Knight aged 26, a baker from Charlton, Dorset.^[16]. Edward does not appear to be a relation, but he does have ancestors named 'JOYCE", who may be associated with the PAICE family. Her sister Edith is listed in the 1911 census working as a domestic servant in Buckinghamshire. The address shown also says The Lodge, Braziers E nd, Cholesbury, Tring, Herts. The family is possibly named TURNER. ^[17]

During World War1 (WW1) Abigail continued to live in Hampshire and in 1914 or 1916 her grandson Edward Arthur ROBERTS, a member of the Australian AIF, son of her daughter Abigail Ann, visited her whilst he was invalided during the war and hospitalized nearby. Edward had emigrated to Australia with his parents and brother in 1910 and was fighting for Australia during WW1. Edward was wounded in France and Gallipoli and was sent to convalesce at the King George Hospital in England. The photograph of Abigail is thought to have been taken at this time. On the back it reads Mrs. Courtney.^[18]

Mrs Courtney

Sadly, Abigails grandson Albert did not come home from the War, he was killed in Syria in 1918. ^[19]

Abigail died on 15th April 1933 at 5 Wolverton Mews, Stafford Road UD, aged 88, of chronic diffuse nephritis. Nephritis is inflammation of the kidney; Nephritis is often caused by infections, toxins, and auto-immune diseases. Robert L Reville from 265 Charminster Road, Bournemouth was present at the death, it is not known what the relationship of Robert Neville was to Abigail. The death certificate indicates she was the widow of Arthur George COURTNEY, a mechanical engineer.^[20][21]

Death of Abigail 1933

Research Notes

Please refer to the profile of Arthur George Courtenay or my blog Finding George Courtney for theories relating to the identity of Abigail's husband.

DNA

• The paternal line is confirmed to the shared ancestor James Paice.^[22]

• The maternal and paternal lines are confirmed to the shared ancestors of James Paice and Harriet Parker.^[23]

• The maternal line is also 'tentatively confirmed' back to her grandparents James Parker and Keziah Carpenter.^[24]

Sources

1. ↑ Veronica Williams created WikiTree profile Paice-8 through the import of PAICE_2013-08-13_2013-08-27.ged on Aug 28, 2013.
2. ↑ Copy of page from PAICE Family Bible, held by Jacky Watson, Genes Reunited contact, 2008.
3. ↑ "Birth Index" (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=NazYPDR3FlbYooKEKOiF6Q&scan=1 : accessed 02/20/2021) FreeBMD, database entry for Paice, Abegeil (Mother's maiden name: not stated), 1845 March Quarter, Droxford, Volume VII Page 70.
4. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSP3-XMW : 19 March 2020), Abigail Paice, 1845, .GS Film Number 104226, Indexing Project (Batch) Number K13679-1; parents James and Harriet.
5. ↑ BDM - Certificates, PAICE Abegeil Birth Certificate - GRO Droxford, Hampshire 153/1845. Certified certificate held by Veronica Williams, 2009.
6. ↑ BDM - Certificates, PAICE Harriet Death Certificate - GRO Droxford, Hampshire, 96/1850. Certified certificate held by Veronica Williams 2008.
7. ↑ "Death Index" (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=7aIn3GqoM74%2FUQ5UX8OmdQ&scan=1 : accessed 02/20/2021) FreeBMD, database entry for Paice, James (Age: not stated), 1844 March Quarter, Droxton. Volume 7 Page 61.
8. ↑ 1851 England Census ([database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2005), www.ancestry.com.au, Class: HO107; Piece: 1676; Folio: 214; Page: 11; GSU roll: 193584. Household of James PAICE, Droxford, Hampshire, England, 1851. Ancestry au Record 8860 #3469239, Image, accessed 2008.
9. ↑ 1861 England Census (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;), Ancestry.com, Household of James Paice, Droxford, Hampshire, England. Database online. Class: RG 9; Piece: 698; Folio: 61; Page: 4; GSU roll: 542686 Ancestry au Record 8767 #8126665, Image, accessed 2008.
10. ↑ BDM - Certificates, PAICE Edith Mary Birth Certificate - GRO Forton, Hampshire 116/1867. Certified certificate held by Veronica Williams, 2008.
11. ↑ 1871 England Census ([database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2005), Ancestry.com, COURTENAY Arthur G, household at 14 Sun Street Woolwich, Kent, England 1871. Class: RG10; Piece: 777; Folio: 19; Page: 32; GSU roll: 824734 Database online. Ancestry au Record 7619 #2600228, Image, accessed 2008.
12. ↑ Refer to the profile of Arthur George Courtney for a range of theories.
13. ↑ 1881 England Census (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date:2004;), COURTNEY Abigail and Edith. Database online; Class: RG11; Piece: 1196; Folio: 82; Page: 44; GSU roll: 1341293. Ancestry au Record 7572 #6810604, Image, accessed 2008.
14. ↑ 1891 England Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005), Class: RG12; Piece: 903; Folio: 146; Page: 9; GSU roll: 6096013. Ancestry au Record 6598 #14396331, Image, accessed 2008. Record for Abigail Courtney.
15. ↑ 1901 England Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005), COURTNEY Abigail. Database online. Class: RG13; Piece: 1041; Folio: 56; Page: 45. Ancestry au Record 7814 #992491, Image, accessed 2008.
16. ↑ 1911 England Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Database online. Record for Abigail Courtney. Registration District Number: 95-registration District: Bournemouth . Ancestry au Record 2352 #42728509, Image, accessed 2011.
17. ↑ 1911 England Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Database online. Record for Edith Courtney. Ancestry au Record 2352 #40704249, Image, accessed 2011.
18. ↑ Research conversations, J.Coates and M. Roberts, 2007.
19. ↑ Military-Genealogy.com, comp, UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Record for Albert Edward Courtney
20. ↑ FreeBMD - Death Index, www.freebmd.org.uk, COURTNEY Abigail, Death aged 88, Jun Quarter 1933. Bournemouth,Vol 2b Page 788. accessed 4 Mar 2021. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=HJNpGqV390iAl5aJpkO19g&scan=1.
21. ↑ BDM - Certificates, COURTNEY Abigail - Death 15th April 1933 - GRO 438/1933, Bournemouth; 5 Wolverton Mews, Stafford Mews UD. Certified certificate held by Veronica Williams, 2010.
22. ↑ GEDmatch Triangulated Group confirmation of half fourth cousin relationship between Joan Roberts, Greg Roberts and the grandaughter of Kate Abram; Overlapping segments of approx 13.9cMs on Chromosome 7. The segment has also been confirmed through visual phasing as being inherited by Joan Roberts from her maternal grandmother Abigail (Courtney) Roberts, the daughter of Abigail Paice.
23. ↑ GEDmatch Triangulated Group confirmation of 3C1R cousin relationship between Joan Roberts, Greg Roberts and the grandson of Sylvia Miles; Total 67 cMs over 5 segments. Overlapping segments of approx 10.2cMs on Chromosome 2. The segment has also been confirmed through visual phasing as being inherited by Joan Roberts from her maternal grandmother Abigail (Courtney) Roberts, the daughter of Abigail Paice.
24. ↑ AncestryDNA - An additional 3 x 4C1R matches at AncestryDNA (no segment data available for triangulation) further support the maternal line confirmation.