Selina Davey – born 17th April 1869

Selina Davey is my 3rd great aunt. She is the younger sister of Mary Frances Davey who I have written about here: Mary Frances Davey

Here is Selina’s timeline as I know it to this day:

1869 – 17th April Selina is born to Isaac William Davey & Ann Le Breton (AKA Nancy) probably at 14 Lempriere Street, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, otherwise known as The Eagle Tavern.

1869 – 30th June, Selina is baptised. Father: Isaac William Davey – shipwright. Mother: Ann Le Breton. Godparents: Isaac William Davey Jnr. & Jane Canning. Jane married a shipwright which is how they may have all known each other).

1871 – Census details – Selina is one years old and is living at 14 Lempriere Street, with her father Isaac (head of household & shipwright), mother Ann (Tavern Keeper), siblings: William (mason’s labourer), Ann (apprentice tailoress), Mary, Esther, Cecilia, and Mathilda (scholars).

1881 – Census details – Selina is 12 years old, a scholar, living at 14 Lempriere street with her father Isaac, aged 60 (now a Victualler), mother ‘Nancy’ and siblings: William (seaman), Esther (dressmaker), Matilda (scholar). Also part of the household is Selina’s older brother Isaac (shipwright) and his wife Ellen Goudge and their two children: Isaac and James. That’s 10 members of the family in building that is a pub downstairs! Interestingly enough, all the neighbours have similar professions: dressmakers and ship carpenters.

1891 – Census details – Selina is 21 years old, working as a dressmaker. She is still living at 14 Lempriere Street, with her father Isaac (Victualler), mother Nancy, brother Isaac (shipwright), his wife Elenora and their children: Isaac (apprentice to plasterer), James (Errand boy), Elenora (scholar) and 6 year old George, my great grand father.

1895 – According to the 1911 census Selina has been living with her husband, William Chapman for 16 years (unconfirmed). That would make 1895 the year they got married. This might make sense,as in  many years to come, Selina’s brother George hires a nanny to care for their first child of the name Maria Chapman.

1898 – Selina is 29 when her mother Ann “Nancy’ dies.

1900 – Selina’s father Isaac dies to years after his wife.

1901 – Possible birth of her son William Charles Chapman on 1 December at 17 Seaton Place, Jersey.

1906 – Possible birth of daughter Gladys Rita Chapman on 12 June 1906, Seaton Place.

1911 – Census details – Selina is living with her husband of 16 years, William C Chapman (Tailor) and their children William, aged 9 and Gladys, age 4. If William is a Tailor, is this how Selina met him, at work?

This is as far as Selinas timeline goes for the time being.

In 1934 A Selina Davey died on 7 June 1934, aged 78 at 7 Winchester Street. Her burial was at St. Helier’s General Cemetery. the grave was in the name of James Davey. This Selina was therefore born in 1856, (thanks to a reader correcting me) , and can not be my Selina, unless I have the wrong birthdate for my Selina, of which I will have to go back and check another day.

Would her maiden name be used in Funeral records? If not then this is her married name and James (who the grave is named under) is possibly her husband? Or she left her husband and James is her brother? It was unusual for for divorced woman to revert back to their maiden name in those days.

I look forward to the 1921 Census being available as that will fill in the missing years from 1911 to 1934.

I wonder if Selina had a hard life. 65 isn’t a great age for a Davey, as most of them lived well into their 70’s and 80’s.

If Selina is in your family tree and you can share more information, I would love to hear from you 🙂