Carlotta Simson formerly Ravinio

[Barmaid]

I was recently contacted by a lady whose ancestors lived in my family home. The gentleman of the family apparently had an illicit relationship with a lady of the above name and she bore him 4 children from about 1905 to 1914. The parents never married, although the children all took his name. Despite looking on the 1901 Census, and various trade directories from the Peterborough area I have been unable to find this lady at all. Any ideas?

[spudqueen]

Well there is a birth registered in Peterborough in the quarter ending September 1911 for a Irene M M M Simson, mothers maiden name Ravinio. If you ordered that birth certificate you may get some more details.

[Barmaid]

Thanks Spudqueen - that's where we got all the information we know! We know that "Master of the House" was named on the birth cert - two of the M M's in Irene's name are his too. We know loads about the father's family, but absolutely nothing about Carlotta. I suspect she may have come into this country between 1901 and 1905. I am rather of the view that we will need to wait for the 1911 Census to get any more info. It's all rather mysterious though.

I agreed to help this lady since I have traced the history of the family who lived in the house (although rather coincidentally, I subsquently found out that Irene M M's paternal aunt married my great great grandfather!!!)

[spudqueen]

Hi there Barmaid. Yes, it does look as though waiting until the 1911 census is released may be the answer, and there has been talk of releasing it early, so you may get answers quicker than you hoped. Don't forget that there may be different spellings of this ladys surname, eg Raffinio. My step great grandmother is variously referred to as Hurst or Hirst, and she married my great grandfather in 1901. Funny how this family has worked into your family isn't it? There are just so many coincidences out there!