My Brighton and Hove | People | Local folk

Log in

User name: Password:

Local Folk

Lilian Florence Major

By Donna Sexton

I am trying to find more information out about my grandmother. She was known as Lilian Florence Major by the time she got married in 1932. She was an orphan and brought up in an orphanage but we don't know where this was, and nor can we trace her in the birth records or the 1911 census. I think she may not have been using the name we all knew her as, until later in her life. I have found out that she stayed at a couple of TB hospitals - one in Brighton (1922) and one in Clacton-on-Sea (1924).

Lilian Florence Major 1922

From the private collection of Donna Sexton

From looking at the website it looks like she may have been staying at the Brighton Borough Hospital which later became known as Bevendean. However, whilst it would be good to pinpoint where she was, what I really need is to find any records that may still be in existence for the hospital - in the slim hope that I might be able to find her name and then, perhaps, where she was admitted from.

If anyone can offer any information I really would be most grateful.

This page was added on 07/05/2009.

Comments about this page

Hi Donna. Have you any idea when or where your grandmother was born? She must have been born after 1911 as you said you had checked the 1911 census. Also on her marriage certificate (if you have one) what was her father's name? Was her name on your mum's birth certificate? You could also check with Lewes record office about Bevendean Hospital: East Sussex Record Office, The Maltings, Castle Precincts, Lewes BN7 1YT Tel: 01273 482349, email: archives@eastsussex.gov.uk

By Maralyn Eden (08/05/2009)

Hi Maralyn - my grandmother was born around 1905 which is why we had waited so patiently for the 1911 census to be published. Unfortunately there is no sign of her (we have discounted the lady that does match on the census). We have no birth certificate for her and, as an orphan, no record of her parents. We believe she took the name 'Major' when she left the orphanage to go into service in her late teens. I'm grateful for any leads - particularly orphanages that were privately funded as we believe her birth parents did provide for her. Thanks.

By Donna Sexton (08/05/2009)

Hi Donna. There are two Lilian Florence born in Brighton 1904/1905:
Births Sep 1904: Lilian Florence Eastmond, Brighton 2b 219
Births Jun 1905: Lilian Florence Smith, Brighton 2b 178
There is also a Lilian Major married in Leeds 1904 (could be the mother?) husband's surname either Bowler or Hunter
Marriages Mar 1904: Bowler Herbert Egerton Leeds 9b 509
Hunter John William Leeds 9b 509
Major Lilian Leeds 9b 509

By Maralyn Eden (10/05/2009)

Hi Maralyn - thank you so much for your research and ideas. I'll have a look at these and see if I can trace them any further to see if they may be our lady. To be honest we've no idea if she was actually born in Brighton or was just sent there to recover from TB from elsewhere but I need to start somewher.! Thanks again.

By Donna Sexton (13/05/2009)

I'm still struggling to trace my grandmother (centre of this picture). If anyone has any leads or knows how I can access records for the TB hospitals in the area I'd be very grateful.

By Donna (08/12/2009)