Helen KNIBBS, daughter of Edward KNIBBS and Fanny BERRY , was born 17 March 1849 in Atherstone Distict, Warwickshire, England. She died July September, 1906 in Coventry District, Warwickshire, England.


Children of Helen KNIBBS are:
1. Edward KNIBBS, b. October December, 1877
2. James Henry KNIBBS, b. January March, 1893 See James Henry KNIBBS & Rosella HARRIS

Notes for Helen KNIBBS:

Also known as: Ellen


See Helen's Birth Certificate


It's interesting to see the the birth certificate shows "Helen", whereas every other entry we've seen for her gives her name as "Ellen".
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Helen appears in the 1881 census for England and Wales, as a visitor of her sister Mary and brother-in-law Thomas Sutton Jun., at Sibson, Leicestershire. She is shown as an Unemployed Domestic Servant at that time.
She has her 3 year old son Edward with her.
Thomas Sutton Jun Head Mar 44 Ag Lab Sibson Leicester
Mary Sutton Wife Mar 40 Bambury Oxford
James H Sutton Son UnM 21 Ag Lab Oldbury Worcester
Albert Sutton Son 10 Sibson Farm Boy Leicester England
Alice Sutton Daur 7 Scholar Sibson Leicester England
Sam Sutton Son 5 Scholar Sibson Leicester
George Sutton Son 3 Scholar Sibson Leicester England
Ellen Knibbs Visitor UnM 32 Dom Servant Out Of Employment Polesworth Warwick
Edwd. Knibbs Visitor 3 Birmingham Warwick
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Again, there is an Ellen Knibbs born at Polesworth who appears in the 1891 census, living at Bedworth Hill, Exhall, Birmingham. Warwickshire with the family of James Randle:
James Randle Head Wid 36 Coal Miner Employed Exhall Warwickshire
Joseph Randle Son UnM 16 Boatman Employed Foleshill Warwickshire
Sarah Ann Randle Dau UnM 14 Scholar Exhall Warwickshire
Harriett Randle Dau UnM 11 Scholar Exhall Warwickshire
Isaac Randle Son 8 Scholar Exhall Warwickshire
Emily Randle Dau 4 Scholar Exhall Warwickshire
Ellen Knibbs Visitr UnM 37 Polesworth Warwickshire

I note that James Randle was a widower and Ellen was listed as a visitor. I also note from the 1901 census below, that Ellen's second son (James by coincidence?) was born at Bedworth Hill shortly after the 1891 census was taken.
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Whilst it maybe coincidence, there is an Ellen Knibbs from Polesworth, Warwickshire who appears in the 1901 census. She is given as aged 40 (this one would be 52 but ages were often given wrongly). She was living at Exhall, Warwickshire and appears to have another son James, aged 9 years, born in Bedworth Hill, Warwickshire.
Ellen Knibbs UnM 40 Charwoman Warwick Polesworth
James Knibbs Son 9 Warwick Bedworth Hill

An Ellen Knibbs died in 1906 at Exhall, with her age at death given as 54 which is reasonably close to the age that our Ellen from Polesworth would have been.

On that basis, I have drawn the conclusion that Ellen appearing at Exhall with a 9 year old son is our Ellen from Banbury.

Sources for Helen KNIBBS:

  1. 1851 Census for Devon, Warwickshire & Norfolk,
  2. 1861 British Census,
  3. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1983 
  4. 1881 British Census,

Notes for Edward KNIBBS:

Sources for Edward KNIBBS:

  1. 1881 British Census,
  2. GRO England & Wales,
  3. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Birth Index: 1837-1983 
  4. FreeBMD,