What became of George Budd's family

My last post was on George Budd in Plymouth. So what happened to George Budd's wife and children after his untimely death?

In the 1881census, George, 26 and his wife Kate were already living at 1 Durnford St in Stonehouse (one of the 'three towns' in the Plymouth area. Budd was a Physician born in Bristol, and Kate was 20, being born in 'Surrey Windsor' - Windsor is in Berkshire but we'll get back to where she was from later.

Margaret was born on November 12 1881, and baptised at Saint Andrew, West Kensington (Hammersmith and Fulham - the London area). The parish book states the birth date (very helpful rector!), and that the parent live at Elliott House, Plymouth - George a medical doctor. The CIVIL registration appears to be in district East Stonehouse (which checks out), Vol 5b page 312.

On 17 May 1884, two children Iolanthe and Diana were baptised at Christ Church, Norwood (Lambeth - the London area). The parish book doesn't note that the children were twins (which it sometimes does), and does not state and earlier birth date (which it sometimes does when those being baptised aren't new-born).

The CIVIL registration for Diana is early 1883 at Plymouth Vol 5b page 292.

The CIVIL registration for Iolanthe is early 1884 at East Stonehouse Vol 5b page 305.

In late 1885 a Kate Budd appears in the CIVIL registration, district East Stonehouse, Vol 5b page 297, with here death being register in 1885 also at East Stonehouse. 

On 14 Sep 1887, daughter Mildred was also baptised at Christ Church, Norwood. CIVIL registration for Mildred is East Stonehouse Vol 5b page 297

Finally, in 1888 a William Budd appears in the CIVIL registration, district East Stonehouse, Vol 5b page 302,  with his death being register in 1888 also at East Stonehouse. 

Why were the children baptised in the London area and not in Plymouth? It's possible there was a family connection for Kate to the area?

Let's trace Kate.

The 1891 census shows that the relavtively recently widowed Kate was still living 'on own means' at the family home of 1 Durnford St. With Kate are three daughters, Margaret (9), Iolanthe (7) and Mildred (3). Mildred must have been just a baby when George died. All were born in Plymouth. The family also had a servant named Alice Harris.

By 1901, Kate had moved the family to Lee in Southeast London. Living with Kate (still on her own means and born in 'Berks Windsor') were two daughters Margaret (19) and Mildred (13).

In 1911 Kate was now 50, and still living at Lee (17 Southbrook Rd). With her is her daughter Mildred, living on independent means, along with a general servant. Note that in response to the new question of how many children she'd had, Kate states "10 children born alive, 4 children still living" :( 

The 1921 is the most recent census available - and Kate has moved to Sidney House, Minnis Road, Birchington, Kent, right on the eastern tip of Kent by the English Channel. Kate's unmarried daughter Mildred (34) is still living with her, along. There is a very useful tip about Kate's origins - she lists her birth-place as Englefield Green, 'near Windsor' - which it certainly is, but in Surrey. This resolves some confusing earlier birthplace statements.

While the 1921 census is the most recent available, in 1939 as war broke out, a register was conducted that was effectively a census. There we find Kate and daughter Mildred living at a house named 'Devon' in Canute Rd in Birchington - very pleasant and right at the water. 

Mildred was listed as an 'invalid'. Just months after this census, daughter Mildred died  in early 1940 aged about 53. 

Kate lived through the war, and died in Kent in 1946 aged 84. It must have been horrifying living next to the coast where the Germans were expected to invade at any moment, and just a few miles from an airfield where Spitfires and Hurricanes rose to meet the enemy during the Battle of Britain. 

I am surprised that I can't find a grave/burial for Mildred or Kate.

One other point - in Memories and Adventures, Doyle stated that "I fear that he lived up to his great income and left his wife but poorly off." The evidence from the records is that Kate was able to live a long life on her own means - perhaps thanks to family, (her mother lived into the 1920s) or perhaps thanks to George.

To the children in the 1891 census, two are untraced: Iolanthe and Margaret. In brief:

Iolanthe Budd was living with her mother in 1891, but cannot be traced in the 1901 census. In 1911, Iolanthe appears living at University College Hospital, Gower Street, London as a 27-year-old unmarried hospital nurse. In 1919, Iolanthe married Arthur William REYNOLDS, an New Zealander who served for the full four years of World War 1 - their marriage was registered in Kent. In 1928, Iolanthe sailed on the Tamaroa for New Zealand (and may have moved there earlier), where she lived with her husband at Masterton, Wellington, and died there in 1969 with a stated age of 79. They had at least one child - Arthur Russell Reynolds was a member of the RNZAF and killed in Singapore in January 1942. 

Margaret Budd was living with her mother in 1891 and 1901, and in 1906 married Roland Cunard BENTLEY in the Kent/London area. In 1911, Roland and Margaret were living in Bexleyheath, Kent with two children: Caroline Margaret, and Hugh Roland Budd. Roland served in the First World War, and was killed in the Western Front in 1917. In 1921 the widowed Margaret was still living at Bexleyheath (Oaklands Rd) with her two children, and in the 1939 register Margaret was in the same house, with her unmarried son still living at home. Margaret died in 1950, and her probate states she was also living on Canute-Road Birchington, like her mother. Her daughter at death was a spinster - and I cannot determined whether Margaret has descendants.

As such, it is possible that George Budd has no living descendants, but I have a feeling that he has descendants in New Zealand.