Whodunnit? Who made Jane pregnant? 1881
Jane Snowball gave birth to an illegitimate son, Charles in 1882. But who was the father?
The 1881 Census for Howden Le Wear shows the Snowball family – miners – were living there. But no Jane. A check back to the census in 1871 shows that she had been living with the family then.
So where is Jane?
Over in Bishop Auckland we can find a Jane. And just look who she’s living with!
3 South Road Bishop Auckland
Thomas Hull, Head, Maried 47, Auctioneer and Valuer, Bishop Auckland.
Isabith? (Isebitt? Hull, Wife, Marrie, 47, Durham Stockton on Tees
William L Hull,Son, Unm, 21, Auctioneer Clerk, Bishop Auckland
Joseph G Hull, Son, Unm
Thomas A Hull, Son, 17, ? Shopman? West Harlepool
Minnie Hull, Daughter, 12, Scholar, West Hartlepool
Walter B Hull, Son, 11, Scholar, Durah, West Hartlepool
Jane A M Snowball, Servant, Unmarried, 18, Servant, Durham Gateshead
Yes, servant to the Hull family.
So you would think this is the tale of a Servant girl, away from home attracting the eye of one of the alds in the Hull family. Assuming that Walter, at 11 was too young (now that really would be a story) then the suspects must be William L, Joseph G, or Thomas A…or perhaps even at a long shot head of the family Thomas Hull.
But wait…just a few doors away at 2 Fairless Street lives Arthur H Hull, son of Hannah Hull. He is eighteen years old. His trade is difficult to work out…(Curvier’s assistant?), although his mother is a glass and china dealer.
Mmm. A real whodunnit! Prime suspects:
William L Hull aged 21
Joseph G Hull aged 19
Thomas A Hull aged 17
Arthur Hull aged 18
Or maybe even Thomas Hull married and aged 47.
What do you think?
‹ Solved – the whereabouts of Charles Sunter in 1891 Whodunnit? The mystery deepens as new suspect emerges… ›