Family history records unlocked mysteries for royal correspondent Jennie Bond

6-7 minute read

By Ellie Ayton | October 20, 2022

Solving a family mystery can bring you closer to your ancestors, and can even uncover things you never knew about yourself. We explored the family tree of Jennie Bond, and she was astounded at what we revealed.

Journalist and television reporter Jennie Bond has a whole host of credits to her name. She worked for 14 years as a royal correspondent for the BBC, often speaking of her warm regard for the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022.

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For Jennie, family is sacred. While she was already up to speed on many of her maternal relatives, we were able to explore both sides of her family tree to reveal some surprises. Now, Jennie is keen to keep the memory of her ancestors alive, by passing the stories onto her daughter and grandchildren, particularly as nine out of 10 Brits know very little about their great-grandparents.

Jennie’s family in the 1921 Census

On 19 June 1921, the 1921 Census of England and Wales was taken. On that evening, we found Jennie’s six-year-old father, Kenneth, and paternal grandparents, James and Grace, living at 46 Ickleford Road, Hitchin. James worked as a district manager for Pearl Insurance Co. Ltd, and we even get the address of his office: 27a High Street, Hitchin.

Signature of Jennie Bond's grandfather on 1921 Census

The beautifully-written signature of Jennie’s grandfather, James Henry Bond, on the 1921 Census. You can view the full record here.

Over on her maternal side, we spotted Jennie’s grandparents, John Henry and Alma Collins (née Tibbenham) living at 10 Constitution Hill, Norwich. John was a bank clerk for Barclays, and they were comfortable enough to employ a live-in servant, 17-year-old Dorothy Ford.

Jennie’s maternal grandparents in the 1921 Census, in her grandfather’s own handwriting. See the full record here.

The 1921 Census can reveal where your ancestor was, what they were doing, and who they were doing it with in the summer of 1921. And you can explore it to your heart’s content with Findmypast’s Premium subscription.

A supportive family

Jennie’s great-grandmother on her father’s side, Ellen Bond (née Collins) was sadly widowed at just 31. We knew she was widowed by 1881, as we spotted her as a widow in the Census.

Jennie’s grandfather and great-grandmother on the 1881 Census. Ellen’s brother can be found on the following page.

We wondered what had happened to her husband, James. After some sleuthing in the newspapers, we found that he died in a fatal accident at work in 1880. A waggoner, he’d attempted to get on the shaft of a wagon, and the horse bolted.

The sad report of James Bond’s death, in the Western Times, 19 August 1880.

According to a later inquest, the wheel of the wagon ‘passed over his back and across the right shoulder.’ He was carefully taken home, attended by a doctor, and died there, surrounded by Ellen and their six children. Ellen was ‘near her confinement’ with their seventh child at the time.

Jennie was touched to see how her strong maternal great-grandmother raised her children in a time of hardship.

Ellen was a gloveress in Torrington’s thriving glove-making industry during this time. She later took in her 20-year-old brother, William Collins, likely so he could help support the family.

Ellen and Jennie’s grandfather on the 1891 Census, with the four-month-old Stanley. View the full record here.

Ellen’s daughter Mary married Henry Marley. Mary died in 1907 at 38, likely in childbirth. It was emotional for Jennie to see that Ellen returned the good deed of her brother, by moving in with her widowed son-in-law Henry to help take care of the children.

Ellen helping her son-in-law take care of the children in the 1911 Census. See the full record here.

Interestingly, in the 1891 Census Ellen has another child – Stanley Bond, born in 1890. But if her husband, James, died in 1880, who was Stanley’s father? Well, we ordered a copy of his birth certificate, and there was no father listed.

Stanley who?

Using the 1921 Census, we were able to unlock a little of the mystery of Jennie’s great-uncle Stanley. On 19 June 1921, we spotted him in Constantinople with the 1st Hampshire Regiment.

Even overseas regiments were included in the 1921 Census, making it a perfect tool for tracking down military ancestors.

Stanley at Yildiz Barracks, Constantinople, in the 1921 Census. You can see the full record here.

During this time, Stanley may have witnessed refugees arriving into the city. Some of the regiment’s men voluntarily gave up a day’s wages and food to assist those in need. He may also have helped in the arrest of Bolshevik spies.

A 1921 electoral roll gave Stanley’s address as 46 Ickleford Road – the same address Jennie’s grandfather, James Henry Bond lived at in the 1921 Census. Using the electoral rolls, we found Stanley living with his brother for nearly a decade. Or at least, that was his registered address. Only around the time of James’ death do we lose track of him.

A touching tribute

When Jennie’s grandfather died in 1929 aged 58, a moving obituary was placed in a local newspaper. The journalist wrote of James Henry Bond’s ‘happy disposition’ despite suffering from bronchitis and asthma.

obituary for Jennie Bond's grandfather in the newspapers

Here is the touching obituary for Jennie’s paternal grandfather in the Beds and Herts Pictorial, 16 April 1929.

Though his brother Stanley did not appear among the mourners, James’ friend Mr Barker from their Whist Club commented, ‘We have lost a real friend. His character stood out as a wonderful thing, and even the most malicious person could not point to a bad spot.’

obituary for Jennie's grandfather in the newspapers

Obituaries like this are often the closest thing we have to a relative we never met, and they can be found within the pages of our newspaper archive.

The mystery of many siblings

Jennie knew that her beloved maternal grandmother, Alma Tibbenham, was one of 13 children, and that as a child, Alma was fostered out to live with various cousins. As a result, Jennie knew little of the other siblings.

Findmypast expert, Jen Baldwin, was able to track down 11 out of 12 brothers and sisters. While no concrete reason for Alma living with cousins has been identified, it’s entirely possible that her parents, Louisa and William, struggled to cope raising 13 children, and leaned on their family for support. Alma lived with her uncle Horace, aunt Ada, and cousins, whereas her sisters lived with their grandparents, John and Isabella, in London.

Alma living with her aunt, uncle and cousins in the 1901 Census. See the full record here.

Like many families, the Tibbenhams suffered great losses during the First World War. Two of Alma’s brothers are buried in France: Eric, of the East Surrey Regiment, and Spencer of the Australian Infantry. They both died in 1917. Another brother, Cyril, enlisted just 15 days before Eric died. Their elder brother Stanley also served, in the Royal Garrison Artillery, but thankfully survived the war.

Could family history records like the 1921 Census unlock a family mystery for you? And don’t forget to talk to your own family members to share your ancestors’ stories. Share your findings with us at [email protected]