The Search for the Mother of Elizabeth Gertrude Shaw
Born the daughter of John Shaw and Elizabeth Greene, Elizabeth Gertrude Shaw (Bessie) never knew her birth parents. The story
is that after her mother died in childbirth Bessie was taken to Rhode Island
and raised by family. John Shaw was
Irish and we are quite certain it was not his family which raised Bessie.
About John Shaw and Elizabeth Greene – I have found no
record that a marriage ever existed. No birth certificate for Bessie. No place
of death or burial for John Shaw or Elizabeth Greene. A family history was made by Adrian around 1965 with no information on Bessie.
When Bessie herself became a mother she only told her
daughters that her childhood was terrible, and that she had been abused. Many years later, while driving in the area with her
daughter Jane, Bessie remarked, “Lawn Avenue, that’s where my uncle raped
me.” We believe that one of the families
living on Lawn Ave, Warwick, RI during the correct time frame was in fact
connected to Bessie somehow.
I have done considerable research on Lawn Avenue. I obtained
the chain of title cards for each property, then researched each family
pedigree looking for a tie in to Bessie. Many of the families have New
England/Massachusetts roots.
About living here - Bessie spoke of moving from
house-to-house to her daughters. And there was mention of a third house, maybe
in Philadelphia. My research on Lawn Avenue during the era that these homes
were built tells me that these were large homes close to the water where
families which lived in Providence may have traveled to as a summer residence.
I found several names also appearing in the Providence city directory even
though they owned in Warwick. My point is that at this time she may show up on
a census somewhere else. (I also keep the Philadelphia connection in the back
of my mind when searching any possible family match for her.)
Records for Bessie turn up as she marries and has a family.
She and Adrian St.Germain were married at St. John’s Episcopal Church (the Cathedral of
St. John) 271 North Main St., Providence, RI. on June 12, 1916. They had a
reception following the ceremony at the home of Rev. John F. Scott on Waterman
Avenue, Providence.
The 1910 census has Adrian on Howell St, 1915 census on
Carrington St. – both just a few blocks from Camp Street and the church. This
was his neighborhood. But I am not sure it was his church.
Martha Dunbar and William Ferguson were honor attendants to
the wedding. Bessie met Martha Dunbar working together at the Telephone company
in Providence. I have requested Social Security records for both she and Adrian
and none were produced. (Adrian later retired from the Railroad on a pension,
no Social Security found.) Bessie had no Social Security number, no birth
certificate and no Driver’s License. I would explore the workplace history if I
thought it could give information.
One of the residents of Lawn Ave in the 1910
census is George B. Schofield (he rented). He also resides on Lawn Ave in the
1914 City Directory. He was an electrician for the Telephone Company, where
Bessie came to work…
Bessie and Adrian are buried in the Pawtuxet Memorial Park
on Harrison Ave., Warwick, RI. I researched the (3) other Greene’s buried there
with no connections. (Adrian’s parents are buried in West Warwick, RI.) Another resident of Lawn Ave is buried there! Thomas
W. Hawkins and his wife Charlotte Craft Arnold are buried in Pawtuxet Memorial
Park along with their ancestors. Thomas W. Hawkins is on the 1900 census, however he appears in Providence in 1905.
More on John Shaw – Finding an Irishman named John Shaw is
like a needle in a haystack. I did find one in the 1910 census at the
Bridgewater State Farm. Writing to Mass archives I received three records for a
John Shaw, each time sentenced to 4-9 months, serving 4 months and getting released
on good behavior each time. These were 1907, 1909 and 1910. Each time the offense was
drunkenness.
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