A Record that Adds Color: Great Aunt Adelia in 1921

I have plenty of genealogy to share, but don't want to be constrained by having to blog weekly, so my goal in 2026 is to share one story each month, using one of the themes from Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. This week's theme is A Record That Adds Color.

I have previously written about my grandfather's older sister at Great Aunt Adelia and More on Great Aunt Adelia. Her 1918 passport application reported that she wished to be able to visit Spain, France and Italy.

Census records are one of the cornerstones of genealogy research. Imagine my surprise when a hint popped up last year for a 1921 England census record for Adelia Pyle living at 12 Oakley Crescent in Chelsea, London, England.

“1921 England Census,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/63150/ : 29 January 2025), entry for Adelia Pyle, Chelsea, London, Middlesex, England; citing The National Archives, RG 15/434, ED 10, Sch 203; Book: 00434.

Great Aunt Adelia was living as a "visitor" in the household of Maria Montessori, who was the head. Ages given are quite specific: Maria was 50 years, 10 months, and Adelia was 33 years, 2 months. (Actually, Adelia had just celebrated her 33rd birthday a week earlier on April 17.) 

There was also a Spanish-born servant living in the home named Marina Buil.

Interestingly, the column for "Marriage or Orphanhood" which presumably should have listed "Single" for each woman reported that Maria was an Orphan, that Adelia's father was dead and that Marina was an orphan.

The next columns listed the occupants' birthplaces and whether they were residents or visitors and if visitors, their nationality. 

The occupation column reported that Maria was a Doctor / Retired and Adelia was an Interpreter. Marina was a Servant.

The lower left-hand corner of the full sheet reported that there were 8 rooms in the home. 

Look closely at the lower right-hand corner of the full sheet: Adelia McA. Pyle signed the census affirming: "I declare that this Schedule is correctly filled up to the best of my knowledge and belief."

I never thought I'd find a relative in a 20th century U.K. census and I think it adds a bit of color to what I know about my great aunt Adelia.