Sylva Hayward
According to the record of her marriage, Sylva was the daughter of James Hayward, whose occupation was labourer. The identity of her mother is not recorded. It is not known where she was born; while it is possible that she was born and raised in the vicinity of Lewisham, outside London, no record of her birth has yet been located. From her death certificate, it is calculated that she was born between August 1816 and August 1817.
Nothing is known of young Sylva until, at age 16 or 17 and unmarried, she gave birth to a daughter in the Lewisham Workhouse. The infant was christened Rebecca on 24 March 1833 in St Mary Church, Lewisham. Entry number 419, page 53 in the baptismal register for 1833 identifies the father of the child as George Hopkins, a labourer. It also records Sylva's abode as "Workhouse".
click to enlarge
On 7 March 1838, Sylva Hayward married Joseph Mead in the church of St. Mark, Kennington. In recording the marriage, the clerk wrote her name as "Sylvia" but she actually signed her name as "Sylva Hayward". This record identifies Sylva's father as noted above and Joseph's father as William Mead, a gardener. Both Joseph and Sylva were residing in Camberwell and neither had been previously married. While not certain that it refers to the same person, there was a Joseph Mead, son of William (occupation labourer) and Lucy Mead, of Walworth Common; the baby was born on 4 February 1815 and christened on 5 March 1815 in the church of St Mary, Newington (South London) by Rev. R. Dickinson (curate).
Sylva's signature - from her marriage certificate
Sylva died on 29 August 1846 in Lewisham. The death certificate records her name as "Silvia", that she was the wife of Joseph Mead, and the place of death was "Sloshes Buildings" (or similar - not clear) and that her age was 29 at the time of her death. The cause of death was "phthisis" (now known as tuberculosis), a significant cause of death in young adults in the 19th century.
click to enlarge
The above information on Sylva Hayward was researched, on commission,
by genealogist, Mr Sydney Smith, 59 Friar Rd., Orpington, Kent BR5 2BW
e-mail: ss.famhist@virgin.net
Mr Smith is thanked for his thorough research.
