Hello,
I recently discovered that my distant cousin William George Spain married for a third time Rose Stanley.This is what the marriage cert says:
16th August 1903 at Bromley Registry Office.
William Spain,age 41,bachelor,general dealer,living Chelsfield,Kent,father William Spain(deceased),general dealer to:
Rose Stanley,age 37 years,widow,living Chelsfield,Kent,father Thomas Small,general dealer.
Witnesses Douglas Carnegie and William Lane.
I also found this in the criminal records on Findmypast:
William George Spain aged 45,born 1859.
occupation dealer.
Date of court session 17/02/1904.
at Maidstone,Kent.
Victim Rose Stanley.
HO140/232.
On the actual image it says:
William George Spain aged 45(on bail)
Commiting magistrate D Amos esq Canterbury.
Date of warrent 1st Dec 1903.Surrendered to custody 20th Feb 1904.
Feloniously marrying Rose Stanley at Bromley 16th August 1903,his wife Annie,to whom he was married at Canterbury 10th Sept 1877 being there alive.
Not guilty,discharged.
An on line report of the case found by Casalguidi says they had no proof he knew his 1st wife to still be alive so couldnt proceed with the charges.
Apparently his 1st wife Annie Ditton went to Scotland shortly after they married,he went on to have a relationship and 2 kids with Elizabeth OBrien,though he didnt marry her.I am suprised though why they didnt question his status of bachelor rather than widow on the marriage cert.
Im trying to find out more about the family of Rose and that of her 1st husband
Stanley.
This is what i have:
Casalguidi has suggested that the Thomas Small on the marriage cert could be a Thomas Yelding/Hilden/Smith who also uses name Small,based on census entries:
1851.
John Gilding(Yelding) born 1814 St Nicholas,Kent.
Charlotte born 1814 Robertbridge.
10 kids including:
Thomas born 1843 Sibertswold,Kent.
1861
nothing found.
1871
John Yelding born 1815 Kidderminster
Charlotte born 1815 Robertsbridge.
cant find Thomas.
1881
Thomas Smith born 1831 Canterbury
Angelina born 1833 Canterbury.
Henry born 1861
Thomas born 1865
Joseph born 1863
Alice born 1867
ROSA born 1869
Lydia born 1871
Margaret born 1873.
Thomas born 1876 g son.
Class RG11 piece1008 folio70 p74
all shown born Canterbury.
1891
Thomas Small born 1846 Bromley
Angelina born 1851 Canterbury
Sarah born 1874 Dover
Mark born 1876 Dover
Isaac born 1878 Dover
Lilley bor 1882 Dover
Noah born 1885 Newinton.
Class RG12 piece753 folio34 p2
1901
nothing found.
1911
Thomas Hilden born 1840 Coldridge Green,Kent.
Angelina born 1841 Brighton.
Noah born 1883 Sidcup.
Class RG14 piece4630 schedule 96.
So even though the birthdates and places vary wildley,this would seem to suggest that Thomas Yelding is also Thomas Smith/Small and Hilden.
I think its very likely that Angelina is the Angelina Small shown on the 1851,and that her husband and children sometimes used her surname:
1851
Moses Small born 1801 Devon
Cinderella born 1801 Dorset
Jonas born 1829
Moses born 1838
Uriah born 1840
Gully born 1842
Henry born 1844
ANGELINA born 1846 Devon.
Trinity born 1848
Louisa born 1851
Also amongst Thomas and Angelinas children,Mark is using Hilden on 1901/1911,living with wife Alice nee Gumble.
Henry is Hilden on 1911.
Also on 1911:
Joseph Small Hilden born 1870 Dover
Mr J Hilden (first gave name as Small),no settled address, camped in hop garden,Crixhill,Goodnestone,Canterbury.
So having established that the Thomas Smith on 1881 is actually Thomas Yelding/Hilden who uses Small,and he has a daughter Rosa born 1869,i need to discover whether this is Williams wife.The age is a couple of years out,not unusual,and name slightly different.I have found Rosinas and Roses in their extended family though.
Just to confuse things further theres this 1911 entry:
Louisa Spain born 1867 Canterbury.
John Stanley born 1887 Canterbury son
Celia(Ball) born 1884 Canterbury daughter in law
Clara born 1896 niece.
Ted born 1886 nephew
Rose born 1910 grand daughter.
In Folkstone.
Class RG14 piece4647 schedule 566
On the 1911 William Spain is elsewhere with another woman,his 2nd wife Elizabeth OBrien is in hospital in Canterbury.
Its all very confusing.Sorry its such a long post.What im really looking for is evidence or just thoughts on whether this Rosa,daughter of Thomas is William 3rd wife.Also,is this Louisa on the 1911 her,if so,why is she Louisa,and why is she a widow.Could she be Rose/Rosas sister pretending to be her,given there are nieces and nephews present?Either way,id like to find out what became of Rose after the court case,and who her 1st husband was.
Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Nel.
