181
The Common Room / Lost: Father of Simon George Frederick Greenacre (Greenaker) Goodrum b1875
« on: Friday 23 May 14 16:18 BST (UK) »
Simon's mother was Rose Hannah Goodrum b1857 in Acle, Norfolk to George & Hannah Goodrum. By 1871 Rose was with her mother & siblings in Winlaton, Durham, and in January 1875 gave birth to Simon at 4 Victor Street, Thornaby, on the border of Durham & Yorkshire.
Simon was illegitimate, but his name does seem to give quite a few clues as to his father's identity.
I initially thought Rose had used the traditional naming convention all in one go and found a Frederick Greenacre in Norfolk along with his father Simon, but couldn't find any evidence of them ever being in the North East.
A newspaper search then turned up two reports of a Simon Greenacre being brought before the Police Courts in Stockton South (aka Thornaby) in 1873 & 1875, and from there I found a census record of a Simon Greenacre aged 18 lodging at St Thomas Terrace, Winlaton in 1871 - exactly when Rose had been living there. His place of birth was given as 'Flagsburgh, Norfolk' which I take to be Fleggburgh, about 4 miles from where Rose was born, and there is a birth for Simon Greenacre in July qtr 1852 in Fleggs, Norfolk, which I take to be him.
I know all of Rose's story after this and also what happened to 'baby' Simon, but Simon Snr seems to drop off the radar entirely. There's a possible marriage in Poplar in 1877 and the 1909 death in Yarmouth looks a possibility too, but I cant find him anywhere on the census after 1871. Given his history I've also tried looking for criminal records etc too but again drew a blank.
So now I'm completely flummoxed! Have I got the right father? If not who else could it be? And if I am right then where did he vanish to between being up court shortly after Simon's birth in 1875 and his possible death in 1909. Is that even his death?
Help!
Simon was illegitimate, but his name does seem to give quite a few clues as to his father's identity.
I initially thought Rose had used the traditional naming convention all in one go and found a Frederick Greenacre in Norfolk along with his father Simon, but couldn't find any evidence of them ever being in the North East.
A newspaper search then turned up two reports of a Simon Greenacre being brought before the Police Courts in Stockton South (aka Thornaby) in 1873 & 1875, and from there I found a census record of a Simon Greenacre aged 18 lodging at St Thomas Terrace, Winlaton in 1871 - exactly when Rose had been living there. His place of birth was given as 'Flagsburgh, Norfolk' which I take to be Fleggburgh, about 4 miles from where Rose was born, and there is a birth for Simon Greenacre in July qtr 1852 in Fleggs, Norfolk, which I take to be him.
I know all of Rose's story after this and also what happened to 'baby' Simon, but Simon Snr seems to drop off the radar entirely. There's a possible marriage in Poplar in 1877 and the 1909 death in Yarmouth looks a possibility too, but I cant find him anywhere on the census after 1871. Given his history I've also tried looking for criminal records etc too but again drew a blank.
So now I'm completely flummoxed! Have I got the right father? If not who else could it be? And if I am right then where did he vanish to between being up court shortly after Simon's birth in 1875 and his possible death in 1909. Is that even his death?
Help!