no idea of wifes name!

[flocklet]

Hello fellow listers. My problem is my grandfather married a lady & had to wait for her to die before marrying my grandmother late in life in 1950.I have no idea of his 1st marriage eg: maiden name or any children etc. To make matters worse he changed his name by deed poll half way thru his life. His birth name is Henry Charles MASKELL, in army it was HUDSON (think he used this name to marry his 1st wife), then changed back to MASKELL to marry my grandmother! All very confusing I know, would ANYBODY have any ideas on getting anywhere with this mess PLEASE , Thanks Stella

[Rick]

Hi Stella

What a pickle

It is difficult to know what to advise other than the usual basic slog.......census records, GRO Indexes etc.   The name change shouldn't really complicate things, as it will give you a date before which you know he was known as "x" and after which, he was known as "y" though it is unusual to change it back again!  Are you sure it was changed by deed poll.  Do you have the document?

Rick

[flocklet]

Hello Rick, my apologies for late reply, I've been flat out like a lizard drinking!
First chance i've had. many thanks for your reply, yes it is a pickle, but I am determined not to let this pickle ruin my searches! On his marriage certificate, he stated he was indeed a widower, & had changed his name by deed poll. So I will continue to  keep slogging! Once again thank you for your help/advice. Stella

[Rick]

Hello Stella

It might be worth getting a copy of the deed poll so that you have a definite date at which his name changed.  Copies are kept at the National Archives.  Name changes are nearly always reported in newpapers, so they are also well worth checking.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Rick

[carol8353]

What dates are we talking about here?

Is he on the 1901 census and would this marriage and possible children have been since 1912? As mothers maiden names and spouses name were on the GRO indexes after that date.

Carol

[Rick]

As mothers maiden names and spouses name were on the GRO indexes after that date.

Carol

Good point Carol!

Rick

[flocklet]

Carol & Rick, I have a copy of the 1901 census with Henry Charles Maskell with his family on it, living at 12 Basing St, Camberwell.  He enlisted in 1909 & dis-charged from Army in 1930, so I',m assuming?? he married between 1930 (he would be 43) & 1950 to my grandmother. OR, married to this lady? whilst serving (between 1909 & 1930)!!  Any ideas please??Thanks for taking time, Stella

[carol8353]

HI Flocklet

If you live in the UK,I think your best bet would be as Rick said earlier,just trawl through years of BMD indexes.They can be accessed free of charge at any large library-unless of course you live near the FRC in London?

If you're abroad(sorry I can't tell by your profile ) I'm afraid the only way would be on the pay per view site http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/ Luckily the more credits you need the cheaper they work out per hit 

Oh just had a thought- do his enlistment papers not tell you anything useful?
ie Next of kin.....married or single etc ..

Good luck

Carol

[carol8353]

Stella

Can you give us a clue as to what name your grandad has been mistranscribd under? I have been looking for him on the 1901 as you described but cannot find him.Or better still -post it here.

Best regards,

Carol