Husband's ancestors

[GCE]

I have a dilemma> My husband has always been lead to believe that his Grandfather or Great Grandfather was called Regent John Edwards-Bush and that he dropped the Bush part of the surname when he ran away from home. I cannot find a Regent John Edwards-Bush but can find a Regent Edward Bush. The family come from Norfolk and then my husband's grandfather or great grandfather moved to the East end. To further compound the mystery on my father in Law's birth certificate his father is down as Richard Edwards. My F - in - law is also Richard Edwards born 23/02/1912 in I believe East Ham
Can anyone help with the Edwards-Bush mystery - thanks
GCE

[FionaO]

Hi GCE,

Looks like keeping names in the family is a bit of a tradition.  I can’t really help but looking at the name Regent Edwards in Ancestry there appears to be several with the same name! including the Bush bit.

If you have your FIL birth cert, what are the mothers details?  Can you find a marr between FIL father and mother and take it from there? And what’s FIL father’s job?  There is a boarder in Norfolk 1911 who’s a baker.

[KGarrad]

There is this birth in 1912:
June qtr 1912
Hackney district    vol 1b, page 913

Edwards, Richard J     Mother's maiden name: Witteridge



And then this marriage:
September qtr 1910
Islington district    vol 1b, page 450

Edwards, Richard
Witteridge, Eliza J

[GCE]

Thanks!

I have that info too re marriage and birth. I suspect I will have to buy a marriage certificate for Eliza and Richard to see what that says.

[dawnsh]

It's online at Ancestry, the transcription reads

25 Sept 1910 St Lukes West Holloway

Richard Edwards, 23, bachelor, Baker, of 23 Withham Rd, father Richard Edwards, Baker
Eliza Jane Witteridge, 26, spinster, same address, father Frank Witteridge Wheelwright

[dawnsh]

From the 1911 free index, Richard Edwards, 24, was born in Norwich.

[dawnsh]

Maybe the name just changed over time from Regent to Richard especially with the Norfolk accent.

[GCE]

That makes the family history that there was a Regent John Edwards even more puzzling but thanks for the info and also the accent heads up. I know my husband said his Grandad spoke broad Norfolk dialect. Perhaps he changed the Regent to Richard to hide even more
GCE

[dawnsh]

He's on the 1901 census aged 14, in Norwich as Regent E Bush with father Regent E Bush.

Seems as if the name changed between 1901 and 1911.