An update on the Sydney Whiston/Richard J Earnshaw saga

[Honor]

Hi, all!

In regards to this old thread:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=748414.0

I bought the marriage certificate as recommended -

It clearly states that Richard James Earnshaw married Dorothy Phyllis Tompsett in 1929. His occupation is listed as commercial traveller, her occupation is listed as hotel waitress. Dorothy's parents were witnesses, and Richard states his parents as being William Francis Earnshaw and Margaret Earnshaw - the same parents as Sydney Whiston Earnshaw.

So, I assumed that Sydney and Richard J must be brothers. But alas, no, for Richard isn't listed as being a member of this family on any of the census records, and yet Sydney's probate is made out to Dorothy, and the son of "Richard" and Dorothy that was born in 1930 is with Sydney in Breconshire in the 1939 census. 

Ergo, the only logical conclusion is that Richard never existed, and was actually Sydney, marrying for a second time. I think that there may have been a social class element to this, because on Sydney's original marriage certificate that relates to his union with Mary Sayers, he is listed as a "gentleman" - whereas Dorothy's origins were definitely quite humble, in comparison.

I just don't know about this. As far as I'm concerned, it seems clear that Sydney married Dorothy under a false name - but why? He was many years older than her, if this is relevant. 

Thoughts?

Thanks, everybody

[keyboard86]

  Wow do I not forget that thread!!

The questions from that thread that still have not been fully researched are:-

(1) The death of Mary Earnshaw nee Sayers
(2) The births in Hay ( Breconshire) Earnshaw/Sayers ( Although if these children were indeed Mary's she would have been in her late forties/early fifties going on age at marriage 1907)?

But their has to be a link somehow, as Sydney/Richard and Anthony were in Hay in 1939, where was Dorothy?


Keyboard86

[DOB7]

Have you compared the signatures on the marriage certificates for Sydney & Richard? You can also compare it to Sydney's signature on the 1911 census,

[Honor]

Have you compared the signatures on the marriage certificates for Sydney & Richard? You can also compare it to Sydney's signature on the 1911 census,

The marriage certificate doesn't have any signatures on it, I'm afraid.

[avm228]

Although relevant posts at the end of the other thread had to be edited, it looks as though Mary Emily Earnshaw died in Hove in 1990 aged 102 - birthdate 15 July 1887.

Mary Emily Sayers born 15 July 1887 was baptised in Stepney on 3 August 1887 in Stepney; parents were Joseph (greengrocer) and Mary.

[keyboard86]

  Thanks for that, I believe that Sydney did commit bigamy, and used the name Richard James Earnshaw to do it, those births in the thirtys I cannot believe can possibly be associated with anyone else but Sydney as he was in Hay in 1939?
Thoughts?
Keyboard86

[avm228]

I think the three Earnshaw/Sayers children born in Hay are likely to have been born to Dorothy, despite being registered with Mary's maiden name.

The youngest of them appears to have married for the first time in Brighton in 1958. I wonder whether one or more of the children born in Hay were with Dorothy's parents Percy and Mary Tompsett in Steyning in 1939 (their details would be redacted).

[avm228]

I also find it interesting that Mary and her son Leslie ended up in Hove.  They appear to have lived together at 2 Sackville Rd, before their deaths close together in 1990 - Mary on 11 March and Leslie on 2 June.

[keyboard86]

  Odd also as it looks like Mary Emily Earnshaw is in Chingford Essex 1939?

Possibly while the cats away etc!
Keyboard86

PS the son b 1930 Steyning is with Sydney in Hay?