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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Bedfordshire => England => Bedfordshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: stevew101 on Monday 19 August 13 08:28 BST (UK)
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I am seeking a spot of help with locating the parents of Robert Clark.
Robert was born at Stotfold in about 1844. He married Ellen Gentle at Stotfold Jan/Feb/Mar 1889. I believe that he died at Stotfold in Mar qtr 1898.
I have had no luck with the IGI or freebmd, and any information would be appreciated.
Steve
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The 1891 Census says he was 67 - ie born c1824
which is strange, as this Birth Index entry would seem to match the age you suggest - and in the correct District covering Stotfold ..
Births Mar 1845
Clark Robert Biggleswade 6 64
and I see that the Death Index confirms 1844 ....
He's not obvious on the earlier census years at all - might be a case of mother re-marrying and using StepFathers name ? But that would not explain it totally .... it may be that he just used Stotfold as his PoB in 1891 as thats where he was !
Given he was a Plasterer in 1891, I'm surprised he cant be found using just forename or surname in 1881 !
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Hi Lostris,
Thank you for that, I think you could be right. I couldn't find him on the census's.
It may be a case of ordering his birth certificate.
Steve
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.... added some thoughts to earlier post ....
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Hi Lostris,
Thank you for that. I am starting to think you could be right, and he just put Stotfold on the Census as his place of birth. He had my Great Grandfather (Harry Gentle B1881) out of wedlock with Ellen Gentle, and then had Nellie Gentle (B1883), George Gentle (B1885), Bertie Gentle (B1887) and Gertrude Gentle (B1889) with Ellen, again all out of wedlock. He then married her and went on to have further children
Steve
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Only option I can think of is to get the Marriage Cert to see if his Father is named - and to get a x-check on his age & occupation ?
1881 shows Ellen Gentle OK, must just predate oldest child - and no sign of RC in the area !
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I think his age in 1891 is 47, which would tie in with the other ages that you have.
David
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I think his age in 1891 is 47, which would tie in with the other ages that you have.
David
Thank you for that David.
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Only option I can think of is to get the Marriage Cert to see if his Father is named - and to get a x-check on his age & occupation ?
1881 shows Ellen Gentle OK, must just predate oldest child - and no sign of RC in the area !
I think that will be the way forward.
Steve
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1881 shows Ellen Gentle OK, must just predate oldest child - and no sign of RC in the area !
1881 census just predated Harry Gentle's birth. In 1891, Harry is staying with Ellen's father George Gentle and her sister Ann Millard.
Steve
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I can find no trace of him in pre 1881 censuses. I'm afraid it's hard cash time, as I think you need both the marriage cert and the 1845 birth cert to confirm that it is the same father on each of them.
Do you have the birth certificates of any of the children evidencing that Robert was the father? It's slightly odd that in 1891 when Robert was alive they were all enumerated as Gentle, yet once he was dead, in 1901 (Clarke) and 1911 they were enumerated as Clark. What name did the children use when they married? If Robert was the father of Harry who you say was born in 1881 then he should have been in Stotfold or thereabouts on 3 Apr 1881. So where was he??
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I can find no trace of him in pre 1881 censuses. I'm afraid it's hard cash time, as I think you need both the marriage cert and the 1845 birth cert to confirm that it is the same father on each of them.
Do you have the birth certificates of any of the children evidencing that Robert was the father? It's slightly odd that in 1891 when Robert was alive they were all enumerated as Gentle, yet once he was dead, in 1901 (Clarke) and 1911 they were enumerated as Clark. What name did the children use when they married? If Robert was the father of Harry who you say was born in 1881 then he should have been in Stotfold or thereabouts on 3 Apr 1881. So where was he??
Thank you for that David.
The only birth certificate I have is for Harry Gentle which has Robert down as the father, and Ellen as mother. I wonder if Robert was a plasterer. Could he have been moving around the area?
I am going to send for Robert and Ellens marriage certificate, and think it is worth a punt on the 1845 birth cert.
Most of my family lines I can trace back to the distant past, with this exception. I am totally confused. As you say, in 1881 they are using Gentle and in 1901 Clarke. The only thing I can say with certainty is that my GG Grandfather Harry used the name Gentle throughout his life, and family members can remember Nellie, who also used the name Gentle.
It may be a case of order and wait.
Steve