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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Yorkshire (West Riding) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) Lookup Requests => Topic started by: BettyofKent on Tuesday 04 April 17 15:43 BST (UK)
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Baby Basil JOHNSON born January 1921, Stainforth, Yorkshire. First known child of this couple.
Parents Thomas JOHNSON (occupation Coal Miner Hewer) & Dorothy formerly HOUGH
I cannot find a JOHNSON/HOUGH marriage on FindMyPast or FreeBMD.
Dorothy was born December 1895 (from 1939 Register) so I've 2 possibles for her, Doncaster or Barnsley, but without the marriage I've no chance of finding a Thomas Johnson without at least a father's name, & he was dead by 1939 so no date of birth.
Any help finding this marriage would be much appreciated, hitting a brick wall so soon after starting another line is frustrating, so I'm hoping 'fresh eyes' will help :)
Betty
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Is this information from Basil's birth certificate? I ask, because my cousin was registered with mother's maiden name of Smith, but her mother's marriage (to her father) was under the surname of Jones - as she was a widow. :-\
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Yes I've been looking into that scenario Bumble!
I found a possible marriage in 1916 but Groom's full name is missing.
Barnsley was mentioned as a possible place of birth.
Marriages Mar 1916
Hough Dorothy Watkinson Barnsley 9c 357
But I can't find a marriage to a Dorothy Watkinson!
Giggsy
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Not finding the marriage but you mentioned the two Dorothy's bn Doncaster & Barnsley - they both appear to have married - the Barnsley one married Arthur Watkinson and only appears to have had one child -Arthur bn 1916. There is a death for an Arthur age 52 in 1920 which could be her husband :-\ I can't see Dorothy & Arthur Watkinson in 1939
As you can see I was looking too ;D
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Yes, the info is from the birth certificate.
Is this information from Basil's birth certificate? I ask, because my cousin was registered with mother's maiden name of Smith, but her mother's marriage (to her father) was under the surname of Jones - as she was a widow. :-\
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I can't find a suitable marriage, but I wonder if this is perhaps because one of them was already married?
One possibility perhaps worth looking into is the 1916 marriage in Barnsley between Dorothy Hough & Arthur Watkinson. As far as I can see only one child was born to this marriage, also in 1916 - Arthur W Watkinson. Searching for an army record of Arthur Sr brings up a chap from Barnsley who was still serving in 1920.
There is also an interesting army record of a Thomas Johnson b 1895 Hoyland, Barnsley, who was a coal miner. Service No. 242457. Parents George & Elizabeth.
Added: Apologies for repeating the marriage / birth info re Watkinson, but my laptop was doing the swirl of death & it took ages to post - by which time the other posts had gone on.
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I knew you would be looking Rosie ;D
Perhaps that Arthur died in WW1?
Giggsy
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This seems to be the explanation:
Divorce Court File: 2389. Appellant: Arthur Watkinson. Respondent: Dorothy Watkinson. Co-respondent: Thomas Johnson. Type: Husband's petition for divorce.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8035650
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It seems the divorce was granted:
Leeds Mercury 31 March 1924
At Leeds Assizes on Saturday Mr Justice Roche granted decrees nisi to the following petitioners:-
Arthur Watkinson of Manor House, Yeadon, from his wife, Dorothy Watkinson, on account of her misconduct.
The Arthur Watkinson still serving in 1920 was in Mesopotamia (Iraq), so he may be the same man.
Arthur Watkinson, Barnsley, Yorkshire, Northumberland Fusiliers. Service No 41585.
Acting Corporal. 24th Batallion
Transferred from West Riding Regt (11th & 2nd Bns); To 9th Bn.
W.Riding No.11/17965; Re-enlisted & renumbered 4257048
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The last Johnson/Hough child appears to have been born in Thorne Registration District in 1930. As Thomas was deceased by 1939 his likely death is either 1931 aged 30, or 1933, aged 37, both Thorne.
As Dorothy was born 1895 the most likely would seem to be the one from 1933, which also ties in age-wise with the army record I mentioned previously - Thomas Johnson b 1895 Hoyland, Barnsley, who was a coal miner. Service No. 242457. Parents George & Elizabeth.
Quite how you'd prove whether or not this was the correct person I'm not really sure.
Added: There are a few newspaper reports about the 1933 death, which does seem to be your man as his address is given as 93 Princess Avenue, Stainforth. He was a Pit Deputy at Hatfield Main Colliery and was killed on 21 December 1933 by a fall of stone, which broke his back.
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Thank you all so much for your help with this. Apart from 'my' Thomas having a son called George, & the Thomas born 1895 with a father called George, which hardly proves anything, I do think this man looks promising. I've downloaded the army records, & I'll now look for the newspaper reports.
It seems Thomas & Dorothy didn't bother to get married, perhaps they might have done at some point if Thomas hadn't died so young. Getting the death certificate will be on my 'to do' list, & the marriage cert for Dorothy & Arthur. At least now I've got something to work on.
Thanks again,
Betty :)
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Might also be worth getting a quote from TNA for the divorce file, although apart from my own I've never seen one so I don't know what level of information it might contain.
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I thought of doing that, until I saw this: The page check costs £8.40 and is non-refundable.
So I have to pay that even if the documents are not suitable for copying, plus the copying costs if they are suitable & not knowing what information will be in them I'm not sure if it will be worth the cost. I'll put that on ice for the moment ;D
Betty
Might also be worth getting a quote from TNA for the divorce file, although apart from my own I've never seen one so I don't know what level of information it might contain.
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There are a couple of people on here that visit Kew it may be worth asking for a look up/copy for the divorce file
Rosie
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Good idea, thank you rosie99
Betty
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I hope you are lucky ;D
Rosie