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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Derbyshire => Topic started by: Neon_strobelight on Tuesday 08 May 18 23:53 BST (UK)
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Hi, can anyone help me. My Gt Gt uncle was a Henry Forrest, son of Sam and Fanny Stubbings, born around 1883 in Hardwick, Nottinghamshire before moving to Whitwell, Derbs. He didn't serve during the Great War. He was left to bring up a young, disabled daughter. Would this be a good enough reason for him not to serve?
Also, second question, it doesn't appear that he married - I can't find a record of marriage anywhere. I have been told that Dorothy Mays mother, Elsie Hudson, abandoned the child and didn't want to know. Was this usual for the father to take on the child back in those days? Are there any other examples of this happening with (possibly) unwed parents?
His obituary states that his wife died young but this appears to be a cover story as I was told by his niece (my first cousin twice removed) that he never married.
It all seems very odd to me for the time (1914). If anyone can offer advice, it would be very much appreciated.
Neil.
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Was Dorothy May registered as Forrest or Hudson? When and where was she born?
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I can't find a record of marriage anywhere.
From freebmd
Marriages December qtr 1914
Harry Forrest Elsie M Hudson Worksop 7b 107
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Was Dorothy May registered as Forrest or Hudson? When and where was she born?
I actually have her birth certificate and was registered as Hudson with no father listed.
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From freebmd
Marriages December qtr 1914
Harry Forrest Elsie M Hudson Worksop 7b 107
Where have you found this? I've searched and searched and had no success? Do you have a link?
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www.freebmd.org.uk/
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I actually have her birth certificate and was registered as Hudson with no father listed.
Presumably born before the 1914 marriage?
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“Born around 1883”
Birth reg: Henry Forrest, mother’s maiden name Stubbings, Jun qtr 1883 Worksop 7b 30.
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Thank you Carolew, in all the years I've searched, I've never found this and I thought I knew what I was doing lol! I've always used Ancestry. I'll try FreeBSD for some other searches now.
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Was Dorothy May registered as Forrest or Hudson? When and where was she born?
Is this Dorothy’s birth registration (no middle name)?
Dorothy Hudson, Sep qtr 1914 Worksop 7b 40
...and death?
Dorothy M Hudson aged 22, Sep qtr 1936 Worksop 7b 54
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Have you identified the relevant Elsie who was Dorothy’s mother?
A strong candidate appears to be Elsie May Hudson of Newhall, Derbyshire, baptised 4 December 1895 at Newhall Free Methodist Chapel - parents Joseph and Sarah. One transcription of the baptism gives the additional information that she was born on 4 November 1895, but I don’t know how accurate that is.
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Burial of Elsie May Forrest aged 20 on 22.4.1915 at Whitwell Derbyshire
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Thank you all, you have answered the question about Elsie and Dorothy (Dolly) which I have searched for for years, but it now leads to another question. I'd heard two conflicting stories about Uncle Harry, one that he had never married Dollys mother (which we have now an answer to as incorrect). The second story is that Harry actually married twice. Could this story be true instead?
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Henry Forrest of Gypsy Hill, Whitwell was buried at Whitwell on 10 August 1964, aged 81, with Dorothy May Forrest, also of Gypsy Hill who had been buried there on 9 July 1936 aged 22.
It looks therefore as though he stayed very local for the rest of his life. There is no further marriage for him in Worksop, as you can see from FreeBMD. You said you had seen an obituary which correctly noted Ellen’s early death; you will know whether it mentions a subsequent marriage or not.
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There's was definitely no subsequent marriage, but was wondering if he'd been married before Elsie.
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Have you investigated the Sep qtr 1911 marriage in Worksop district between a Henry Forrest and either Ann Barrand or Jessie Somers? The other bridegroom on the page was John Macaulay.
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Thank you, yes I had seen that and tried researching a little further. As yet, not having much success.
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There are no deaths for an Ann or Jessie Forrest between 1911-1914
Given the family misinformation about Elsie perhaps other stories are also incorrect.
I have been told that Dorothy Mays mother, Elsie Hudson, abandoned the child and didn't want to know.
The only way you can prove if Henry/Harry was previously married is by buying a copy of the 1914 marriage cert which will tell you his marital status at that time (ie) bachelor or widower
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Was this usual for the father to take on the child back in those days? Are there any other examples of this happening with (possibly) unwed parents?
Neil.
I believe at that time a mother had no legal rights over her children. It's not something I have looked into, so may have misunderstood/ got my wires crossed :)
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Harry was not the childs father. I think there has been a lot of misinformation passed down in the family over the years
He married Elsie a few months after Dorothy’s birth so took the child on. Elsie died only months after the marriage so it’s possible Dorothy went to live with relatives as she was less than a year old at that time and it’s unlikely Harry would have been able to look after a child so young whilst working.
As for the child being a reason for him not serving in WW1 - I think that’s probably more “family story” than fact. Don’t forget - she wasn’t his child
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Dolly was Harry's double, so definitely think she was Harry's, so many family traits, also looked very similar to some of her cousins. When Harry died, he was buried with her not with Elsie.
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Why was his name not on her birth cert if he was her biological father?
Presume there are family photos of both Dorothy & Harry?
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There's quite a few survive of little Dolly actually, she seemed to be a family 'favourite', mos likely because of her disability. Not so many pictures of Harry but plenty of people still alive who remember him. The Forrests were one of those families that had a 'certain look'. The type when you look at someone you don't know and you say "oh you can tell they're a ..." if you know what I mean?