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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: ERB on Wednesday 14 November 18 16:09 GMT (UK)

Title: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: ERB on Wednesday 14 November 18 16:09 GMT (UK)
Hi everyone

I'm following up on a question asked 3 years ago; links below, but with a new twist in terms of what I'm looking for. Grateful for any help

The background is Alfred Bligh was born 1858 in Norfolk and in 1884 was living in Kirkham, Lancashire with his wife Elizabeth Turner and three children; Elizabeth died Dec 1884 and 17 mths later Alfred Bligh, a police constable, killed his three young children. The story has been covered in some detail before but my angle is to try and establish if there are any known descendants from this family. I live near the town where this terrible murder took place and on the anniversary of their murder we plan to place flowers on the grave etc. I posted the story of this terrible murder in the Kirkham area recently and for almost everyone it was news so we want to do something to remember the children.


Second question if I can. Alfred Bligh orginally sentenced to hang but this was overturned and he spent 11 years in jail / Broadmoor before being released 1897. It appears in March 1897 he may have emmigrated to Canada under the name of Fred Hart; again covered on this forum before. My question is has anyone manged to make a concrete link between Alfred Bligh and Fred Hart in Canada. From the research I've done I'm very confident Alfred Bligh and Fred Hart are one in the same person but I'm missing that final piece of evidence.

Thank you in advance

Eric


Image: Grave of the three children and their mother; St Michael's Church Kirkham Lancashire

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=735443.0

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=717471.0




Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: avm228 on Wednesday 14 November 18 16:49 GMT (UK)
Welcome to Rootschat.

Presumably there won't be any direct descendants of Alfred and Elizabeth if, as it appears, he murdered all of their children?  Are you looking to trace descendants of his (or her) siblings, or of his Canadian children?

Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: ERB on Wednesday 14 November 18 17:11 GMT (UK)
Hi

The UK side not the Canadian side and as you say given their own children died then descendants from their siblings would be the obvious direction

Eric
Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: avm228 on Wednesday 14 November 18 17:17 GMT (UK)
From Lisa's introduction to her April 2015 thread it sounds as though she is collaterally related to the family.  If you post on one of her threads she ought to get an email notification.
Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: ERB on Wednesday 14 November 18 17:37 GMT (UK)
I hopefully did include the April post link in my opening comments?
Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: avm228 on Wednesday 14 November 18 17:42 GMT (UK)
I hopefully did include the April post link in my opening comments?

You did, but that will not generate a notification to anyone on those threads.  Posting a reply on one of the old threads (ideally including a link to this one) would do so, though.
Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: throwaway on Saturday 17 November 18 22:37 GMT (UK)
Hi there,

I have a relative called Albert Bligh from Norfolk. He was in the 46th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regt.) and died on 19th November 1916 in Calais.

Lots of similarities (name, Norfolk and Canada), but I doubt it could be there same person as it's recorded that he was born in 1887...
Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: trish1120 on Sunday 18 November 18 14:28 GMT (UK)
Welcome to Rootschat throwaway.

I have no connection to this Family but love researching in Norfolk.

I notices a few Trees with Alfred in them and they have Alfreds Parents as Walter Bligh and Emma Whiles.
This looks correct.

No one seems to have Walters Mothers mn or his Parents Marriage.

Note on records the name is spelt Bligh/Blyth/Blith.

Birth Reg GRO;
BLYTH, WALTER, Mothers maiden name EWING*****
GRO Reference: 1842  J Quarter in HENSTEAD  Volume 13  Page 163

MARRIAGE;
18 Oct 1831, St Andrew, Framingham Pigot
KEMUEL Blyth, Bachelor
Frances EWING, Spinster
Witnesses, Frances and Benjamin Blyth
Banns. Groom and Witness 2 signed X
(Source FreeREG)

(witnesses may be Benamin Blyth/Frances Adcock who married 1828)

This is them in 1841;
Before Walter is born;
Samuel Bligh   30
Frances Bligh   30
George Bligh   9
Samuel Bligh   7
Frances Bligh   3
Benjamin Bligh   1
Eleanor Lawn 6

   
BLITH, BENJAMIN, Mothers mn EWING
GRO Reference: 1839  D Quarter in HENSTEAD  Volume 13  Page 15

1851 they Family is under Blyth

Trish :)
Title: Re: Murderer Alfred Bligh aka Fred Hart
Post by: brigidmac on Tuesday 27 November 18 07:56 GMT (UK)
 From othet post
Was AlBert  Bligh the grocer a brother or an alternative name?

# throwaway
 when did your Albert go to Canada .?

What was name of brother in law who Alfred was released into custody with after jail ?

 https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=804234.0

Sad Story But great detect work so far

* sorry I see you had put link at top of thread already