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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Lola5 on Friday 24 January 20 17:51 GMT (UK)
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I have been looking for Alfred Henry Fearn born 1890 for many years. His birthplace is given as unknown on some censuses and Tunbridge Wells on others.
In 1911 , aged 21 he was still living with his adoptive mother ,Sarah Howlett ,in Isleworth Middlesex .
He had lived with her from infancy and was still with her in 1911.
There is an Alfred Henry Fearn who was on the Invincible at the Battle of Jutland and who died in May 1916 and is on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
How can I find out if this is my Alfred Henry Fearn?
My father , who was born in 1906 , and who lived near his grandmother well remembered her and his Aunt and Uncle never spoke to me of Alfred.
Who was Alfred Henry Fearn and where did he go?
Can anyone help please?
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CWGC website has
Boy 1st Class
FEARN, ALFRED HENRY
Service Number J/26675
Died 31/05/1916
H.M.S. "Invincible."
Royal Navy
Son of Alice Louisa Fearn, of 23, Clumber Terrace, Wilmorton, Derby.
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The Alfred who died 1916 can be found on the 1911 with parents in Derbyshire
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Have you discounted this birth as it is not that far from Isleworth
ALFRED HENRY HOWARD RIDLER FEARN mmn PIPER
1889 Dec Quarter in HENDON Volume 03A Page 191
Possible parents
Marriages Sep 1886
FEARN George Robert Youden
PIPER Mary Anne
Paddington 1a 92
Think that marriage was to Rebecca Joyce . Sorry, Have just checked it was to Mary Piper.
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In 1891 George R Y Fearn is staying with his parents, on later census he has a different wife. I have not looked for Mary Anne Fearn on census
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Thank you Rosie and Carole,
So Alfred Fearn with parents in Derby is not mine . Glad in a way but sad for his mother.
Shall find the Alfred Henry Howard Ridler Fearn and see where he was born and where he lived in 1901. Cannot feel he is mine somehow
Yes Hendon is not too far away but my Afred,s birthplace was either unknown or Tunbridge Wells?
Wonder how he came to be left on my great Granny,s doorstep?
No adoption rules in place then so no records.
Rosie.just seen your latest post. thankyou.
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Hi
I wonder if he took Sarahs surname.
There is a trade union record in 1919
Albert H Howlett aged 29 Isleworth branch 15 yrs in the trade(not specified), married.
Cathy
ahh.. will check again Albert or Alfred
Added ....definately ALFRED H, I always get my Alfreds and Alberts mixed up.
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Not sure , he might be Alfred Herbert Howlett
Sarah Howlett and Alfred Henry (no surname aged 11) appear to be living in Isleworth in 1901, next door there is a RIDDLE couple, Sarah e and Frederick E.
Cathy
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Cath151,
Thankyou.
He still had Fearn surname in 1911. Age 21. Living with Sarah born Shepherds Bush in 1850 and Frannie Howlett .born 1880 . As far as I remember he was a carpenter( but no longer have my notes. ) That would tie in with Trade Union perhaps? If he changed his surname to Howlett......but there were other Howletts in Isleworth and Brentford then.
Previous census 1901 he was with Sarah and her sons Charles 1873 and William Howlett 1874 and her daughter Fanny .
1891 he was aged 1 foster child of Sarah and in 1939 Sarah was being cared for by her son Williiam and his wife in Isleworth where she died aged 90.
No longer have access to census info so very grateful for your help and time.
Just away at moment with Monty Don in California but back soon.
Will try and find that marriage to Cathy.
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Not married to Cathy(well you never know) :) thats me signing off in post 7.
Cathy
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Had another look, it was trade union for the "Amalgamated carpenters , cabinet makers and Joiners".
Cathy
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Very sad indeed:
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If as you say he was 'left on a doorstep' then no one would know his name or where he was born.
Presumably that was a story passed down in the family.
In 1891 Sarah Howlett has an Alfred Henry (no Fearn) listed with her as a Lodger age 1 born Tunbridge Wells.
1901 He is still listed as Alfred Henry (no Fearn) adopted son age 11 place of birth not known.
1911 He has now acquired the additional name of Fearn. PoB not known
For the purpose of searching electoral registers he is not the Alfred Henry Fearn with Florence May.
All census transcripts are available to view free of charge on familysearch
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Going back to the birth I mentioned earlier his father George Robert Youden Fearn divorced his wife Mary Ann (nee Piper) in 1894. Co-respondent: Robert Smith otherwise Robert Fenn - TNA website
As G R Y Fearn was with his family in 1891 maybe they had already gone their separate ways.
With the additional name of Ridler I would certainly suspect that Alfred was not the son of G R Y Fearn but the result of another one of Mary Ann's other relationships.
I would consider getting that birth certificate. I wonder if the divorce document mentions any children
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The divorce papers are viewable on Ancestry. There is a birth date for the child, and also the father's name.
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RAF Records: Alfred Harry Howlett born Isleworth 2 November 1889 (date tallies with the Fearn child). Joined the army 18 August 1914. Shell Shock 1916. Transferred to the RFC 11/12/17, and to the RAF 1/4/18. Airman 108545. Discharged 1920.
Wife Bessie, 85 Asylum Road, Peckham.
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AHH army service per medal rolls: 11/Middlesex Regiment (564). Later served with Northants Regiment (45664) and Royal Engineers (526314) before transferring to RFC.
Probable marriage to Bessie Groom in Camberwell, 1Q 1918.
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1939 Register links for the family for those with a sub:
Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/61596/tna_r39_1532_1532c_004?pid=15081560
FindMyPast: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FR39%2F1532%2F1532C%2F004
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The divorce papers are viewable on Ancestry. There is a birth date for the child, and also the father's name.
Thanks for that ShaunJ, so she also had a son Edgar Hugh Fearn in 1895 and another child 24 May 1892. Her first child was born 2 November 1889. GRY Fearn states that none of them are his
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I have only just found these replies. I never found out how to find replies on roots chat until today. !
Thank you very much Rosie 99 and Shaun J ..
I think Alfred Henry Fearn or Howlett may have been the one in the carpenters union.
1911 he was a carpennter. And yes he possibly took the name of Howlett later . And joined th RAF as Howlett.
I will send off for the marriage to Betty.
No it was not a family story that he was found on Sarah's doorstep.
I knew very little of family history on either side.
I wasn' interested until too late.
It was my father,s death in 1985 that set off my family search.When dying he said "poor little Em .I asked who was little Em.
And he said "Granny's baby and there was one on the doorstep."( Presumably Alfred HenryFearn)
He mentioned a Sarah.
I asked who she was and he said...Granny, a wonderful woman , widowed at 31. With all those children....
I gave up on Alfred Henry as seemed to get nowhere.
But I thhink you both have found him and will check things out.
Thank you again.