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Census Lookup and Resource Requests / Re: Patrick J Allen (b. 4 Feb 1929, Bournemouth) lookup request
« on: Thursday 14 September 23 07:54 BST (UK) »
Thanks all! Much appreciated.
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2
Census Lookup and Resource Requests / Patrick J Allen (b. 4 Feb 1929, Bournemouth) lookup request
« on: Sunday 10 September 23 21:09 BST (UK) »
Hello,
I recently acquired an old photo album belonging to:
Patrick J Allen (b. 4 Feb 1929, Bournemouth)
Would be very grateful for any help with looking up info on him as I'd to trace relatives if possible. Several of the photos are wedding photographs, and those are from a Scottish photographer based in Greenock - as a result I'm guessing his wife may have been Scottish.
Any info that people can find on parents, his wife, and any potential children would be much appreciated.
I recently acquired an old photo album belonging to:
Patrick J Allen (b. 4 Feb 1929, Bournemouth)
Would be very grateful for any help with looking up info on him as I'd to trace relatives if possible. Several of the photos are wedding photographs, and those are from a Scottish photographer based in Greenock - as a result I'm guessing his wife may have been Scottish.
Any info that people can find on parents, his wife, and any potential children would be much appreciated.
3
Durham / Re: Mysterious name change (William Harrison (?), b. 1892, Gateshead)
« on: Thursday 19 May 22 18:29 BST (UK) »
Hi all, so sorry for going quiet! This is all really interesting/useful stuff, so thanks to you all.
I've actually done a lot more research myself, and have been able to confirm that William Harrison was born William Dodd. The big breakthrough came when my cousin remembered meeting his sister, who died when she was almost 100. She had a first name and married name for her - Sarah Donkin, and estimated she'd died in 1986. I found one death record for the right area that matched everything exactly, and when I traced her back through all the records I found a confusing picture that paralleled William's in some ways.
The woman who died as Sarah Donkin was previously married to a man called John Thomas Grindle. The marriage record there was for a 'Sarah Ann Miller' - William Dodd's mother's maiden name was Isabella Miller, and when I found the birth record for 'Sarah Ann Miller' (1886, Lanchester) there was the clear indication that Sarah was born outside of marriage (Isabella Miller married Luke Dodd in 1887).
Sarah appears in the 1891 census as 'Sarah Ann Dodd', with the same birthplace (Stanley, Durham) as in the 1911 census when she was married to Thomas Grindle. And even beyond that, 'Mary Dodd' (b. 1894, and a full sister of William Dodd/Harrison) was living with Sarah in the 1911 census as a servant. There's not a single smoking gun due to all of the name changes, etc., but as far as I'm concerned I now have convincing evidence that Sarah was the child of Isabella Miller and thus the sister of William Dodd who later changed his name to William Harrison.
Helping the case is that William Dodd's birthplace in the 1901 census is Eighton Banks, matching the birthplace of William Dodd in the 1940 document that Tickettyboo found.
The picture of Luke Dodd's life is also really messy - I've found four wives for him so far and 14 children, some of whom may or may not have been his. There are also two mysterious illegitimate Miller children with Harrison as their middle name (as Galium found), born in the right area, who may or may not be connected (one of them, John Harrison Miller, is listed as a 'visitor' in the Dodd family home in the 1891 census). In short, it's a right mess and I'm still trying to figure things out! Happy to provide more detailed info on the children/marriages if anyone else is intrigued by all this.
I've actually done a lot more research myself, and have been able to confirm that William Harrison was born William Dodd. The big breakthrough came when my cousin remembered meeting his sister, who died when she was almost 100. She had a first name and married name for her - Sarah Donkin, and estimated she'd died in 1986. I found one death record for the right area that matched everything exactly, and when I traced her back through all the records I found a confusing picture that paralleled William's in some ways.
The woman who died as Sarah Donkin was previously married to a man called John Thomas Grindle. The marriage record there was for a 'Sarah Ann Miller' - William Dodd's mother's maiden name was Isabella Miller, and when I found the birth record for 'Sarah Ann Miller' (1886, Lanchester) there was the clear indication that Sarah was born outside of marriage (Isabella Miller married Luke Dodd in 1887).
Sarah appears in the 1891 census as 'Sarah Ann Dodd', with the same birthplace (Stanley, Durham) as in the 1911 census when she was married to Thomas Grindle. And even beyond that, 'Mary Dodd' (b. 1894, and a full sister of William Dodd/Harrison) was living with Sarah in the 1911 census as a servant. There's not a single smoking gun due to all of the name changes, etc., but as far as I'm concerned I now have convincing evidence that Sarah was the child of Isabella Miller and thus the sister of William Dodd who later changed his name to William Harrison.
Helping the case is that William Dodd's birthplace in the 1901 census is Eighton Banks, matching the birthplace of William Dodd in the 1940 document that Tickettyboo found.
The picture of Luke Dodd's life is also really messy - I've found four wives for him so far and 14 children, some of whom may or may not have been his. There are also two mysterious illegitimate Miller children with Harrison as their middle name (as Galium found), born in the right area, who may or may not be connected (one of them, John Harrison Miller, is listed as a 'visitor' in the Dodd family home in the 1891 census). In short, it's a right mess and I'm still trying to figure things out! Happy to provide more detailed info on the children/marriages if anyone else is intrigued by all this.
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Durham / Re: Mysterious name change (William Harrison (?), b. 1892, Gateshead)
« on: Friday 13 May 22 19:40 BST (UK) »
Sure, here's a transcription:
Marriage solemnised at the Register Office in the District of Tynemouth
When married: 9 October 1914
Husband's name: William Harrison / 22 years / Bachelor / Coal Miner (Stoneman) / (residence at time of marriage) 87 Back Bedford Street, North Shields / (father's name) Luke Harrison (deceased) / (rank or profession of father) Coal Hewer
Wife's name: Marion Dryding / 21 years / Spinster / _ / (residence at time of marriage) Station Hotel, Railway Street, North Shields / (father's name) William Dryding / (rank or profession of father) Boiler Maker
Witnesses:
James Lawless
M. Bolan
Marriage solemnised at the Register Office in the District of Tynemouth
When married: 9 October 1914
Husband's name: William Harrison / 22 years / Bachelor / Coal Miner (Stoneman) / (residence at time of marriage) 87 Back Bedford Street, North Shields / (father's name) Luke Harrison (deceased) / (rank or profession of father) Coal Hewer
Wife's name: Marion Dryding / 21 years / Spinster / _ / (residence at time of marriage) Station Hotel, Railway Street, North Shields / (father's name) William Dryding / (rank or profession of father) Boiler Maker
Witnesses:
James Lawless
M. Bolan
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Durham / Re: Mysterious name change (William Harrison (?), b. 1892, Gateshead)
« on: Friday 13 May 22 19:12 BST (UK) »
Ah thank you - that's so kind of you! The person I'm doing the research for actually has the original marriage certificate, and sent me a photo.
In it, William gives his father's name as 'Luke Harrison' (deceased). It gives his occupation as 'coal hewer'. At the time, Thomas gives his address as 87 Back Bedford Street North Shields. I don't know if anyone local is familiar with that address?
The info on the father does match Luke Dodd reasonably well, so I'm starting to think there may be something in that...
In it, William gives his father's name as 'Luke Harrison' (deceased). It gives his occupation as 'coal hewer'. At the time, Thomas gives his address as 87 Back Bedford Street North Shields. I don't know if anyone local is familiar with that address?
The info on the father does match Luke Dodd reasonably well, so I'm starting to think there may be something in that...
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Durham / Mysterious name change (William Harrison (?), b. 1892, Gateshead)
« on: Friday 13 May 22 18:36 BST (UK) »
Since everyone has been so helpful with my other queries, I wanted to present the trickiest yet - the man I'm after is known to me only as 'William Harrison'. He was born 8 September 1892 and married Marion Ryding (b. 1891, name misspelt as 'Dryding' on the marriage record) in North Shields in 1914. The issue with him is that he appears to have changed his name at some point before 1911, and it's unclear what his birth name was.
The earliest record that I can be 100% certain is for him is the Royal Navy Register of Seamen, which contains quite a bit of information on his activities from 1911-1920. Most relevant to my search to get to the bottom of his real name, it reiterates his DOB from the 1939 census (it's 9 September here, but one day out is an acceptable error for me) and indicates that his place of birth was Gateshead. It also indicates that his prior occupation was as a 'miner'.
He's not in the 1921 census as according to family stories he ran off to Australia (?) for a few years, before eventually returning in the mid-1920s.
I'm very sceptical of member family trees on Ancestry as they're often poorly researched, but one of them is interesting as it indicates that William was born William Dodds, son of Luke Dodd and Isabella Miller. I've written to the tree owner to ask how they made that connection, but haven't heard back (they're a DNA connection to William, which makes me wonder if that's how they figured out the Dodd connection). The tree also contains a bio of William that's interesting but contains contradictory information (like saying he took 'Harrison' from his mother's maiden name, but then giving his mother's maiden name as 'Isabella Miller').
There may be nothing anywhere here can help with, but I was just wondering if there might be something I'm missing behind whether William Dodd and William Harrison are the same person. I've asked for the marriage certificate, which I'm hoping will contain some helpful information, but we'll see...
Any information illuminating this confusing picture would be much appreciated. Thanks!
The earliest record that I can be 100% certain is for him is the Royal Navy Register of Seamen, which contains quite a bit of information on his activities from 1911-1920. Most relevant to my search to get to the bottom of his real name, it reiterates his DOB from the 1939 census (it's 9 September here, but one day out is an acceptable error for me) and indicates that his place of birth was Gateshead. It also indicates that his prior occupation was as a 'miner'.
He's not in the 1921 census as according to family stories he ran off to Australia (?) for a few years, before eventually returning in the mid-1920s.
I'm very sceptical of member family trees on Ancestry as they're often poorly researched, but one of them is interesting as it indicates that William was born William Dodds, son of Luke Dodd and Isabella Miller. I've written to the tree owner to ask how they made that connection, but haven't heard back (they're a DNA connection to William, which makes me wonder if that's how they figured out the Dodd connection). The tree also contains a bio of William that's interesting but contains contradictory information (like saying he took 'Harrison' from his mother's maiden name, but then giving his mother's maiden name as 'Isabella Miller').
There may be nothing anywhere here can help with, but I was just wondering if there might be something I'm missing behind whether William Dodd and William Harrison are the same person. I've asked for the marriage certificate, which I'm hoping will contain some helpful information, but we'll see...
Any information illuminating this confusing picture would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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Durham / Re: Discovering fate of two wives of William McGregor (b. 1840, South Shields)
« on: Friday 13 May 22 18:18 BST (UK) »
I haven't ordered marriage certificates since I'm trying to get away with not spending any money on this one, as I'm doing it as a favour for a cousin - you're right though. That would definitely be a good place to look for clues on what happened to Catherine!
Bigamy is certainly a possibility, though I lean towards her having died because the children weren't with her in 1871. It's probably one of those things that will remain a mystery, but thanks for your help!
Bigamy is certainly a possibility, though I lean towards her having died because the children weren't with her in 1871. It's probably one of those things that will remain a mystery, but thanks for your help!
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Cheshire / Re: Removal of child from the Riding family, late 1890s (Macclesfield/Nantwich)
« on: Friday 13 May 22 18:16 BST (UK) »
She was definitely born after her parents got married - they were married in 1889, and Marion was born in 1891.
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Durham / Re: Discovering fate of two wives of William McGregor (b. 1840, South Shields)
« on: Friday 13 May 22 09:07 BST (UK) »
He was charged for assaulting his wife Catherine in 1862, yes. He got two months in prison. I found the report in the Gateshead Observer.
He was a bottle maker by trade but in his later years he made his living as a professional quoits player - this is all explained in his obituary from 1890. His job was given as 'bottle maker' in the 1861 census, but his reputation as a quoits player is mentioned as early as the 1862 assault report.
I'm confident his birth name was William McGregor. He's only referred to as 'George' McGregor in some of his obituaries and in his daughter Jane's marriage record.
He was a bottle maker by trade but in his later years he made his living as a professional quoits player - this is all explained in his obituary from 1890. His job was given as 'bottle maker' in the 1861 census, but his reputation as a quoits player is mentioned as early as the 1862 assault report.
I'm confident his birth name was William McGregor. He's only referred to as 'George' McGregor in some of his obituaries and in his daughter Jane's marriage record.