Southend looking for Hawes-Hall

[karen.J]

Can anyone who has access to the Southend electoral roll help me. 

My Grandmother Phyllis had a daughter in 1930 her birth certificate states her father as Frederick George Hawes- Hall, Music Hall artist of 5 Toledo Road, Southend.  The certificate stated that my Gran was Hawes-Hall formally Rodwell.  I can find no record of any Hawes-Hall's at all or her marriage to Frederick. Could she have given a false name to the Registrar to appear married?  My Gran was born in 1910 in Wales.  Absolutely any information regarding this puzzle would be helpful.

Thank you

[louisa maud]

Have you thought that this man being a music hall artist might have had another name, it occurred in my family where they changed their name to something they thought sounded "posher" for the stage, Electoral regs for that area should tell you who lived at that address in 1930. If your granmother was formerly Rodwell I suspect she was married before, only my opinion mind.
Happy hunting

Louisa Maud

[louisa maud]

Have you found your grandmother's birth cert in 1910?
LM

[Clincher]

The online catalogue for Essex Record Office says that 'there are no electoral registers in Essex Record Office for Southend Borough for 1918-1948. The British Library holds registers for 1937-1938 and 1947-1948 but other years do not survive.'

[karen.J]

Thanks for your thoughts.
I have my Grans birth cert dated 17th August 1910, born in Rogerstone Wales. Quite a trip from Wales to Southend. Maybe she made the trip to be with Frederick the Music Hall artist. I'm still confused how she could regster a child  in a possibly made up surname. Her next marriage in 1933 states her name as Rodwell with no mention of Hawes-Hall and her status as spinster! The plot thickens.

Karen

[Clincher]

Hi, According to the Streetmap website Toledo road is still there (not far from Southend Central Station and the Esplanade). How about sending a short note (with a stamped SAE) asking the present occupier of No 5 whether they or any of their near neighbours know anything of the occupants in 1930s of No 5? All you've got to lose is 2 stamps

[louisa maud]

I suspect your grandmother may  not have married this man, don't know where the music halls were in Southend but the Palace Theatre was going for years and is not far from the areas Clincher talks about, his idea of writing to the address  I would certainly take up, can't lose much if you include an SAE for a reply  Have you found any other people with this surname, have you searched for his death?, lots of avenus open to you. I think you will find that artists in this particular line of work did use other surnames, Phyllis might not have known his true name if she registered the birth, I know of at least 2 families with music hall artists who used other names.

regards

Lm

[karen.J]

I think that would be a good idea Clincher.  As you say I have nothing to lose and the Registers are not going to help.  It would be interesting to learn if 5 Toledo Road was a boarding House for the Music Hall artists as it is so close to the town centre and presumably the theatres etc..  When she married (again?) in 1933 she was living in Colchester close to the Town Centre again.

Once again thanks for your help.

[karen.J]

I can't find any Hawes -Hall in any search at all.