Father & Maiden Name Mystery

[la-alex]

I have a mystery to solve – relating to a Catherine Isabella Newman (sometimes known as Katherine or Kathleen), born 19 March 1894 in Aldershot.

I’m unsure if her maiden name is Newman or Raynor, and who her father is. Her Birth Certificate says Henry Newman is her father, a gunner in the royal artillery, (her mother's maiden / former name here is Raynor). But Catherine’s Marriage certificate says her father is Jim Raynor, general labourer.

Is it most likely that her mother’s marriage to Henry Newman was a second marriage? (Her mother was also called Catherine). And her first was to a James / Jim Raynor? Or is there a different likely explanation? Did birth certificates usually detail the mother’s maiden name or her name at time of marriage to the father? Is getting the father’s name completely wrong unlikely to be just error?

I cannot pinpoint any of them on either the 1901 or 1891 census anywhere. I have found a Catherine Hickstead marrying a Henry Edward Newman in June 1893 in Guildford, 11 miles from Aldershot (2a/165). The 1891 census also shows a James Raynor (born 1873 Scotland) as a soldier in Aldershot, aged 18, but this could be a coincidence.

I cannot find a Catherine Raynor / Henry Newman marriage certificate anywhere.  I have also searched IGI. But I also cannot find any reference to a James Raynor marrying a Catherine.

Any suggestions or info much appreciated!

[lizdb]

It sounds as if Catherine's father (as recorded at time of birth) was Henry Newman. But when she married she gave her fathers name as Jim Raynor - therefore Jim Raynor was who she considered to be her father. It is unlikely he was a previous husband of her mothers - as any such person was obviously off the scene by the time of her birth. I would imagine it is a rellie of some sort who brought her up.

[lizdb]

There is a 7 yr old Catherine Newman on 1901, birthplace N/K, at Rg13 129 40 13 as a patient in north Western Hospital, HAmpstead. A possibility.

[lizdb]

When is the marriage? does she marry as Newman or Raynor?

[nanny jan]

Could Henry Newman have died when Catherine was a young child and she grew up with James Raynor as her "father"?


Nanny Jan

[la-alex]

Hi
Thanks for your thoughts so far - I hadn't thought of the possibility that Henry Newman died young not sure why! She married as Raynor (Rayner) sep 1913 Mile End in London. Maiden name also shows as Rayner on her son's birth certificate.

[lizdb]

So - if she married as Catherine RAyner, says her dad is Jim Rayner, etc  why do you think the birth of a Catherine Newman with dad henry Newman is the same person?

(or am I missing something very obvious)

[la-alex]

Because I have the original birth certificate (and marriage & death certificates) handed down along with photos from my uncle and grandfather. I'm sure it can't be anyone else because the middle name is the same (Isabella), the year of birth is the same, and the family on that side is relatively small for the last 4 generations, no other Catherines or similar that we know of.

[lizdb]

is there an age for Catherine Raynor on the marriage cert?
The Catherine Newman born March '94 would be 19, therefore under 21 and needing parental consent, so exact age should be given (rather than the annoying "of full age" we so often see!)

There is a birth for a Catherine Isabella Rayner in Oct/Nov/Dec 1886 in Edmonton and I wonder if this is the one who married in 1913 in Mile End.

Just a thought.