Help please... Charles Pocock... is he mine?

[matt94]

Hello,

I am trying to trace my relatives who moved from Bradfield, Berkshire, to Kensington, in 1861. The family were Phoebe Pocock (nee Sellwood) who was the wife of George Pocock. They married in 1834 in Thatcham and had...:
 
Charlotte born Newbury 1834
Harriet born Bradfield 1838 (had illeg son George Charles in 1858)
George Edward born Bradfield 1842
Dorcas born Bradfield 1847
Charles born Bradfield 1850

In 1861 Kensington at 3 Queens Place, St Mary Abbotts:

POOLE, Charles Head Married M 45 1816 Labourer Burnham Bucks 
POOLE, Phabe Wife Married F 43 1818 Wife Chieveley Berks
POCOCK, George Son In Law Unmarried M 18 1843 Labourer Bradfield Berks
POOLE, Dorcas Granddaughter Unmarried F 14 1847 Servant Bradfield Berks
POCOCK, Charles Grandson Unmarried M 2 1859 Grand Son Bradfield Berks

I have the marriage here in 1889 of a Charles Pocock to Hannah Meale and I cannot decide whether he is a relation or not. The 1891 Census says he is a 'Boot and shoe riveter' born Bradfield Berkshire. He even had a daughter Hannah Phoebe which would figure. Also the censuses and his marriage all say he was born c. 1861.

But the marriage certificate says he is the son of Charles Pocock and that Charles was a Farmer. But I think that he is the illeg son of Harriet Pocock.

Any ideas? I am not sure. Can I have opinions please?

Matt

~~

9 Jun 1889, St Clements London
Charles Pocock, 28, Bachelor, Landyman (?) of 12 Hunt St s/o Charles, Farmer
Hannah Meale, 25, Spinster of 3 Stoneleigh St and d/o Henry, Farrier
Wits: Joseph Richard Cooper, Charles Dyas

Added - 1881 Census says that Charles Poole and Phoebe were living at 27, Hunt Street, Hammersmith.

[supermoussi]

Suggest you look at all the Pocock wills for the area that are in the Berks RO, PCC and National Probate Office. A farmer would have had land so probably had a will.

[afstan]

Hello Matt,
I am not sure of this will help at all, but a Charles Pocock attended school in Bradfield in 1866.  He was recorded in the school log book as having been withdrawn on 25th May.  This does not mean that he left the area as education was not compulsory at the time.  In fact the school roll is full of entries where children are withdrawn and re-admitted.  I do not have the full transcript of the school log, but it is kept at the Berkshire Record Office and there may be subsequent entries relating to him.  It does show, hwever, that a school age child was living in the area in 1866 and that he had not moved to Kensington.  Unfortunately the records do not give details of parent's names etc.

[matt94]

Hi afstan,

Thanks for your reply. I know that Harriet, Dorcas and Charles attended the Workhouse School, as I have seen the school registers for the Workhouse, but that was in the 1850's.

Interesting that Charles Pocock, if he is the same one, was in Bradfield in 1866, however I think that there is some logic behind that. From the Workhouse Registers I see that in the late 1850's, Phoebe along with Dorcas, Charles and George Charles all moved in and out of the workhouse as a unit, whereas Harriet and Charlotte seem to move independently.

As Harriet is not in Kensington in 1861 I think it is plausible that George Charles Pocock was sent back to Bradfield.

I think I shall have a look at the Bradfield School Log when I am next at the Record Office. I find it interesting that the pupils were individually named, maybe I will find something more on my Sellwoods.

Thanks again
Matt

Thanks again

[Vicwinann]

Hi Matt,
I too am interested in this family. The 1871 has Charles Pocock age 12 born Bradfield Union at 6a Hunt Street Hammersmith with grandmother Phoebe (Poole/Pocock/Sellwood) and step grandfather, Charles Poole
RG10/66 17 30

although I haven't found him or mother Harriet in 1881, and don't have the 1891. Neither have I been able to find a marriage for Charles Poole and Phoebe so they possibly didn't.

Charles and Phoebe in 1881 were at 27 Hunt Street which is the street although not the number that the marriage of Charles Pocock states.

Like you, I think this is yet another case of an illeg child making up a father, but I am suspicious that he did not use his second name of George. Wrongly suspicious perhaps, as such omissions were fairly common.  He certainly may well be the Charles Pocock mentioned in the school records, but Pocock is an extremely common surname, as you know.

Finding Charles Poole and Phoebe in 1891, if you have not already done so, may help in clarifying if they were living (or died) at 12 Hunt Street, or is this where Charles George and wife were  in 1891?

Incidentally, Phoebe Sellwood had another child before she married George Pocock.  Mary Ann b 1832 who married Daniel Payne in 1858.
Yours
Vicwinann