Ongoing Todd Mystery .....

[ladytodd]

Hi, I have been searching for the birth record of Louis Todd who was born 15/11/1879 in Marylebone, London since I began researching the family tree - 2006. His parents were Louis Barwood Todd born 1861 Dover and Elizabeth Brown born 1853c in Forsett, Norfolk. They married in October 1879 just before the birth. I have looked for him under the surname of Brown just in case but it's as though he never happened  I have left rather large gaps in between my research as I get so wound up - I know that I am not going to find it. I have located him in all the census' the military and his death but no birth record    A few years back I went to the FRA?? (not sure if this is right) hoping that I would be able to locate it. I also spoke to someone there who had no explanation. Has anybody got any idea as to where his birth record might be? Thought it was illegal not to register your child's birth - all the other children in the family have birth records. I don't want to give up looking as I have all the others - it just seems rather strange that their firstborn should have no record.    Ladyt

[lizdb]

Can you recheck what you have?

There is this christening:

5 April 1891
St MAry , Stratford le bow

Louis Todd born 15 Nov 1887

Parents Louis and Elizabeth 27 High Street Stratford, labourer

seems to much of a coincidence for there to be TWO Louis Todds, both born on 15th November, and both with parents Louis and Elizabeth.

[lizdb]

1891
RG12 1310 5 3

still at 25 High Street Stratford

Louis 30 Gen labourer bnKent Dover
Elizabeth 31 bn Norfolk Farmouth
Louis 12 bn MArylebone
Annie 10 bn Stepney
Albert 7 bn Old Ford
Henry 4 bn Old Ford
William 6mths bn Stratford

so either Louis age should be 2 on this census, or his christening should say born 1878 not 1887!

[ladytodd]

Yes I have that record - thought I had put in my post. The year is actually 1881 not 1887 but the birth date is def 1879 and has been consistent with that year through all the census.The dob I got from Military records. I don't know why the year of birth is wrong he was 11 at time of baptism. Ladyt

[lizdb]

Just found 1881, I expect you have it, RG11 463 87 48 with Louis aged 2

[MargP]

Hi

Is this his service record

British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Name: Louis Todd
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Age at enlistment: 33 and 10 months
Birth Parish: Marylebone
Birth County: London
Document Year: 2 Sept 1914
Regimental Number: 1641
Regiment Name: RB

My gut feeling on this, is that the christening record found earlier is the correct one, there are too many similarities to dismiss it, ie name of parents,address, the actual day and month of his birth and the age on his army records.

Margp
 

[ladytodd]

All the records other than the census records seem to think his birth year 1881. I know the baptism record is the right one they just got the year of birth wrong. He may have fibbed a little with the military records but his birth is def 1879. His sister was born April 1881. I would just like to know if there is any reason for him not to have a birth record.

[lizdb]

Either -
a)His birth was not registered
b) It was registered under a completely different name
c) It was registered but for some reason did not make it to the indexes.

I do just wonder if he wasnt their child at all, but they took him on at an early age and he never knew or admitted to any different that being their son. I dont know why I get this feeling!! Maybe because they married 26th Oct and he was alledgedly born 15th Nov - left it a bit late didnt they! (that is if he was born 1879 - but future records indicate nearer 1881 ...but the strange they said he was aged 2 in 1881 census and 12 in 1891)
Or maybe because not only is there no birth registration, but also he is not baptiseduntill aged 11/12ish.Whereas the next children were 'done' in 1884 at age 3 and baby. Did they forget that Louis hadnt been christened? One would hjave thought they would have had him chr in the same batch.

[ladytodd]

I agree with everything you say as I have thought the very same things. If he wasn't their son why call him Louis after 'his' Father. There are many things that just don't add up and I think that I am never going to get to the bottom of it and perhaps I should just let it go    It's a shame but that's genealogy I suppose Ladyt