"Born in France"

[nethercs]

I have a Frank PELL who the census records report that he was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England 1874.  The family story is that he was "born in France".  He was born before the marriage of his supposed parents.  Is "born in France" a synonym for illegitimate? or is it possible that there might be a birth certificate for him in France.  I haven't found one for him in England either as Frank PELL or Frank ANDREWS (his mother's maiden name).
Thanks
Steve

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Perhaps his birth was not registered; it became compulsory in 1875. Have you looked for a baptism?

Nanny Jan

[alpinecottage]

The birth of a Frank James Andrews was registered in Madeley District in Dec Q 1875.  How sure are you of his birth date? Have you eliminated this one if, for example, his parents' marriage was earlier?

[stanmapstone]

Hi,

Perhaps his birth was not registered; it became compulsory in 1875. Have you looked for a baptism?

Nanny Jan

That is not strictly correct, there was no penalty for not registering a birth until the 1874 Act. The question of compulsion is not entirely clear in the wording of the 1836 act, but reading sections XIX, XXI, XXV and XXVI of the act it seems that the intention was for registration of births and deaths to be compulsory.
http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/View?path=Browse/Legislation%20%28by%20date%29&active=yes&mno=4044

Under the 1836 Act Registration was compulsory in the case of the Registrar. The onus was on him to collect births and deaths and he could be fined for failure to register them. In carrying out his duties the parents were compelled, under the Act to supply the information when asked. The Act states the parent or occupier 'shall' give information to the Registrar on a birth 'upon being requested to do so.' In official documents 'shall' means compulsion.

Stan

[jim1]

Jonathan Pell isn't jumping off the pages is he.
I take it you have his name from Ethel's birth.
Do you know his occupation ?

jim

[jim1]

The birth of a Frank James Andrews was registered in Madeley District in Dec Q 1875.

Good find but I don't think this is him because Ethel Pell's birth was registered in Cheltenham Dec Q 1875.

[alpinecottage]

The birth of a Frank James Andrews was registered in Madeley District in Dec Q 1875.

Good find but I don't think this is him because Ethel Pell's birth was registered in Cheltenham Dec Q 1875.

Suspect you're right Jim, otherwise the mind boggles!      

[nethercs]

Thank you for your replies, I will answer as I can.

Jim1 is correct in identifying Ethel's birth. Ethel was born on 16 Nov 1875.  We have her birth cert.

Jonathan PELL & Kate ANDREWS married on 27 Apr 1875, at Pimlico, MDX. So Ethel was born abt 7mths after their marriage.

Jonathan PELL had multiple occupations.  He leased a farm called 'Glanystwyth' from the Earl of Lisburne - but we understand he sub leased it.  (However, there are newspaper reports of him winning prizes for cattle in the local show.) He also leased the Royal Belle Vue Hotel in Aberystwyth from the Earl.  He was proprietor/manager of the Royal Belle Vue Hotel from 1864 until at least December 1873. (His father-in-law was the previous proprietor)   He was also director, chairman and/or company secretary of several mines near Aberystwyth.  The mining interests appear to dominate in the early 1860s and late 1870s.  He was born in the parish of Weston Favell in Northamptonshire in 1833.  He appears to have arrived in AberystWyth Wales in 1856 and remained there until his death in 1884.

Jonathan's first wife, Sarah MARSHALL, died of apoplexy on 25 Dec 1873.  newspaper reports of her death do not make any reference to a child.

It appears the Jonathan & Kate have separated by 1881 - they are living at different addresses in the census.  Frank PELL is with Kate and Ethel living in Alrewas, Stafford, England

[jim1]

I wondered about the 1833 Jonathan but as he was married to someone else I discounted him. So that clears that up.
It seems odd that Jonathan seemed to be well healed but Ethel was a female servant before marriage.
With reference to the question there doesn't appear to be a French connection.
It looks like his birth wasn't registered.