William Herbert Walker

[Glyn Walker]

Hello everyone I am trying to trace my Grandfathers birth parents he was born in Halifax,Yorkshire  in in 1889  William Herbert Walker and we believe he was adopted by a Canadian family possibly called Van Leuven and went to live in Hamilton, Ontario.He later returned to England and served as a stoker in the Royal Navy,he married my Grandmother in Devonport,Devon ,they later moved to Bedwas South Wales where my Grandfather died in 1932.I would like to find out some more about his birth  parents ,I believe his father was called John Walker.It would also be interesting to know anything more about his adopted parents can anyone help please.   Glyn

[vronlady]

did he go out to Canada as a "home child" could this be him in 1891 census in Halifax workhouse

William Walker
Age 2
Estimated Birth Year  1889
Pauper Inmate (Pauper)
Where born Halifax,

[groom]

Welcome to Rootschat

This is the only William Walker born in Halifax in 1889. His certificate would give his parents' names.

Births Mar 1889   
Walker    William        Halifax    9a   480

If he was adopted, it would have been an informal arrangement as formal adoption didn't start until 1927.

[chempat]

Just checking, is this his death?

June quarter 1932,   William H Walker age  43    Newport M.    11a   272

[chempat]

Was the marriage in 1927 to Violet, and had he been married before in Canada?

Do you know when he came back to this country?

[chempat]

Just for information, but not necessarily connected to his family:

 There is a Mr and Mrs Robert Vanluven on the 1935 Voters' List for Hamilton East, Ontario.

Added:
Vanluven seems to give lots more 'hits' than van Luven or Leuven etc

[Glyn Walker]

Yes that would be his death ,he died in 1932 in Bedwas  near Newport, Mon. South Wales.

[cath151]

Naval records give his date of birth as 1 st May 1889
 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?name=Search&_aq=&_ep=william+herbert+walker&_or1=&_or2=&_or3=&_nq1=&_nq2=&_nq3=&_cr1=&_cr2=&_cr3=&_dss=range&_sd=&_ed=&_hb=&_ro=any&_rd=&_rsd=&_red=&_st=adv&_rv=

Cathy

[groom]

If that is correct it doesn't fit with the birth registration I gave early, but that is the only one in Halifax in 1889.

I wonder, if he was in a home from an early age, if he didn't know his correct date of birth?