Denyer Family Hove Sussex

[gwalkden]

I am new to RootsChat.  I belong to the British Home Child Group and so far have been successful in unravelling my family History.  I have hit a roadblock with my Great-grandmother who gave up my Grandfather in 1906.  I did find out that they lived in Hove at Wish Cottage.  They had two sons, Nathan Thomas Alfred Denyer and Edward Charles Denyer and there may have been a daughter Victoria.  My great-grandmother was Mary Jane Denyer and her husband was Alfred Jupp Denyer.    According to the papers from Barnardos my great-grandmother remarried sometime in 1915 and became Mrs. Searle.  From what I see she was married to Alfred in 1927.  So confusing!  Their son Nathan was k.i.a. in France August 21, 1918.
Can you find any truth in this re-marriage?  I am going to England in October and I would be so excited to find out if I have family in Hove.
Thanks!

[giggsycat]

Hi

So is this her first marriage?

Marriages Dec 1897 
Buss    James                        Petworth    2b   725    
Denyer    Alfred Jupp         Petworth    2b   725   <<<<<
Smith    Mary Jane                 Petworth    2b   725   <<<<<
Upperton    Mary Elizabeth         Petworth    2b   725

Death of Alfred?

Deaths Dec 1915   
Denyer    Alfred J    52    Petworth    2b   450

I can't see a marriage to a Searle - can anyone else please?

I'm just going to see if I can find Alfred on a census to check age.

giggsy

[lizdb]

I cant see any remarriage for Mary Jane Denyer either

[lizdb]

1901
31 Pale Road, Portslade
Alfred Denyer 28 milkman bn Hangleton
Mary Jane 28 bn Hurstpiuerpoint
Victoria Walden Denyer 4 bn Portslade
Martin Thomas Alfred Denyer 2 bn Portslade



Image shows child to be Martin. Must be enumerator error when writing up the schedule, as his birth reg is Nathan as is 1911.

[gwalkden]

Thank you!  Yes that "Martin" is definitely Nathan as he was born in 1899.  Enumerator error!  My grandfather was born Sept 7, 1894 to Mary Jane Smith (Denyer) and she sent him the Barnardo Homes December 21, 1906 and he left for Canada February 23, 1907.  Odd that my grandfather Frederick William Smith did not appear on the 1901 census.  ... and the plot thickens!  I do have information that the Denyers resided at Wish Cottage Hove until around 1927.  I believe Nathan was born in 1899 and Edward Charles in 1904 ... the funny thing is, my grandfather always maintained he was an only child ... and he named my father Edward Charles Smith ... weird isn't it.  I only found out about 6 months ago that he had half brothers and sisters. 

It was Barnardos that reported that Mary Jane remarried but then again, I do not believe much of what was written in those reports.

How can I find out if there are any living descendants of Victoria or Edward.  Nathan died at age 19 in the First World War so I doubt there are any descendants for him.

Thank you so much for all your help!

[lizdb]

Thank you!  Looks like another sibling for my grandfather .. Martin Denyer.  My grandfather was born Sept 7, 1894

No, I think this child is actually Nathan Thomas Alfred.


So have I got this right, your grandfather Fredk Smith was born before the marriage to Denyer?
As he wasnt living with them in 1901 and was aent away in 1906, it looks as if Mr Denyer never accepted him, and Mary Jane made a new life with her new family.

Also, if you look at 1911 census (sorry look ups not alllwed) it will tell you how many of the Denyer children survived to adulthood.  Those that didnt wont have descendents to find.

[lizdb]

Victoria seems to actually be Mary Victoria Walden Denyer.

Birth Jan/Feb/Mar 1897 Steyning Reg District

Christening 7th Feb 1897 at Hurstpierpoint.

[gwalkden]

Yes Mary Jane was not married when she had my Grandfather.  He was born in Petworth Workhouse in London.  I agree that once Mary Jane had children with Alfred they did not want my Grandfather.  A family member here says that my grandfather's father was a one-night stand and may have been black and apparently that was not acceptable in those times.  There was a baby born around 1904 or 1905 that died in infancy and my grandfather was sent away shortly after.  It is a very sad and strange story. 

Am I able to see the 1911 census?
   

[lizdb]

Marriage
Oct/Nov/Dec 1955
Hove
Ref 5h 552
Mary V W Denyer to Alfred E Davis


Death
March 1979
Worthing
Ref 18 2850
Mary V W Davis
Age 82.    Dob 12 Dec 1896


Looks like her!