Hi there,
I am currently doing some research into my maternal Grandmothers family. In particular her Grandmother Emma Anna Doolan (maiden name Munson).
Emma was born in Factory Lane, Colchester in 1861 and lived most of her life (until 1911 at least) at 2 Slythes Square. She married Charles Henry Doolan. He was born in Stockport in 1842 and his parents were Irish settlers.
In the 1881 census he is living in Aldershot and is with the "1st Battalion 2nd Queens Royal Regiment". At some point in the 1870's he found himself down in Essex and married Emma.
They had 6 daughters between 1881 and 1894, one of which died in childhood. Charles passed away in Colchester in 1896.
Now here's the twist... My Great Grandfather Henry Charles, was born in 1899 to Emma. It was clear that he was illegitimate and I guess in those days it was very much frowned upon. On his birth certificate he was given the family name Doolan and in the space where his Fathers name should be there is a dash.
My Grandma never spoke about this. She only told me that her Dad was Irish - which wasn't the whole truth. Her Grandad, Charles, wasn't even Irish as he was born in Lancashire. His parents were from Ireland though.
So two things... Could someone help me to find out when Charles and Emma married please? I know they were together as I have a photo of them both, possibly taken on their wedding day. Yet I can find no record of their marriage on Ancestry. Plus... a long shot... How could I find out who was Henry Charles' father?
Speculation from others have been that as Colchester was a garrison town - "it could have been a soldier".
In the 1911 census - Emma and family had a boarder called Reuben or Rhuben Goody (her brother Samuel Munson was also living with them, he and Reuban/Rhuben were gardeners). Looking into the boarder, it seems he was widdowed pre 1900 and he and his children were living at different addresses around the centre of Colchester not far from Slythes Square.
I can provide photos of Emma, Charles Henry and Henry Charles (whom incidentally was known as Harry) if needed.
Henry Charles (Harry) went on to serve in WW1 as a driver with the Northamptonshire Regiment. He married Olive Maud Fisher (of Layer de la Haye) in October 1922. They had 4 children between 1922 and 1936 (my Grandma was born in 1925). Their 3 daughters lived, but their son, born in 1936, died when he was about a year old.
Henry Charles worked as a bricklayer, he passed away in 1948 in Colchester and his wife Olive in 1946.
Thank you so much for your help, in advance.
Cheers,
John.
