Another Gretton mystery: Where on earth did the KING boys come from?

[Newfloridian]

I'm sorry to have to report that this is yet another mystery generated by the Wymant family in Gretton and is unearthed by my study of one particular street in the village over several decades.

These are the facts as I know them:

James Henry King married Sarah Jane Wymant in Gretton in 1902
Ernest King married Clara Ellen Wymant in Oundle in 1905.

Sarah Jane was the daughter of Joseph Wymant and Fanny Clipson
Clara Ellen was the daughter of David Wymant and Mary Ann Fox

Sarah Jane and Clara Ellen were first cousins.

In the census of 1911:
Ernest and Clara King were living at (85), Craxford Lane, Gretton with 2 children AND Gertrude Wymant
(James) Henry and Sarah King were living at (91), Craxford Lane, Gretton with their 5 children AND
Charles Wymant

Gertrude Wymant was one of Sarah Jane's sisters, Charles was one of her brothers.

I have been able to trace virtually all the records (Parish, census etc) of the Wymant family but the King family does not feature in the records prior to 1911. Interestingly, there are 3 King households in the area around the same street in the 1939 directory.

So, assuming that James Henry and Ernest were brothers, where did they come from? And why mislead the enumerator in the 1911 census?

Fascinating or what?

Alan

In the 1911 census, Henry declared his age to be 34 years and that he was born in Gretton; Ernest declared his age to be 26 - also born in Gretton

[suzard]

what is more fascinating to me is -you have Sarah Jane's father as Joseph yet on marriage father's name and occ was left blank indicating she was illegit???

Marriage Entry 34
16 Jan 1902
Gretton Northants
James Henry King 25 bachelor occ labourer address gretton father John King occ labourer
Sarah Jane Wymant 27 spinster address Gretton father left blank
witnesses William Wymant Gerty Wymant Elizabeth Ann Bent Ernest Sherfod? (difficult to read)
witnesses all signed
James henry & Sarah Jane made their mark

Suz

[suzard]

then on Gertrude's marriage she names father as Joseph -but he died well before she was born???

Suz

[suzard]

I can't find parish marriage entry for Ernest King -do you have it? Wondered if his father was John?

there is this family -which could possibly be the two Kings

1891
Woolley Huntingdonshire
John King head M 43 ag lab
Ruth wife 42
David son 24 ag lab
Charles son 22 Ag lab
HENRY J son 13
ERNEST son 10
Ruth daughter 6
all b Woolley Hunts
RG12 1236 43 6

if "Henry" was John Henry (names reversed on this census) it would not be unusual to use his middle name when his first name was the same as his fathers

by 1901 the family were living in Deene Oundle Northants
John King Head M 60 ag lab
Ruth wife 59
ERNEST son 18 ag lab
all b Woolley Hunts
RG13 1458 19 5

older son Charles is in Northamptonshire by 1901 and in Gretton by 1911

Suz

[Newfloridian]

Hi Suz

Lots of pointers for me to follow, many thanks.

I've now found that marriage certificate that you pointed out.

I had seen the King family from Woolley but couldn't find any other reference to link them to Gretton - and why would both King boys say they were born in Gretton?

Fanny (Clipson) Wymant certainly appears to have led a colourful life. She was pregnant with Sarah Jane at the time that Joseph Wymant died. I haven't seen her birth certificate but her baptismal record (August 8th 1875) lists both Joseph and Fanny as parents.

It's interesting that there is an apparent gap in her obstetric history between 1870 and 1875. She had four children before Joseph died and another 5 after. There is a sixth (joseph born in 1885) which she is noted on his baptismal certificate and who is described as his mother, widow of Gretton, in a newspaper article describing his serious injries in a works accident in 1903. However, I did obtain his birth certificate which confirmed him to be the illegitimate son of Fanny's  oldest daughter Mary.

I have seen Gertrude's marriage certificate (she married WIlliam Foode late in 1911) and did note Joseph named as father. Her birth certificate has been ordered. Charles was her older brother.

I have followed Charles to a marriage to Sarah A Spence in 1916. They were both still living in Gretton just before the outbreak of WW2. That too causes a minor issue. There were two Sarah Spences born around 1878 in Gretton - both families of interest to me. One: her parents were George Edward Spence and Harriett Stanger and her brother married into the Pridmore family; Two: her parents were William Spence (George Edward's older brother) and Julia Craxford. I guess the marriage certificate will be needed to separate them!

Cheers Alan

[Newfloridian]

Ernest King's marriage is registered in Oundle but I can't see it in the Parish Registers either.

Alan

[Newfloridian]

... and here's an even more intriguing entry in the Gretton Parish Register.

On the same page and above the entry for James Henry King and Sarah Jane Wymant appears the following:

December 26th 1901: Arthur William Reeve (27) to Annie Elizabeth Whyman (29)

Strangely, Annie's father is given as Henry Boon - and the witnesses are Henry Boon and Rose Boon.
Now, Henry Boon married Martha Wymant in the 4th qtr 1881. They had two known children Rose (1882) and Thomas (1885) - both baptised on the same day March 15th 1885. I have found no birth or baptism record to substantiate Annie Elizabeth

Martha Wymant and Sarah Jane Wymant were first cousins once removed.

Alan
 

[suzard]

Ernest King's marriage is registered in Oundle but I can't see it in the Parish Registers either.

Alan

Maybe they married at the register office - Charles Wymant or King (can't remember which)married at register office according to military records

Suz

[suzard]

it was Charles Wymont who married at register office
Military records give his next of kin as Mrs W Foode (Gertrude) of High St Gretton Kettering Northants
Charles marriage was given as 12/8/1910 The Register Office Wymingham Northants to Sarah Ann Spence spinster
His permanent address was The Cottage Wood lane Gretton Northants

Suz