Alfred Major Smith born about 1857

[antiqueone]

I have found the following advertisement in the Bath Chronicle. I surmise that Alfred Major Smith was illegitimate and that William Major was the father, but I can't find a birth. Can anyone help me?
Pursuant to a Decree of the High Court of Chancery, made in the Cause Alfred Major Smith, an infant, by Alfred Broad, his next Friend, Plaintiff, against Harry Hopkins Pearce Major, and Others,
Defendants, the Creditors of William Major, late of Camberwell in the County of Surrey, Doctor of Medicine, deceased, who died in or about the month of December, 1857, are, by their Solicitors, on or before the Tenth day of December, 1860, to come in and prove thheir Claims, at the Chambers of the Vice Chancellor, Sir John Stuart, at No 42, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex; or, in default thereof, they will be peremptorily excluded from the benefit of the said Decree. Wednesday, the 12th day of December, 1860, at Half past 12 o'clock in the Afternoon, at the said Chambers, is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the Claims.
Dated this 5th day of November 1860.
Robt W Peake Chief Clerk
Nicholas Gedye, Plaintiff's Solicitor, 5 Chatham Place City.

[Kay99]

Harry Hopkins Pearce Major is listed born about  1811 Hungerford (listed as surgeon in 1841)

Although Alfred is listed as a infant I wonder if this could be him

From GRO  - ALFRED  MAJOR  MAJOR no mothers maiden name
GRO Reference 1842  March Quarter HUNGERFORD UNION  Volume 06  Page 205
On Anc and FreeBMD - same ref number also for Alfred Major Smith

[avm228]

Infant in this context just means a minor (under 21), so that looks good.

[antiqueone]

Harry Hopkins Pearce Major in this case I believe is acting as administrator of his brother William's estate.
Major William MD 28 February 1859 Letters of administration (with the Will annexed) of the Personal estate and effects of William major formerly of Union Villa Camberwell in the County of Surrey and late of Box in the County of Wilts MD deceased who died 10 December 1857 at Box aforesaid were granted at the Principal Registry to Harry Hopkins Pearce Major of Hungerford in the County of Berks Surgeon the Brother and one of the Residuary Legatees substituted in the said Will he having been first sworn.
The Alfred Major born in 1841 is the son of another brother, Stephen john Pearce Major and his wife Lavinia Smith

[mazi]

Alfred major major or smith was born before his parents marriage, which would explain the dual registration.

The decree granted in the high court could have been to establish that he was a child of stephen, as he may have been a beneficiary of his uncles will.

Mike

[mazi]

Rereading, the usual cause of  admin. with will is that the executor named cannot or will not act, the delay of two years in appointing an administrator suggests that there was a dispute between the brothers over who should act.

Mike

[antiqueone]

Thank you everyone for your help. I'll have to get hold of William's Will. Alfred's mother Lavinia died in Kennington 1858. His 'father' Stephen John Pearce Major was in Croydon Workhouse in 1881 and died in 1882 in Croydon. I can't find Alfred anywhere after the family left Hungerford in about 1854.

[Kay99]

Could he have emigrated? 
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M48R-CL2

Kay