Greetings all (once again),
Well, I now have the pdf copy of Louis CODLING's Birth Certificate. It confirms the following:
Birth Date: 2nd November 1881
Place: Marylebone Workhouse
Name: Louis
Name and Surname of Father: None was given
Name and Maiden Name of Mother: Elizabeth Codling (Servant)
Signature, Description & Residence of Informant:
E Codling (Mother)
15 Victoria Place
Salisbury Street
Marylebone
When Registered: 11th November 1881
Registrar: Henry G Times
I'm slightly disappointed that no father's name is given, but having said that I'm reasonably confident that Louis BENOIT Snr was the father, given the declaration given by Louis CODLING on his marriage certificate, in which he stated that his father was Louis BENOIT (Deceased), and as has been mentioned a number of times, Louis Snr died in the 1st Qtr of 1901, the same year as Louis Jnr's marriage.
The certificate confirms that Lizzie's given name was actually Elizabeth, which I guess is helpful in trying to look for her elsewhere, assuming of course that she didn't stay in the Workhouse.
What is quite interesting, and it does solve a question, is that the residence that Lizzie gave after the birth was 15 Victoria Place. This is the address frequently quoted on the London Electoral Registers as the residence of Charlotte NUTKINS. I know that the London street names have changed over the years, some being bombed out of existence during the blitz, but intriguingly the 1881 Census, the same year as Louis CODLING's birth, seems to suggest that Charlotte NUTKINS was living in 23 Hunstworth Terrace. This address is part of a series of properties that the Census describes as 'Model Buildings'. You have to go backwards and forwards in the Census to see where the numbers change, 22 to 23 to 24 etc.... I have also seen where Victoria Place is just off Salisbury Street. Modern-day Salisbury Street, however, although still in Marylebone, is a little distance removed from where I believe Huntsworth Terrace to have been. So that's another mystery to solve!
The fact that Lizzie (Elizabeth) gave her residence as Victoria Place does, I feel, explain how baby Louis Codling came to be in the NUTKINS household so early in his young life. It perhaps is likely that Lizzie, as a single mum, chose to leave him with friends in order to give him the best chance in life. I do feel sorry for Lizzie, and it does increase my determination to try and find out what happened to her.
So, I press on, armed with this new and fascinating information.
I thought that those of you who have followed this thread and were so kind to help would like to know what the Birth Certificate actually said.
Best wishes,
Alan