Edwin Arnold/Elizabeth mERCHANT

[serra]

Dear Chat.

I am looking for a relative Edwin Arnold born 1871/72 Chatham Kent. He was married to Elizabeth merchant and appeared on 1901 census Chatham with Elizabeth and his children with her.

This is a long and complicated story which involved Elizabeth putting most of her possible 12 children in Barnados - then to Canada. Children have different Fathers. She was already married when she married Edwin. She claims to Barnado's that Edwin had drowned in the Thames, but she was known to tell lies. I do have a death for Edwin January 1914 Malling

I am looking for any information regarding his whereabouts between 1911 and 1914. Why was he is Malling, and was there any truth that he drowned?

Any Information on Elizabeth Merchant after 1911 also welcomed. She would sometimes use the Surnames Brown, Arnold Barnes and Smith.


Serra xx

[groom]

I do have a death for Edwin January 1914 Malling

Do you have the death certificate as that would give the cause of death?

[serra]

Not yet I am going to order one xx

[serra]

I am puzzled as to why he would be in Malling?


He was fairly young when he died.

[groom]

That's why you need the certificate.

If you order from the GRO you can get a PDF one on line for £6.00 rather than the paper one for £9.25.

[JenB]

How do you know that the Edwin who died in Malling Registration District in 1914 is the one you're looking for?

Where was Edwin in 1911?

[avm228]

I am looking for a relative Edwin Arnold born 1871/72 Chatham Kent. He was married to Elizabeth Merchant

Starting with the basics:

Edwin Arnold, mmn Broadwood, birth reg Dec qtr 1871 Medway

Baptised 31 Jan 1872 Maidstone - parents Edwin & Keziah.

Married Jun qtr 1899 Medway to Elizabeth Merchant Barnes

[avm228]

Looks like the family had broken up before 1911.  Keziah Elizabeth Arnold (mmn Barnes) b Mar qtr 1901 Medway (entered on the 1901 census as “Jessiah” aged 1mo) was sent to Canada courtesy of Dr Barnardo’s aged 9 on the Tunisian, 5 August 1910.

[avm228]

The son Elijah Arnold birth reg Mar qtr 1896 Medway (mmn Marchant) had gone to Canada aged 11 in 1907.  For some reason on his Canadian marriage he gave his mother’s maiden name as Elizabeth Oliver.