Hello, I hope someone can help me clear up some confusion regarding my ancestor Thomas Edward Turner. I also hope that I have posted on the right board.
I know that he was born on the 20th May 1872 in Bradford, Yorkshire at 5 Rifle Court. He was the son of Llewelyn Turner and Mary Turner (nee Brodigan). Llewelyn was born in Ruthin.
At the 1881 census he was in Hafodybwych Cottage, Esclusham Below, Wrexham. He was living with his parents and siblings.
At the 1891 census he was in the same residence, living with his mother and siblings. His occupation was recorded as a miner.
I cannot find him in the 1901 Census.
I found a 1911 census record that shows a Thomas Edward Turner, born in Bradford, living at 66 Ramford Street, St. Helens. His age is shown as 37 and his occupation is listed as an iron erector, working in a glass-works. He is listed as being single, but also living here is a daughter, Hilda Louise V Turner, aged 1. Other residents at the address include:
Kate L Doyle, married, aged 40, born St Helens, a boarder.
James Turner, single, aged 15, born Cliviger, Lancs., a boarder.
Nellie Turner, single, aged 13, born Cliviger, Lancs., a boarder.
Gwendoline I Williams, aged 5 months, born St Helens, his niece.
The original census image shows that James and Nellie were the son and daughter of Kate, but these are crossed out and replaced with the word boarder. Kate was listed as being the housekeeper, but again, this is crossed out and replaced with boarder.
I looked on the GRO website for a Gwendoline I Williams born in 1910 or 1911 but could not find one. However, I do know that Thomas Edward Turner did have a niece called Gwendoline Isabel SUTTON, who was born in St Helens on 30th October 1910, which would have made her 5 months old in April 1911, at the time of the census.
I ordered the birth certificate for Hilda Louise Valdermar Turner, born on the 26th November 1909 at 66 Ramford Street, St Helens (as per 1911 Census). It records her father as a Thomas Edward Vernon Turner, a mechanical engineer. The mother is listed as Catherine Louisa Turner, late Turner, formerly Prescott.
I also ordered a birth certificate for James Turner, born 24th September 1895, at Walkmill, Cliviger. It lists his father as a John Turner, a coal miner, with the mother listed as Caroline Turner, nee Prescott. I wonder if this is the “Catherine Prescott”, mother of Hilda.
To confuse matters even more, I also found a marriage on 12th March 1920, for a Thomas Edward Vernon Turner, aged 44, listed as SINGLE, a marine engineer, marriage to an Ethel Browne. The father is listed as Llewelyn Turner, a marine engineer, deceased (I do know that Llewelyn was not a marine engineer, he was an engine driver). The marriage took place in Gloucester.
In addition to this, I also found a military record for a Thomas Edward Turner, born 20th May 1875 (same day and month, different year shown), in Bradford. It shows that he was in the RAF, but had previously been in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (I cannot find enlistment records for this). The RAF record shows that the next of kin to be informed is a Kate Turner, unmarried wife, of 24 Park Road, St. Helens. Also listed is his daughter, Hilda Louise Turner. It states date of discharge as 30th April 1920 and address at date of discharge as British Embassy, Constantinople.
Am I looking at 2 separate Thomas Edward Turner’s here? Any thoughts would be welcomed.