Marriage Christchurch/New Forest Reg districts for William Henry Steele

[Linna]

Hi
I think I've correctly traced one of my forebears through the censuses but am confused about who he married.
He was William Henry Steele (sometimes Steel) son of Charles and Barbara (born 1867)
On the 1901 census (RG13/189929/9) he is William H, a plasterer,  married to a Louisa with children Gertrude and Walter. Checking GRO their mother was called Woodford. On 1911 census (RG14PN5874 RG78PN267 RD95 SD2 ED43 SN36) he is a plasterer married to a Louie, which I believe is a variation of Louisa with now 3 children all with a mother called Woodford.
However I can't find a marriage anywhere for a William Henry Steele to a Louisa Woodford. I found a marriage for William Henry Steele to a Lucy French (Sep 1890 in New Forest) and a marriage for a Harry Steel to a Louisa Woodford (Jun 1887 Christchurch).
My inclination is to go with Harry but I think it is unusual for someone named William Henry to be married under a nickname. Can anyone help me to decide which one is correct? Your help would be much appreciated.
Linna

[janan]

As the children have mother maiden name Woodford it looks like the 1887 Christchurch marriage is the right one but only certificate would confirm. My great grandma married as Mary Ann but her name was actually Hannah, so it does happen that another name is used for a marriage.


The William Henry Steele (born Shaftesbury 1862) who married in New Forest 1890 is with wife Eliza  nee French in 1891 and 1901.

[Linna]

Thanks for the suggestion and the quick reply. I think I will now get the cert from GRO and see if we are right.
Thanks again for your help.
Linna

[emeltom]

1891
RG12/905/F103/p1
Church Road, Holdenhurst, Christchurch
William Steel 24 Labourer Kinson, Dorset
Louisa Steel wife 24 Christchurch, Hampshire

As the births of both Walter and Gertrude were registered in Christchurch I'd say the above couple were the parents.

Emeltom

[sgf28]

There is a newspaper report that may relate:

 Hampshire Advertiser 09 February 1887

Louisa Woodford aged 21,was indicted for the murder of her infant male child at Christchurch on 23rd January. It says she was engaged at the time of the death to a young man called Steele. At the end of the article, it states that the sweetheart 'Steele' would marry her as the child was his.
The jury found her guilty of concealment of birth, sentence deferred.

There is more to the article stating what happened.

[Annette7]

Louisa Steel died Sept.qtr. 1919 Christchurch - the following year - as William H. Steele - her husband remarries to a Frances Wright Sept.qtr.1920 Christchurch.

William H. Steele death June quarter 1952 Bournemouth.

He was bp.14/6/1867 Gt. Canford, Dorset - a couple of trees on Ancestry state he was born at Kinson, Dorset but that is where his father Charles was born.   Birthdate is 17/4/1867.

Annette

[Jebber]

William was baptised  in Kinson, his baptism was almost certainly at St. Andrew’s,  Kinson. The baptism image is of the Parish Church Kinson, it came under Canford until 1865 when it became part of Bournemouth.

I believe the marriage of Harry is the correct one, the year and district is right and tallies with the information on the 1911 census.

I also have a couple of marriages where the names are different to birth registration.

[Annette7]

I can only quote what I've found - findmypast have the baptism as Great Canford and the 1871 census shows William born Canford.

Annette

[janan]

The baptism is definitely in Kinson on the actual Dorset Parish Record images, the Canford information seems to have come via Family Search. As you say he is given as born Canford in 1871 so looks like the family moved from Canford to Kinson soon after William's birth.

Jan