Wilfred Harry Berridge and Emma Wills 1907 and 1908

[trish1120]

Your welcome Peter and yes please do update this when the Certs arrive.

Trish

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Well folks, it's been a long while but I have received almost all of the certificates and have put this (below) together. Thanks to everyone for your help. Sorry it's so long. I hope the format makes sense. Please note that I have indicated which information was gleaned from certificates. Amendments welcome.

Sophia Berridge/Wilfred Harry Kirkup Berridge

1867:  Sophia born in Catworth, Huntingdonshire (no certificate).
          Father: Edward Berridge aged 34 years (Agricultural labourer).
     Mother: Anne Berridge aged 40 years (Lace maker).

1871 Census:
   Sophia aged 4 years.
   Father: Edward Berridge aged 34 years (Agricultural labourer).
   Mother: Anne Berridge aged 40 years (Lace maker).
   Siblings:
        James aged 14 years (Farmer’s boy).
   Sarah aged 10 (Lace maker).
   John aged 7 years (Scholar).

1881 Census:   
   Sophia aged 14 years (Lace maker).
   Father: Edward Berridge aged 45 years (Agricultural labourer).
   Mother: Anne Berridge aged 50 years (Lace maker).
   Siblings:
        James aged 24 years (Agricultural labourer).
   Sarah aged 20 years (Lace maker).
   John aged 17 years (Shoemaker).
   Thomas aged 8 years (Scholar).
   Also resident: Annie aged 4 months (Granddaughter).

2 July 1889:   
   Wilfred Harry Kirkup Berridge born in Catworth (certificate).
   Mother: Sophia Berridge (Lace maker).
        Birth certificate has nothing written for name and occupation of father. This would confirm that Wilfred Harry was illegitimate.

1891 Census:
   Edward Berridge aged 54 years (Agricultural labourer).
   Ann Berridge aged 60 years (Lace maker).
   Annie Blunt aged 10 years (Granddaughter; Scholar).
   Wilfred Harry aged 1 year (Grandson).

1891 Census:
   Address: 62 Darenth Road, Hackney, London.
   Charles Miller aged 26 years (Stock broker’s clerk).
   Stanley Miller aged 8 years (Scholar).
   Sophia Berridge aged 26 years (General servant. Domestic).

1899: Sophia marries Jesse Millard (certificate not sighted).

1901 Census:
   Address: 16 Cyprus, Twywell, Northamptonshire.
   Jesse Millard aged 31 years (Brickyard labourer).
   Sophia Millard aged 34 years (No occupation recorder).

1901 Census:
   Edward Berridge aged 65 years (Agricultural labourer).
   Ann Berridge aged 70 years (No occupation recorded).
   Wilfred aged 11 years (Grandson; Agricultural labourer).

4 August 1907: Marriage of Wilfred Harry Berridge (aged 18 years) and Emma Wills (aged 19 years) (certificate).
            Location: The Parish Church (Established Church) by Banns.
            In the presence of: Walter Berridge and Mary Lizzie Cadwell.
Wilfred: Occupation: Labourer.
        Residence: Catworth.
             Father’s name and Surname: Not entered. Certificate simply says Single.
        Father’s rank or profession: No entry.

Emma:  Occupation: None registered.
        Residence: Catworth.
        Father’s name and surname: William Wills.
        Father’s rank or profession: Labourer.

17 November 1907:
        Birth of Wilfred Walter Berridge at Catworth, Huntingdonshire (certificate).
   Father’s name: Wilfred Harry Berridge.
   Father’s rank or profession: Farm labourer.
   Mother’s name and maiden surname: Emma Berridge formerly Wills
   Date registered: 4 January 1908.

1911 Census:
   Jesse Millard aged 40 years.
   Occupation: Gardener in Nurseryman industry.
   Sophia Millard aged 45 years.
   Occupation: Domestic work.
   Years married: 11 years.
   Children: None.

1911 Census:
   Boarders in the house of Harry Boddington.
   Walter Berridge aged 23 years (provider).
   Occupation: Farm labourer.
   Emma Berridge aged 23 years.
   Occupation: None recorded.
   Wilfred Walter Berridge aged 2 years.

31 July 1912: Emigration to Australia.

   Ship: “Norseman” (The Aberdeen Line).
   Departure port: London (bound for Brisbane).
   Port passengers contracted to land: Melbourne.
   Arrival in Melbourne: November, on the Indrapura.
   Mr. Wilfred Berridge aged 23 years.
   Occupation: Farm labourer.
   Mrs. Emma Berridge aged 24 years.
   Occupation: Housewife.
   Wilfred Berridge aged 4 years.
   
January 1921: Millard arrival in Australia.

   Mr. J Millard aged 50 years.
   Mrs. S. Millard aged 53 years (recording error on age).
   Ship: “Ormonde”.
   Arrival port: Melbourne.

20 August 1927: Death of Sophia Millard (certificate).

   Home address: Boundary Road, Bentleigh.
   Place of death: Albert Ward, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne.
   Age: 60 years.
   Cause of death: Cerebral haemorrhage; respiratory failure.
   Duration of last illness: 3 days.
        Father: Edward Berridge.
        Occupation: Labourer.
        Mother: Anne Berridge; maiden name unknown.
        Burial: 22 August at Cheltenham Cemetery, Melbourne.
        Where born: Catworth, Huntingdonshire.
        Years in the colony: 6.
        Years married: 32.
        Issue: None.

31 July 1960: Death of Wilfred Harry Berridge (certificate).

        Home address: 9 Montague Street, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne.
        Place of death: 9 Montague Street, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne.
   Age: 71 years.
   Occupation: Watchman and cleaner.
   Cause of death and duration of illness: Coronary occlusion (1 hour).
                                  Arteriosclerosis (3 years).
                                  Influenza, acute bronchitis (7 days).
                                  Diabetes mellitus (2 years).
   Father: Unknown Berridge.
        Mother: Sophia Berridge; maiden name unknown.
        Burial: Cremated at Fawkner Crematorium, Melbourne.
   

[trish1120]

Well you have been busy.

Congratulations on doing the right thing and buying Certs as others with queries on Rootschat will not do.

At least you have confirmed everything now and know that you have definitely followed the right lineage

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Thank you. Having your help made it immensely easier. The one thing I've learned is that buying the certificates is probably the best way to get good quality information. Another advantage is that you can also find out extra information hidden in plain sight in the details (e.g. Wilfred and Emma's marriage was witnessed by Wilfred's cousin, William, who was a shoemaker).

Probably the best thing I have gained from this exercise has been a tremendous respect for Wilfred in particular (and also Emma, of course). Wilfred was basically abandoned by his mother from an early age and he was brought up by his grandparents (who also must have been special). To have lived with that trauma, started work at 10, married under those circumstances, left the country, and then have to deal with his mother turning up 53 years later shows a very resilient character. You never know the challenges some people have in their lives.

Thanks again for your help; it would have been so much harder without it.

Peter

[trish1120]

I would not be so harsh on Sophia.

As he didnt name a Father on his M/C he most likely knew Sophia was his Mother.
Being single in 1891 she would have to leave her Son with her Parents to work elsewhere.
His Mother is named on his Death Cert so the informant knew who she was.

Life was harsh for unmarried women in those days esp if they had a illeg child.

They may have known one another all those years.

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Definitely agree with you, and I'm always happy to be wrong. I understand how difficult being a single mother is at the best of times, let alone then. It's entirely likely that she maintained contact.

One thing that has intrigued me is the name Kirkup in Wilfred's name. I wonder if it was the surname of the "unknown" father? The name seems to have been reasonably common in the Midlands at that time. Interesting possibility.

By the way, I have just located Emma in the 1901 census. She was employed (aged 13) as a domestic servant for a farmer named William Wyles in Cogbrook, just outside Old Weston. If I find out any more I will post it.

Peter

[trish1120]

Thanks Peter if you find anything add it to this.

Yes I agree that a Mr Kirkup may have been the culprit

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Correction to sequence of events:

In the original post I had Sophia's age incorrectly recorded as 26 years. I have just re-examined the copy of the record and her age was 24 years. Correction below. Sorry for any confusion.

Peter

1891 Census:
   Address: 62 Darenth Road, Hackney, London.
   Charles Miller aged 26 years (Stock broker’s clerk).
   Stanley Miller aged 8 years (Scholar).
   Sophia Berridge aged 24 years (General servant. Domestic).

[seahall]

Hi.

Peter I was in Twywell last week I could have taken a photo for you of Cyprus in the Village. 16 is the schedule number not house. I took all the graves in the Chuchyard but it looks as though your folk moved away.

Sandy