HELP Arthur RISEBOROUGH birth record c. 1894

[JCD123]

Hi Everyone
I’m trying to trace the birth/baptism record of ‘Arthur Priest’ who I believe was later known as ‘Arthur Riseborough’ a fish dealer in Norwich born c 1894 in Norfolk.
In the 1901 census for Salhouse,Norfolk, an Arthur Priest, age 7 from Great Yarmouth is lodging with Thomas Riseborough and his wife Elizabeth. I believe they ‘adopted’ him as in the 1911 census (5 Shipfield, Norwich), Arthur is shown age 17, and surname ‘Riseborough’ but shown as being born in ‘Old Catton', Norwich.  He is also listed as their 'son' but I find this hard to believe because Elizabeth was 47 at the time.
I know Arthur's history from here as he served in WW1 and is listed in 1939 census (145 Magdalene St, Norwich) birth age 28 Oct 1895. However from his army record it works out he was born in Oct 1893.
Either way, I cannot find his birth/baptism record anywhere as ‘Arthur Priest’ or ‘Arthur Riseborough’ between the years 1892-1896 in Norfork. If anyone can help I would be very grateful. 
regards John

[Milliepede]

Does he name a father when he gets married?

1911 info says 3 children born - have you got those 3 accounted for (not including Arthur)

[IgorStrav]

well, I looked for a "Priest" birth over the same period (all months, in case the birthday is a red herring) in Norfolk - wondering if his first name might have been changed - but couldn't see any possibilities either.

Then I wondered whether he could have been an illegitimate son of one of the Riseborough family's two daughters (the whole family was in Catton in the 1891), but that didn't seem to be the case, and both married, the eldest at around the time of Arthur's apparent birth.

The only thing I can suggest is that you widen your search round the Riseborough family to see if any other potential mothers pop up - but of course Arthur could have been born elsewhere, as people very often don't know clearly where they were born.

Or you look around the Catton area in the 1891 to see if there are any Priest families?


ADDED  good suggestions Millipede


Not very convenient to have a date of birth in between censuses.

[Milliepede]

Interestingly there is a birth of a Male Riseborough in Dec 1895 St Faith's district Norfolk.

DOB from 1939 is 28 Oct 1895.

I wonder if St Faith's covers Old Catton **

** it covers Catton

I know this doesn't explain the "Priest" but will throw it in there.

Added GRO birth registration has MMN as Thompson.

[Milliepede]

1901 has Martha Starling daughter age 27, she only married in 1900 so would have been single when Arthur was born. 

Who is the third child?  I can only see 2 daughters on census Elizabeth and Martha - do we have a third anywhere?

[JCD123]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.  I did order the male Riseborough birth cert 1895 but then found out the unnamed child died after a few months later, so it couldn't be him. I have ordered Arthur's marriage cert (he married Blanche May Stangroom in Norwich on 19 Dec 1919) and am currently awaiting it from GRO. I did suspect daughter Martha (later Starling) but again I couldn't find a birth/bapt record of it.
regards John

[Milliepede]

Ah that rules that one out then.

Quite likely Thomas Riseborough will be shown as the father on the marriage but do let us know when it arrives.

[JCD123]

Hi Milliepede
Yes I suspect the marriage will list Thomas as the father but lets hope it doesn't when it arrives! Ref the 1911 census, aside Martha and Elizabeth, I presumed that the third child, albeit possibly adopted, was Arthur, I shall have to look at that deeper.

[Milliepede]

Just found a possible third child - Thomas born and died Mar 1875.  Has MMN Clarke.

Appreciate it doesn't say any of the 3 have died but maybe they counted Arthur in to make up the 3.

Note GRO records under the spelling Raisbray.

Elizabeth Mar 1869
Martha Mar 1872