Edmund Rain/e, born 1866 as Edmund Larol Dodd?

[Jomot]

I'm suffering with a drawn-out cold and not firing on all cylinders, so I'd be glad of any help in trying to figure out this puzzle.

In 1871 Edmond L Rain aged 4 is in Garrigill, Alston, listed as the son of widow Ann Rain - RG10/5199/51/12
Ann Rain 55 Widow
Johnny Rain 23 son
Henry Rain 16 son
Edmond L Rain son 4

By 1881 he is in Teesdale with another of Ann's sons, Robert - RG11/4936/97/1
Robert Raine 38 b Alston, Cumberland
Mary 45 wife b Alston
Edmund 14 son b Alston

Robert married Mary Carr in 1870.

He is still with Robert in 1891 & 1901 (latterly with his wife and young children), and always described as Robert's son.

I can't see any Edmund/Edmond Rain/e born in 1866/7, but Edmund Larol DODD was baptised at Garrigill on 13 Sep 1866, the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Dodd.

The two main candidates for Elizabeth Dodd are the one born in 1842 mmn Bradwell (John Dodd m Mary Bradwell in 1821), or born 1847, mmn Spark (William Dodd m Elizabeth Spark in 1837).

In 1871 I think the older Elizabeth Dodd is living alone in Alston (RG10/5197/14/22), but I'm not sure what happened to her after that.

The younger Elizabeth Dodd married William Hunt in 1869, Carlisle RD, and is with him in Teesdale in 1871 (RG10/4947/40/32). An Elizabeth Hunt aged 28 died in Teesdale RD in 1876.

In the absence of any other explanation I've assumed that Robert was (or believed he was) Edmund's biological father, although his naming 'Edmund Larol' seems very specific and doesn't fit anywhere into the Rain/e family, as far as I can see.

I've no idea which Elizabeth might be the mother, although the Teesdale connection may be relevant.

My fuzzy brain thinks this is probably unsolvable, but I'm open to suggestions and/or any records I may have missed.

[CaroleW]

Edmund married in 1897 as Edmund Raine & died in March qtr 1939 as Edmund Raine aged 73 - no middle name in either case

No instances of Larol being either a christian name or surname on freebmd

Robert & Mary nee Carr had no children from the 1870 marriage - Mary was 7yrs older than Robert.

[CaroleW]

One possibility is that the Raine family took in Edmund for whatever reason.  As Robert & his wife had no children they may have then informally “adopted” him

Or - as you say - Robert may have been his biological father

Wonder if he named Robert as his father on his marriage cert although wouldn’t necessarily prove he was his biological father

[Neale1961]

As Edmund was baptised in Garrigill, I think the most obvious mother would be…..

Elizabeth Dodd born 1842 Garrigill (daughter of John and Mary Bradwell – married 1821)

1851 census Father John ( a lead miner) age 50 is a widower– Elizabeth is 8 yrs
Siblings George 26, Mary Ann 16, Jane 11.

In 1861 Elizabeth Dodd age 18, is a Visitor in the house of her brother George in Garrigill. She is working as a straw bonnet maker, the same as George’s wife.

In 1871 – I believe this is the same Elizabeth Dodd, unmarried age 28, a milliner who is in Town Head, Alston.

[Jomot]

Yes, I thought her the most likely one too, but then got slightly swayed by the other Elizabeth dying in Teesdale. 

I think she may have married John Ward in 1872, Alston, and died in 1898, but there are no children to this couple in the census.

Edmund Larol seems such a specific name, but even playing around with the spelling I couldn't find any clue as to where it might have come from. 

[maddys52]

Have you seen the actual image of the baptism? It may not be "Larol" but a mistranscription.  Possibly Carol, though could be something else.

[Jomot]

No I haven't as it doesn't seem to be online anywhere, but his birth registration also has Larol as his middle name:

DODD, EDMUND LAROL (no mmn) GRO Reference: 1866  S Quarter in ALSTON  Volume 10B  Page 366

I've only recently discovered the extent of my connection to this family, thanks to DNA, so I'm still trying to pull together what I can from my existing subscriptions before I draw up a list of documents to buy.