A Conundrum

[littleem1906]

Hi all

I have in my tree a GEORGE HARBIDGE (28.2.1877) born in Birmingham. I know his parents were William Harbidge & Sarah Smith and I have at least some of his siblings (John, Charles, Harry, Elizabeth & Beatrice).

In census he appears in 1881 with his parents and siblings living in Birmingham. In 1891 he appears with just his father (as his mother had died prior to this date). In 1901 he is living with some of his siblings and he is listed as the head of the house. His father had died prior to the 1901.

I'm aware he married Margaret Catherine Robinson in 1906.

In the 1911 census George and Margaret are living with 2 children - George Harbidge (aged 3) and Florence Harbidge (aged 1 month). They had another child who had died some time prior to this census (I can't find this child). On that census, his wife's name is listed as Rose and then crossed out by another hand - replacing it with Margaret K.

I checked the 1921 census and George is living as a boarder (no head of house listed) with a George Harbidge (age 13). This younger George is listed as his nephew, despite being the same age his son George would have been. His son George can't be found in 1921. I know his son was registered as Peter George Harbidge at birth so I looked for a Peter Harbidge but none could be found.

His daughter Florence I believe died aged 3 in 1914.

My conundrum is this - In 1921, George is listed as married. Not uncommon if he was simply separated and not divorced. I looked for his wife Margaret in the same census, and she is living at a different address with a son Reuben Verdum/Verdun Harbidge (aged 5). She is listed as a widow and his father is listed as dead. It is definitely the same woman as the occupation matched previous census. Her name is written as Margarete or Margareta Rose Harbidge.

Why would she call herself Rose if her middle name was Catherine? The fact that George listed her as Rose on the 1911 census (which was later crossed out) implies he may have called her this name.

Why did she list the father as dead? Could it be that George Harbidge was not the father of Reuben?

I looked for a birth record for Reuben Verdum/Verdun Harbidge and found a Reuben V Harbidge registered in 1916. But nothing further.

I can also not understand what happened to George and Margaret's son George. He would have been 13 in 1921, but he is listed as nephew with father George. The only George who could have been his nephew was 16 and accounted for in the 1921 census. This leads me to ask - Why list his son as his nephew?

I am yet to find a death for either George senior or Margaret. Can anyone help?

[CaroleW]

Births Sep 1916 
Reuben V   Harbidge   mothers maiden name Harbidge    Birmingham    6d   441

Reuben V Harris
Sept qtr 1916   Mother's Maiden Name Harbidge
Volume Number: 6d
Page Number:    441

She has not used Robinson for her maiden name

From GRO online
HARRIS, REUBEN  VERDUN      
GRO Reference: 1916  S Quarter in BIRMINGHAM  Volume 06D  Page 441

Death
Reuben Verdun Harris
Death Age:    66
Birth Date:    17 Jun 1916
March qtr 1983
Solihull South Volume 34  Page 0140

No will - Administration granted - death date 17.2.1983

There is a marriage in 1980 - see below

[CaroleW]

In 1921 - have you checked for others living at the same address

[Cas (stallc)]

Likely child that died before 1911

Birth
HARBIDGE, PATRICK  DANIEL     mmn ROBINSON 
GRO Reference: 1906  S Quarter in BIRMINGHAM  Volume 06D  page 117

Death
HARBIDGE, PATRICK  DANIEL     age 1 
GRO Reference: 1907  S Quarter in BIRMINGHAM  Volume 06D  Page 55

Cas

[hanes teulu]

FindMyPast (source National Archives) has a Royal Naval record (1 page) for "Peter George Harbridge, DoB 31 July 1907, born Birmingham, trade Glass Maker" - period 1953 - 1960.

The date of birth fits the GRO birth registration of September Qtr 1907.

[CaroleW]

Reuben married Veronica C Gamble in 1980.  She remarried 1984 to V P L (may be alive)

Births June qtr 1934  - GRO online show middle name Constance
Gamble    Veronica C   mmn O'Connell    Birmingham    6d   412

Death
Veronica Constance Lawrence aged 62 born 24.3.1934
Jan 1997 Birmingham Register Number H7B
District and Subdistrict 0611H
Entry Number    46

[Cas (stallc)]

Baptism gives his father as George, was the family RC?

Name:   Petrus Georgius Harbidge
Gender:   Male
Birth Date:   31 Jul 1907
Baptism Date:   18 Aug 1907
Baptism Place:   Birmingham, Warwick, England
Father:   Georgii Harbidge
Mother:   Margaritae Robinson Harbidge
FHL Film Number:   1999525
Reference ID:   Item 2 Vol. 11

As Carole has suggested he could be nephew to head of household in 1921

Peter George Harbidge
Death Age:   64
Birth Date:   31 Jul 1907
Registration Date:   1971
Registration Quarter:   Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District:   Chatham
Inferred County:   Kent
Volume:   5f
Page:   499

Cas

[osprey]

an entry for George with matching date of birth in Birmingham on the 1939 register. He appears to be in the workhouse

https://www.workhouses.org.uk/RowtonBirmingham/

Possible burial 17 Dec 1952 George Harbridge age 75 Gillingham Kent. He died in St Bart's Hospital, Rochester.

 

[osprey]

death reg to go with burial
George Harbidge 75 Chatham vol 5b pg 298