Help with Harriet Alice Clow's mother please.

[toby_ax]

Hi I've been looking on the UK Gro Index for Harriet Alice Clow's Mother, well her maiden name, but I'm struggling with her as a whole.

Born what I believe to be 1891 based on 3 different census and marriage records.
There are discrepancies between her birth place, one census when she is living with her husband, father and potential mother says Yorks Hull. But on another Census with the same people, it says Kings Lynn Norfolk.

Her Marriage to Harry (Henry) Failes in 1910 says her father is a Joseph Clow, and she lived with A Joseph Clow and his wife Elizabeth Ann Clow on 2 census records.

Now, this may be the case, but Elizabeth's maiden name is unknown to me, as Harriet, who also went by Alice, draws a blank on the GRO index for both names. I've searched Harriet Alice/ Harriet/ Alice Clow with varying spellings and years. I can't find a marriage record between Joseph and Elizabeth and therefore I do not know if this Marriage was pre or post Harriet's birth. It appears the family moved around a lot, Norfolk/Hull/Bradford/Shipley, but surely there should still be a Gro Index hit.

Her Eldest Siblings also draw a blank.
Benjamin Clow (abt. 1983) to name one, also does not register on the GRO index. Were records missing for these years?

Any help is Greatly Appreciated.

[osprey]

birth regs for siblings Ivy - sept qtr 1895 Wharfedale & Joseph sept qtr 1898 North Bierley have mother's maiden name as Hammond. Possible birth reg
Harriet Alice Clark march qtr 1891 Hull vol 9d pg 304 mmn Hammond.

There is an 1891 census entry for a Clark family RG12/3937 folio 64a pg 30 with first name & places of birth that seems to match the Clow family from 1901, only headed by George Clark, not Joseph Clow - both born Terrington, Norfolk though.

[osprey]

1901 census for Clow family
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9P5-Z34

1891 for Clark family
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:758V-YW2

other siblings
George Clark 1884 Hull mmn Hammond
Thomas Clark 1886 Kings Lynn mmn Hammond
William Clark 1889 Hull mmn Hammond

parish marriage Shouldham Norfolk 4 July 1881
George Clark 21 bach labourer Shouldham
Elizabeth Ann Hammond 19 spinster Shouldham
no details of father given for either
witnesses William Henry Thompson & Ann Elizabeth Collison

[osprey]

baptism Marham, Norfolk 29 Jan 1882 Elizabeth daughter of George, labourer, & Elizabeth Ann Clark.

[toby_ax]

Oh wow, thank you so much osprey.
So now I'm even more confused lol.

I can't find an Elizabeth Ann Hammond or Clark Marrying a Joseph Clow.
But I did find the marriage between Elizabeth Ann Hammond and George Clark

Joseph Clow listed as her father and her last name listed as Harriet Alice Clow at her marriage.

But George Clark explains the GRO Index

So does George Clark ≠ Joseph Clow

If so, would it be common to change your childrens names to your second husband? My family only ever knew her to be a Clow.

I am so struggling to locate this second marriage to Joseph Clow. 

[toby_ax]

The No father listed is also odd, I've never seen that before. Would there be a reason for this? Any time the father has been unknown usually, it says unknown father, or illegitimate  Harriet's family is the one I've ever only been able to get stumped to quickly.

Also, on her daughter Nancy Failes birth 1914 including Nancy's sisters, mmn is again listed as Clow.

I literally have a picture of her, yet she's a mystery?

[osprey]

The marriage entry with no fathers is unusual, I have seen that before but not often. I doubt there would be any point in getting a copy from the GRO as the original has blanks.

I don't think there is a second marriage, I think George Clark & Joseph Clow are the same person - similar age & same place of birth, occupation is labouring jobs.

1911 census Elizabeth Ann gives 30 years married
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWJX-8ZM

He seems to start life as Joseph Clow
Baptism Terrington St Clement 23 Dec 1855 Joseph Howell Hines son of Joseph, labourer and Catherine Clow of Terrington.
Birth reg Joseph Clow dec qtr 1855 Wisbech vol 3b pg 544 mmn Collins

1861 census in Wisbech registration district
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M716-4J9

1871 Clow family in Idle, Yorkshire RG10/4502 folio 60 pg 7

1881 possible for George Clarke b. Terrington

haven't spotted both names on the same census as yet.


https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q278-FD2H

[toby_ax]

Thanks Osprey

Such an odd situation, can't understand why he'd switch names? 

Maybe no fathers at wedding meant wedding was not supported??

Thanks for your help

[osprey]

perhaps he'd been in trouble and didn't want to be found? I struggled to find a relative on one census although I knew where he should have been from the births of his children. When I did find him by searching on first names of children, he was using his stepfather's name, not just the surname but first name as well. I have no idea why.