My Grandfather Robert Firth thought born 18thJune 1908 "Scarborough" NorthRiding

[Firthp]

Hi this is a bit of a shot in the dark
My Grandfather Robert Firth always thought to have been born Scarborough 1908. But no birth certificate shows for him.

Checked 1911 census and from other snippets of information we had located him named as Bobby Boker aged 3 b Scarborough as a lodger with Joseph and Emma Firth and their 'Daughter Elizabeth'

Elizabeth was actually their granddaughter born to their daughter Alice Firth (passed as their granddaughter). Alice had married subsequently and lived at Barnsley (Barugh Green then Darton) married to William Oxley Akeroyd.

Found some school records (but not full records) at school where my grandfather attended at Oatlands Harrogate where now he was then called  known as Robert Firth circa 1916.

Emma firth died around 1913, my Grandfather said he had lived at Harrogate with his"Uncle" this would be Joseph Firth. No records so far of Elizabeth Firth after 1911 however traced she married in the 1930 to a Collins and lived in west ham died 1947.

No contact with her ever mentioned.

Joseph Firth died 1918 at which point my grandfather was moved to live with Alice (Firth) Akeroyd school recod at Darton Primary School nr Barnsley 1918 show him as Robert firth and parent/ guardian as Emma Firth (Emma died 1913!)

1921 Census for my grandfather at Dearne st Darton (Barnsley) now show him as Bobby Bowker (previously Boker)

Coincidently the  1921 Census was on the 19th June 1921 the day after my grandfathers given birth date/date. A statutory declaration was sworn on the 2nd July 1921 giving his date of birth as the 18/06/1908 and his name as Robert Firth although his school record from 1918 gives his date of birth as the 18th June 1909.

The 1911 census gives his age as 3yrs (taken in April 1911) .

If anyone has any leads on researching any of the Firths originally residing in Alverthorpes and Thornes (Wakefield) from 1901 and other sources I could try to resolve the conundrum of names and dates.

Its been suggested he could have been the child of Elizabeth Firth (no proof anywhere of this ) and when Alice had Elizabeth out of wed lock  they at least registered this at the Church.

It been suggested he was boarded out however no paperwork in existence that I am aware of and no mention of this at the time by my Grandfather.

The other story via my grandmother was his parents were killed in a car crash, grandparents too old to look after him so went to an Uncle. (Grand parents supposedly associated with the St Nicholas and Prince of Wales Hotels in Scarborough).

Furth possibility of birth if we think it was Elizabeth is whilst given as Scarborough there is a area in Wakefield where Joseph and Emma Firth were residing between 1901 but before 19011 known as New Scarborough in Wakefield.

Help or suggestions gratefully accepted.

Best Regards

Paul Firth

[GR2]

In 1939 there is a Robert Firth, b. 18-6-1908, beltman in a coal mine, his wife, Edith, b. 25-12-1912, and (presumably) a child living at 22 Greenside Avenue, Staincross.

[mckha489]

The fact he was a boarder in 1911, and then adopted (at least, I presume that is what that word is supposed to be) in 1921 and Boker and Bowker respectively suggests to me he was probably born with a surname at least similar. 
I see in 1921 they don’t know where he was born.  And they didn’t write anything in the parents dead or alive column.

[HistoricalGenealogy]

The only accurate way to answer this is a DNA test.

[amondg]

He was 12 years 11 months in 1921 census taken 19 June 1921

If his birth date was 18 June 1908 then he would have been 13 wouldn't he?

[garstonite]

Hiya Robert and a warm welcome to Rootschat
a shot in the dark here
....................
someones tree - not all trees are correct
Alice Firth
Born 17 July 1868 - Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Deceased
 
Parents
Joseph Firth 1845-ca 1918
Emma Hampshire 1845-ca 1912
 
Siblings
F Alice Firth 1868-
M Alfred Firth 1870-
M John William Firth 1873-ca 1952
M Thomas Firth 1875-
M James Firth 1878-ca 1954
M Joshua Shiers Firth 1883-
F Elizabeth Firth 1891-

Alice born 1868
sibling Elizabeth b 1891 - 23 years later - all the family born Wakefield..could this be your Elizabeth and Alice ??

if not let me know and I will delete this post

 

[Raybistre]

A birth of a Robert Bowker was registered in Middlesborough in the June Quarter of 1908, mother's maiden name Kirkby. There is a possible marriage between a Frank Bowker and a Mary Ann Kirkby registered in the March Quarter of 1901 in Middlesborough. The 1911 census for Frank and Mary Anne Bowker in Middlesborough lists two children born c1904 and c1910, no Robert. Plenty of room for another. No death found for a Robert Bowker 1908 to 1911. I was unable to see how many children born by 1911 on the census as using FamilySearch transcript. Could this Robert be your grandfather?
Ray

[LizzieL]

A birth of a Robert Bowker was registered in Middlesborough in the June Quarter of 1908, mother's maiden name Kirkby. There is a possible marriage between a Frank Bowker and a Mary Ann Kirkby registered in the March Quarter of 1901 in Middlesborough. The 1911 census for Frank and Mary Anne Bowker in Middlesborough lists two children born c1904 and c1910, no Robert. Plenty of room for another. No death found for a Robert Bowker 1908 to 1911. I was unable to see how many children born by 1911 on the census as using FamilySearch transcript. Could this Robert be your grandfather?
Ray

The 1911 census image for this family lists names of two other children which have subsequently been crossed out. This would match the number of children born alive but have died pre-census. So I don't think Robert belongs to this family.

[Dundee]

That one belongs to Alfred and Susannah.

Debra