Trying to find court documents for a marital separation in 1901 Basingtoke

[tobykimber]

Annie Kimber and Frederick Ernest Berry married at the Registry Office, Basingstoke on 20/12/1900.

Annie then took Frederick to court to show why he should not contribute to Annie and their new born son.

I would love to get hold of the court documents but everywhere I look it is a dead end.

I would have thought that this story would have been quite the scandal for Preston Candover and the surrounding areas in the 1900s. I have only been able to find three different newspaper articles.  I think it is pretty impressive that Annie was able to find legal representation and win the ruling. The son from the marriage was Reginald Stanley Berry 1901-1986 he went on to be the Head Groom for Lord Mountbatten he was bought up by his maternal grandparents Stephen and Jane Kimber and laterally his mother’s youngest sister Edith Lynch (nee Kimber).

One article attached.

[Biggles50]

The Court records may be in the Berkshire Archive in Reading or in the National Archive.

Finding specifics in the Online County Archives can be difficult, they are not user friendly.

I suggest you ring them and ask, it may be that they can undertake a search for you which is very likely to cost.

Alternatively if you live nearby then you can join the archive in person and access the records there.  Usually you need two forms ID and proof of address.

[AntonyMMM]

Depending on the type of court any record (if one survives at all) may only be a record of the case being listed and possibly the outcome.

The newspaper reports will generally give far more detailed information.