Genealogy Forum UK

I have a Gt Gt Gt Grandfather, George John Holmes, born in 1844 in Westminster, London. Vine Street (near present day Milbank to be precise).

The birth was registered by his mother, Hannah Holmes (formerly Stacey). She was born in 1807 / 1812 depending which census entry you believe, although I think from parish records it was 1807, in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. The father was listed as George Holmes, a labourer and sawyer.

The problem comes that in 1851, Hannah was a widow living with her young son, George John. 1841 doesn't tell me much, but there is a George Holmes living as a labourer in that area but he is unmarried. I can't find any listing of a George Holmes marrying a Hannah Stacey during that 1837 - 1845 period, nor are there any obvious George Holmes marrying Hannah's of any name that stand out as obvious or from that area. Furthermore, I can't find an obvious death for a George Holmes in Westminster / Pancras during 1845 - 1851 although I have ordered quite a few certificates, they have so far drawn a blank.

How likely is it that Hannah could have been an unmarried mother and invented her marriage to the either fictional or perhaps real father George Holmes to hide the shame ?? It would seem a possible answer but I've not come across it before which makes me think even in the days before computerised records, this may still have been quite difficult.

What other records might I be able to check to find these people ??

Many thanks

Guy

Hi Guy

I suspect this is your fellow and from the entry it is clear that his mother's name is Holmes
-This entry can be for a late, eg December, 1844 birth and not necessarily 1845

Births Mar 1845
Surname Given Name District Volume Page

HOLMES George John Westminster 1 419
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Hi Guy,

[email protected] wrote:How likely is it that Hannah could have been an unmarried mother and invented her marriage to the either fictional or perhaps real father George Holmes to hide the shame ??

Extremely. My gggrandmother did exactly the same thing when she gave birth in the same area in 1860. She was at St.Margaret Westminster workhouse at the time and used the father's real christian name, with her own surname for the father's name on the birth certificate.

Dominic

Many thanks for the responses. I felt that this may have happened and there may be no way to find George's father. His mother certainly kept on the pretence of being married under the name of Holmes for the rest of her life, so I'll give her the benefit for now and keep looking for some sort of marriage.

A child born in 1844 and named after his father, so I'd assume it was the first child, which makes it slightly more baffling that there marriage isn't recorded. Registrations began at least 6 or 7 years before.

I'll keep looking but thanks once again

Guy

Just flagging this to see if we can now move it to the archived section ?

So unless otherwise advised this topic will be moved to archived section within 24 hrs