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Hello, I’m trying to find: 3 things

Great grandfather David Darling.
His marriage to my great grandmother Jemima Inglis
Their missing child.

Despite hitting many brick walls….. since 1911 census info, I feel this may be worth another go

Limited info on David Darling
1907 My grandfathers birth cert –
Registered Medway Kent 06/01/1908 address 30, Delce Road, Rochester
born 27/11/1907 Peter Inglis Darling – father David Darling, seaman on yacht? Mother Jemima Darling (formerly Inglis)

1880 Jemimas birth (above child’s mother)
Jemima Paterson Inglis born 21 March 1880 at 10.30 a.m. in 35 Market Street, Musselburgh to Peter Inglis, Engine Driver and Isabella Anderson. They were married on 28 July 1876 in Dalmeny (Statutory Births 689/00 0081)

Jemimas appears in 1881 and 1891 Scottish census living with parents and brothers.

1911 census notes
Jemima Darling Married 11 years aged 29 Wife (then crossed out) and Head written instead.
3 children, 2 surviving 1 died. It then notes her birth place as Musselburgh.
Peter Inglis Darling son aged 3 birth place Rochester. (My grand father)

There is no mention of David on the 1911 census

1908 1 of the Missing Children.

26th Oct 1908 the birth of David John Darling has been registered in Canongate Edinburgh. Father David John Darling Ship Steward Mother Jemima Darling mn Inglis.
8th November 1908 the death of the above baby has been registered.

BUT….Can’t find a record of the 3rd child mentioned in the census, he/she was not at the address at the time of the census.

1899 Marriage

On the birth cert of baby David the parents’ marriage is given as 28th Dec 1899 Edinburgh
Can’t find any record of this marriage?

1913 Marriage

Then 1913 marriage – Registered Medway Kent
Jemima Darling “a widow” aged 26 9, Richard Street. Chatham father Peter Inglis Building Society Clerk
George James Fairbrother bachelor aged 22 138 Rank Street, Gillingham father James Fairbrother (deceased) Engineer.

I have no idea when the missing child was born, their name or where they were during 1911 census

I can not find the marriage of David Darling and Jemima Inglis

Jemima seems to disappear in 1901? The marriage noted on baby David’s birth cert, suggests she would have been a Darling not an Inglis?

I did think David Darling may have been just a name on my grandfathers birth cert, so he was not registered as illegitimate, but as he is also mentioned on baby David’s birth cert, and Jemima calls herself Darling on 1911 census and her marriage to George Fairbrother, he may well have existed?

Any suggestions would be so appreciated.

Thank you everyone.

Debbie

It may well be that Jemima and David never married. It wasn't illegal to call yourself by a name other than your registered name as long as no fraud was intended. If David was a Ship's steward he may have been at sea when the births of his children were registered. In Scotland for a child born to unmarried parents to be registered in the father's name, both parents must be present and sign the registration. It may just have been easier for Jemima to give a made-up date and place of marriage. The information would not be checked.

Could the other child have been with his/her grandparents in Scotland at the time of the 1911 census? Alas we are still waiting for the release of the 1911 Scottish Census.


PS I thought that David Darling had been found on at least 1 census record in your previous thread about Jemima.

Hello rootgatherer

Never confirmed David Darling sadly. I sent for a birth cert but it was an unlikely match due to his age and location....

As you say 1911 Scottish census may answer lots of answers. But the birth of the missing child is a real mystery?

I wonder if there is such a thing as ship registers that can be accessed?

Re: wife x'ed out and head substituted. I would take this to mean that she was still married to David, and he was probably at sea. I think she was supposed to say head in this circumstance, but didn't really think of herself as the head of the household. One regularly sees the wife in this circumstance call herself "Wife" in Scottish fishing villages. I've seen this often in Aberdeenshire - as a byproduct, Ancestry gets all confused about where the household starts, and mixes up two households.



It's quite possible the marriage was a so-called irregular marriage that went unregistered, as most of them did.



One possibility is that the missing kid is with his grandparents or an aunt/uncle. You might well have to wait another couple of years to check this out properly.


See "Merchant Seamen" at:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?WT.lp=gs-researchguides

Thank you mgnv

I will look at that site now.

Well mgnv.... I didn't expect this!

Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Div...
Divorce Court File: 312. Appellant: David John Darling. Respondent: Jemima Darling. Co-respondent: Joseph Drywood. Type: Husband's petition for divorce [hd]. . Divorce Court File: 312. Appellant: David John Darling. Respondent: Jemima Darling. Co-respondent: Date: 1910.

Joseph Drywood is named as a lodger in the 1911 census....Oops

At least I now know David existed....

The times I have been on this site and found nothing... I wonder what my chances are of getting a copy of this?

Well, at least you know there's a marriage now.

I clicked on the heading:
Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Div...
and got taken to another page headed "Item details J 77/998/312" that said pretty much the same thing again, except over on the toppish-right there was a "Request this" button, which apparently lets me buy a (paper or digital) copy of this file if I can't get to Kew and view it for free.

Id they divorced it certainly suggests they were actually married - otherwise they couldn't divorce - or wouldnt go thru the rigmarole anyway

True Minnie

At least I now now I'm chasing a real person not just a name. I have requested a copy of the divorce, it may name the children and help me find the missing child.

If they divorced, they must have also married, but goodness only knows why I can't find that.

Debbie

When you get the divorce details, can you update us please - if that's not too cheeky. It may help others to know what information it gives. Also, I admit to being curious as I remember some of the details from your previous posting about Jemima and David.

I do hope that some useful information comes from the paperwork.

I have to say that I have never doubted David's existance as Darling is a fairly common surname in the area that Jemima came from (I have a couple myself from that region).


With regards to the marriage, it is just possible that for some reason it has been missed from the index and that's why you're not finding it!

Had a look on Scotlandspeople for a birth for a David JOHN Darling but there are none in the correct time period. On freeBMD there is only this one in Norwich who may be a twin.

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Mar 1877 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DARLING Charles George Norwich 4b 121
DARLING David John Norwich 4b 121


I still feel that David would have been Scottish probably from the Borders - especially if he married Jemima in Edinburgh. I wonder if he just added John as a middle name as it looks unlikely that he was registered with it.

Hi Rootgatherer

Of course I will up-date you. I could also add the info it gives to the Tips board I suppose.

The David you found is the only one I have found also. And I tend to agree he came from Scotland. I have searched Scottish People, in fact I go through credits as quickly as I buy them....

I am hoping the divorce info will help with finding him, if not I may have put it in the hands of a researcher.

Just an up-date

I have had to order the divorce paperwork on-line. I have asked for an estimate as there is no way of knowing how much paperwork is involved. The auto response tells me I will receive my estimate in 10 days..... Then I need to order what they have found.

I hope it is worth the wait!!!!

The divorce paperwork has cost £7.10 to copy and send. I have no idea how much there is....

Should be here in a few days...

Pandoras box? I'll let you know

Look forward to hearing what info is on the divorce paper. Guessing from the cost it must beabout 10 pages as I think NAS charge around 50p per page for copying.

I'll decide after we hear whether to order my grandfather-in-law's divorce papers!

Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division Divorce

15th day of February 1910

The humble petition of DAVID JOHN DARLING SHEWETH

1 That your petitioner was on the 27th December 1899 lawfully married to Jemima Darling then Inglis Spinster at 35 George IV Bridge in the City of Edinburgh according to the law of Scotland.

2 That after his said marriage your petitioner lived and cohabited with his said wife at 8 Duke Street in the City and County of Southampton and a diver other places and there is now living issue of the said marriage ONE CHILD GEORGE DARLING born 2nd of July 1903.

3 That the said Jemima Darling has frequently committed adultery with a man named Joseph Drywood

4 That from about the month of March 1909 down to the present time the said Jemima Darling and the said Joseph Drywood have lived and cohabited together as man and wife at 5 Ruby Cottage, Corporation Street, Rochester in the County of Kent and during that time have habitually committed adultery.

5 That you petitioner who is an Engineer’s assistant resides at 5 Horsell Street, Swindon in the County of Wilts and is domiciled in England

6 That the said Jemima Darling resides at 5 Ruby Cottage, Corporation Street, Rochester aforementioned.

7 That there have been no proceedings previous hereto in the Divorce Division of the High Court with reference to the said marriage by or on behalf of either of the parties to the said marriage.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONER PRAYS
That his said marriage may be dissolved and that he have custody of his child and such further and other relief in the premises as to this Honourable Court may seem meet.

Pg 2

I DAVID JOHN DARLING of 5 Horsell Street, Swinton in the County of Wilts the above named petitioner make oath as follows:

The statement contained in paragraphs 1,2,5,6 & 7 of my petition hereto annexed are true.

That the statements contained in paragraphs 3 & 4 of the said petition I believe to be true.

That no collusion or connivance exists between me and the said Jemima Darling.

Sworn at Swinton in the County Court 15th day of February 1910.

Pg 3

I do hereby certify that the proceedings in this Cause are correct and the pleadings in order

31st day of Oct 1910

Pg 4

Feb 16th Church Adams and Prior 11 Bedford Row, filed petitioner for dissolution of marriage affidavit and issues 2 citations

Oct 27 Petitioner filled 2 affidavits with citations & affidavits of search for appearances
(handwritten,difficult to read)

Nov 1 Petitioner filed notices and certificate and set down cause

Pg 5

Before the honourable SIR HENRY BARGRAVE DEANE Knight one of the justices of the High Court.

Sitting at the Royal Court of Justice, Strand in the County of Middlesex

On 21st November 1910 Darling against Darling & Drywood

The judge having taken the oral evidence of the petitioner and of the witnesses produced on his behalf in support of the petitioner filed in this cause.

And having heard Counsel thereon neither the respondent nor the co-respondent defending this suit at the hearing
Pronounced that the petitioner had sufficiently proved the contents of the said petition and decreed that the marriage had and solemnized on the 27th December 1899 at 35 George IV Bridge in the City of Edinburgh in Scotland between David John Darling the petitioner and jemima Darling (then Inglis Spinster) the respondent be dissolved by reason that since the celebration thereof the said Respondent has been guilty of adultery with the co-respondent Joseph Drywood

Unless sufficient cause be shown to the court why this Decree should not be made absolute within six months from the making thereof and condemned.

The Co-Respondent in the costs incurred and to be incurred on behalf of the said petitioner of the cause.

And on application of counsel for the petitioner it is ordered that George darling the child issue of the marriage between the Petitioner and Respondent do remain in the custody of the Petitioner until further order of the court, but it is directed that such child be not removed out of the jurisdiction of the court without its sanction.

And it is ordered that the Petitioners do pay to the respondent her taxed costs, not to exceed the amount ordered to be paid into Court or secured for the wife’s costs of hearing (crossed through)

Pg 6

On the 29th day of May 1911

Referring to the Decree made in this Cause on the 21st day of November 1910 whereby it was decreed that the Marriage had and Solemnized on the 27th day of December 1899 at 35 George IV Bridge in the City of Edinburgh in Scotland between David Darling and Jemima Darling (then Inglis Spinster) the respondent be dissolved by reason that the celebration thereof the said respondent had been guilty of

Adultery with the co-respondent Joseph Drywood

Unless sufficient cause shown to the court why the said Decree should not be made absolute, within six months from the making thereof- and no such cause having been shown, the judge on application of the said petitioner by his final Decree pronounced and declared the said marriage to be dissolved

I had hoped this divorce info would answer questions…. but I seem to now have more questions.

A) My granddad was born 1907 yet is not mentioned in this petition dated 1909-1911 – so maybe he was the child of Joseph Drywood?
B) Although living at the same address as Joseph Drywood in 1911 census, Jemima married George Fairbrother as a widow in 1913 not a divorcee
C) I still can not find any marriage between Jemima and David (Darling or Sheweth) – checked FreeBMD & Scotlands people
D) I can’t find any record for Joseph Drywood on FreeBMD or Scotlands people

Any ideas?

Thank you

There is a David G Darling 1876
Hes on a ship( shipping) Southampton

I think it was easier to say widow than divorcee

Thank you Quinsgran,

does it say in what capacity? a worker?

Jemima was born in 1880 so he may have been quite a bit older than her.

Sorry Debbie you have to pay to get any information