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So, given all this is just supposition at the moment, it looks as if a possible connection would be:

James Binding born about 1838-9 in Somerset, possibly the adoptive father of Leonard William Mathews, had a sister Hannah Binding

Hannah married James Mathews in Somerset and their children included Eva and Rose Mathews, both of whom were working in Hammersmith in 1881.

Leonard William Mathews was born about 1885 and living with James Binding in 1891.

A possible for 1841?

Name: James Bending
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1806
Gender: Male
Where born: Somerset, England

Civil parish: Stogumber
Hundred: Williton and Freemanners
County/Island: Somerset
Country: England

Registration district: Williton
Sub-registration district: Stogumber
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 966
Book: 11
Folio: 21
Page Number: 14

Household Members:
Name Age
James Bending 35
Mary Bending 35
Elizabeth Bending 10
Mary Bending 8
Hannah Bending 6
James Bending 3

Death registration
William West Matthews born abt 1886
registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1886 Fulham London

So this little lad who sadly died shortly after baptism may also be connected?

William West Matthews bapt 7 Sep 1886 mother Rose Matthews
(born 10 July 1886)
at Saint John the Evangelist, Hammersmith, Hammersmith and Fulham

Rosa (and possibly Eva)'s parents' marriage?

Marriages Sep 1859
Taunton 5c 617
Binding Hannah <<<<
Mathews James <<<
Mitcham Jane
Richards William

- and Eva with grandparents:

Name: Eva Mathews
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861
Relation: Granddaughter
Father's Name: Charles W Mathews
Gender: Female
Where born: Stogumber, Somerset, England
Civil parish: West Buckland
County/Island: Somerset
Country: England
Registration district: Wellington
Sub-registration district: Wellington
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Household schedule number: 70
Piece: 2362
Folio: 25
Page Number: 13

Household Members:
Name Age
Mary Mathews 57
Elizabeth Mathews 30
Clement Mathews 26
Sophia Mathews 24
Charles W Mathews 32
Eva Mathews 10

1871 census in Stogumber:

Name: Rosa Matthews
Age: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: James Matthews
Mother's Name: Hannah Matthews
Gender: Female
Where born: Stogumber, Somerset, England
Civil parish: Stogumber
Ecclesiastical parish: Bath and Wells
County/Island: Somerset
Country: England
Registration district: Williton
Sub-registration district: Stogumber
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Household schedule number: 156
Piece: 2355
Folio: 20
Page Number: 34

Household Members:
Name Age
James Matthews 35
Hannah Matthews 34
Emma Matthews 11
Rosa Matthews 7
Alice Mary Matthews 5
Clara Matthews 3
Mary Binding 68
John Binding 19

Hi Londonbelle,

That looks right - there is a Bedward visitor with Leonard's family on the 1911 census

Wow!

I've just been checking back for the clarity of the image regarding the birthplace and went on to check residences of James and Sarah...

.... in 1881 they were living next to this household - look at the servants:

Name: Daniel Watney
Age: 55
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Wandsworth, Surrey, England

Civil parish: Kingston on Thames
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street Address: Coombe Croft
Condition as to marriage: Widow
Education:

Occupation: Distiller & Brewer

Registration district: Kingston
Sub-registration district: Kingston
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 832
Folio: 98
Page Number: 27

Household Members:
Name Age
Daniel Watney 55
Eleanor J. Watney 24
Theadore Watney 21
Susannah Clark 36
William M. Hamlet 29
George Jarvis 38
Ann Berryman 43
Maria Binding 39 <<<<<<< born Stogumber, Somerset, England
Eva Mathews 19 <<<<<<< born Stogumber, Somerset, England
Rosa Mathews 18 <<<<<<< born Stogumber, Somerset, England
Georgina M. Bergin 25

Is this there marriage?

Name: Maude Florence Bedward
Age: 20
Address: 14 Garfield Road
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1886
Spouse Name: Leonard William Binding occ Boat Salesman(?) possibly Boot Salesman
Spouse Age: 21
Address: 17 Garfield Road
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 27 Oct 1906
Parish: Twickenham St Mary the Virgin
Borough: Richmond Upon Thames
Father Name: James Bedward occ Furnishings Dealer
Spouse Father Name: James Bindiny (image states Binding) occ Dentist Councils Servant
Register Type: Parish Registers

Witnesses: Charles S Kimber & James William Bedward

Hi Imogen, do come back to the thread once you have the certificate and let us know whether it looks possible.

It might be a good chance since the 1901 census claimed that he was born in Fulham and the 1891 "Feltham" may have been a mistake on the enumerator's part?

Leonard William when he married

Name: Leonard William Binding
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1906
Registration district: Brentford
Inferred County: Middlesex
Volume Number: 3a
Page Number: 265 (click to see others on page)
Maude Florence Bedward

William Leonard Matthews Jul-Aug-Sep 1885 Fulham Greater London, London, Middlesex

I've not ruled him out. I'm waiting for a certificate to find out more. I've found that he doesn't appear on the 1891 census and there's no death record for him, so it's looking like this might be him.

Although how it fits in I don't know, as there are no known connections to Fulham.

Hi Imogen, I see that the place of birth changes each census:

1891 LWM Feltham (in Staines registration district)
1901 LWB Fulham (Fulham RD)
1911 LWB Wandsworth

I cannot spot any likely birth registrations in Staines (surnames Luker and Jenkinson are with parents), but there is a possible in Fulham:

William Leonard Matthews Jul-Aug-Sep 1885 Fulham Greater London, London, Middlesex

(and cross-checking William Mat*hews between baptisms, 1891 census and the birth and death registrations for Fulham still leaves it as a possible - I had wondered about William West Matthews born to Rose, but he died shortly after baptims)

Have you already ruled this one out?

[Edit - apologies, I had forgotten that you have already suggested this may be the one you are looking for!]

Perhaps wait to see whether the marriage certificate to Maud throws up any new info and then order this birth registration?

Name: William Leonard Matthews
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1885
Registration district: Fulham
Inferred County: Greater London, London, Middlesex
Volume: 1a
Page: 312

Ivy.

I've not got the marriage certificate for William Leonard and Maud Florence Bedward, who he married in 1906 yet, but hoping to get it soon.

James and Sarah Jane were both from Somerset, where they married in 1861. They moved to London before 1871 when they were in recorded as living in George Street Battersea. They don't appear to have had a connection with London before this date.

I'm currently trying to follow the trees of James' brothers and sisters to see if any of them might have followed them up to London, and been one of Leonard William Mathews parents. But so far I've not had any luck.


Choccy.

William Leonard Binding had got married in 1906 to Maud Florence Bedward, and was no longer living with his mother and sister.

He did call his first daughter, Clara b 1907 after his sister (cousin?), his next child was Leonard Maurice b 1909 who was my grand father. (I have realized I put one too many greats in the first post. - Leonard William, is my great grand father, not my GG Grandfather

In the 1911 census he's listed as Leonard Binding b. 1886 in Wandsworth.

1911

BINDING, Sarah Jane Head Widow F 69 1842 Dresmaker Somerset St Gumbes VIEW
BINDING, Clara Daughter Single F 35 1876 Dresmaker Surrey Wandsworth VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG14 Piece:
6844 Reference:
RG14PN6844 RG78PN341 RD128 SD2 ED11 SN90

Registration District:
Brentford Sub District:
Twickenham Enumeration District:
11 Parish:
Twickenham

Address:
15 the Barons Twickenham County:
Middlesex


1 child born and 1 still living (?) on original which seems to fit with the theory that Leonard William was not their son

Hi Imogen, do you have WLB's marriage certificate showing his father and the names of the witnesses?

If LWM was a nephew who was adopted, it would be sensible to look for the wider family of James and Sarah Jane.

Adoption was formalised in 1927 by statute which required court orders to be registered. However, the Guardians of the Poor Law/Public Assistance bodies were placing children prior to this.

This is a helpful webpage detailing the archives that might be available to search, whilst also pointing out that records might have been lost:

http://www.adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk/search/questions/

I'm trying to trace my great great grand father William Leonard Binding, born around 1886 in Fulham (according to the 1901 census)

He appears living with his parents James and Sarah Jane, and sister Clara at 17 Garfield Road Twickenham in 1901 (They have been listed as Bending in the census rather than Binding). In 1891 James, Sarah Jane and Clara are all at 17 Garfield Road, however William Leonard is not. There is though a Leonard W Mathews living there who was born around 1886 who is said to be their nephew.

There is no birth record for a William Leonard or Leonard William Binding in the 1880's.

So I'm thinking that they might have adopted Leonard W Mathews. The problem is that Leonard W Mathews, who was 5 in 1891 and was said to have been born in Feltham, Middlesex, doesn't seem to have a birth record either.

There is a William Leonard Matthews born in Fulham Middlesex in the September quarter of 1885. He doesn't appear on the 1891 census, and I've not found any death record for him, so I'm thinking this might be right person.

If they did adopt him would there be any records, or were adoptions in the 1890s not really recorded?

And suggestions of how to work out this jumble of ancestors is welcome.