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Thanks everyone for you observations. Will go through it all very carefully. Dud.

Back... When William put has father down as Henry I assume it was because he never knew his father. Carolines husband Edward was no longer around when William was born in 1857.. Whether he called it a day because he new William was not his son or whether he moved on before Caroline was pregnant with William I suppose we will never know. Dud.

LOL Nell some of them love to 'sex up' occupations don't they. So the william I posted married to Carolines sister in law was a harness maker. Strange his name is William doubtful he has a brother calleed William also isn't it. Zoe

I wonder why he changed his father's name from William to Henry? Still a shoemaker and a saddler would both be craftsmen with leather, so it isn't such a leap of imagination. Not like my great-uncle, who said his dad was a 'provisions merchant'. In actual fact, poor Thomas was a milk carrier! nell

Sorry OFF line for a bit.... be back. Dud.

Son William joined the navy . On his marriage cert' he put his father down as a Henry, saddler by trade. I certain this was to impress the inlaws. Dud.

1881 (sister in law from 1901) Head is a Harness Maker and called William Spink Catherine Spink abt 1839 Walsall, Staffordshire, England Wife 22 Portland St, Walsall Foreign, Staffordshire, England Elizabeth A. Spink abt 1874 Daughter 22 Portland St, Walsall Foreign, Staffordshire, England Florence Spink abt 1862 Walsall, Staffordshire, England Daughter 22 Portland St, Walsall Foreign, Staffordshire, England John E. Spink abt 1875 Son 22 Portland St, Walsall Foreign, Staffordshire, England Walter W. Spink abt 1864 Walsall, Staffordshire, England Son 22 Portland St, Walsall Foreign, Staffordshire, England William Spink abt 1833 Walsall, Staffordshire, England Head 22 Portland St, Walsall Foreign, Staffordshire, England

Have you got Caroline's sons' marriage certs - it would be interesting to see who they named as their fathers. nell

Yes Zoe I did. However I dont seem to be able to link the sisier in law with her original husband Edward. dud

Did you notice in 1901 she was living with her sister in law? Zoe

In 1881 she is a visitor at the home of a Licenced victualer. Can you blame her......... Dud.

In 1871 she is down as Head of the house. Both her sons are with her. Dud.

She is a widow by 1901 do you have her in the 1891/1881 census Zoe

Hmm. Reading between the lines, perhaps father Edward removed Charles from this immoral household, following the birth of a child he knew wasn't his! But I don't know that we can prove this. Puzzled that you can't find a registration for Charles either. As to why Caroline put a father on the birth cert instead of leaving it blank a) she made the name up, although I think this is unlikely as she could have just put her husband's name on it b) leaving it blank would mean that William would be regarded as illegitimate, which was quite a stigma c) maybe she knew William Bromley 'Spink' was the father and wanted to get support from him - putting his name on the birth cert would help to argue her case. nell

It states she is still married on the census image in 1861 Zoe

Hi Nell. I have no baptismal record. Her son with Edward was called Charles and I cannot find a registration of birth for him. In 1861 Caroline was a live in servant/housekeeper. She had William with her aged 3. Son Charles was boarded out with another family. Dud.

Have you tried looking for a candidate for William Bromley on the census? Have you tried finding a baptism record? Is Caroline listed as married or widowed in 1861? nell

Hi . Is anybody able to point me in the right direction.? Caroline Jasper b.1828 in Walsall, married Edward Spink 1849, district of Wolverhampton. In 1851 they were together at Chapel Street, Walsall with their 1 year old son, Edward being a bridal cutter. In 1858 Caroline registers the birth of a son William Bromley. She gives the fathers name as William Bromley Spink a shoe maker jouneyman. She puts the mothers name down as Caroline Spink formally Jasper so I know its the right Caroline. It is obvious that husband Edward is not the father . By 1861 he is in London with 'wife' Anne E. who he apparently married in 1869. Why would Caroline be so precise with the details on the birth certificate for William? Why not leave the fathers column blank? I have tried to assume that a William Bromley was the father but with no results. Has anyone any ideas or is this the end of the line in this case.? Many thanks Dud.