Genealogy Chat

please see below soon, one big long mess and very confusing!

Ok....... My great grandad was Herbert Walters born 1896 in Islington. From a younger siblings birth cert (15 years younger)i have found out his parents names were Florence Annie Lakin and James Walters. James' occupation is listed as Bar Man. I found Florence aged 27 with Herbert and Irene in St Pancras in 1901 census, born Grantham Lincs. James appears at a pub as bar man aged 30 in Teddington, born Isleworth. Got their marriage cert from 1901. James is a Railway Plate Layer aged 36 father John a plumber deceased Florence is 26 father Charles deceased Maltser. I can only find a Florence Annie Lakin born 1870 in Leicestershire, then cant find her at all in any census. Possibly a Flora Lakin, but with granparents the whole time. Looked prior to Flora being born and the grandparents do not have a son Charles listed with them, so cant confirm this is my Florence. Unable to find James at all. The reason i think its all a lie (possibly) is that theres a family legend stating that James was originally called Bowkitt (no idea of spelling) and came from Brecon in Wales. He was in the army and went AWOL changing his name to Walters. The only person alive to know anything, is my grandads sister who has told me something else completely different and when i originally found Herbert on the census, said there was no way that could be them because they were always in the York area. As far as she is aware that might be true, but i mentioned the army story and she completely denied it. But my nan was told this story by Herbert, and i feel that is a far more logical reason. I guess the only way now is to buy the cert for Florence birth and see if the fathers name and occupation matches, but i just wonder how much of what they told was a lie. sorry more of a ramble than a question!

All the matches for 'James Bowk*t*' on any Welsh census were born in England. None in 1871. Spelling is Bowkett. And they are a James with a son James Thomas. Can't find any Johns in Wales old enough to be James's father, either. And none of these Bowketts are in Breconshire. It looks as though most Bowketts come from the West of England originally, if that's any help. Kate.

Um If Florence didn't marry James until 1901 and you got her name from a child's birth cert in abt 1911, how can you know that she is the mother of a boy born 1896? Without Herbert's birth cert you can't be sure who his mother was. nell

I suppose you could look through the GRO birth indexes to see if there is a Flora Lakin born about the right time in the right place, to rule that one out. Kate.

Is this him: Walters, Herbert Henry Record Type: Births 1896 March District: Islington Volume: 1b Page: 258

Is this Herbert's birth registration? Name: Walters, Herbert Henry Record Type: Births Quarter: March Year: 1896 District: Islington County: Greater London London Middlesex Volume: 1b Page: 258 (click to see others on page) And I second Nell's first question! I was concentrating on the Bowketts and the Lakins too much to notice that... Kate.

By the way, it looks as though Florence and James got married in 1900, not 1901? Still after Herbert was born, though... Kate.

Hi sorry for taking so long to get back yes they married January 1900 sorry! Yes thats my great grandad. I guess i dont know for definate that Florence is his mum, on the marriage cert they are a spinster and batchelor so neither were married before (or so they say). But Eric is definately Herberts brother because his death info matches his birth date. Bowkitt is only a guess at a name, unfortunatly over 100 years has passed so names could have been changed accidentally on purpose! I so wish i could wake a couple of them up and find the truth!!! think i will have to get the Florence birth cert and maybe herberts too

Whether or not the couple were married before, without Herbert's birth cert it is pure conjecture that Florence was his mum. Imagine finding out about Florence back to 1800 and then finding Herbert's mum was called Joan! nell