General Chat

Seems odd he was adopted if his dad was wealthy.

Another thing to consider was that war was going on and your father could have been the result of an affair.

Have you looked at electoral rolls to see who lived at that address? It could be a relative of Lilian's. There are no other births with mother's maiden name Cryer in Burton. Could be Lilian went up there to privately have the baby.

Rose

Hi Brian...have bookmarked for when I can give this some thought and to nudge it up for others who may be able to help.

Susan

One extra thought - I wonder if Villier on your dad's birth certificate was written down because the registrar misheard the name "Villiers".

I was just thinking, with the date of his birth being about ten years before official adoptions came in, perhaps his adoptive parents registered him as if he was their own child. It would depend on the time delay between the birth and the registration but, given that parents had six weeks to get a birth registered, it might also explain the gap of a few weeks.

Don't know if it's any help but there's a Lily L Cryer aged 1 in 1901 living in Burnley, Lancashire. I've come across Lillians before who were known as Lily.

I was going to suggest trying the births index for a Lillian Cryer but I'm sure you must have thought of that already.

Edit - perhaps not. She looks like the Lily Ladysmith Cryer who was registered in Burnley in Jun qtr 1900.

When my Dad died in 2001 I found a document showing that he was adopted from a workhouse, the Burton on Trent Union, in 1918 when just a few weeks old.
There are lots of clues on his birth certificate but I cannot find ONE SINGLE LEAD !
My Dad was born ROY VILLIER CRYER SMITH on 8/4/1918 at 56 Moor Street, Burton on Trent. His parents were Lilian Leah Smith (nee Cryer) and George Smith.
Occupation of father says 'of independent means'.
I cannot find a marriage, a birth for Lilian Leah Cryer ( or Lilan Leah anybody that might fit !! ).
I have searched every census for the extremely rare surname Villier thinking it must have a great significance - nothing !
Has anybody got any ideas whatsoever where I might search for clues ?
Thanks to all
Brian