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We do agree and we're pretty sure!

It surely would be nice if the birth certificate named a father. But I wouldn't count on that.

Remember, Harris was his surname in th birth record -- Dowling was his middle name. I'd guess that his mother then used Dowling as his surname, since it was her own until she married Edmund Buckland.

A GR member has Edmund Buckland born 1843 in Barkham, Surrey, in his tree -- could be worth a contact. I'd get the Harris birth cert and see what it says, and then maybe also contact the person who corrected Francis Amos Harris's place of birth at Ancestry.

No luck identifying that Francis Amos Harris in terms of birth, marriage or census -- but oh dear, did Mary Ann lose another one?

Deaths Jun 1892
Harris Francis 34 [c1858] Hungerford 2c 167

That would fit.


Dying to know what the birth certificate says!


edit -- I'll place a side bet on "my" Francis. ;)

Births Mar 1853
Harris Francis Newbury 2c 207


1871 in Thatcham:

Francis Harris 58
- the Francis in the Ancestry member's tree I referred to above; that user has also corrected his place of birth.
Jane Harris 57
John Harris 24
> Francis Harris 18 - bricklayer
Samuel Harris 14


edit again - just getting a bit obsessive here, I searched for other births with middle name Dowling between first husband's death and marriage to second husband -- a long stretch. This one struck me as possibly somewhat interesting:

Births Mar 1888
HARRIS Frederick Dowling Portsea 2b 514

and unfortunately ...
Deaths Mar 1910
HARRIS Frederick Dowling 22 London C. 1c 16

but can't find him in between.

Thanks guys really appreciate your help

I'll order the birth certificate today for Horace Dowling Harris and let you guys know if you're interested

I must admit the Scottish records seem so much better than the English - I managed to fly back 8 generations because they gave me so much detail. English ones seem to be a bit trickier!

Well thanks again for your help - i'm sure i'll be back again next time I get stuck!!

If we're interested??

We'll have the thread in the BF file and will be harassing you for the results if you don't beetle back here with them. ;)


Btw, I never did get around to saying that my first reaction to the occupation on the marriage certificate was the same as Jonesey's: "colour sergeant".

I checked the Imperial Yeomanry lists at Kevin Asplin's site, for men in the Anglo-Boer war, in case the father ended up there, but didn't find a Harris to fit, although there were two Frank Harris-s and one F.

http://www.britishmedals.us/files/iyh.htm

Cool I didn't know about that site - will check it out

I've also just found out about the Para community website - these threads are so good for finding help - especially when you're still learning the ropes!

As soon as certificate arrives I'll let you know!

Thanks

Hi Janey / Jonesey

Birth certificate arrived this morning for Horace Dowling!

Father - William Harris - Naval Engineer
Mother - Mary Ann Harris prev Dowling prev Rickman

So looks like you were spot on with the mother but we now need to look for who William is - not sure if she married William too or if just took his name for the sake of the birth - the fact that Horace reverted back to Dowling may mean parents weren't married I guess?

The search continues - thanks again for your help

Carly

Yay us! and what luck that he was registered in the father's surname.

No marrige though, it seems. He may have had an existing marriage.


Time to go hunting again now for him ...

Hi Carly,

Thanks for letting us know the outcome. It is nice to be right (For once) lol

I'm in the middle of trying to sort out quite a complex family tree at the moment but I will keep looking in to your thread and if I can add or suggest something then I will.

Good luck

Hello Carla,
An old aunt from Hastings left us a lovely sideboard when she died in 2000. While cleaning it out recently, I noticed a ticket at the back :-
T Mepham & sons, Bexhill furniture removal and storage.
Any family connections?
Sheila

Read with interest the above post. My Great Grandmother was Mary Ann Buckland she was initially married to Michael Dowling a Colour Sergeant. He died in 1855. His father was reportedly an Excise Officer possible in Ireland. My Grandmother (May Rickman Buckland) was born in 1901. She spoke of her 'brother' coming to visit their mother when she was dying in hospital bringing with him his wife Grace. Like you I have not managed to find any reference to William Harris, Naval Engineer, and did wonder if perhaps this was a ficticious name. If you have any further information I would be most interest.