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I have a William Norman Davenport born 1900 Stoke T.
He had children between 1923 - 34 and the mother's maiden name was put as Godwin on the entry on BMD.
I have been told the mother's name was Elsie Ada.
I cannot find a marriage to Elsie Ada Godwin ANYWHERE!
BUT there is a marriage of a William [H] Davenport to a Ada Smallwood in Stoke T 1918. When I looked the BMD entry, it certainly looks like William N Davenport.
If this is the right William, then how and why are the childrens mother's maiden name Godwin.
There are no children for Davenport/Smallwood on BMD.....
I cannot even find a suitable Elsie Ada Godwin living anywhere close (Burslem), but Ada Smallwood was in Hanley in 1901 - born 1892.
I have looked to see whether Ada was married twice, but cannot find a Smallwood/Godwin marriage. In 1901, she is living with her mother & siblings - no sign of a Godwin stepfather.
What do you think? I am sure it is the correct couple - but why is the maiden name Godwin on the entries for the children?
Aahhhh! :-(

Have you got any of the birth certs?
Jan

Not yet, but all five children have the mother's maiden name as Godwin.

I think you need a cert. You really need to establish her first name.
Jan

One of the daughter's is still alive. She says her mother was Elsie Ada.

Do you know when Elsie died? I cannot see a death for an Elsie A. or Elsie Ada Davenport.
jan

No - but I think she lived to a ripe old age.
It could be that Elsie was a pet name. If the marriage is correct, and I think it may be, then she was Ada.

Well, I can't see a marriage either. Maybe they never married? But without a birth cert you can't really be 100% sure of your information - families often get things wrong!
If you can pin down when she died, it might offer a clue - death entries are online up till 2005.
Jan

??

Name: William Norman Davenport
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1900
Registration district: Wolstanton
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 172

seems rather a big gap to marry in 1918 and 1st child born 1923

??
name: Ada Davenport
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1892
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1971
Age at Death: 79
Registration district: Stoke on Trent
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 9b
Page: 1281

Name: William N Davenport
Birth Date: abt 1900
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1968
Age at Death: 68
Registration district: Stoke on Trent
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 9b
Page: 606

Actually - I'm thinking - he was only 18 when he married, but if it was the correct Ada,she was 26. Uuuummmm!
Phew, this is a pain.
That is the correct William, Shirley.

Shirley - I've just noticed Ada's death. That is likely to be her - that fits with her being Ada Smallwood - born 1892!! THANKS

BUT why GODWIN?????

You must have Ancestry? Can you confirm the marriage in 1918 is William N?

its William M but the type is blurred

Name: William M Davenport
Spouse Surname: Smallwood
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1918
Registration district: Stoke upon Trent
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume Number: 6b
Page Number: 396
Find Spouse: Ada Smallwood

no children listed for Davenport /Smallwood

Noooooo! I thought the M looked like an N when I looked at the actual entry.
On the FreeBMD, they say it's an H!! :-S

from freebmd.org.uk

Marriages Mar 1918 (>99%)

Davenport William [H_] Smallwood Stoke T. 6b 306


looking at the actual image, it could be either H, M or N!



Ada shows up separately ................ the page number for William is wrong


Marriages Mar 1918 (>99%)

Smallwood Ada Davenport Stoke T. 6b 396




sylvia

I would get one of the childrens birth certs,

It may be he married Ada Smallwood and they separated and he got together with Elsie but they couldn't marry because he was already married.