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Karen,

Just in case June joined just for a year and is no longer a member, click on her name to send her a pm. (She may no longer be checking for people adding to this thread)

Hi
I cant resist replying although it is probably a longshot and not the same man that I have been looking for for years. I am searching for a George Cole (my Great Grandfather). In my research I have found discrepancies about his age, which is different according to his marriage certificate and his birth certificate. He was actually born in Woking, Surrey in 1891. His marriage certificate also calls him Ernest George Cole. He served in the first world war as a soldier but desserted and was never heard of by our family again. Of course he could have died, but also, it is possible that he could have escaped and made a new life, surrounded by llies and mystery. He must have been desperate to do what he did and I cant start to imagine the suffereing that generation had to endure, but like you I have always wanted to know what happened. I just wonder whather there is any chance our two George's could be the same man. Do you have any photos of him?

If your man Coles died in the institution then his death if c1930 should have been registered in the Totnes Registration District.

Here are 2 possibles but as Marie suggests the simplest and most accurate solution will be to obtain a copy of your mothers birth certificate.

Deaths Dec 1931
Coles William S 67 Totnes 5b 215
Deaths Jun 1934
Coles William T 39 Totnes 5b 218

Birth Record
Name Francis George Coles
Year of Registration 1901
Quarter of Registration Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration District Plymouth
Registration County Devon
Mother's maiden name
Volume Number 5B
Volume Page 217
This one looks interesting as he died in 1941. age 39. I have sent for my mothers birth certificate this should tell me who her father was and his first name, which will save me from searching blind. will keep all who were so kind as to help updated.Reason i found him is my mothers middle name is Francis ( Doreen Hazel Francis Coles ).. just a long shot..
June :-S

Junie, why don't you just order a copy of your mum's birth certificate?

You can get it online from GRO, cost £9.25 http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

All the info you need is here:

England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916-2005
Name: Doreen H F Coles
Mother's Maiden Surname: Edyveane
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1928
Registration district: Plympton
Inferred County: Devonshire
Volume Number: 5b
Page Number: 265

Correction..........Moorhaven Hospital Bittaford Nr Ivybridge.. Devon.

I found out today from my mother Doreen Coles that her father ( she only new him until she was about 3/4/5/ years old, she cannot even remember his first name ) that he died around 1930, as my gran had communication he had died, apparantly he died in some institution called then Moorfield institution based at Biteford near Ivybridge Devon, and upon looking at that place it was for people who had mental problems, I tried to find a list of patients there around and before 1930 but could not find anyone. I think his death would be registered at the parish where the hospital was or in Plymouth. I have a feeling hes not even called George, which is making it more difficult to find.

COLES, ERNEST FREDERICK

Rank:
Petty Officer
Service No:
P/JX 131269
Date of Death:
24/08/1940
Regiment/Service:
Royal Navy

H.M.S. Penzance.
Panel Reference
Panel 37, Column 2.
Memorial
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:

Just remembered something. my gran worked in HASLAR hospital in GOSPORT this was a Royal Naval Hospital. Perhaps COLES was there at the time..recovering..

MarieCeleste.

It must have been have been the 1st WW as my mother was born in 1927, and she was told by my gran later in years about COLES. I will have to ask her as i am really not sure, thats if she can remember, I will get back to you on this. I really want to find out about him.My gran was born 1895, surely he must have been almost the same age as her.She married EVANS in 1916, had my uncle by Evans in 1935, but in meantime my mother was born in 1927 with the surname COLES. eeeek!!

This could be him, the only Petty Officer with the name COLES. J.



J. COLES





Date of Birth:

Not known
Place of Birth: Not known
Former Occupation: Not known
Service: Royal Navy
Service No.: Unknown
Previous Service No.: Not known
Rank in Hood (highest): Stoker Petty Officer
Period in Hood: 1923/1924
Biographical Information: Not known

Junie, does your mum know after which war it was that he went a little unbalanced?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding was that if a woman had a child whilst she was legally married to someone then the child would be registered with her husband's surname (irrespective of who the father was), so that would explain George's Evans registration. It sounds as though James Elliott James has then come forward and acknowledged paternity so George's birth has been re-registered accordingly.

It seems like surnames could be changed easily back in those days which is obviously what my gran did with my uncle, probably to save face, as they did in those days..poor uncle seems to have had 3 surnames in his life..but according to records his real father was named Evans.

There is an extensive list of crew members between 1920 and 1941. There was a George D Cole and a W G Cole who were lost in the sinking of the ship in 1941. There was a J Coles served 1923/4 and a W H Coles at the same time.

There is no record of an exact name of George Coles..
Apparently after asking my mother who is now 83, she said stella Jane Edyvane ( her mum and my gran, ) met G Coles, when he was a petty officer in the Navy, he served on various ships, then he was sent to rest in the countryside with her as he had war syndrome and was affected by the war, he then went a little crazy and was sent to some mental institution, where he then ended his own life, so he did not die in the war. my mother cannot remember any more than that at this time unfortunately, but many thanks for all the help.

Margee. Yes this is my mother.

Your mother's birth? Mother's maiden name spelled Edyveana.

Births Mar 1928 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coles Doreen H F Edyveana Plympton 5b 265

Edit: Original spelled Edyveane.

Are you assuming George was about the same age as Stella Jane as she was born 1894? He may, of course, have been quite a bit older (or younger) than Stella. >> I was thinking he was older than her.

What does it give as his occupation on your mother's birth certificate? (If you don't have the certificate it would be worth ordering a copy). > I will get this.

Answering Marieceleste.

It gets even more complicated:

George A Elliott-james Jul-Aug-Sep 1935 Plympton Devon> My uncle. He must have taken his step-fathers name. ( another man in my grans life, the last one as I remember him )

George A Evans Jul-Aug-Sep 1935 Plympton > same as above, before she was with james Elliot-James. Devon/Cornwall/Seilly

George A James Jul-Aug-Sep 1935 Plympton Devon/Cornwall/Seilly> also same person...

All show MMN as Edyvane..Grand mothers MMN. > Scratching head...

June originally posted on another board, (Success) and I advised her to move.

I found this information as regards the original posting:
1901 England Census
William Edyvana [William Edyvane]
Age: 43 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Edyvana
Gender: Male
Where born: Padstow, Cornwall, England
Civil parish: Portsmouth
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints County/Island: Hampshire Country: England
Registration district: Portsmouth Sub-registration district: North End and Buckland
ED, institution, or vessel: 4 Household schedule number: 38 Piece: 978 Folio: 79 Page Number: 6
William Edyvana 43 shipwright
Elizabeth Edyvana 25
Albert Chas Edyvana 12
Stella Jane Edyvana 6
and in the next household is John Mitchell Edyvane,42,and family, also fromPadstow, Cornwall, a shipwright also.

Marriages Jun 1899
Andrew Elizabeth Portsea 2b 1019
Edyvane William Portsea 2b 1019

previous wife's death?
Deaths Sep 1897
Edyvane Jane 32 Falmouth 5c 103

Births Dec 1894
Edyvane Stella Jane Portsea 2b 473

first marriage?
Marriages Sep 1884
Eddy Jane Portsea 2b 787
Edyvane William Portsea 2b 787

Is this Stella Jane's death (E = Elliott?)

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2006
Name: Stella Jane E James
Birth Date: 15 Nov 1894
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1982
Age at Death: 87
Registration district: Plymouth
Inferred County: Devon
Volume: 21
Page: 2097