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Why might he have changed his name?

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Mad Alice

Mad Alice Report 20 Jan 2009 19:32

Hi Heather,
Yes I wondered about that so I will be looking at the registers for where he was working in Downham Market where he was an apprentice. Have thought about newspapers but I could spend years looking - and then there may be nothing!
I suppose he may have been perfectly innocent - but I can't help thinking there must be a reason and a good story behind all this.
thank you
Alice

Heather

Heather Report 19 Jan 2009 23:03

Perhaps he was already married when he married in Kent in 1856 and chose a similar sounding name so he wouldnt forget it.

Mad Alice

Mad Alice Report 19 Jan 2009 22:55

For years i was looking at James Cox born in Thetford in 1834 . i couldn't find him because he changed his name!
He was in fact, born James Hitchcock a blacksmith and I have at last found his baptism.
He lived in Downham market in 1851 and called himself by his birthname Hitchcock. He married in kent in 1856 under the name of Cox.
He was convicted for bigamy in 1865 and was calling himself Hitchcock again...... he continued under his real name for the rest of his life.
My question (at last!) :
Why would he have changed his name in the first place? - Any ideas how to go about starting to find out??
Maybe he did something else which made him leave Norfolk .
Would love to find out!
All help appreciated.
Alice