Genealogy Chat

I'm trying to find details of my great grandfather. I have found a reference (from others) to a Henry James Adams born on 8th May 1884 in a Lambeth workhouse to a Susan Maria Adams. Where would the birth have been registered? I have found this HJA on the 1891 & 1901 censuses living with his mother & step family (surname Berkshire). On FreeBMD there are 5 candidates: 4th qtr of 1883, Chipping Sodbury (vol.6a, p.197) 4th qtr of 1883, Wesbury S. (vol.6a, p.243) 2nd qtr of 1884, Bethnal Green (vol. 1c, p.226) 2nd qtr of 1884, Uxbridge (vol. 3a, p.23) (This one is a “Henry James A Adams”) 3rd qtr of 1884, Amersham (vol.3a, p.583) Its not the Bethnal Green one as that arrived in the post yesterday and my HJA was illegitimate. I do not have his exact birth date (or place! some family memebers have said Southampton), but I do have his marriage & death certs which haven't helped me. On FreeBMD a search for just Henry Adams Oct 1883-Mar 1885 brings up no Lambeth registered births. On the 1891 census there is a HJA at an orphanage in Iwerne Minster, Dorset & born in Norwood, London. Maybe that's him? Thanks for any advice in advance, John

John, The refence given by others, is it actually the birth date, or is it a baptism date? If it is the actual birth date, and gives details of the mother, I'm not sure how finding the birth cert would give you any more info. Is your problem that you are trying to find out if this child actually was your ancestor, as opposed to other children with the same name? FreeBMD is not complete, so you may not have found all civil reg entries. Jay

John Do you know where Susan Maria was on the 1881 census, that might give you a clue? regards Looby

I'm trying to get a birth cert with no father listed. Once I have the birth cert I can also check the names and places on the censuses. I don't know his mothers name, I do know his side of the family was 'looked down on' which has made the Lambeth workhouse connection seem more likely. I've written to relatives but no one seems to know. At the time of his 1st marriage he lived in Paddington as a railway porter. The witnesses have not proved helpful for his side of the family. His 2nd wife gave everything away after his death - including the family bible with the Adams family tree on it! (just trying to look at 1881 census for susan maria). But to reiterate my main question: a birth in a Lambeth worhouse would be registered in Lambeth?

In the 1881 census she may have been a servant in Hastings. The head of the family is Alfred Coote so maybe that's who fathered Henry James? Either that or one of the sons - a son Edwin is the same age as her. Family legend has it she was knoc... I mean the father was a titled person. Most likely that is made up.

Where and when was Susan Maria born? regards Looby

John You say the Bethnal Green one is not the right one, who does it give as the mother and father? Now I'm really confused, cannot see either Susan or HJA on either of the 1891 or 1901 together - the only two Susan Berkshire's do not have HJA with them and the only HJA is an apprentice in Bristol?? Do you have the refs and I'd be willing to see what I can find? Looby

Susan Maria was born 1858 in Lambeth (found that one on Freebmd). Lambeth, Sep 1858, vol.1d, p.232. 1871 census she may be at a school 1881 census she's a servant in sussex. Possible, as she was a servant. 1891 with new husband & family 1901 with new husband & family, sans HJ Bethnal green birth cert.: Father: Henry James Adams (labourer) & mother: Ann Elizabeth White. Address 18 Burgoyne Road, Bethnal Green. DOB. 26 Apr 1884.

Yes, a birth in Lambeth Workhouse SHOULD have been registered in Lambeth. But I am unsure as to whether the Workhouse Authorities took care of the registration, or whether it was left to the mother to do it herself - in which case she could do it anywhere - and lie! Another aspect of this - just because someone is born in a Workhouse at this time does not necessarily mean they were illegitimate - Workhouses had infirmaries attached to them and it was a place for poor women to have their babies, if birth difficulties were predicted, or there were no friends and family to help out in the area. OC

In 1891 census she appears as Susan Maria Berskshire & he appears as Henry James Berkshire (aged 11). They are living in St Marylebone parish. Her spouse is George & there is also a George A Alfred aged 3.

The reason I mentioned the illegitimacy is that the other trees with this in (the workhouse ones) do have him as illegitimate too. His mother was a servant who became impregnated by a member of the household she worked in.

Yvonne, are the London Metropolitan Archives a free service? I had a look at their website and they charge £35 an hour? When you looked up the baptism, was this on the world connect trees on Rootsweb? Thanks to everyone for their input. I'm chiselling away at a family brick wall!

Seems to me there would be more point in trying to get hold of the Workhouse Admissions register, which MIGHT give some details of her circumstances - and if you are lucky (and the Workhouse Master was an officious busybody) - you MIGHT get the name of the 'reputed father'. The reputed father is most unlikely to be on the birth certificate - he would have had to attend registration. Workhouse baptisms were done on a (generally) weekly basis by the lowly curate from the Parish Church, who may or may not have recorded the reputed father. OC

John, I'm a bit confused about what you are trying to do. Your earliest documentation of your HJA is the cert for his first marriage, when he was married in Paddington, no father is given on the cert, so it's assumed he was illegitimate. You have access to another tree which indicates that YOUR HJA was born at Lambeth Workhouse, his mother subsequently married Mr George Berkshire and HJA appears in 1891 census as George Berkshire. Once he leaves the parental home, he uses his own name, Henry James Adams - Is this correct? When did he marry and what age did he give? I'm not trying to give you the third degree, just trying to sort out where you are coming from. (This info may help someone who is trying to help you.) Where was he in 1901 census? 40 hits on records here for a Henry Adams, born 1883 to 1885, obviously many can be eliminated because of location. Jay

SOLVED Just an update. My uncle sent me a letter that was sent to HIS uncle in 1955. It had a list of family names from Great Glemham in Suffolk and has proved that the names I had on my tree are correct. So I have found the right Henry James Adams and his mother was Susan Maria Adams. John

Norwood would come under Lambeth.