Genealogy Chat

Carol, Thanks for your reply - I wish they had been honest about their ages! Having read my message again, I've come to the conclusion that I need to find him on earlier census to pin down his fathers name, so I've put a message on the Records Board to see if anyone has access to 1851 and 1861. Thanks again Di

They do lead us a merry dance don`t they. Seems ironic for you that the name John Doe is used when a persons identity is not known. Back to your problem, it did happen that when a child died in infancy, a later child was given the same name. I have one in my tree and both birth certificates and a death certificate support it. Have you looked for a death for the 1847 one at all. As for age on census not adding up, that happens a lot I think, due to people being illiterate and being uncertain about their age, or lying about their age for some reason and then sticking to it on later censuses. Only certificates can prove it with certainty if the parentage is right.

Thomas Joseph Edwin/Edward Doe married Julia Littlefield in 1868 in Clapham, London - living at 2 Queens Place and both of full age - marriage certificate states father as John Doe (deceased) I have found them on: 1871 census living at the same address with his in-laws, the Littlefields, giving his age as 24 b. Penge 1881 census living at 52 Dashwood Road, Battersea age 33 b. London, Middlesex 1901 census living at 26 Bosworth Road, N. Kensington age 56 b. London Vauxhall (All these entries look correct due to other family members but none of the ages match up) I have sent off for two birth certs: One is dated 1847, Poplar, Middlesex showing parents as Thomas Doe and Mary Stevens, living at 44 Grundy Street, Poplar The other is dated 1850, Poplar, Middlesex showing parents as above, living at 2 Grundy Street, Poplar I am assuming, perhaps wrongly, that the first Thomas Doe b. 1847 died in infancy and they named another son the same I can only find one other Thomas Doe on 1837online that might have been born in London (Place very hard to read but could be Harmsworth or Haslemere) between 1844 and 1850 Thanks Di

I can't see for looking at this lot anymore, if anyone can make any more sense of it I'd be really grateful. Thanks Di (details to follow)