Unwanted Birth Certificates.
A few years ago I was given three birth certificates to see if I could find anyone that had a connection to the people mentioned on the certified copies.
I think the reason I was given the certificates was twofold. Firstly, I was Chair of a family history society at the time and would mention the excess certificates during my introduction at the meeting. Secondly, I had family of the same surname as one of the certificates.
Whose birth certificates are they?
Born on 10th August 1896 at 1 West Street, Normanton. Harry was the son of John William Wilkinson and his wife Elizabeth nee Sunderland. John W was a Drayman working for the local Co-operative Society. Elizabeth registered her son’s birth eight days later, on the 18th of August.
Were they mine? Sadly, not. I had in my tree the birth of one Harry born 1895, and a John William, but his wife did not match – his birth date also makes him too young to be Harry’s father.
The next certificate belongs to Hilda, born on the 13th of January 1899 at 14 Well House Square, Potter Newton at 11.00pm – yes she was a twin. Walter Newill is noted as the father and Jane Newill formerly Hargrave, is her mother. Walter worked as a bricklayers labourer. Jane registered her daughter’s birth on the 8th of March 1899.
Hilda’s twin was called Walter, he was born 15 minutes later at 11.15pm.
What happened to the twins? Did they marry? Did Walter fight in The Great War? Did they have long and happy lives?
Family history as we all have come to learn has its trials and tribulations. Its highs and lows. Times of great joy and if you have great joy you must have times of sadness.
Walter and Jane had seen the birth of their twins shortly after the new year of 1899, so I went straight to look for a r marriage for Hilda – no marriage. I then looked at the deaths and found she had died in the September quarter of her birth year, 1899.
37-39 Potternewton Lane, via Leodis
Walter however, is one of two Walter Newill’s living in Leeds, the other is his father! Their rather smudged census sheet for 1911 has the family living at 39 Potternewton Lane, nr Leeds. Walter is still a bricklayers labourer, while Jane is a charwoman. Jane during her married life of 13 years, up to census time, she had given birth to seven children, of which, four had survived to be recorded in the census.
Walter jnr. fought in World War. His Attestation Papers have been scanned and tell that Walter of 39 Potternewton Lane, was 17 years old and 59 days old and worked as a farmer. The first page of his papers is burnt, as is the rest of his paperwork, but Walter Newill is confirmed as being his father. He was serving in the Leicester Regiment as Private 102121. Walter was 5′ 8″ in height and had a fully expanded chest of 36″. As well as being burnt some of the papers have water damage – a result of enemy action during the next war. But on the 12th of January 1918, Walter seems to have overstayed his leave until the 14th of January – he probably wanted to celebrate his birthday! Anyway, he was punished by 7 days CB (confined to barracks) and deprived of 4 days pay. While at Saltfleet on 24th of October of 1918, he again overstays his leave – returning on the 28th at 17.35hrs (4 days). Punishment this time is 10 days C.B.
Further entries tell that Walter joined the army on the 3rd of April 1917.
Did Walter survive the war? Yes, he did! He married in the winter of 1920 Alice Craven in the Halifax area and seems to have gone on to have at least three children – his eldest being named John W in 1922.
Question ? These certificates were all given to me by the same person, so is there a family link between the Wilkinson’s and the Newill’s, as they were all purchased on the same day?
Do these certificates form part of your research? If they do let me know and I’ll send you some copies – if I send the originals, other relatives may miss out!