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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (North Riding) => Topic started by: Blanched on Thursday 07 February 08 17:00 GMT (UK)

Title: Gavin Sorbie - Middlesbrough imposter?
Post by: Blanched on Thursday 07 February 08 17:00 GMT (UK)

I have a nice problem here. One Gavin Sorbie, a seaman, married Sarah Benbow in Middlesbrough in 1897. In the 1901 census Gavin is shown as aged 35, a restaurant keeper (guess what his father-in-law is described as on the marriage certificate!) & born in Scotland. He doesn't seem to be on any censuses prior to 1901, either in Scotland or England  :-\

Now, we Sorbies are a small(ish) family & we can usually fit any new finds into our tree with a little research. But Gavin is defeating us. There are no Gavins born in Scotland in the 1860-1870 period who are not already on the tree. There are no Gavin Sorbies born in England - even with the more usual English spelling of Sorby. On his m.c. he gives his father as John Sommerville Sorbie, deceased, & we can't find him either. We think Gavin may have been born Alexander Hector Sorbie in Edinburgh in 1867 & that he may for some reason have taken his father's name - could he be a bigamist  :o We're pretty sure his father died in Knaresborough shortly after the marriage but are still waiting for the d.c.

Does anyone who know Middlesbrough, or has access to the local papers, have any ideas about how we trace Gavin really was.

Blanched

Title: Re: Gavin Sorbie - Middlesbrough imposter?
Post by: peely on Friday 08 February 08 05:49 GMT (UK)

Hello Blanched,
I cant help you solve your mistery, but i live in Middlesbrough so if there is any thing i can do , ie photo's etc i will be more than glad to help.
I love walking about graveyards even this time of year.
I have searched the ( tees-valley indexes ) for Corbie BMD's and this is the complete list to date.
The tees-valley indexes are very good because they are up to date ( 2007 ) plus they give the name of spouse not just the page where yuo have to play a guessing game.
here they all are;

Births ;

winifred M    1898
Ivy A             1900
Norman J       1901
Ernest W        1904
Alice I             1905
Ronald            1908
Dennis             1948
Dennis             1986
Chloe L S          1997
Ben C                1998
Lucy A               2002

Marriages;

Alexander = Sarah J Rourke               1883
Gavin = Sarah J Benbow                     1897
Alice I = William M Watson                  1937   Guisborough
David = Amelia A Ward                        1940   Guisborough
Dennis = Audrey Hannan                     1977
Steven C = Hazel Bennett                    1978

Deaths;

Ivy A          1901
Gavin          1937
Sarah A      1953
Ernest W     1980

Hope this clear things up a bit,
Peely

Title: Re: Gavin Sorbie - Middlesbrough imposter?
Post by: Blanched on Friday 08 February 08 14:26 GMT (UK)

Wow Peely, thanks for all the info. We knew about some of the people you mention - Winifred, Ivy, Norman, Ernest, Alice & Ronald are all children of Gavin & Sarah. We knew about the marriage of Alexander in 1883 & wondered if it was he who changed his name & married Sarah Benbow.

I'll look at what you've given me in detail. Thanks so much for the offer to look up etc.

Best wishes

Blanched