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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: tikki_nik2 on Thursday 17 July 08 20:04 BST (UK)
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I am trying to research my partners family. I have been told that the family changed their name from Worsley to Peckham and no one knows why.
My partners grandfather was Ronald Arthur Peckham, born to Frederick Peckham and Alice Mabel (nee Brunger) in Dartford in 1920. I have found a wedding for Frederick Peckham and Alice M Brunger in March 1920 in Dartford. However I haven't yet sent off for the certificate.
I am told that Frederick was originally called Frederick Charles Worsely son of Robert and Elizabeth Harriet (nee Dunster), b. 3 Nov 1890, Hope Mill Cottages, Goudhurst, Cranbrook, Kent. We have a certificate showing this birth. Nobody knows why the family changed their name and Ron's birth certificate says his father was Frederick Peckham (note no middle name mentioned either). Also the marriage record for Fredk does not include a middle name of Charles.
I have searched the 1891 census where Fredk aged 0-1 years (probably near Goudhurst) should be but can not find him. I have looked under both Peckham and Worsley. I also can not find his parents Robert and Elizabeth Worsley. I have found a reference for a wedding in June 1884 for Elizabeth Harriet Dunster and Robert Worsley in Tenterden, fairly close to Cranbrook. But I am a bit doubtful about whether these are Fredk's true parents as I have only heard about the name change from hearsay at the moment.
Can anybody else help me with this mystery? I am aware that sooner or later I am going to have to purchase these certificates but I just haven't had a chance yet.
Thanks
Nikki
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Nikki
You will find Frederick Wordsley in 1891 at this ref RG12 697 f 28
Barbara
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The whole family seems to have disappeared in 1901. I cannot find them under any name!
I was wondering whether Robert the father might have died and Elizabeth married a Mr Peckham. But I can't find anything to prove that either.
Barbara
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Hi Nikki
Many of the Dartford area parish registers are online so, luckily, you won't have to send for the marriage certificate of Frederick PECKHAM to Alice M BRUNGER ;)
Sutton at Hone 30 March 1920
Frederick PECKHAM 24, engine driver of Sutton at Hone son of Robert PECKHAM, stockman so he should be born c1895/1896 - do you have a death or burial for him to see what age is given there?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03v1/
Casalguidi :)
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That is very useful caslguidi.
It looks as though there may well be 2 separate Fredericks and that the Worsley birth certificate is nothing to do with the man we are looking for.
Have had a quick look at the 1901 census for Frederick Peckham born 1895/6. Nothing obvious there but will have a further look later.
Barbara
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Hi,
Thanks for your help starting me off on this one. I haven't got any further with the Worsley/Peckham part yet however the wedding certificate that you found for Frederick Peckham and Alice Mabel Brunger shows that her father was Richard Orlando Brunger. I have managed to trace him back through all the census' (he's fairly easy to find with that name!). He is son of John and Mary/Mercy and the large family were born and bred in Tenterden. He is married to Mary Ann Taylor in Tenterden in 1885 and the 1891 census shows him and Mary Ann with their daughter Alice.
This discovery perhaps helps to give a bit more credence to the Frederick Charles Worsley birth certificate from Goudhurst, Cranbrook as this is very close to where the Brunger family come from.
On the Frederick Charles Worsley birth certificate it shows the father Robert as a Groom & Gardener (Domestic Servant). Their address is Hope Mill Cottages, Goudhurst.
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The marriage certificate that you found shows the witnesses as Curtis? A.W. Brunger - possibly Alice's uncle Curtis or a brother or cousin and also F Sanderson.
I have done a search of marriages in Dartford on Free BMD and in June 1911 between Worsley/Peckham and Sanderson and an Elizabeth F Peckham married an Octavius J Sanderson, 2a, 1239. Was this Elizabeth an older sister?
I can't work out how to use the Medway site so it is possible for you to search this for me and see if there is another wedding certificate for this marriage that may give some more clues?
Also there isn't an Elizabeth F on the Wordsley census entry. I am assuming this isn't the remarriage of Frederick's mother as she shows on the census as Elizabeth H and I have been told her name is Elizabeth Harriet by family members so the F on the wedding certificate wouldn't stack up.
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If we post the 1891 census details here, it's easier than keep looking them up ;)
1891 Tenterden
Robert WORDSLEY head mar 28 coachman & gardener b.Rolvenden
Elizabeth H wife 29 b.Tenterden
George A son 6 b.Tenterden
Arthur E son 4 b.Goudhurst
Florence M dau 2 b.Goudhurst
Frederick C son 5m b.Goudhurst
RG12/697 folio 28 page 6.
Casalguidi :)
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Elisbeth Florence PECKHAM married Octavius John SANDERSON 15 Apr 1911 Wilmington http://www.rootschat.com/links/03vb/
The witness Ruth Ellen PECKHAM could be nee WEAVER the wife of George Albert PECKHAM see http://freebmd.rootsweb.com
Sorry I don't have time to answer more fully now.
Casalguidi :)
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Nikki
I am still looking at this. :)
The first witness at the marriage of Frederick to Alice is A W Brunger. I think that the first squiggles are the initials of the vicar - simply initialling the crossing out.
I also notice that Frederick is quite a lot younger than Alice. This makes me wonder whether we should be looking for an even younger Frederick. He may have increased his age on the certificate to reduce the difference between his age and that of his bride's.
I have not found any Frederick Peckham who fits with a 24 year old son of Robert in the 1901 census.
I still cannot find any of the Worsley family in 1901. Might be worth checking whether they went abroad.
If Frederick Worsley and Frederick Peckham are the same man I wonder why Frederick gave his age as 24 at marriage? Surely he would have given his real age (30) which would make him much nearer his bride.s age?
I shall have a look at the 1901 census again looking for younger Frederick Peckhams.
Barbara
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I am told that Alice Brunger had a son Stanley Brunger, born 1918 before she married Frederick and had Reginald in 1920 and then his brother Robert in 1924.
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Looking at it again, I'm wondering if the age of Frederick PECKHAM at the time of his marriage in 1920 should read 29 rather than 24 as I first thought ............... it's not too clear :-\
There is this family in 1901 at Sevenoaks though it looks to be very muddled if it is the correct one :-\
1901 in a coal shed at Sevenoaks
Robert PECKHAM head 50
May wife 50
Bert 24
Fred 22
George 16
Arthur 14/11/4?
RG13/747 folio 150 page 59
Casalguidi
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I cannot add anything to the Peckham line but I have the Brunger line back to 1540 wi9th a good degree of accuracy
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Hi, i've been inspired to pick this quandary up again. I have found the family as Peckhams in the 1911 census and worsleys in the 1891 census so I think their name change occurred between these dates. This seems to rule out one of the men being a deserter.
1981 - tenterden
Robert Worsley 28 coachman and gardener b. Tenterden, Kent
Elizabeth h 29 wife b. Same as above
George a 6
Arthur e 4 b. Goudhurst, Kent
Florence m 2
Frederick c 5m
1911 - 3 burnt house, hawley, dartford
Robert Peckham 45 widower farm labourer b. Den, Kent
Florence 20 b. Goudhurst, Kent
Frederick 21 farm labourer b. Sevenoaks, Kent
Herbert (son) 46?! Gen labourer b. Sevenoaks
More confusingly I have the older brother George married to Ellen weaver in 1908 as a Worsley and in the 1911 census as Peckhams. I have confirmed this marriage between George and ellen is correct through family sources. G and E are living with a younger brother Ezra Peckham aged 12, in dartford. So this was a new member of the family to investigate and sent me off on a new trail. Ezra Frank Peckham was born in Sevenoaks in 1899 and died in Dartford in 1920.
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So in 1981 census the family were worsleys
In 1899 Ezra Peckham was born - I'm yet to get a birth certificate to prove he really was Roberts son but the 1911 census indicates this
In 1908 George was married as a Worsley
In 1911 the family were in the census as peckhams
I am yet to find the 1901 census entry although the closest I have found is the one listed above of Robert and may, however the ages are very out on this.
I am yet to find a death registration for Elizabeth Harriet (new dunster) who I know was born in tenterden in 1863 and married Robert Worsley in tenterden in 1884.
I know the family were in dartford where my husbands grandfather Ronald Arthur Peckham was born to Frederick Charles Peckham in 1920.
Any more help to find out why the name was changes or more about the family would be very greatly appreciated!
Nikki
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Hi..Found your mention of Alice Mable Brunger,nickname "sis", b.1889 Interesting..She was the sister of my grandfather, Richard Albert..Their parents were Richard Orlando & MaryAnne (Taylor) Have recently made contact with other relatives in Kent, & we are sharing info...
Love to hear from you