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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Cheshire => England => Cheshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 17:14 BST (UK)
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The several trees which mention Connor Finney b.1878 and his wife Henrietta probably b. 1883 who married in Oswestry 1906 make no mention of any child.
The couple indisputably did raise a boy William as he was the father of my partner (nee Finney).
William Finney never established his date of birth and reference the General Register Office’s reply to his query -attached- he seemed to think that his biological mother’s surname was CROFT and that he was born sometime between 1919 and 1923 in or around Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
Over 20 years later in 1944 William’s biological mother wrote to to a relative of my partner deeply regretting that she gave William away and wished William to know that his mother had enquired after him. I attach part of the letter the mother wrote concerning William.
Somewhat problematically in the letter the biological mother called herself “Mattie” but volunteered the information that her Mother’s name was Mrs M Woods living at 7 Victoria Road, Higher Bebington, Cheshire. Now I have checked the election directories for 7 Victoria Road, Higher Bebington for 1939, 1945, 1946, 1947 & 1948 -there being no directories during WW2.
The occupants of 7 Victoria Road in those times were members of a family named Farwell there being no mention of a Mrs M Woods.
HOWEVER in 1939 and in 1948 there were other male occupants named CORFE with different forenames on different dates in the directories recorded as being there in addition to the permanent occupants. The 1939 register also shows two of the CORFES as occupying 7 Victoria Road Bebington along with the Farwells.
I strongly suspect that William Finney mistakedly thought his biological mother’s name was CROFT rather than CORFE and that is why his query to the GRO was fruitless. The letter from Matty is dated 1944 i.e. when no information on occupants permanent or ‘passing’ is available. So if “Matty’s” mother’s name was M. CORFE when she had Mattie and later married a WOODS that may be an explanation.
Could the Martha CORFE who married Robert WOODS in July 1927 in Birkenhead be Matty’s mother? If so can Mattie be a Martha or maybe a Matilda CORFE?
All of the above is centred around a relatively small area of Cheshire/Wirral. Connor and Henrietta spent their last years in a permanent home in Great Sutton also on the Wirral and are buried there. Hope the attachments can be read O.K. If not I need some guidance on that.
/Users/ians/Desktop/GRO letter 1969.JPG/Users/ians/Desktop/MATTIE TO PAT p1.JPG Mattie P3.JPG
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Mattie is more likely to be Matilda but that's just a guess
Presume William is the redacted entry in 1939. If he is deceased - you could ask for it to be opened but it may show him as Finney.
Is he on the 1921 census with the Finneys as that would narrow his birthyear down?
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A William Finney mmn Smith was b 1923 Northwich
Martha Corfe married Robert Woods 1927 Cheshire
Birth on freebmd 1921 for William Madden Corfe Wirral - mmn Corfe
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There is a Martha Corfe age 9 living at 7 Victoria Rd Bebington in 1911
Jan
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Presume William is the redacted entry in 1939. If he is deceased - you could ask for it to be opened but it may show him as Finney.
Not redacted on FindMyPast :)
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Aha - if there are any clues - Handson could take a peek. From his other post one of his neighbours has FindMyPast access
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I'm popping round to neighbour's now though I think she checked for William a few days ago without success but will re-look.
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She needs to turn up the 1939 entry for Connor & Henrietta
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Martha Corfe was still single and with family in 1921 census.
Possible birth
CORFE, WILLIAM MADDEN -
GRO Reference: 1921 J Quarter in WIRRAL Volume 08A Page 799
John
added William Madden Corfe appears on 1921 census as well as Martha(aged 19) address 7 Victoria rd.
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Mattie is a nickname for Martha too.
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I had previously noted Martha Corfe aged 9 in 1911 at but her Mother is down as Hannah so I didn't pursue it. Suppose her father could have remarried??
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I'm back home without asking about William Madden Corfe in 1921.
Can someone tell me his age then?
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Birth year 1921
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2 months according to census so born April 1921
1921 census date 19 June 1921
John
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That's very helpful. I think his assumed DOB was April 1921 but he wasn't sure.
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May I ask when he passed away.
John
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Yes 3 March 2016.
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I was drawn to the 1911/1912 birth of an Elizabeth A Finney, mmn Smith, Northwich on the other post.
Seeing another Finney birth, Northwich, 1923, mmn Smith even more intriguing!
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Do you know when Martha died, would you like details
John
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Yes I'd like to know.
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Martha Corfe was born according to her father James Henry Corfe's military record on the 14th April 1902. She appears in 1939 with Robert Woods with a dob 14.3.1902 and at death in 1980 with dob 14.3.1902.
John
added
Robert Woods
abt 1904 Oct 1966 Oct-Nov-Dec Birkenhead Cheshire
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Many thanks for that John.
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Is there a way to check if William was legally/formally adopted by Connor & Henrietta Finney?