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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)

Title: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 17:14 BST (UK)
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
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: CaroleW on Thursday 10 August 23 17:22 BST (UK)
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?
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: CaroleW on Thursday 10 August 23 17:32 BST (UK)
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
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: janan on Thursday 10 August 23 17:36 BST (UK)
There is a Martha Corfe age 9 living at 7 Victoria Rd Bebington in 1911

Jan
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: rosie99 on Thursday 10 August 23 17:36 BST (UK)

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  :)
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: CaroleW on Thursday 10 August 23 17:38 BST (UK)
Aha - if there are any clues - Handson could take a peek.  From his other post one of his neighbours has FindMyPast access
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 17:46 BST (UK)
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.
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: CaroleW on Thursday 10 August 23 17:51 BST (UK)
She needs to turn up the 1939 entry for Connor & Henrietta
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: softly softly on Thursday 10 August 23 17:58 BST (UK)
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.
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: heywood on Thursday 10 August 23 18:00 BST (UK)
Mattie is a nickname for Martha too.
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 18:55 BST (UK)
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??
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 19:26 BST (UK)
I'm back home without asking about William Madden Corfe in 1921.
Can someone tell me his age then?
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: heywood on Thursday 10 August 23 19:37 BST (UK)
Birth year 1921
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: softly softly on Thursday 10 August 23 20:00 BST (UK)
2 months according to census so born April 1921

1921 census date 19 June 1921

John
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 20:04 BST (UK)
That's very helpful. I think his assumed DOB was April 1921 but he wasn't sure.
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: softly softly on Thursday 10 August 23 20:16 BST (UK)
May I ask when he passed away.

John
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 20:21 BST (UK)
Yes 3 March 2016.
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: hanes teulu on Thursday 10 August 23 20:29 BST (UK)
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! 
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: softly softly on Thursday 10 August 23 20:34 BST (UK)
Do you know when Martha died, would you like details

John
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 20:38 BST (UK)
Yes I'd like to know.
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: softly softly on Thursday 10 August 23 20:43 BST (UK)
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
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Thursday 10 August 23 20:46 BST (UK)
Many thanks for that John.
Title: Re: Who Was The Biological Mother of William Raised By Connor and Henrietta Finney?
Post by: Handson on Friday 11 August 23 11:11 BST (UK)
Is there a way to check if William was legally/formally adopted by Connor & Henrietta Finney?