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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: nats788 on Monday 09 June 25 22:34 BST (UK)
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Hello, I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me untangle a mystery. I am researching my maternal grandmother's family and I have come to a bit of an issue.
Her father's (Arthur William Oliver Fearon) parents were listed as Christopher S Fearon and Alice Fearon m.s. Oliver, however, it is acknowledged in the family that it was unlikely Christopher S Fearon was his biological father. Indeed, on his birth certificate there is no father mentioned.
In the Census of 1901, Christopher Stephenson Fearon and Hannah Fearon stayed alone at 100 Clifford Street, Byker. They are noted as being married.
AWO Fearon was born in Byker, 1907, with no father named on the certificate. His mother is Alice Oliver.
in the 1911 Census, at 53 Oban Road, Byker, Christopher Stephenson Fearon and Hannah Fearon are marked as having been married for 12 years, with 2 children, neither of whom sadly survived. At this address is also Alice Oliver, aged 24, marked as "niece" and her two children, Arthur William Oliver, and Christopher Stephenson Oliver. They are aged 3 and 2, respectively, and are marked as 'illegitimate'.
However, in the 1921 Census, at 53 Oban Road, we now have Christopher Stephenson Fearon and Alice Fearon as husband and wife, with the children listed as 'son' and a further four children. There is no mention of Hannah.
The GRO records suggest that Alice and Christopher Stephenson Fearon DID get married, in 1939, and I understand that they may have simply stated they were married to avoid any judgement about living together? But I cannot find what happened to Hannah, and I am confused to the relationship between Alice and Christopher Stephenson Fearon. My supposition is that perhaps Alice was Hannah's niece, and that Hannah passed away sometime between the two censuses (1911 and 1921) but I cannot find enough information to say either way.
I would be mega grateful if anyone could help!
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Marriage of Christopher & Hannah nee Brown was 1900 - www.freebmd.org.uk
Can’t see any death for Hannah but the fact that Christopher & Alice only married in 1939 suggests Hannah was still alive up to then. If she died before 1921 - what was stopping them marrying?
Theory - Hannah may have been in an asylum but that doesn’t explain why there is no death for her?
I suspect both children on the 1911 were Christophers
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Looks likely the parents of Alice Oliver was George Oliver & Alice Willey who married in 1886, image online. Mother Alice died 1890.
1891 - Sunderland, Bishop Wearmouth, Durham, England
George Oliver 31 Head
Alice Oliver 4 Daughter
Jane Oliver 2 Daughter
George H Oliver 11mths Son
Margaret J Brown 26 Servant
By 1901 George has wife Margaret J Oliver with additional children. Not finding a marriage, but children have mmn Brown.
Cas
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And Hannah was nee Brown
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Good possible that the Margaret that 'married' George Oliver, is sister or half sister to Hannah, as 1871 father is named Michael? But both have same occ as pilot, so maybe same man.
1881 Bishopwearmouth
James Brown 41 Head
Jane Brown 40 Wife
Elizbeth Brown 16 Daughter
Margret Brown 18 Daughter
May A. Brown 7 Daughter
Hannah Brown 1 Daughter
Cas
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Do you have the birth certificate for Christopher Stevenson FEARON (June qtr 1909 Newcastle upon Tyne 10b/158)? Curious that he was registered FEARON, but OLIVER on the 1911 census.
As you know, Arthur William is registered OLIVER in 1907 no mmn.
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I wonder if there may have been a menage a trois scenario going on with Christopher, Hannah and Alice? I, too think the two boys may have been Christopher's sons but because he was married to Hannah perhaps they prevaricated about which surname to adopt for them.
Could Hannah have left Christopher to marry (bigamously) a Brannen or Howey in the September quarter of 1911? A postem on freebmd indicates this marriage was at St Ann. This would be in the Byker area. Although, perhaps you have already looked into this and rule out this marriage for this particular Hannah?
https://one-name.org/marriage-locator/
I have looked at Marriage Locator for where Christopher and Hannah may have married in 1900 but an exact venue can't be located - apparently it falls somewhere between St Peter and the Record Office.
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I thought I had a deja vu feeling about these names .. yes, apparently Chiddicks posted about Albert (a very tragic and unfortunate death :'() last year and I added a grave photo to Find a Grave and memorials for Christopher and Alice. Have you seen this thread below, nats? In post 8, Chiddicks said he was going to research these service men's individual biographies. In post 13 Boo posted a link to an article with photo of Albert. :)
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=883746.0
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59535939/albert_edward-fearon
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Quote;
Could Hannah have left Christopher to marry (bigamously) a Brannen or Howey in the September quarter of 1911?
Marriage is on FreeREG 02 Sep 1911 St Ann
Hannah FEARON age 23, Father JOHN, spinster, address Lime St
So younger than Hannah born c 1881
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Thanks for checking this out Trish.
Nats, Have you checked out the death for a Hannah Fearon who died in 1974 registered under Gateshead. This gives a birthdate of July 1882 which would be incorrect for the Hannah you are seeking. However, in the past it seems people could be flexible when giving their birth year, so perhaps she might be worth looking into.
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No problem River Tyne Lass :)
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Thank you so much everyone, you have given me a lot to think on and new avenues to research!
I am not as familiar with the English BMD situation as I am with Scotland's (in no small part due to the Scotland's People site!), but can I ask how you found Brown as Hannah's surname using freebmd? (@CaroleW)? Just for my own future use of the site! I have to say I am inclined to agree with you re the children on the 1911 census being Christopher Stephenson Fearon's - it would seem odd to name the second child after your aunt's partner? (If that is the connection?)
@RiverTyneLass I read the other post that you so generously contributed to - I had learned quite a bit from it and it was very interesting to read about Chiddicks research. A very sad story indeed!
I am going to look up some of the avenues you lovely folk have suggested, and I shall report back with any findings. I am going to request Christopher Stephenson Fearon's 1909 birth certificate as a start.
Thank you all again
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Thanks for checking this out Trish.
Nats, Have you checked out the death for a Hannah Fearon who died in 1974 registered under Gateshead. This gives a birthdate of July 1882 which would be incorrect for the Hannah you are seeking. However, in the past it seems people could be flexible when giving their birth year, so perhaps she might be worth looking into.
Fearon Greenside 12 Rockwood Gardens on May 21st , aged 91 years dearly loved wife of the late Robert H and dearest mother of Dick and Brenda , cremation West Road Friday 1.45
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Newcastle evening chronicle
21st August 1940
Fearon -Byker, 53 Oban Road, aged 20 years , killed on active service , sapper Albert Edward Fearon R.E dearly beloved son of Christopher and Alice Fearon deeply mourned
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Genuki marriages at Newcastle sT Ann
2nd September 1911
William Brannen aged 23, bachelor ,cartman of Ouseburn Road, son of Joseph Brannen cartman
Hannah Fearon aged 23, spinster of Lime Street, father John Fearon labourer,
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Radcliff, thank you, I think that clears up that path.
I have downloaded the birth certificate for Christopher Stephenson Fearon 1909 and his father is listed as Christopher Stephenson Fearon, labourer for gasworks (same occupation as the C S Fearon in the later censuses). Alice Oliver is also listed as "Alice Fearon formerly Oliver" on this certificate. She is residing at 33 Ayton Street at this point - I don't know when she/the rest of the family moved to 53 Oban Road ahead where they were during the 1911 census (along with Hannah Fearon m.s. Brown). Very strange!
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Yes, thanks for clearing up that marriage Radcliff.
Possible ...?
Marriage of James Brown & Jane Cowens
March quarter 1862 Sunderland
From GRO website -Brown Children all born Sunderland
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp
Margaret Jane - Dec quarter 1862 mmn Cowans
Elizabeth - Mar quarter 1865 mmn Cowens
Mary Ann (not May) 1874 mmn Cohens
Hannah Trueman Mar quarter 1880 mmn Corns
George Oliver and Margaret Jane Brown married March quarter 1892 Sunderland Vol 10a Page 807