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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: JackB015725 on Wednesday 30 July 25 17:15 BST (UK)
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Trying to find information about Edith Handyside, born August 20th 1885 in Hebburn, daughter of William Robertson Handyside and Mary Ann Graham, who married Alexander Turnbull Davis (1877-1941), on September 14th 1911.
I am unable to find if she had any children, and when and where she died. I know she was still alive in 1950, and resided in London, but that's all I know about her.
Thank you
Additionally, she is sometimes credited as "Ellen."
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Searching the civil birth registrations for a 'Davis' with the mother's maiden name of 'Handyside' born 1911 to 1921 only brings up one ....
Joan H Davis
Birth registered Quarter 3, 1918, Islington District, Volume 1B, Page 210
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The 1921 Census records the following ....
Residence --- 516 Holloway Road, Islington
Alexander Davis, Head of household, 47 years of age, born Belfast, Occupation Jeweller
Edith Davis, Wife, 34 years of age, born Hebburn
Joan Davis, Daughter, 3 years of age, born London
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12 October 1911 Newspaper: Londonderry Sentinel
A TYNESIDE BIGAMY CHARGE.
ADJOURNED FOR IRISH EVIDENCE.
Alexander Turnbull Davis (thirty-four) was on Tuesday charged on a warrant at Newcastle-on-Tyne with having bigamously married Edith Handyside on September 14th last, his first wife, Mary Elizabeth, to whom prisoner was married on January 10th, 1890 1899, being still alive. Prisoner was remanded in custody for eight days to enable the police to complete the case, it being stated that it would be necessary to bring witnesses from Ireland. Sergeant Lennon said he received prisoner into custody from the London police. Prisoner's reply to the warrant was, " I have nothing to say just now." Charged at Newcastle, prisoner said " I was unable to live with her; my health was bad, and I could not put up with her. I have not seen her for seven years. I am sorry for Miss Handyside." Witness had received from the London police two boat tickets for Australia, and £55 in notes, the prisoner's property.
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There were 3 possible female births in Islington to the couple. 1918, 1922 & 1929
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The 1939 National Register shows ....
Residence-- 516 Holloway Road, Upper Holloway, Islington
Turnbull A Davis, DoB 16/7/1874, Occupation Jeweller
Edith Davis, DoB 20/8/1885
Joan Handyside Davis, DoB 29/5/1918, Occupation Shorthand Typist (later married a man called Varley)
Vera Handyside Davis, DoB 26/6/1922, Occupation Stationary Office Clerk, (later married a man called Holt)
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Varley
Joan Handyside
1918
1996
1996
England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
Brent, Middlesex, England
Holt
Vera Handyside
1922
1992
1992
England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
Barnet, Middlesex, England
SS
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'Alexander Turnbull Davis of 516 Holloway Road, Holloway, London, died 13 February 1941. Administration (with Will) to Edith Handyside Davis widow' Effects £369 14 shillings
(from the National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration)
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More details about the bigamy case in this version:
21 October 1911: Irish Weekly and Ulster Examiner
BIGAMY CHARGE.
Belfastman in Trouble: Young Woman's Story.
A man named Alex. Turnbull Davis, aged 34, a jeweller, was charged. at Newcastle-on-Tyne Police Court on Tuesday morning with having bigamously, married Edith Handyside, on September 14 last, his previous wife, Mary Elizabeth, to whom he was married on January 10, 1899, being then alive.
A witness from Belfast deposed to having been present at the first marriage in a Presbyterian Church in Belfast, on 10th January, 1899, and he also identified letters in the handwriting of the accused sent to Belfast, and added that, accompanying these communications were letters to be forwarded to accused's first wife. The latter letters were dated from March, 1906 doen to June last, and were forwarded to the party for whom they were intended. Witness also stated that accused was in Belfast a month ago.
Sally Pearson, residing at Hexham, said she had known accused for four or five years. She was present at his marriage to Miss Handyside on 14th September. In the marriage certificate defendant was described as a bachelor and manager. Miss Handyside and accused lived together as man and wife at Clayton Park Square until September 23, when they went away together to London for a holiday.
Edith Handyside, a prepossessing young lady, the daughter of Wm. Robertsor Handyside, of Brandling Terrace, Felling near Newcastle, said she became acquainted with accused in November, 1910, being introduced to him by a gentleman friend. He had frequently visited her, and although he had never actually said he was a bachelor, witness had been led to believe that he was. He proposed to her in August last, and with her father's consent a marriage was arranged, and they also made arrangements to go to Australia. Accused had sent money regularly to his mother in Belfast whilst witness had been with him. He was arrested the day the boat was to sail to Australia.
Questioned by Mr. Wilson, witness said defendant had treated her well. Prisoner was further remanded.
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Edith died in 1974, registered as Edith Handyside Davis, Registered Quarter 2, 1974, Islington District, Volume 13, Page 1480
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Alexander's 1st marriage.
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https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/marriage_returns/marriages_1899/10368/5774698.pdf
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'Belfast Newsletter, 1/11/1911'
'Yesterday at Newcastle on Tyne assizes, Alexander Turnbull Davis (34) a Belfast man, was sentenced to two months imprisonment for bigamy'
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From the National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration) ...
Davis, Edith Handyside of 95 Camden Road London NW1 died 28 March 1974. Administration London 12 June. Effects £2508
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The sentencing:
1 November 1911: Belfast News-Letter
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE BIGAMY CASE.
A Belfastman Sentenced.
At Newcastle-on-Tyne assizes yesterday, before Mr. Justice Horridge, Alexr. Turnbull Davis (34), described as a jeweller, was indicted on the charge of bigamously marrying Edith Handyside, at Newcastle, on 14th September, his wife, to whom he was married in Belfast in 1899, being, to his knowledge, alive.
Defendant now pleaded guilty, and counsel for the prosecution said prisoner had been separated from his first wife a long time. He had deceived the second woman by not telling her that he was married.
His Lordship questioned Miss Handyside, who said prisoner never mentioned that he had been previously married. She lived with him about a month after their marriage.
Counsel for the accused addressed the Court on his behalf, and said defendant was married in 1899 at Belfast at the age of 22. Unfortunately that marriage was an extremely unhappy one, though whose fault that was need not, now be discussed. Prisoner's story was that owing to the jealousy of his first wife he was unable to live with her, and after residing with her some eighteen months, in 1900 he was obliged to go and live with his mother. The wife, he alleged, followed him about and molested him at his work, and at last made it impossible for prisoner to remain there, and a few months later he went to England. Prisoner had been regularly employed as a jeweller's assistant, and had held responsible situations in various parts of the country. From 1900 until 1906 he frequently sent money to his wife, who had remained in Ireland, but he did not interfere with her, or hear from her, and he had not seen her since he was in Ireland, some eight years ago, attending his father's funeral. Since 1896 [sic] prisoner seemed to have purposely abstained from making any inquiries regarding his wife, though he had been in communication with his mother, to whom he had sent 10s to 20s weekly. He went to Newcastle in 1907 and obtained a position of trust with a well-known firm of jewellers in the city. In late years prisoner's health had broken down, and five medical men had advised him to seek a warmer climate—Australia being suggested. He had met Miss Handyside, and they conceived a genuine affection for each other, and, intending to start a new life in Australia, he foolishly thought he might start that new life free from any obligations on account of his early marriage in Ireland.
His Lordship, in passing, sentence, said he could not hide from himself the fact that the prisoner had deceived a very respectable woman. He took into account the fact that prisoner seemed to have been unhappy with his first wife, and that he had treated Miss Handyside well while he was with her; but he could not pass a lighter sentence than two months' imprisonment with hard labour. Of course, if the prisoner's health was such that he could not do hard labour he would be attended to in prison. Counsel for the prosecution said that when arrested prisoner had £55 and two boat tickets for Australia worth £20. He asked that some of that money be applied towards the court costs.
His Lordship declined to make such an order.
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Alexander's birth.
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https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1874/03140/2151626.pdf
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The Belfast Newsletter January 13th 1899
MARRIAGES
DAVIS-M'DOWELL—January 10, at the Crescent Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. John M'Ilveen, B. A., Alex. Turnbull, youngest son of Robert Davis, to Mary E. (Minnie), fourth daughter of Alexander M'Dowell, both of Belfast.
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https://one-name.org/marriage-locator/
Marriage Locator indicates the venue for Alexander & Edith's 1911 marriage was St Hilda, Jesmond:
Sept quarter 1911 Vol 10b page 137
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Absolutely astounding.
I cannot believe this at all. I had no idea about the bigamy charges towards Alexander Turnbull Davis. My father, had went to meet Edith in the late part of the 1960s, yet he recalls that she never mentioned anything about her husband, or their plan to go to Australia. This has really shocked me.
Thank you