As you have been searching for so long you have probably seen this family.
Elizabeth Ann COL
WILL had several illegitimate children in Stratton, Cornwall.
COLWELL, SAMUEL CHARLES POOLY
GRO Reference: 1878 S Quarter in STRATTON Volume 05C Page 5
(This child died soon after birth)COLWILL, EMILY ANN
GRO Reference: 1880 D Quarter in STRATTON Volume 05C Page 4
COLWILL, WILLIAM CHARLES LEWIS BECKLEY
GRO Reference: 1882 D Quarter in STRATTON Volume 05C Page 5
COLWILL, NORA GRACE
GRO Reference: 1885 J Quarter in STRATTON Volume 05C Page 3
The children's baptisms are here
https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/baptisms/In 1881 Elizabeth Ann is in the workhouse with Emily and then I think Elizabeth died at the workhouse on 17 June 1887 aged 28.
In 1891 William and
Laura G. are still in the workhouse and Emily is with her grandparents William and Grace in Lanivet. Grace's maiden surname was BECKLEY so that would be where William's middle name came from. Emily's age is 8 when she was closer to 11.
Nora Grace was registered with that name but baptised Laura Grace so it is hard to know which name was correct. I cannot see any further sign of a Laura, but Nora appears in 1901 in Torquay.
She was baptised on 4 June 1885 and you know that your Nora was born 9 Apr 1885 (maybe, if she wasn't making it up). For the cost of a birth cert it would be interesting to see the date of birth of that child.
Emily's year of birth is not correct but I do wonder if either she didn't know how old she was or put her age up to marry. She was baptised with the extra middle name 'Perry'. Your Emily was supposedly born on 9 November and this Emily Ann was baptised on 3 December, so that would work as well.
This is interesting - we have had a few instances on these boards where people's ancestors were in possession of the wrong birth certificate......
William born 1882 starts using his second name Charles from 1901 (I think he is in Devonport) and marries Margaret LEACH in 1903 at Launcells in Cornwall. He does not name a father and says he is 19.
In 1911 they are still at Launcells and he says he is 29 and born in Stratton. In 1921 he is still Charles and is 37, born in Launcells.
Roll along 1939 and he suddenly becomes Samuel C. born 21 Sep 1878 and he dies as Samuel Charles Pooley COLWILL (see his deceased brother's birth reg above) in 1954. Did he apply for a birth cert search sometime between 1921 and 1939 and received the wrong one?
Have you had your DNA 'done'?
Debra
