casalguidi - you are good!!!
Your Lewisham Census suggestion could be spot on... and I have never been able to find it!
Plus the two COLMER entries are correct!
In fact both these younger brothers of Frances Gertrude died at a young age in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey.
I am in contact with the descendants of Albert Ernest who died in 1906 age 36.
I surprisingly found that it was in fact FRED LEIGHTON, brother-in-law, that bought the Deed of Purchase of that grave.
I visited the Grave in Halfway Cemetery on the Isle of Sheppey and found Arnold Hugh age 28 was buried there too... his last abode was at the Leighton's house at
67 Marine Parade, Sheerness (also called Shrimp Terrace)
Arnold Hugh Colmer was Buried as COLMER (no forename) in 1907 in the same grave with his half-brother, Albert (ERNEST) COLMER.
We now know that Gertrude name had changed before her brothers died and this is confirmed by the inscription she had engraved there when Arnold died which said...
'The Dearly Loved Brothers of Gertrude LEIGHTON
Gone, But Not Forgotten.'
Later, on 15th May 1937, Frances (GERTIE) Gertrude LEIGHTON nee.COLMER aged 68, was also buried in the same grave with her two brothers at Halfway Cemetery.
Now regarding the certainty of Frederick James Hutchins being the one born in Shepton Mallet is clear from their Marriage Certificate...
MARRIAGES
Name: Hutchins, Frederick James
Record Type: Marriages, Quarter: Sept. Year: 1893
District: Yeovil, County: Somerset
Volume: 5c, Page: 706
COLMAN(er!), Frances Gertrude 1893 Sept.
Marriages: Yeovil,Somerset
14/03/2005 Notes confirmed - I sent off for that marriage certificate.
The Witnesses are Florence HUTCHINS (sister), Ptolemy Samuel Henry COLMER & A. Ernest COLMER.
Father`s are Thomas Hutchins, Profession: Jeweller; and Ptolemy Samuel Henry Colman(sic), Profession M.D. & J.P. - Doctor & Justice of the Peace!
OCCUPATION
At Marriage to Gertie in 1893, he was Frederick James Hutchins, a `Master Watch Maker`
He was Fred Leighton by 1915, serving as an `Army Officer` according to May`s Marriage Cert. in 1916.
Later that same year on my grandfather & Ethel`s Marriage Cert. he was a `Theatrical Manager`
...but it seems from British Phone Book records (many) that during the 1930`s he was again Frederick James Hutchins, `Clock & Watch Maker`
Unfortunately Fred left Frances & the family in the Minster home... probably the marriage broke down as a result of his flamboyant Theatre Lifestyle.
A daughter of Gertrude May Eugenie JOYCE nee. LEIGHTON formerly HUTCHINS says...
My Grandfather must have been at the Hippodrome during the twenties or early thirties, I should imagine. As to when he was in the London theatres, I just don`t know. All I was told was that he was Manager at some of the London theatres, can`t remember which ones though. I think he used to be known as Tom Leighton then. My Grandmother lived on her own in Sidcup and I know I used to go to stay with her during the school holidays, and he was never mentioned at all. I got the feeling that he was the bad sheep of the family [perhaps that was why the change of name]. Then my Gran bought a little place up Minster and moved there, which I used to visit a lot. Still he was never mentioned.
I found out more information about my HUTCHINS FAMILY via information regarding their Wills!
FJH Father: Thomas Hutchins London 10 Feb 1902 ~Charlotte (wid) £1920.17.2 Watchmaker, Silversmith 23 High Street Shepton Mallet d 7 Oct 1901
FJH Mother: Charlotte Hutchins London 22 Apr 1921 to Florence Josephine Jarratt (wid) £440.15.5 92 Queens Road, Wimbledon Surrey d 2 Mar 1921
FJH Sister: Florence Josephine Jarratt London 22 Dec 1932 to <b>Frederick James Hutchins (manager)</b> £986.17.7 449 Fairmount (or 44a?) Road, Brixton Hill d 13 Oct 1932 [age 68 Lambeth]
FJH himself! It seems that he has changed his name back to HUTCHINS and married again!!!!
Frederick James Hutchins London 27 Nov 1946 ~Louisa Frances (wid) £882.0.8 92 Queens Road Wimbledon d 28 Apr 1946 (age 72)
16/11/2007 Now found Frederick J HUTCHINS in British Phone Books... many entries - eg. 1936 - living at 92 Queens Rd where he conducts his CLOCK & WATCH MAKER business... So he has changed his name & occupation back to as it was on 1891 Census!
20 Nov 2007 - Suddenly I realised today that Gertie may have married a Fred Leighton - there may be two different men!
Also, that FJ Hutchins Will was written on 4th June 1937 less than a month after Gertie died on 9th May 1937!
So if he was a bigamist, his marriage would have finally been legitimate! What a puzzle!
But I have never found a second marriage for Fred or Gertie Hutchins.
The question is still not resolved... Is Fred Hutchins & Fred Leighton the same man - or two different men?
