Doughty - Wolverhampton

[Doughty]

Can anyone help me.  If appears that my great grandfather lied about his age at the time of his marriage.  Details from the marriage cert are: Charles Doughty age 40, Widower, Labourer, Brunswick st, father Charles Doughty, Labourer  married Alice Evans, age 34, Spinster, Brunswick st, father George Evans, Forgeman (deceased) on Feb 15th 1915 in the parish of st george, Wolverhampton in the presense of Thomas A and Fanny L Box.  The marriage record of thomas and fanny show her maiden name was Evans.

I've searched through the bmd records for all charles doughtys born around the right time, then searched the death records which got rid of all but 2, and i've found both of these married in the place they were born with families on the 1901 census so have discounted them.

Now i have found a charles doughty born to a charles doughty in bilston which is near but the dates don't match up, he would be around 6 years older.  Is there anyway i can find out for sure if this is the same charles?

Just to add another spanner to the works the marriage was 3 years after my grandfather was born but his birth cert gives his mother as Alice doughty, formerly Evans so looks like she took his name without getting married.  I've also find an Alice Doughty on the 1901 census married, living with her 2 toddler sons and boarding with another family.  In the same street is, I believe her Mother also Alice Evans, widow.  Earlier census shows her husband was George.

So it looks like my great grandparents were having children together long before they married and as Charles is a widower at marriage i'm wondering if they had to wait for his 1st wife to die before they could make there relationship official.

Any thoughts anyone.

[janan]

Hi Doughty
Welcome to Rootschat
It is possible he lied about his age just to reduce the age gap or maybe it is a mistake - a badly written 6 could look like a 0. Where is your possible Alice living in 1901? Any other Doughtys in the area?
Jan

[Doughty]

Thanks for the reply.  There were actually 12 charles doughty's living in the area on the 1901 census.  The one born 1870 is son of margaret and charles and was still single and living with his mom and siblings on the 1901, his father deceased.  This makes me think that this isn't the one as if he was single at this time why wouldn't he have married Alice as if i have the right Alice she already had 2 children with him at this point.  In fact, just realised how i can check this, i will send for birth cert of one of the children of alice doughty on the 1901.  there is also a charles doughty married to Sarah born 1867 in bilston which could be another possible.

Forgot to mention, on my grandfathers birth cert Charles occupation is canal boatman so he could of come from anywhere.

in 1901 Alice Doughty was living with the Revill family at 112 Granville street wolverhampton.  Her occupation was boat worker (canal) and she had 2 son's John W Doughty age 3 and Charles doughty age 2.  A few doors down at no. 109 is Alice Evans widow with her children.

The age 40 is very clear, I don't think it could be anything else.

[janan]

Tis a tricky one.
If you do have the right Alice then Charles may have missed the 1901 census by being away on a canal boat I suppose.
I'll have a think and come back to you
Jan

[Doughty]

Well, just received the birth cert this morning, and the Alice doughty living with the Revill family is indeed my great grandmother.  I sent for the birth cert for her younger son Charles and it confirms her maiden name as Evans (although they didn't marry until 1915) and fathers name as Charles doughty, boatman.

Birth was registered by a Fanny Weston/Haslon? who was present at the birth.

Bearing in mind that my great grandfather Charles Doughty was a widower at the time of his marriage in 1915 I'm wondering if by some amazing coincidencee he married 2 women called Alice Evans or he was having children with Alice while married to someone else and also having children with them.

Any thoughts anyone? my head's spinning lol.

[janan]

Hi again
It is possible Charles married 2 Alice Evans. Can you find a suitable marriege for a Charles Doughty and Alice Evans prior to 1901? Have you found your Alice on earlier censuses with mum Alice and father George? Does she match up with the Alice Doughty found in 1901?
It is probably more likely that Charles had another family somewhere along the Canal he worked could be anywhere though. I've had a look but no boatman married Charles of suitable age is presenting himself.
Sadly you might need to wait till the 1911 comes out and hope Charles is with Alice on this occasion - he would then be easier to track back.
You could try all mid to late 1890's marriages for Charles in Staffs/Warwickshire area and see if you can find the relevant couples in 1901 but that might have your head spinning even more
Jan

[janan]

Could be red herring but

Marriage
Charles Doughty Apr qtr 1890 Stoke on Trent district
Hannah Prudence Jones on same page

1901
Lord St Manchester
Prudence Doughty Boarder 27 Mar Charwoman Staffs Lichfield
Mabel Doughty Boarder 3 Lancs Hulme
in household of Mary Banks widow
RG13/3707/14 Pg19

Jan

[janan]

I was hoping to find the above couple in 1891 but haven't as yet. Have looked at canals though - the Staffs and Worcs canal from Wolverhampton joins the Mersey and Trent goes through Stoke and then up to the Manchester Ship which goes through Hulme where young Mabel was born
Jan

[Doughty]

Thank you for helping me, i'm currently searching through the marriages prior to 1901 it would seem Alice Doughty nee evans was having children for many years as my granddads youngest sibling wasn't born until 1923 and her first must have been born aroung 1897, and i'm now wondering how many children they had inbetween the 1901 census and when the mothers maiden name started to appear on the birth records in 1911.  My granddad was born in 1912 so it seems my dad had more uncles and aunts than he realised.  Roll on 2011