WATKINS, ISLINGTON - 2 missing sons!

[Leeds Lass]

I've spent over a year now trying to find what happened to two sons from Islington, I can find no trace of them after the 1881 census, including marriage/death....

The family is here on the 1881 census...
RG11/230 Folio 51 Page 31 Line

Joseph Watkins b1846 Newfoundland
Ethel E. Watkins b1844 Islington (aka Esther, nee Garratt)
Joseph Albert. T. Watkins b1870 Islington
Robert A.A. or A.W Watkins b1872 Islington

But then they disappear as I can then only find....

Mother in 1891 (no sign of father)
RG12/101 Folio 75 Page 23

then...

Mother in1901
RG13/107; Folio 100 Page 22

and father in 1901
RG13/1040 Folio 51 Page 3.

...seems like the parents become estranged, but I just cannot trace the two sons! It has been suggested that perhaps the two sons joined the military, but I wouldn't know where to start with this theory.

ANY advice or ideas would be most welcome!

Many thanks in anticipation...

Regards
LL

[Valda]

Joseph Watkins was living in Christchurch registration district in 1901.

There is a possible death registration for his eldest son in Christchurch registration district.
There is no birth registration for an Albert Joseph Watkins circa 1870 on FreeBMD and only one for Joseph Albert Watkins - the one you are interested in so this death registration could be a possibility.

Deaths Mar 1897 
Watkins  Albert Joseph  27  Christchurch  2b 466

Regards

Valda

[Leeds Lass]

Hi Valda

Thanks for your time

I'm presuming the Joseph Watkins you found on the 1901 census in Christchurch is the father as I mentioned above on the census in 1901 RG13/1040 Folio 51 Page 3?

However I shall certainly check out the death you have found for Joseph jnr. It is quite possible he was known as Albert since his father was also Joseph - I have found similar switches of first and middle names among the males in this family on their death certs.

[Valda]

Joseph Watkins on the 1901 census at RG13 1040 folio 51 is  living at 4 Terrace Road Bournemouth. Bournemouth is in Christchuch registration district.
I do not know Joseph's relationship to the other Watkins found at that address where he was lodging, but I thought you must have already explored that angle.

Regards

Valda

[Leeds Lass]

HI Valda

Yes, Joseph is lodging with my gg-grandfather Frederick (which is how I came across Joseph in the first place) and I believe he is Frederick's uncle. However, I have no proof other than the name+occupation of Joseph's father on his marriage cert is the same as my 3g-grandfather, added to the fact they both came from Newfoundland.

I was hoping I could find a descendant of Joseph's to shed some light on the Newfoundland roots.