Kate Pratt, late Young, formerly Henbest

[MrsLizzy]

I've received the birth certificate of my husband's grandmother, Beatrice Gladys Pratt, who was born 1906 in Tonbridge, and it shows her parents as Robert Pratt, a market gardener, and Kate Pratt, late Young, formerly Henbest (which at first glance I thought was Herbert).

I've found the marriage Kate Young to Robert Pratt in the last quarter of 1902, and I've found Kate with her first husband Ernest Arthur Young and their children Lilian Kate Young aged 3 and May Beiye Young aged 10 months, in the 1901 census.  Kate was 34 in 1901 and it says she was born in Midhurst, Sussex.  Ernest was 32, born in Lewes, Sussex. 

I've been trying to find the death of Ernest between the 1901 census and Kate's marriage to Robert Pratt, but haven't found it, nor can I find the birth of a Kate Henbest anywhere between 1866 and 1868.

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

[bearkat]

In 1871 there is a Kate Lyne HENBEST living with her widower father, Francis, in Westhampnett, Sussex.  Her place of birth is Fordingbridge.

There is a birth on freeBMD for Kate Lyne HENBEST in the Sep quarter of 1864.

HENBEST is  certainly a New Forest name. 

Amended - I think her father was Francis 

[trish1120]

Hi MrsLizzy

Complete shots in the dark

Kates first marriage seems to be indexed under Kate Henbest and Herbert, and appears to be to EDWARD Young.

June 1893
Horsham
2b 631

Have looked for deaths for him, under Ernest, Edward, Arthur and all combos, closest I could find was;

June 1901
Arthur Young, aged 35
Prescot
8b 490

Not sure when 1901 census was taken, so this is just a suggestion as Prescot is in Lancs. Or could he have not died and just deserted her?

Trish

[MrsLizzy]

Thanks, bearkat and trish, this is helpful.  I was wondering if it could have been a divorce.  I know that would have been unusual but I thought divorce took a long time in those days, so I'm a bit dubious about Kate being able to get divorced from husband no 1, with whom she was living in 1901, in time to be married to husband no 2 at the end of 1902.  I hadn't found her marriage to Ernest Young either so I was wondering if she hadn't actually married him, but it appears she did!

I'll keep you posted!

thanks again,

Mrs Lizzy

[MrsLizzy]

Just had a thought: maybe Edward was his legal name but he didn't really like it and preferred to be known as Ernest for some reason?  My maternal grandmother vacillates from her birth when she was Katherine, to her marriage when she was Kathleen, and her death when she was Katherine again.

[MrsLizzy]

Bearkat and Trish, I've found a marriage between Ernest Arthur Young and Kate Hounsome in Midhurst, Sussex (where Kate is supposed to have been born) in December 1896.  All correct except Kate's surname. What do you think?

[bearkat]

HOUNSOME isn't particularly close to HENBEST. 

I'll see if I can find a Kate HOUNSOME in the census......

[bearkat]

In 1891 Kate HOUNSOME is aged 25, born Midhurst and working as a cook at a Grammar School in Lewes.

[bearkat]

In 1871 Kate HOUNSOME aged 5, born Midhurst is living with her parents Charles & Hannah at Sheep Market, Midhurst.  Charles is a carpenter (incidentally the same occupation as Kate HENBEST's father!)