Family Mystery

[karens925]

My Great Great Grandfather Alfred Beard married Mary Hannah Wakerly in Ohio USA. They had three children, Ada May, Nellie and George. In 1891 Alfred died and Mary came back to England with the children. On the 1901 census it shows Mary, the three children and a Frederick Wade aged 1 who is visiting. On the 1911 census it now shows Frederick as being adopted.

During the 1920's when Mary Hannah died she left shares in the Manchester ship company to the three children. Frederick forged George's signature and cashed the shares. Apparently Nellie got her share and disappeared and Frederick was thrown out by George never to be seen again, nor the money. My Grandad remembered Uncle Freddie and had always wondered what happened to him and Nellie. Grandad thought he may have changed his surname from Wade to Beard at some point.

So who was Frederick Wade? I think I should get his birth certificate, could he have been Mary's illegitimate child?

Where did Nellie go?

Where did Frederick go?

Is there a branch of the family out there with my millions?

Karen

[Deb D]

Hi Karen, - a couple of questions ...

Which part of England are we talking about, here?

Could "Nellie" have actually been Helen?

And ... not that I want to cast aspersions but ... could Freddie have actually been Nellie's or Ada's child?  Would either have been old enough?

[aghadowey]

Also, where was Frederick Wade born according to 1901 census?

[karens925]

Hi,

Nellie is Nellie lol Its on all the records as Nellie

The area is Manchester/Prestwich

No offense taken at all, but I had not thought of Nellie or Ada being the mother!!! Ada was 18, Nellie 19 in 1901 so that would make more sense.

Frederick was born in Manchester June 1900

[aghadowey]

Just a few corrections- 1901 census lists Ada as born Chicago and Nellie and George as Forte Waine, U.S which would be Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Alfred Beard married 31 Aug.1881 Allen Co., Indiana to Mary H. Wakerley.

Allen Co., Indiana Naturalization applications:
Alfred Beard, 27 Oct.1886, native of England, age 35, embarked Liverpool, arrived N.Y. 14 May 1871.

[karens925]

Thanks, I have a newspaper cutting saying they married 31st August but no year, so that's very helpful, I also assumed it was in Ohio as this is where the rest of the family were living.

The naturalization record I didn't have, so thanks

[aghadowey]

Unfortunately those bits of information don't help answer your original questions like what happened to Nellie, who was Frederick Wade, etc.
If Frederick was a son of Ada or Nellie wonder why he's listed as Wade in 1901 and then adopted in 1911- would have thought he'd have been listed as grandson Frederick Beard in 1901.

[karens925]

could Wade have been his Fathers surname and he was adopted by Mary as not to bring shame to the family?

[karens925]

Nellie married a James Harold Lowe in March 1914 and had two daughters Edna b1915 and Dorothy b1918 and possibly a son James b1925.