Elsie Mildred Fleetham

[Colin Cruddace]

Hi Terry,

I'm not sure if I'm doing you any favours with this but Elsie Mildred was baptised at St Paul's Darlington on 19th Feb 1896, daughter of Elizabeth Fleetham of 30 Zetland Street, no occupation shown.

BUT..... the parents were shown as James & Elizabeth, with James crossed through

There was only one parent with the name of James on that page, and that was for a week later. I got a copy of the page, so if you would like it I can send a scanned copy if you PM your email details.

Regards,
Colin

[Tervid03]

Hello Colin
Thank you for your help and image sent via Pm, it is very much appreciated, I wonder whether I can impose further on your generosity as I have further checked the 1901 Census for 30 Zetland Street and have drawn a blank on a James living there.

Seeing that the census is 5 years on from the baptism, I wondered whether the tenant's of that house had altered in the following years?

Does the Darlington RO have any Kelly's or similar directories for that period and if they have would it be possible to check out 30 Zetland Street for me?
Please  don't worry if you are unable to do so as I very much appreciate your help thus far. The question of Elsie's Father has been a family query for many many years.
Thanks again
Kind regards
Terry

[Colin Cruddace]

Hi Terry,

The entry of James is quite a stickler, isn't it? Was it an honest slip of the pen or did Elizabeth name the father, or did the vicar mistake the godfather or someone else as the father and start to enter his name? What a conundrum you have. I said that I didn't think I was doing you any favours!!

I'll see what I can find for the address over those years, perhaps electoral registers will be the best bet.

Regards,
Colin

[Colin Cruddace]

Hi Terry,

Electoral registers show that Samuel Harris was living at 30 Zetland street 1900 - 1907 (I didn't check any further ) but while I was checking the 1903 I noticed that there was an Anthony Fleetham at 3 Zetland Street who remained there up to 1908 and beyond (still there in 1913). I didn't go back before 1903 for him.

Does Elsie's birth certificate confirm the birth at number 30 or was it a mistake on the baptism?

Regards,
Colin

[Tervid03]

Hello Colin
Anthony was Elsie grandfather and can confirm that the 1901 census shows Anthony living at 3 Zetland Street, I was just thinking maybe Anthony wouldn't have Elizabeth living under his roof after she had a child out of wedlock! and that perhaps the actual father lived at 30 Zetland Street with Elizabeth.
No James Harris according to 1901 Census at number 30!
I am clutching at straws!
Thanks for taking the time out to check for me, will check out the birth cert when I get sight of it again.
Regards
Terry

[Colin Cruddace]

I don't know if this will make any difference but in 1905 and 1906, Eleazar Harris (same spelling in both years so no typo's) was shown as occupier, and Samuel Harris of the same address was his landlord.

Colin

[Tervid03]

Hello Colin,
                 Have had a look at the Birth Certificate of Elsie Mildred and it is 30 Zetland Street, same as the Baptism Register.
Father's name not entered at all.

Now this is the straw which broke the camel's back!
Is it possible as one last ditch attempt to see who was living  at 30 Zetland Street about 1895/6, perhaps.

I really cannot think of any other options and think this mystery will remain unsolved!

I cannot thank you enough for the effort you have put in to help me with this problem
Regards
Terry 

[Colin Cruddace]

Hello Terry,

I'll certainly do what I can because I know exactly how you feel. My gt-Grandad's circumstances are exactly the same, born out of wedlock and raised by his grandparents, but you are fortunate enough to know who the mother was. I have a good idea who mine was but cannot find any solid evidence as she seems to have disappeared after that.

One thing that I have decided on with my gt-Grandad is that he was raised by the Cruddace family and I don't really care who his biological father was as he had nothing at all to do with his upbringing and education, or the shaping of his character, so he was 100% a Cruddace in my view. I'm pleased to say that he did quite well for himself.

Regards,
Colin

[Jolly Roger]

But Colin, Do you have your relative birth certificate at all as surely that will give his mothers name.

I know what you are both going though as one of mine who also ended up in Darlington also has no father mentioned at all, but by getting his birth certificate and some other good fortune kow more about the family.

So don't give up I hope you find thing out by good fortune like me.

JR