completed -WOODROFFE -

[snowball]

Hi,  it's from he collection of wills proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (1384 - 1858) held by the National Archives. There's a searchable database and each will costs £3.50 to download, I think: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp?WT.hp=Wills
Regards
Rob

[avm228]

Was it illegal not to register children in the 1890's?

Yes - parents had a legal obligation to register births.

It does look to me as though James and Annie did not marry, for some reason.  Perhaps one or both was previously married (if so, most likely Annie; James was still single and with his mother in the 1881 census, and baby Mary was b abt 1882). Or perhaps there was a religious incompatibility which meant they did not go up the aisle.

There must be at least a possibility that one or more of Annie's children was not fathered by James, but by either a previous husband or an unmarried partner. Whether or not fathered by James, if not born within a marriage to James they may well have been registered in another surname (Annie's maiden or previous married name) and with given names as common as Mary and Ann/Anne/Annie it's well nigh impossible to narrow down candidate registrations.

This is indeed a tough one - will keep thinking on it.

Anna

[mrsspen]

hmmm thats really interesting, it would certainly tie in with the fact that James and Annie are allegedly different faiths. On the 1911 census it states that they have been married for 40 years which would mean they married in 1871. But as you state he shows as being single with his mother in 1881, which i too found to be the right person.

I cant find a James Woodroffe marriage entry for that year. On the census it states that they had 8 children, only 2 survive. I get more and more confused by this family.

[mc8]

Its a difficult name to research. I have some woodruff connections in my tree in Camberwell (and in the same area/ streets  as yours) but none that connect as far as I can see. There are loads of different spellings
I have
woodroff
woodroffe
woodroof
woodruffe
woodruff
wooroof

and a simple explanation to the lack of a marriage cert is that Camberwell records have significant gaps
Monique

[jorose]

What was Annie's (the mother) place of birth on the censuses, and does it always tally up? (Same with her birth)
You could try and find possibles with the same birthplace and then cross-check those surnames with the births.

[mrsspen]

I've not given up on this search yet, and I ordered Annie Woodroffe (senior) death certificate. It states that she died of kidney problems as a result of falling down the stairs when alone in a house (which wasnt her home) and that the resulting inquest deemed it to be accidental.

So, if there was an inquest, how can i find the details of it? It was in  November 1928. I cant find anything on timesonline but i have never searched it before so it could be that i'm not looking properly.
The inquest was held in Camberwell so would the details more likely be in a local camberwell paper? This is my only lead to find out more about this woman.

[mc8]

I also have an inquest and have enquired at the LMA (london metropolitan archives) to see what they have in the-the librarian told me there is virtually nothing for this area, and unless it was particularly newsworthy, would not have hit the papers
Monique

[mc8]

where was John/ Joseph on the 1881, and who were the parents?
Monique

[mrsspen]

Hi Monique on the 1881 census James shows being with his mother Sophia, initially i thought he hadnt married but looking closely he shows as married but he must have been visting her on the day of the census. I cant find his wife elsewhere. How could i go about looking for them as non-conformists/catholics within the camberwell area?
I know these may be simple questions i'm asking but on every single branch for both me and my husband ive been able to go back to 1800 but this line, is teaching me that family history doesnt always land in your lap!