Philip Launder Bligh

[Eyesee]

1881
London Road, Sevenoaks
Rebecca BLIGH, head wid 68, born Kent, Brasted
Henry J BLIGH, son unm 34, Gardener, born Kent, Riverhead
Percy LAUNDER, adopted child 3, born Kent, Ashford
RG11/908/50/13

1891
London Road, Sevenoaks
Rebecca BLIGH, head wid 78, birthplace NK
Henry BLIGH, son s 44, Assistant gardener, born Kent, Riverhead
Percy LAUDER, adopted child 13, Scholar, born Kent, Ashford
RG12/673/146/7

Ian C

[charlotteCH]

Well done Ian

Maybe you have solved the Philip and Percy mystery name mystery with that word"adopted".

charlotte

[cariandcammy]

Thanks everyone for all your posts, you've been very helpful!

I now believe he was born Percy Lauder in West Ashford, 1878 and was brought up by Rebecca Bligh for some reason or another. I wonder if her son Henry was his father?? It does state this on the 1881 census. So, still don't know whether to get his birth certificate or not. If Henry was the father then fine, but if not, then I would still not know if I had the right person or not.

[cariandcammy]

Would there be any way of finding out if he served during the Boer War?

[Tati]

I wonder if her son Henry was his father?? It does state this on the 1881 census.

On the image, it merely says that he's Rebecca Bligh's adopted son. For some reason ancestry conclude that he belonged to John but I'm not sure it's likely at all - he'd probably be shown as her grandchild otherwise.

If he was mine, I'd definitely get his birth cert to find out who his parents were (or his mother at least - possibly either Frances Lander or Catherine Lauder who get married in West Ashford district in 1880/1881?).

[cariandcammy]

Hello again Everyone!

I know it has been sometime since I posted regarding my great great grandfather Philip Launder Bligh (born as Percy Lauder).

I have finally got around to getting his birth certificate and am looking for your help again.

So, he was born Percy Lauder on 27th Decemeber 1877 at 44 New Town, Ashford.
He was the illegitimate son of Catherine Lauder, a dressmaker, residing at the above address.

I am now very keen to find out more about Catherine and why Percy/Philip was adopted/taken in by Rebecca Bligh in Tonbridge, Kent.

I have found two Catherine Lauders born in the late 1850s in West Ashford through Ancestry records.

I am going on a hunch but I believe she is the Catherine born in the last quarter of 1858 to George Lauder and Elizabeth Austen. My hunch for this is that they lived at 97 New Street and Percy was born at 44 New Town?? I am guessing that these streets are close by, if New Town was a street. I also thought New Town might be a name for the workhouse perhaps?

I would like to find a way to connect this Catherine (if she is the right one) to Percy. Can anyone suggest how I might do this?

Many thanks in advance!

Cari :-)

[avm228]

Hi Cari

As Tati mentioned earlier in the thread, a Catherine Lauder married in West Ashford in Mar qtr 1881. This may well be worth investigating, as sometimes the reason for an adoption was that the natural mother was marrying and her new husband didn't want to take on a child who was not his.

Catherine seems to have married Arthur William Larkin.  In the 1881 census, as newlyweds, they are in Ramsgate as follows:

1881 census: RG11/988/98/28

11 York St, Ramsgate

Arthur W LARKIN Head Mar 22 House decorator (master) Kent, Chislet
Catharine do Wife Mar 22 House decorator's wife Kent, Ashford

It doesn't look as though they went on to have children within the marriage.

[avm228]

The "other" Catherine Lauder, born Sep qtr 1856 to James & Frances, seems to have married Alfred Maple (Mar qtr 1879 Wandsworth). They're in Wandsworth in 1881: RG11/632/52/40.

Hmmm... as Kate Lauder of 44 New Town (still with parents) she's an apprentice dressmaker in Ashford in 1871! RG10/958/75/9.

Think you've got your girl

[cariandcammy]

Thank you so much! Can't believe I missed that!