George Henry Pollard - born c. 1843

[purp72]

I am trying to find a birth (and hopefully parents) for George Henry Pollard - born around 1843.  He married Hannah Hardcastle in Ripon, Yorks but in the 1881 census gives his birthplace as what looks like Dorsetshire, Weymouth and in 1891, Dorchester, Yarmouth?  lThe 1871 census shows him as a lodger with his future parents-in-law (George and Mary Hardcastle) although his birthplace is also given as Ripon, which I am assuming is wrong (given the later Dorset references)   His marriage certificate gives his father's name as George Pollard.  I cannot locate the certificate at the moment but from memory the occupation was not of any real assistance.  Will try and find it again.

Any assistance welcomed.
purp72

[Richard Knott]

I fear there are too many ifs and buts to make much progress with this.

Although it is difficult to find a reason why he should choose Dorset if he wasn't born there, it is far from certain that he was born there. It is clearly worth exploring though; this site is good:
http://www.opcdorset.org/

You probably have  the following:

1. There is only one George Henry Pollard born at about the right time (in Sheffield). His father appears to be William, a coalminer.

2. He could have changed his name. If it to hide something, you are probably stuffed. If it is because his mother remarried and he adopted his stepfather's name, you may be lucky.

3. There are at least eight George Henry Xs born in Weymouth at the right time! One of them is illegitimate (son of Jane Grant) which looked a possibility, but he died soon afterwards. You may want to follow up some of the others (Guy, House, Trantum, Bussell, Lee, Towells, Williams,,,) to see if there is a marriage to a Pollard.

It is not uncommon for an illegitimate child to invent a father's name on a certificate (particularly if it is a long way from home so no-one can check) but there are other reasons for name changes.

Good luck.

Richard

[purp72]

My ancestor, George Henry Pollard, born 1843 in Weymouth, does not seem to exist in any records pre-1871.  He joined the Leeds police in 1875 and at the time his referee is named as Mr Ingleby of Ryle. 

In the 1861 census, I have found a George Turnbull, of the same age and also born in Weymouth, as a groom working for John Ingleby of Ryhill in Yorkshire.   This seems too much of a coincidence but I can't find any birth record for George Turnbull either!

Am stuck again - any ideas?

Thank you

[redtonyt]

Have you found his Army records (105th Foot for 5 years)? - referred to on Leeds City Police register.

Tony

[purp72]

Tony - thank you; I have emailed the KOYLI archives (105th Foot were merged into KOYLI) but haven't had a response yet.  Would there be anywhere else I could check for information on 105th Foot?