Adoption in 1887

[mrstar]

Thanks once again for your help.

His mother's name on the certificate is indeed Emma HAWES. His name is written as Thomas Percy Hawes. However we still do not know if this is the correct certificate, although his name being Percy HAWES in 1911 points us in that direction. On all other documentation, photos etc his name is Percy STRATFORD.

Mrs BENNELL (Lydia) who he lived with in 1901, maiden name was PLUMRIDGE. I have tried to find a plumridge/hawes connection but with not much luck! She did have a sister Annie PLUMRIDGE who I thought could be a possibility but with not much luck. Ive looked for possible children under Plumridge, Bennell and Hawes but can't seem to find any odd ones (most Ive traced in later census forms with other families, or have died for example)

I have been hunting through lots of local baptisms and workhouse records too but still no luck. It is very frustrating! His only son was killed in WW2 and so we believe are now his closest living relatives and would really like to get all the facts in order - it is however proving rather difficult!   

[LizzieW]

Hmm - I'll have another think, you would assume with all those names and dates you'd be able to find something. 

Lizzie

[mrstar]

  haha yes exactly! We've been going round in circles with this for years now. Any ideas are welcome, I think Iam going to go right back to the beginning and go through it all again piece by piece... Thanks 

[groom]

Just to confuse things there are two Thomas Percy Hawes born July quarter 1887 - one in Buckinghamshire and one in Edmonton. The Edmonton one according to the 1891census also has a mother called Emma and a father James Hawes who is born in Buckinghamshire.

[avm228]

Just to confuse things there are two Thomas Percy Hawes born July quarter 1887 - one in Buckinghamshire and one in Edmonton. The Edmonton one according to the 1891census also has a mother called Emma and a father James Hawes who is born in Buckinghamshire.

Sadly the Edmonton boy seems to have died in Jun qtr 1892 aged 4.

[avm228]

What was the address of the birth of Thomas Percy Hawes according to the 1887 birth certificate? Have you traced the occupants of the address in 1881 and/or 1891?

[mrstar]

Hello,

The certificate I have says he was born 9 July 1887 to Emma Hawes, chair caner of Wheeler End West Wycombe. The birht wasn't registered until 20th September. There is no specific address, no hint as to whether she was married or not and no father listed, though we have always been told his father was Thomas Stratford (our gg grandfather) and hence he was always known as Percy Stratford. I am open to all possibilities now however!

I too have noticed there is another Thomas Percy Hawes Jul 1887, and did wonder initially if it could be the same person registered in two parishes as I have come across this before, but is this likely?

Thanks everyone for your help.
 

[avm228]

I too have noticed there is another Thomas Percy Hawes Jul 1887, and did wonder initially if it could be the same person registered in two parishes as I have come across this before, but is this likely?

Given the 1892 death registration matching the details of the Edmonton child, no.

[groom]

There are 5 Emma Hawes in the 1891 census living in Buckinghamshire, all in Wycombe. 4 are married but this is the fifth:

RG12   Piece: 1143   Folio: 140   Page: 6     
 Wycombe Union Workhouse, Saunderton Buckinghamshire

Emma Hawes   Inmate   Single   F   26    General Servant Domestic  West Wycombe  Buckinghamshire

I wonder if that is her?