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[topas37]

I'm sure what ever the reason was money or inheritance wasn't at the centre of it, as far as I know he neither drunk, smoked or gambled my Mum said money was always in short supply when she was growing up and we all used to help out financially in their later years.   I only remember him as an older man as they lived on the IOW and we lived in London so didn't see them very often, my memories of him were of a deaf man, who turned his hearing aid off when my Nan nagged him, and who if you gave him any money he would straight away go off and buy sweets, but apparently, he was in his younger days a very harsh father, he never treated my Mother very nice, as she was the eldest and wasn't born a boy, he went on to have three more daughters, who he treated fairly, it was just my Mum he had the problem with.   That's familys for you

[MargP]

Good morning all

Well I think that this as been the most intriguing post I have been on, I agree, that I don't think that Alfred May was trying to hide his identity, especially as he was employed as a Civil Servant.

The name Alfred May was very important to him he even had his daughter christened Alfreda

I am still under the impression that Matthew Hedges father was an Alfred May and at the age of 18/21 his mother told him the true identity of his father hence the name change.

Lets hope that the records that Wendy and Topas have sent for, will answer all our questions on this fingers crossed

Marg

[topas37]

I think you are probably on the right track it wasn't unknown for women to be pregnant, but marry someone other than the biological father so the child wasn't born out of wedlock, Alfred May might have died or been a wrongun and disappeared when she got pregnant hopefully eventually we will find out

[groom]

I wonder why she told him though, as he was obviously registered and baptised with Matthew Hedges as his father? What a pity that we cant find out where his mother was before she married - perhaps she was a servant in the May's house. I agree this could be a possibility, but find it a bit odd that he should take the name of someone he knew nothing about, unless  he came back into his life.

I've lost track a bit, have we managed to find any army records in the name of Alfred May, if so did he use the Matthew William Hedges part of his name, or did the army just know him as Alfred May?

[groom]

I wonder if this is Helena Amelia in 1881 in a school run by the Sisters of Mercy?

Ellen Chatterton  Industrial Girl (scholar) born Middlesex about 1866 at 23,25,27 High St Lewisham.

I think her mother died in 1876

Catherine Chatterton
June 1876
Poplar 1C 420

Her father was in Poplar Workhouse in 1881 and is a widower.

[topas37]

It's possible haven't got as far as looking at that connection yet, have sent for my Aunt Alfreda who was born in Gibralter (while he was still in the army) birth cert to see if that tell's us anything more

[Wendy111]

Hi groom, yes I've got Helena Amelia as a scholar in 1881 and previously living with her parents & siblings in Bright Street Poplar in 1871.  Her parents were John Chatterton and Catherine Blackwell who died in Poplar 1876.   With her father in the workhouse and her mother dead that's probably how Helena got into the School by 1881.

I can't see any evidence yet that Matthew Hedges mge to Helena wasn't quite straightforward.  Aged 21 and 22, the right age for courting, and marrying as soon as they found out she was (3 months) pregnant, going on to have two more children -  there's nothing here to suggest they wouldn't have lived happily-ever-after if he hadn't died at 26, is there? 

[topas37]

Wendy have you had any contact with the Chatterton's or Blackwells would they know anything or would that just complicate matters more

[MargP]

Hi Jan

I think on the 1911 census Alfred May stated he was born in Lewisham?

Also, there have been no army records found under the name of Alfred May, I think that there was a possible medal card for him with reg no 9318, I think that if nothing comes of the records that are in hand, is for Topas to send for Alfreda's BC this may give more information on Alfred's army regiment number.

Marg