William Anderson/Henderson

[alisonb123]

I now have a letter written by Georgina Johns wife to my  Gt Grandfather William. This explains william name and is very informative.This was after Johns death. I cant seem to attach and post to the forum though.

[AMBLY]

Just want to clarify….
Did your William REEVES ever actually use the surname ANDERSON? Have it recorded anywhere in any document etc?

Cheers
AMBLY.

[alisonb123]

I dont know. He didn't seem to know he was an Anderson. His sister in law told him in a letter.

[alisonb123]

I have checked both Johns death cert and marriage cert. His mother's maiden name is Fraser on both.

[AMBLY]

I dont know. He didn't seem to know he was an Anderson. His sister in law told him in a letter.

If he didn't know he was an Anderson, I ponder how did he reconcile the fact his brother was Anderson, or used Anderson and he was Reeves, or used Reeves.   Presumably, there was an established relationship between the two men at least -Georgina Fraser Anderson, nee Sneddon (his sister in law) had William's address.

It would be nice to understand Georgina's letter and contexts - are you still having problems uploading some of it, or maybe you can type it out?

Also, William died 1946 in England. Have you found him on the 1939 Register? His declared date of birth will be on there, if he is.

The reason for my question about his name, I was wondering if they were actually half brothers, or even step brothers - their indicated birth years are 1875 (William) and 1876 (John).

Which lead to my the next reply below....

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

I have checked both Johns death cert and marriage cert. His mother's maiden name is Fraser on both.

That was what started me thinking.....

On his 24 Aug 1900 marriage:
John ANDERSON 30, of Robertson's Building, Greenfield, Hamilton, Glasgow, Coal Miner
Parents: Both deceased
      John ANDERSON, Boilermaker Journeyman.
      Elizabeth REEVES, formerly ANDERSON, m.s.  FRASER
He married Georgina Fraser SNEDDON of 30 Glasgow Road, Hamilton - the same address  where the marriage occurred.
      Parents: Peter SNEDDON, Coal Miner, deceased,
      Elizabeth THOMAS, previously SNEDDON, m.s. FRASER.

It was pointed out on an earlier 2012 reply...

His mother: Elizabeth REEVES, formerly ANDERSON, m.s.  FRASER
Her mother: Elizabeth THOMAS, formerly SNEDDON, m.s. FRASER

And you know Georgina's mother is correct  as shown there -  her middle name also 'Fraser'.

What if Elizabeth's stated name is incorrect, a mistake by the registrar/writer/clerk?  Could it be that Fraser was never part of her name?

On John's 1904 Death his parents are recorded exactly the same:
John Anderson and Elizabeth Reeves previously Anderson maiden name Fraser

But that could simply be Georgina (or whomever was the informant) repeating what she believes to be true from her Marriage record.

Also, you mentioned William possibly had a sister named Robina?  What's the background on that information? ( I know John had a daughter named Robina b 1903, from earlier information posted here)

cheers
AMBLY

[alisonb123]

13/5/06.               

Dear William

I received your letter and I may say I was married under the name of Anderson. My husband informed me that when your father died, your mother married Reeves and when your mother died your step-father married again which left you with both step-parents. Therefore your father's name was Anderson.

I have heard John speak about your mother's sister being flitted to some place in Sterling.

I am sorry to tell you that I have had some trouble through measles to two of my children. My children's names are Lizzie, Robina and Jeanie. Lizzie after your mother, Robina after your sister and Jeanie after myself.

I am glad to hear of yourself wife and family keeping in good health.

I will now close my letter hoping to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Anderson

This is the info from the letter.

Thank you looking into this for me.

[alisonb123]

It is possible that the Fraser maiden name was incorrect. It's so hard to know anything for sure. Although with all the information there is, it should be an easy find but isn't. Something is confusing the search.

[AMBLY]

This is totally .... have I been part of a previous query about this family 

After reading the letter transcript you just posted.....I thought, I'll just have a wee look in Scotland's People Marriages for Edward REEVES

The ONLY one I could see as a possibility was 1883 - and I've already viewed and paid for this image back in 2012! I guess I must have been trying to help back then, downloaded that image and never went further, thinking I was on wrong track. 

So this is it, maybe nothing, but who knows:

Registered in Dennistoun, Lanark.
Marriage 29th Sept 1883 at Blackfriars House. Dennistoun
Edward REEVES 35, Musician, Bachelor, of 56 Kings Street, Calton, Glasgow,
       Father: Edward REEVES, Seaman, ---- Deceased
       Mother: Helen REEVES, ms CLETHEROE
Elizabeth AILWOOD 29, Domestic Servant, Spinster, of 56 Kings Street, Calton, Glasgow
       Father: Henry AILWOOD, General Labourer, Deceased
       Mother: Agnes AILWOOD, ms DAVIS, Deceased.
Witness: Thomas MARTIN and Agnes SOMERVILLE
Also: Both Bride & Groom have signed with their X MARK.  The officiating Minister,  Thomas SOMERVILLE has co-signed each as a witness to their marks.

When William married Frances Ada, his father:  Edward REEVES, Retired Sailor.

Hmm,
So William had written to Georgina, and she replied but this was 1906, 2 years after John died.
Oh, how curious - Musing out load (as I'm sure you also do  ) What lead to Georgina correcting William regards the surname Georgina was married as/to... How did William address her in prior letter's?

* William's mother Elizabeth had a sister, who was said to be in service in Sterling
* William had a sister named Robina

Cheers
AMBLY