Robert Valentine Walker

[dawnsh]

The only Robert Valentine born March 1897 is registered with the surname Allen at West Ham.

But I think he is with his family in 1901 and his parents are Robert & Eliza with siblings Wellesley & Dorothy.

So my suggestion would be that maybe he is registered as a plain Robert Walker and the Valentine was a later addition because of the date.

Other suggestions would be that the year of his birth is not 1897 of his parents weren't married and he is registered as something else.

Dawn

[Dianeduvale]

Yes,we think the Valentine was more of a Nick Name as it never appears on any official documents.  Plain Robert Walker it probably is

[avm228]

Hi again Diane

Who were the witnesses when Robert married Edith?

Also: Winifred Clements could be an important clue.  What is the source of the suggestion that she was a half-sister?  Was she born Clements (or Downs, or Sewell, or something else)? Did she marry? Do you have an approx DOB or any other info for her?

[Dianeduvale]

Hi, witnesses at Robert and Edith's Wedding were his Father, Sydney and her Mum, Mabel so not much help really.
Regarding Winifred, I'm afraid it's a Family rumour that I'm perusing at the moment. My elderly Aunt says that she was told that Win was her Dads Half Sister and I've recently been in touch with one of her Daughters, Blanche, also elderly with a poor memory, and she refers to my Grandfather as Uncle Bob and my Dad and his Siblings as her Cousins. I do have Winifred Clements Marriage Certificate but no Father is given. She was born in 1906, possibly Slough. Her Mothers name was Clements. She may lived with Nuns at some stage I think. Richard Downs aka Ihonart left his first Wife and ran away with Edith Sewell, never marrying her but assuming her last name. There were somewhere between 7 and 13 Children but I have the feeling that if he was her Father, Winifred was the product of a 'fling' between his 2 Relationships. It's very very complicated!!

[dawnsh]

For others following this topic, there's an article here, see page 19

http://www.at.ford.com/news/Publications/Publications/2009_FOE/116/@Ford116%20-%20July%202011%20-%20Fordnews.pdf

Seven children mentioned,  6 births seem to be registered as Sewell/mmn Jackson

but we're going sideways, maybe we can get around this somehow

[Dianeduvale]

Yes, that's about Grace - she was the product of his relationship with Edith Sewell (stage name Cis*) I've had a bit of help from one of Ihonarts Grandchildren, John Sewell, son of James, the youngest born 1925 but he knows very little and says there was a big Family Rift that split the Family. I gave up trying to make sense of their Tree because I just wasn't getting anywhere and all I really wanted to do was find out about my Grandfather. I tried writing to a couple of other Grandchildren but, for whatever reason, i haven't had replies 

[dawnsh]

Hi Diane

I know you haven't been a member here very long but the chatters really will go round in circles and up and down every branch trying to solve these types of family mysteries. They can and do weedle out all sorts of information 

Dawn

[dawnsh]

so, as far as you know, did your grandfather travel much outside of the Romford/Ilford/Essex area during his lifetime apart from a spell working at Woolwich?

[Dianeduvale]

Yes, I only used it for the First time yesterday and have had some great help already