Hereford Industrial School 1911

[Antony1977]

My partner has  always drawn a blank when they got to her great grandfather Reginald Coley.

I have spent a fair few hours today discovering that Reginalds father was called William Green, Green married Lily Coley in 1924.

For some reason , their child Reginald was given the surname Coley and not Green.

I have found out that Green was an inmate in Hereford Industrial School in 1911.

I’m guessing it is that reason that Reginald was given his mother’s surname and not his dads? Obvs since then everyone had the Coley name and Green name died with William Green

I have requested if there are more details about Green and why he was in the workhouse and if there is any mention of Lily Coley.

[osprey]

When was Reginald born? Was it before the marriage to William Green?

[Antony1977]

Reginald was born 1916

Green and Coley married in 1924.

Is it as simple as being born out of wedlock to totally discontinue using your surname and everyone since then having the Coley surname?

[Antony1977]

If anyone is able to find any documentary evidence of green / coley that would be amazing (or even prove I’m actually wrong 😂)

[osprey]

It's a bit of a gap before the marriage. What proof is there that William was Reginald's father? Did he sign when Reginald's birth was registered? If you don't have Reginald's birth or marriage cert, you could buy copies from the GRO.

Using the free index on the 1939 register, there's a Lily Green & William Green in the Hereford registration district. His dob given as 9 Mar 1887 so not the child that was in the industrial school in 1911.

Industrial School William in 1911
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7J1-MJH
He would appear to be the William John Green registered sept qtr 1898 Ledbury, illegitimate son of Annie
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9BY-B7B

Possible baptism 31 March 1887 at Mordiford for your William
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J91C-6QH

1891 census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4T8S-ZMM

[Antony1977]

At this time, my partners father David, remembers his father (Reginald) talking about Lily coley and William green, and how Reginald was bought up by him nan but for many years Reginald thought lily was actually his sister.

[osprey]

it's not unusual for grandparents to raise an illegitimate child and for the child to think the mother was a sister.

Possible for Lily in 1901
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9BB-Q3H
possible marriage of parents
George Coley march qtr 1896 Ledbury vol 6a pg 627 with Sarah Webley on the same page

Lily may have been registered as Annie Elizabeth Coley sept qtr 1896 mmn Weobley

[Antony1977]

I had tried to order a copy of reginalds birth certificate. However no results found

I’ve tried

Reg coley
Reginald coley
Reg green
Reginald green
Reg webley
Reginald webley

Reg was born 1916, I clicked on +\- 2 just in case.

Can anyone give an idea of what else I can try?

[Eastbury]

Hi
FreeBMD shows Reggie Coley mother’s name Coley registered in Ledbury district June quarter 1916 Volume 6a 767

Jack