Ancestor possibly using an assumed name?

[sparrett]

Attaching here the signature I have for James GLEN with the word James so that you can compare it to the James part of Henry HUMPHREY's signature.

I have looked at a list of White Star Line ships and cannot see "Carnarvon" listed though the 1911 description of James GLENN's employment says White Star Line.

Whoever filled out the form for the 1911, they could not spell Elsie!

[sparrett]

MMmmm...
Now, this might be interesting or not.

For those that can see the 1911.

Image 686 is the Glen family.
Click back to image 682, the Fitzgerald family.

Make a close comparative study of the hand writing, particularly words such as daughter and Ship.

Any comments?
A helpful neighbour completing forms or my imagination

Sue

ADDING
Look at the writing for John FITZGERALD

[majm]

And may I add to Sue's thoughts ...

At Line 1, it seems someone has written in pencil so that the person with the ink pen can write over it, particularly Glen in column 1, and Head in column 2.

The handwriting at 686 is similar hand to 682.

The handwriting in pencil at 687 is likely from the enumerator, it is similar to 683, 685, 689 etc.  It is NOT matching up to the even numbered images which of course are for the householder to compete.    so I think Mr Fitzgerald at 18/2 Burlington St has helped 18/6 fill out their forms, there's only Mr Flannery at 18/4 separating them.

JM

[sparrett]

Hi JM.
Yes. I think we may be onto something here.

We have an illiterate Sophie at home with the children while her "husband" is on his ship on census night.
The kind person Fitzgerald next door but one, completes her required form for her and even extends his/her kindness to writing GLEN's signature.

Sophie is keen to observe propriety and chooses to have her "husband" listed as present at home lest her children status is cast into doubt.

GLEN would not be he first person to be found in 2 places on census night!   

A good story?
Sue

[majm]

Yes, to me it is a plausible explanation, particularly the mis-spelling for Elsie.   As an aside, I sometimes ponder if the babies born in this current decade would be able to read any handwritten documents when they complete their school education and matriculate, ready for further education.  I think they may be able to read printed text, but perhaps won't have any skills for reading the historic records from even the late 20th Century.

JM

[paganmogwai]

MMmmm...
Now, this might be interesting or not.

For those that can see the 1911.

Image 686 is the Glen family.
Click back to image 682, the Fitzgerald family.

Make a close comparative study of the hand writing, particularly words such as daughter and Ship.

Any comments?
A helpful neighbour completing forms or my imagination

Sue

ADDING
Look at the writing for John FITZGERALD

Hi Sue.  OH WOW!!!!! You've definitely hit on something there, its very distinctive handwriting, looks like the same ink too.  Also the upper case G in George and Glen. That looks very much to me like someone else filled in the form for Sophia, for whatever reason.

They are definitely the most intriguing family I'm tracing, and also the hardest to find 

[paganmogwai]

Yes, to me it is a plausible explanation, particularly the mis-spelling for Elsie.   As an aside, I sometimes ponder if the babies born in this current decade would be able to read any handwritten documents when they complete their school education and matriculate, ready for further education.  I think they may be able to read printed text, but perhaps won't have any skills for reading the historic records from even the late 20th Century.

JM

Hi JM,  yes I'd wonder that myself .Thanks.

[paganmogwai]

Hi JM.
Yes. I think we may be onto something here.

We have an illiterate Sophie at home with the children while her "husband" is on his ship on census night.
The kind person Fitzgerald next door but one, completes her required form for her and even extends his/her kindness to writing GLEN's signature.

Sophie is keen to observe propriety and chooses to have her "husband" listed as present at home lest her children status is cast into doubt.

GLEN would not be he first person to be found in 2 places on census night!   

A good story?
Sue

Hi Sue, oh its turning into a great story.  Its the first time I've run into issues with a census return, all the help here has been great.  Thanks.

[sparrett]

It  means you can discount the census signature in the comparisons you are making.

But I still think there is a lot of difference between the signatures of James GLEN signing on to 'Mendes'

And Henry HUMPHREY attestation document.

Sue