HELP with a mystery and a theory - relatives changing names during their life

[jmec73]

Hi,

I hope someone can help me with a puzzle that's driving me up the wall relating to my wife's 2nd great-uncle.

For the relative in question, I had him married to one woman and with five children, yet on other trees they also have him married to another - the marriage date being the same year - with other children. My first assumption was that his first wife died and then he married again, however this was not the case. Here are the facts I have:

Name: Harry Vye Freemantle b. December 1874 in Billingshurst, Sussex.

1) Harry married Ethel May Kimble in 1902 - this is corroborated by a marriage document and Ethel is listed as wife and mother of his children on Harry's military service record.
2) Ethel is listed on the 1911 census as Harry's wife for over 8 years at this point, by which time 4 children have been born to the family.
3) The General Register Office (GRO) information for all 4 children born between 1907-1911 lists the mother's maiden name as Castle. All subsequent children are also listed with the mother's maiden name as Castle (11 children in total).
4) A photo on Ancestry shows the children with their mother - Annie Elizabeth Castle.
5) Harry's probate record in 1936 lists his widow Annie Elizabeth Freemantle as his benefactor.
6) Annie Elizabeth Freemantle died in November 1949 - the probate record confirms the same home address that is on Harry's probate record from 1936.
7) On other family trees, Ethel and Annie are listed as both being born in 1885 and both marrying Harry in 1902.
I can find no birth record for Annie Elizabeth Castle, but a death record for Annie Elizabeth Freemantle tied to the probate in 1949.
9) I have found a birth record for Ethel May Kimble in Shipston in Warwickshire in 1884 (which would agree with the age of 18 on the marriage record of 1902, and the 1891 census lists her father as David, who is named on the marriage certificate in 1902), but I can find no death record for Ethel May Freemantle. However, the 1911 census lists Ethel's place of birth as Lambeth.

I've read enough census and BMD docs to know that dates and places often don't tally and are reported differently, so this may account for some discrepancies, but I am perplexed.

My theory is that Ethel May Kimble and Annie Elizabeth are the same person, and Ethel changed her name, or used an alternative name, at different points of her life for whatever reason.

Has anyone seen anything comparable to this set of events, or can find anything which might shed some light either way on this? All and any advice will be gratefully received!

Many thanks,
Jon.

[JenB]

I have found a birth record for Ethel May Kimble in Shipston in Warwickshire in 1884 (which would agree with the age of 18 on the marriage record of 1902, and the 1891 census lists her father as David, who is named on the marriage certificate in 1902), but I can find no death record for Ethel May Freemantle. However, the 1911 census lists Ethel's place of birth as Lambeth.

If I have the right family on the index to the 1921 census, Annie Elizabeth's birthplace is given as Kennington, London, which would fit pretty well with Ethel's Lambeth birthplace in 1911 

[JenB]

Annie Elizabeth Castle, born 4q 1885, Lambeth 4d 411.

Which fits with Annie's birthdate on the 1939 register

  

[rosie99]

Baptism 1st June 1884 Stretton on Fosse gives fathers name as David, mother Eliza

[JenB]

Just adding some relevant 1902 marriage details

Ethel's father David is a gardener.

One of the witnesses was a Florence Elizabeth Kimble.

Ethel's age is given as 18.

[Josephine]

Do you know where they're buried? My suggestion would be to contact the cemetery and ask for any info they might have on file.

[JenB]

One of the witnesses was a Florence Elizabeth Kimble.

A Florence E Kimble is with parents David and Eliza in Stretton under Fosse in 1881.

Baptism 1st June 1884 Stretton on Fosse gives fathers name as David, mother Eliza

[JenB]

Name: Harry Vye Freemantle b. December 1874 in Billingshurst, Sussex.

This is odd.

There is a 1908 marriage between an Eric Cantlon Simmons and an Ethel May V. Kimble.
In 1911 they appear to be living in Chelsea, and Ethel's birthplace is given as West Malvern. She is said to be 24 years old.

Eric Simmons died in 1937 and there is an entry in the London Gazette which states that the woman he married in 1908 was called Ethel May Vye Kimble.

[JenB]

I should have added to the above that it’s most likely a total red herring