Barbara M Gaunt b1938 d 1969 lived Oldbury m to Roy Geoffrey Davies

[wyrleybart]

Hi all
Cheekily wondering if anyone is researching Gaunt from South Yorks > Derbys

Joseph Gaunt (b1870) and wife Lliian (b1876) moved to the Black Country presumably for work. In the 1939 census they were living in Oldbury as Head of household, wife and three women
Hilda b 1905 a midwife, Nellie b 1913 a typist and Barbara Mary aged 1

At first glance it appears Barbara was just the youngest daughter with an age gap but wife Lilian Gaunt would have been 61 or 62 when Barbara was born, which is reasonably inconceivable.  There is a Barbara M Gaunt born in Bournemouth in 1938 whose mothers name is recorded as Gaunt so it is possible that someone gave birth to Barbara in Bournemouth then returned to the family home in Oldbury for the 1939 census.

My colleague for who this research is for really needs to buy Barbara Gaunt's birth certificate but Ijust wondered if anyone had come across this Gaunt in their research.

Thanks to Christine53 for the original help 

[Milliepede]

Nellie b 1913 a typist and Barbara Mary aged 1

On the face of it it looks as if Nellie could be her mother - was Nellie a single woman? 

[CaroleW]

Both Hilda & Nellie were old enough to be her mother.   Both were single

[aghadowey]

Already discussed on previous topic-
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=858460.msg7271904#msg7271904

[wyrleybart]

Both Hilda & Nellie were old enough to be her mother.   Both were single

Hi Carole
Hope you are well.
I was tempted to contact you but thought I would put this on the board.

Yes Hilda was born in 1905 and was in a midwife so would have been 34 when Barbara was born and 35 at the 1939 census.  Nellie was born in 1913 and would have been 25 when Barbara was born.  Both were certainly of childbearing age, but obviously Lilian their mother wasn't.

I understand that expectant single mums sometimes "went away" for the confinement and chidlbirth but perhaps I am presumptuous that either Hilda or Nellie would have done that. Another thought I had was that Hilda might have "brought a baby home" from a difficult situation.  The 1939 census records the head of the household as "incapacitated" but I don't suppose that means anything in this situation. 

It seems that my colleague needs to buy his mum's (Barbara) birth certificate, which will hopefully list at least her mother's name even ifthe father is absent from the certificate.

Thanks for your help all 

[CaroleW]

I notice neither Nellie or Hilda married.  Nellie died 1995 & Hilda 2003. 

[wyrleybart]

Just thought I would let you know so I can box this one off. Jus received Barbara's birth cert from the GRO.  As suspected, her mother was one of the two women in the 1939 register.  Nellie Gaunt was her mother and as suspected, the father's box was blank.

So Barbara's father will remain a mystery !!

Thanks all for your help.

[CaroleW]

One mystery solved.  Depending on your colleagues level of curiosity - DNA may solve the other question of “who’s the daddy”