Contacting a family tree owner on Ancestry

[sandiep]

looking at gro it is definately matthew john Kennedy d 1935

   KENNEDY, MATTHEW  JOHN     47 
GRO Reference: 1935  M Quarter in ABERGAVENNY  Volume 11A  Page 65

Had a quick look at the Swain tree the owner hasnt been on there recently unless they have never logged out then it doesnt show

[ChrisAllonby]

looking at gro it is definately matthew john Kennedy d 1935

   KENNEDY, MATTHEW  JOHN     47 
GRO Reference: 1935  M Quarter in ABERGAVENNY  Volume 11A  Page 65

Had a quick look at the Swain tree the owner hasnt been on there recently unless they have never logged out then it doesnt show

Thanks. I agree with your assessment. The ages given are a better match than for Matthew James.

I think I might do as suggested above, and join Ancestry for one month and try and make contact that way. However, it all depends on the birth certificate for Matthew James Kennedy, which I've now ordered. If the date of birth is given as 27th September 1889 then my assumptions are probably correct. Otherwise I'm back to square one. I'll open the letter from the GRO with bated breath!

[Rosinish]

Have you found Matthew James in 1939 which will give his DoB?

For the benefit of others who may be following/helping, not much between the 2 births...

KENNEDY, MATTHEW  JAMES     STEPHENS 
GRO Reference: 1889  D Quarter in CHEPSTOW  Volume 11A  Page 9

KENNEDY, MATTHEW  JOHN     POWELL 
GRO Reference: 1887  J Quarter in CARDIFF  Volume 11A  Page 357

I'm intrigued, do you have a theory as to why he changed his surname, especially to such an uncommon name?

Could he have married & taken his wife's surname?

I hadn't taken everything in, in one go ...was he possibly adopted?

Annie

Add...I had a look at the tree you mentioned, it appears the owner probably doesn't have the DC for the 1935 death as it's referenced as 'Mar 1935' with no specific date.
A few entries have specific dates, usually from National Probate Calendar, FAG & Soldiers died in the Great War

[Rosinish]

You possibly already have this info...

Death entry...
 
Dec 1974   
DEVAUDEN JAMES MATTHEW (b 27 Sep 1891) BARROW/F Vol 1 Pg 120

Mentioned in National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 
James Matthew Devauden 1975 Denham-Eastwood

1911 entry...

James Devanden 22
St John, Hereford, England
Birth Year (Est) 1889
Birthplace   Leamington, Warwickshire
Status Single
Occupation NO OCCUPATION
Nationality   ENGLISH
Boarder

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7JB-DB7

Annie

[ChrisAllonby]

Have you found Matthew James in 1939 which will give his DoB?

For the benefit of others who may be following/helping, not much between the 2 births...

KENNEDY, MATTHEW  JAMES     STEPHENS 
GRO Reference: 1889  D Quarter in CHEPSTOW  Volume 11A  Page 9

KENNEDY, MATTHEW  JOHN     POWELL 
GRO Reference: 1887  J Quarter in CARDIFF  Volume 11A  Page 357

I'm intrigued, do you have a theory as to why he changed his surname, especially to such an uncommon name?

Could he have married & taken his wife's surname?

I hadn't taken everything in, in one go ...was he possibly adopted?

Annie

Add...I had a look at the tree you mentioned, it appears the owner probably doesn't have the DC for the 1935 death as it's referenced as 'Mar 1935' with no specific date.
A few entries have specific dates, usually from National Probate Calendar, FAG & Soldiers died in the Great War

Hi Annie,

It does look as though Matthew John is the (incorrect) birth identified in Swain. I have the 1939 record for James Devauden and his DoB is given as 27 Sep 1889. This ties in with 1911 and 1921. His DC gives the year as 1891, but I assume this is incorrect - I hope so.

As to why he changed his surname is anyone's guess. One thing is certain - he did change it. There are no other Devaudens anywhere in the world, save for David K Devauden and his wife, who took that as their new surname when they married in the Welsh village of that name. Devauden never married, as far as I know. Adoption? You mean post 1901 - an interesting possibility.

In 1911 and 1921 Devauden is associated with a man called Charles Albrecht, 34 years his senior. They both moved to Hull some time after 1921. Albrecht died in Hull in 1932 and Devauden was still there in 1939. It's a mystery, without a doubt.

Regards,
Chris.

[jonwarrn]

You possibly already have this info...

Yes
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=776439.9

[ChrisAllonby]

You possibly already have this info...

Yes
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=776439.9

Yes, that thread from 2017 documents the issue in much greater detail. I must admit I'd given up on my research on Devauden, but when the 1921 census became available it shed new light on the matter. As mentioned above, his PoB is given as Tidenham, Glos (not Leamington, per the earlier census) and I think the entry is in his own hand.

Incidentally, it's been a while since I ordered a certificate from the GRO. When I ordered Kennedy's birth cert. there was an option to get a pdf version for £7. I opted for the full certificate for £11. However, it occurred to me that these full certs can be difficult to scan, usually needing two halves, and perhaps the pdf would have been a better bet. Any thoughts?

[jonwarrn]

Hi
I had forgotten about Mr Devauden and his friend Charles Albrecht.
Well done for finding Matthew in 1921 and getting the new place of birth (very naughty for him to say Leamington in 1911!)
Your theory looks very promising indeed.

I'm afraid I don't really know how they put the certs together, I was under the impression the pdfs are two bits joined together. But it doesn't really matter, you are going to get the info you require anyway.
Do let us know how you get on.
John

[Rosinish]

I have quite a few full English certs. & they look to have been scanned as a whole although it never crossed my mind about the size etc. nor have I scrutinised them but this was long before Pdf was an option.

Annie