Trying to find Charles Wilson

[Robin Heath]

Hi, Wonder if anyone can help us. My wife's father was Charles Wilson, he died when she was 9 months old in 1954. Supposedly he was born (Army records) in Margate 17th March 1915, but there is no birth record of him at all. None of the family info on him pans out, including his fathers name (deceased) on the marriage certificate. We have come to believe he was adopted and started life with a different name. Through DNA links on Ancestry we have narrowed it down to about 4 surnames, and discovered a close DNA match 'illegitimate' birth in 1915 Margate that may fit the bill. The child was Walter Ernest West and he was in foster care with Henry and Mary Jane Neve in 1921. Their address in 1911 was Poplar Cottage, Northdown, Margate and 3 St. Johns Villas, St Peters Footpath, Margate in 1921.They fostered a LOT of children. We have Walters birth certificate with mothers name but no fathers  name. Does anyone know of any place with unofficial foster/adoption records for this time. The GRO records don't begin until 1927 so we are stuck there. It's a long shot but we would appreciate any help or advice. Thank you, Robin and Janet.

[rosie99]

Welcome to rootschat

Adoptions were often informal prior to 1927 with no records made.  What information does the certificate for Walter West give regarding his place and date of birth. 
Have you found either Charles Wilson or Walter West on the 1939 register.
When did Charles Wilson join the Army.

[Robin Heath]

Hi, Walter Ernest West was born illigetimate  on 15th March 1915 at Thanet House, Minster, Margate, Kent. No father given. His mother was Emily Maud West, who is close family to Janet's closest DNA match (2nd-3rd cousin) on Ancestry.Com  Charles Wilsons army records give his date of birth as 17th March 1915, Margate, Kent. Charles joined the army in 1938, so is not in the 1939 register. No sign of Walter on the 1939 register. Hope this helps. Thanks Robin

[Radcliff]

If the child was fostered out before he was adopted there may be records for him, in the the local Union/workhouse boarding out minutest may be worth pursuing these records, as the person in 1921 may have been paid to look after these children, it was common to foster out young children in this way, my own Grandfather was boarded out in 1921

[Robin Heath]

Thank you for the tip. He must be the responsibility of an authority in Margate. I think the foster family had been fostering for some years, so it was an income for them.

[Radcliff]

Yes they would have been paid if they were taking children in from the Margate Union it’s worth enquiring , also when I accessed my own grandfathers record the delivery/both records were very detailed including his mothers address religion what time she came in who brought her baby’s weight sex , they aren’t available online

[Radcliff]

Am I correct in assuming you have eliminated the Emily Maud Wilson birth date 6th December 1884 who married William T Mainwaring, December  1917 Canterbury , she is widowed in 1939

[Radcliff]

GRO, Emily Maud Wilson mother Anderson, Canterbury, mother Anderson,
Florence May Wilson mother Anderson,Canterbury 1883
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Ann Maria Anderson married in Canterbury June 1881, spouse Henry John Wilson,
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This is only a suggestion rather than proof of your ancestry

  Ignore me I have gone of on the Wilson instead of West surname trail

[Robin Heath]

We have a complete history for Emily Maud West born Margate 1893, in domestic service 1921, and married Sidney T Smith, Willesden 1925. She also had an illegitimate son Henry Charles Wilson (no father named) in Margate 1912, but he is living with Emily's mother and father in Margate in 1921. So they kept that child. West is the closest name DNA wise. We think Charles was ignorant of his birth mother. We have birth certificates for both births with Emily Maud West as the mother.