George Frederuck Holt

[hostile17]

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone here has advice on where I might look for a missing father.

George Frederick Holt / Hoult was born on 15th April 1864 in Conisbrough, Yorkshire. On the birth certificate his mother is Elizabeth Holt but no father is listed

On the 1871 census he is listed as George Frederick Darley, son of John and Elizabeth Darley
On the 1881 census he is back to being George Frederick Holt, stepson of John Darley

In 1893 he marries Sarah Jane Smith, on the certificate his father is listed as John Holt (I suspect this is his John Darley step father and the same is changed to Holt so as not to raise questions).

Any suggestions where I might look for details of his father would be appreciated.

Thanks
Sue

[CaroleW]

No father on birth cert
Made up father on marriage cert - did the occupation given for "John Holt" match that of John Darley?

Your best way forward is DNA

[hanes teulu]

George Frederick Holt's baptismal record, July 10th 1864, shows mother Elizabeth as "single".

[hanes teulu]

Baptism (FindMyPast)
Elizabeth Ann Darley, bap 1 Aug 1870, Conisborough, parents John and Elizabeth, father labourer

Birth Registration
Elizabeth Ann Darley, Jun Qtr 1869, Doncaster, 9c 518 - mother's maiden name Hoult

[Pennines]

Regarding George, the illegitimate son -- it may be worth trying the local County Archives Catalogue to see if a Bastardy Bond, or Affiliation Order, was taken out by the mother - against the actual father.

You would need to search the catalogue on the mother's name.

Of course - the actual father may have been the man she later married and he did pay towards George's upkeep before they married - so no order was taken out.

[CaroleW]

Darley/Hoult marriage was Sept qtr 1868

[hostile17]

Thank you everyone.

Carol the marriage certificate for George gives his fathers occupation as labourer. John Darley had a varied career. In 1871 he was a glass founder, in 1881 he was a pork butcher, by 1891 he was a taxidermist, in 1901 he was a dock labourer and in 1911 he was unemployed so it's possible the occupations matched but there were 1000s of labourers in the country so a made up father would have a common occupation.

Hands teulu, the baptism info is appreciated, now I can see if there is a record on ancestry.

Pennines, the county archives are a possibility, I would have to ask them to search for me as I can't travel there. John Darley may gave been his father but if Elizabeth was in a relationship with him and they intended to marry then I would have thought that John would have been on the birth certificate and George would have had his name. It's strange that in the 1871 census George is listedcas Darley but in 1881 he is Holt.

[Pennines]

The baptism record shows his birth date as 15th April - Abode 'Conisbro' and Elizabeth Holt as 'Single'.

It's not unusual for a stepson to be given a stepfather's surname on a census record actually.

I am ashamed to say I don't know which local Archives would cover this location - may be this one;

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=north+yorkshire+archives

Usually there is a catalogue to search - but may be worth emailing them.

(The huge variety of occupations by Elizabeth's husband really made me laugh!)

[hostile17]

Pennines - Pork butcher and taxidermist. Maybe he stuffed the pigs 🐖 😂