William Harris Devenport

[Siely]

William Harris Devenport buried 1881 Witton Cemetery, Birmingham is listed by some as father of Robert James Davenport b. 1868 (who married Kate Silvester)

Does the name William Harris Devenport mean an adopted father ? ie real father is Harris, later step father is Devenport ?

[CaroleW]

“Is listed by some”

If you are quoting from somebody else's family tree you need to do your own research as many trees are full of incorrect info.  You don’t appear to have used any of the available free resources to answer your questions

If Robert was b 1868 - have you looked him up on the 1871 & 1881 censuses to establish his parents names?  No info given by you as to where Robert was born?

No info given by you as to how old William was when he died? 

As Williams death was registered in the June qtr 1881 - have you looked him up in the 1871 & 1881 censuses to see if he had a son Robert?

Who did Robert name as his father when he married?  When & where was the marriage to Kate Silvester?

Have you investigated the different spellings of the surname??

[Siely]

Robert's marriage cert. says father was William Davenport , Miner.  I was simply wondering what the justification for William Harris Devenport born 1838 Dublin could be ? I can't find any justification for it.

[CaroleW]

If Robert was b 1868 - have you looked him up on the 1871 & 1881 censuses to establish his parents names?  No info given by you as to where Robert was born?

Do you have an answer to the above?

I was simply wondering what the justification for William Harris Devenport born 1838 Dublin could be

Explain what you mean by "justification" You have given no realistic info that links William Harris DEvonprt & Robert James DAvenport

Please post 1871 & 1881 entries for both

When & where was the marriage to Kate Silvester?

Are you able to answer that question

What is the connection to your FH?

[Siely]

Unsure where William Davenport lived when Robert was born in 1868. Robert James Davenport did work and marry in Birmingham but his early life is something of a mystery. However there has always been an "irishness" about his line.
Did they originally leave Ireland due to the famine - perhaps so.

[Siely]

A tree on Family Search (but no sources given) gives Robert's father as William Devenport
Birth: 1838 Dublin, Ireland
Death: 1881Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
(ie he died 10 years before Robert's marriage to Kate Sylvester)

The corresponding GRO death record is
DEVENPORT, WILLIAM  HARRIS     42
GRO Reference: 1881  J Quarter in BIRMINGHAM  Volume 06D  Page 95

But no sources given on Family Search

Hence my original question about Harris as a middle name, does it signify something ?

[CaroleW]

As requested in earlier reply - what is your connection to these people?

Countless people have surnames as middle names.  Mothers maiden name was a popular choice as were the surnames of other family members & friends so nothing unusual about it.  It’s not clear why you are trying to “justify” his middle name

You haven’t yet said whether you have found the family in 1871 & 1881 or given info as to where Robert was born or married?

As advised in my opening reply - do your own research based on your own facts - not others. 

Contact the tree owner & ask where they got the info from.  Many people just copy other peoples trees so errors are replicated

Download a digital copy of the 1881 death cert to see who reported the death etc


 

[Siely]

Going to stop here, no wiser than before.

[CaroleW]

Mainly because you haven't answered the questions in my replies