John Herbert Boden

[Ray T]

Here's one to interest the Rootschat sleuths!

A cousin of mine appears to have got together with a Frances May (or May Frances) Boden (Nee. Pearson) (1921-2012 - Stockport) in the mid 1950s but they never married - I assume because she was still married to John Herbert Boden (a one time milkman from South Manchester).

I've been trying to work out what happened to her first husband and I possibly have the answer but, due to limited evidence, I'd like other people's opinion.

JHB was probably born 14/6/1919 - I have him on the 1939 but haven't found him in '21. He married FindMyPast in Q2 1940 and they had 2 or possibly 3 children between then and c.1950. FindMyPast had her first child with my cousin in 1957 so we're looking at a time period of 1950-1957.

It looks like JHB re-married, to a Gladys Eileen Perry in Q4 1955 - Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - and died in Q2 1974 - Portsmouth. I can't be 100% sure of the death as it has the wrong year of birth (1914) but I'm assuming this is a typo as the name, day and month match.

I was wondering why JHB left and then turned up a report in the 15/12/1952 edition of the Manchester Evening News of him failing to answer bail for 5 charges of theft from a Stockport shop.

I've not found any further press reports about his crime so my assumption is that he was charged, scarpered, re-married, bigamously, in Bucks., and never came back to face the music. What do others think?

(These are just the bones - I have researched what is available so please ask before delving in too deeply!)   

[CaroleW]

There is a tree on Ancestry with a photo of him

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/5053010/person/420131294016/facts?_phsrc=kgi1&_phstart=successSource

Be interesting to see what his marital status was when he remarried

[CaroleW]

May Frances Boden died 2012 - as Boden

[Dave Francis]

Hi

You've said that JHB was probably born in 1919 but you have a death registration that suggests 1914 instead.

Quite possibly different people because we have two birth registrations:

John H Boden - June qtr 1914, Rotherham - MMN Kay
John H Boden - June qtr 1919, Chorlton - MMN Birtwistle

or even:

John H H Boden - June qtr 1919, Ludlow - MMN Davies

but the following death registration shouldn't be discounted:

John Herbert H Boden - 1986, Shrewsbury - Born 2 May 1919.

[willsy]

I have found him in the papers 1954, are you happy for the details to be posted?

[Ray T]

Thanks for the replies. Looking at them individually -

Carole - yes, I’ve seen that one. I’m also aware of MFB’s death.

Dave - the Chorlton birth ties in with the 1939 and the 1939 address is only a couple of miles from where MFB/P and family were living. (Reddish and Levenshulme) so far more likely than Rotherham, Ludlow or Shrewsbury.

Willsy - yes please. I’ve looked but could only find the 1952 reference.

Thanks again
R

[willsy]

Hi Ray

[Ray T]

Great, thanks willsy. That's him, confirms two (rather than three) children - have yet to find the third although he appears in MFB's obit.

I see it's on FindMyPast - why couldn't I find it?! Pity my cousin never caught up with him - he was in the Coldstream Guards!