On the run, then changes name

[ChippyLewis]

My black sheep is possibly a murderer and bigamist, or possibly just a bigamist. If some one was a wanted man in the early 1900's how would I find out about this?

The man in question is my Great Grandad. When he married my G.grandmother he said he couldn't remember his real name or where he was from originally. (very fishy!) When he died it was revealed that he had been using a false name.

To cut a long story short I solved most of this mystery some time ago due to the fact my G.grandad had mentioned ( on one of his less forgetful days:o) a cousin with an unusual name.
...So after tracking down the cousin, I learned my G.grandad's real name.

He was married in his early 20's and had two daughters living on the 1901 census in Norfolk. Sometime after this (so I have been told by relatives of the cousin) He killed someone (possibly accidentally) and disappeared to America or Canada. Sometime between 1901 and 1910 he resurfaced in Lancashire (with a convenient case of amnesia) and married my G.grandmother.

What I would like to know is did he actually kill someone or was this an excuse to leave the family he had in Norfolk. Does anyone have any idea how I would find out about a wanted man in Norfolk at this time?

Thanks in advance, Chip.

[Astoria]

Please give us a name. ;)

[Geoffers]

He killed someone (possibly accidentally) and disappeared to America or Canada. Sometime between 1901 and 1910 he resurfaced in Lancashire (with a convenient case of amnesia) and married my G.grandmother.

As a starter - because it's free to search and something you can try now, search TNA's catalogue (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp)

In the word or phrase field, enter - your chap's surname AND murder
(note that the AND mst be in capitals)

Year range - restrict the period to the rough time known

Leave the department or series code blank as files are kept in different classes at TNA.

As an example, I carried out a search (just searchng on murder, no surname) for 1880-1899 and found 957 hits (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=murder&txtfirstdate=1880&txtlastdate=1899&txtrestriction=&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=33&image1.y=13)

[ChippyLewis]

Thanks for the help, his real name was Thomas Nathaniel Hines, later changed to 'Jack Green'.

Geoffers, unfortunately nothing came up with the Hines surname.

Chip.

[susan-y]

Have you been able to check the newspaper archives for that area during the time period you think this may have happened ? A murder should make the front page somewhere in there....

Sue

[ChippyLewis]

Hi Sue, I have looked into what newspapers would be available. Genuki has a few transcribed pieces (no luck there), it also lists archives that Norfolk local libraries have. These papers only go up to 1906 for some reason and they have not been completely transcribed. Genuki suggests searching the British library's index but I have had no luck there. Main problem is I am miles away from norfolk so I was hoping I would be able find something online or at least confirm what records there are before making a trip.

[susan-y]

Hi Chip!

Sorry I can't help as I'm even farther away! Our libraries here in Canada have inter-library loans and you can get micro-fische from one library sent to one closer to you. If you could find out if these old newspapers are saved on micro-fische maybe you could find out more that way.

OR... take a holiday|biggrin|.

Its certainly an intersting tale... let us know how you make out ( even if its 6 months down the road!)

Sue

[ChippyLewis]

Thanks Sue, thats a good idea about the fiche. I will get to the bottom of this eventually, I would like to know for sure why he left his family.

[Barnzzz]

Hi Chip, I've had a good look on the Times online but couldn't find anything, sorry !

Sue

[Geoffers]

He was married in his early 20's and had two daughters living on the 1901 census in Norfolk. Sometime after this (so I have been told by relatives of the cousin) He killed someone (possibly accidentally) and disappeared to America or Canada. Sometime between 1901 and 1910 he resurfaced in Lancashire (with a convenient case of amnesia) and married my G.grandmother.

Do you know what happened to the two daughters? Did they turn up with him in Lancashire, or did they stay with their mum in Norfolk?

To try and narrow down the time period in which this may have happened (the where is another matter), have you tried to identify him in the Board of Trade (BT) passenger lists which are available on the pay-per-view site findmypast. A date of emigration would presumably have been not long after the incident.

[ChippyLewis]

Hi Geoffers, As far as I'm aware the daughters and wife stayed behind in Norfolk. I can't find any records at the moment of them carrying on in Norfolk but I remember coming across some info years ago about the mother dying in old age in Norfolk. So I suppose I can't prove they were left behind really, it's just that when my Ggrandad came to Lancashire he was alone and said he couldn't remember his former life.

I have had a look at ships records before with not much success. The site you suggested brings up a lot of Hines! My thinking is he may not have used his real name at all if he was on the run, so I'm not sure if it is worth paying to view the records:confused:

[Geoffers]

Hi Geoffers, As far as I'm aware the daughters and wife stayed behind in Norfolk. I can't find any records at the moment of them carrying on in Norfolk but I remember coming across some info years ago about the mother dying in old age in Norfolk.

If the mother's dad left a will in which he mentions his daughter and granddaughters by name, you might find out if they kept the surname HINES, reverted to the mother's maiden name, or possibly if she remarried.

I have had a look at ships records before with not much success. The site you suggested brings up a lot of Hines! My thinking is he may not have used his real name at all if he was on the run, so I'm not sure if it is worth paying to view the records

Earlier records contain less detail than later records, but there's only one way to find out if they contain anything of use.

[benny1982]

Hi

Normally if someone was a wanted person, or had created a scandal for another reason, a lot of them would either change their name and move away or they would just move away but still keep their name. I think if they was wanted for a crime, then they would often move away and change their name as in those days it was harder to track people down. If it was to escape the scandal over something like an illegitimate birth, then the parents would often just move away but still keep their names.

Ben