Need help - bastards

[dirja]

I have no idea how to go about finding the birth parents of my great grandfather, or even if it is possible.
All I know is: he was called Alfred George Melville born ca. 1879. He married in 1909 on 30 Jan. at the age of 30, he was a Wheelwright, resident at time of Marriage in Walmer (which is on the coast in Kent) father´s name on the Marriage Certificate - George Henry Melville (deceaced) a Farmer. He married Minnie Louisa Gardiner aged 28 of Ripple, Kent - father - Joseph Tillot Gerdiner (deceaced) a Carpenter.
It is said that he was brought up by a family with lots of children, but where is not known, and that he was told at the age of 21 that he was not a true member of this family and that he should leave.
He apparently did an apprenticeship as a Carpenter.
It is also said that according to him his birth father was a Tea Importer and mother a maid.
Would be very grateful for any ideas as to where I should look.
Greetings from Germany
Jane

[Trish]

I have no idea how to go about finding the birth parents of my great grandfather, or even if it is possible.
All I know is: he was called Alfred George Melville born ca. 1879. He married in 1909 on 30 Jan. at the age of 30, he was a Wheelwright, resident at time of Marriage in Walmer (which is on the coast in Kent) father´s name on the Marriage Certificate - George Henry Melville (deceaced) a Farmer. He married Minnie Louisa Gardiner aged 28 of Ripple, Kent - father - Joseph Tillot Gerdiner (deceaced) a Carpenter.
It is said that he was brought up by a family with lots of children, but where is not known, and that he was told at the age of 21 that he was not a true member of this family and that he should leave.
He apparently did an apprenticeship as a Carpenter.
It is also said that according to him his birth father was a Tea Importer and mother a maid.
Would be very grateful for any ideas as to where I should look.
Greetings from Germany
JaneJane, you have quite a puzzle on your hands. I have done a quick check for your great grandfather and his father on the 1881 and 1891 censuses but didn't find any likely prospects -- however, it was by no means a thorough search.

There's the possibility that Alfred was raised by a family with no blood ties and that he was known by a different name before he was 21. Is that right?

There's also the possibility that the father of the family that raised Alfred was his natural father -- or grandfather or another family member -- and I guess there are other possibilities. So maybe his real surname was Melville.

He should show up on the 1901 census -- if he is there, the information on him may improve your chances of finding him in earlier censuses -- with his "adoptive" family.

Anyway, when I have time, I will look again if someone else doesn't step in and do so in the meantime.

Good luck.

Trish

[dirja]

Hi Trish, thanks for wanting to help, I really am stuck, I checked the 1901 census, an Alfred Melville came up, but he was an insurance agent living in Norfolk I think, and not a wheelwright. My great aunty his youngest daughter is the only one who can say anything all the other children are gone, she is 90 and whould so much like to know who her father was before she goes too.
She said at the time she was not really interested therefor when he did talk, didn´t pay much attention to it.
She said he did not talk much about his past, but she gatherd that he was very angry about being told to leave and that he did not belong to that family, she seems to think because of that, that he changed his name.
the other things that she seem to remember him saying are: his true father was a tea importer, that he worked for a while for a tea sorting company in London, he was very fussy about what tea he drank and he was a bit of a snob, but had a big heart.
She seems to think that he was raised in Somersett, and went to London at 21.
On his marriage cert. his father is named as the George Henry Melville I mentioned before and a farmer, so if his real father was a tea importer, then this George H. must be the person who raised him, then he didn´t change his name.
Is it possible to look at later census´s ?.
Jane

[Geoffers]

I have no idea how to go about finding the birth parents of my great grandfather....he was called Alfred George Melville born ca. 1879. He married in 1909 on 30 Jan. at the age of 30, he was a Wheelwright, resident at time of Marriage in Walmer (which is on the coast in Kent) father´s name on the Marriage Certificate - George Henry Melville (deceaced) a Farmer....It is said...that he was told at the age of 21 that he was not a true member of this family and that he should leave.
Initial thoughts:

1) Have you tried searching the GRO index of births for an Alfred George MELVILLE? The information that he was not a member of teh family seems to be hearsay. At least try to prove this is/is not true.

2) Assuming the story to be true - try searching for a will of George Henry MELVILLE (if he was a farmer, there should be one) - it may make mention of his 'adopted son'.

3) Were there any MELVILLES witnesses to the marriage?

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Trish]

...his true father was a tea importer, that he worked for a while for a tea sorting company in London, he was very fussy about what tea he drank and he was a bit of a snob, but had a big heart.
She seems to think that he was raised in Somersett, and went to London at 21... Is it possible to look at later census´s ?Later than 1901? No, not yet, unfortunately.

If Alfred George MELVILLE was born c. 1879 and his natural father was a tea importer in London at about that time, then the 1881 census might list him. Only 4 show up that fit the criteria -- but none who were born in Somerset:

Name / Estimated Birth / Year / Birthplace / Relationship / Residence
Charles C.A. Averillo abt 1864 Croydon, Surrey, England Son Tottenham, Middlesex
Francis W. Kitching abt 1844 Brompton, Middlesex, England Head Lambeth, London
Charles Overbeck abt 1851 Westphalia (Nat Brit Subj), Germany Head St Pancras, London
Walter J. Stuart abt 1847 London, Middlesex, England Head St George Hannover Square, London

I think Charles AVERILLO may be too young [and there are no servants in his household -- although this doesn't have to be a requisite]. Francis KITCHING has two women living in his household, an elderly visitor and a woman whose relationship to him is unkn26nbsp;
If Alfred George MELVILLE was born c. 1879 and his natural father was a tea importer in London at about that time, then the 1881 census might list him. Only 4 show up that fit the criteria -- but none who were born in Somerset:

Name / Estimated Birth / Year / Birthplace / Relationship / Residence
Charles C.A. Averillo abt 1864 Croydon, Surrey, England Son Tottenham, Middlesex
Francis W. Kitching abt 1844 Brompton, Middlesex, England Head Lambeth, London
Charles Overbeck abt 1851 Westphalia (Nat Brit Subj), Germany Head St Pancras, London
Walter J. Stuart abt 1847 London, Middlesex, England Head St George Hannover Square, London

I think Charles AVERILLO may be too young [and there are no servants in his household -- although this doesn't have to be a requisite]. Francis KITCHING has two women living in his household, an elderly visitor and a woman whose relationship to him is unknown. Charles OVERBECK has a wife and 2 young female servants... hmmm. Walter STUART has a wife, father and children in his household. You can look these names up on the 1881 census if you want more details.

Many more hits come up for just "tea" [as opposed to "tea importer"]. Only one born in Somerset: James SIMMOND, 54 years, Tea Dealer in Middlesex, living with his wife. Nothing to link him to your Alfred, though.

Trish

[Trish]

Initial thoughts:

1) Have you tried searching the GRO index of births for an Alfred George MELVILLE? The information that he was not a member of teh family seems to be hearsay. At least try to prove this is/is not true.

2) Assuming the story to be true - try searching for a will of George Henry MELVILLE (if he was a farmer, there should be one) - it may make mention of his 'adopted son'.

3) Were there any MELVILLES witnesses to the marriage?

Geoffers
Charlbury, OxfordshireAs always, Geoffers has very sound advice, Jane.

I took a closer look at the '71 to '01 censuses but I just don't see either an Alfred or a George MELVILLE who looks like a fit for your family. I also tried several variations of MELVILLE without any luck. If Alfred was born about 1879 then he would have reached the age of 21 after 1891 [when he was asked to leave the family] so one would assume he would be with the MELVILLE family in the '81 and '91 censuses. Makes me wonder if MELVILLE was the name he was raised with...

Don't give up. As Geoffers suggests, look at who the witnesses were to the marriage -- may be some clues there.

Trish

[Peter Goodey]

If none of the other suggestions leads anywhere, you might like to consider the possibilty that he was actually born Alfred George Melville SOMETHING. Unfortunately the GRO indexes don't show a third forename in full - just the initial letter.

In desperation, you could try GRO for everyone with forenames "Alfred George M" with a reference check that the M should stand for Melville. You'll need FreeBMD obviously for the references. I wouldn't hold out much hope though.

[dirja]

Thanks you all for your help and tips, I shall look at the GRO, am not a member yet.
On the Marriage Certificate, Minnie´s brother George is one of the witnesses the other is no relation.
Jane