John Rivotta, born around 1910?

[Jonesy]

My own personal brickwall is that of my maternal Grandfather, John Rivotta (or possibly Rivolta). Possibly born 15th March 1910.

This is what I know about him. He was originally admitted to Parish Street Workhouse in Bermondsey by the Police aged around 2 years, described as 'abandoned'. From there he want to Elmside Home (or 'The Elms'), then the Shirley School in Bermondsey

He stayed at Shirley School until the age of 15 where he briefly attended The Rifle Brigade at Winchester Barracks.

Later , he attended the National Nautical School in Portishead, from 1927 to 1928. He then went to the Watlingford Farm Training College, Berkshire and worked until his retirement as a farm worker, settling in the Motacute area of Somerset.

He changed his surname by deed poll to Manning during the war - as a farm worker, he wasn’t called up (although served in the Home Guard), and I think he received bad treatment from people because of not fighting and his Italian sounding surname.

The one possible lead I have (although I suspect it’s more likely to be a red herring), is a ‘Jack’ Rivolta, born in Richmond on 20th October 1908. His mother is listed as Ruby Rivolta, but no name for the father is given. Possibly this baby then was illegitimate, but why, if it’s my Grandfather, would he be abandoned at the age of 2?

I thought perhaps the address of the birth (21 St John’s Grove, Richmond?) might be a Poor House or similar (which could correlate with my Grandfather’s sad start to life), but I’ve not found evidence to support this.

So, a different date of birth, and Jack, not John. Probably the wrong avenue I’m going down there.

How did they know his name and date of birth? I have a 2 year old daughter, as it happens, and she's very good with her speech, but you'd unlikely to get anything more than her first name from her; she certainly doesn't know her date of birth yet! Could he have been abandoned with some sort of information as well?

Would there be any point in me trying to find the Police records of the time? I don't hold out much hope...

By the way, all records from the London Metropolitan Archives show parents as 'unknown'.

[Jonesy]

The reason I'm siding towards Rivotta, is that I have copies of Deed Poll, the article in the London Gazette (about the name change) and also my mother's birth certificate, and they all say Rivotta.

I think it could be an Anglicised version of Rivolta?

[AdeleE]

On FreeBMD, there is a Ruby Rivolta who marries in Richmond Surrey 4th Q 1909
vol 2a page 918 to either William Frederick Bird or Henry Albert Wills.

Adele

[AdeleE]

On the 1911 census, Lambeth Surrey

Henry Albert Wills 30
Ruby Wills 24
Jack Wills 2
Violet Dorothy Wills 7 months

[AdeleE]

If this is the right family, then they had another child after abandoning Jack at age 2 (c1911)

Births Sep 1913
Wills Gertrude E
mother's name Rivolta
Kingston
Vol 2a
Page 877

[Jonesy]

On FreeBMD, there is a Ruby Rivolta who marries in Richmond Surrey 4th Q 1909
vol 2a page 918 to either William Frederick Bird or Henry Albert Wills.

Adele

Yes, I have a copy of that birth certificate. Married Henry Albert Wills on 4th Dec 1909 (so around 14 months after Jack was born, assuming they're related). Her father was Joseph Rivolta, a banker (deceased at the time of the wedding).

[AdeleE]

My sense is that this is your family. To confirm, you'd need to follow the other four members of the family, the parents & two daughters, through their lives and see if anything comes to light.
Adele

[Jonesy]

This could be a very interesting twist (and one found after only a few post on this forum; thank you!!); I will do some more research as suggested.

[joette]

Don't assume because he was abandoned they didn't know who his parents were.
As he was likely to become a "burden on the Parish" they would carry out extensive inquires to find out who he was & whence he came.
I have seen Newspaper items where a description of children whom have been abandoned or even abducted is given.
The Parish Administrators were very scruplous in finding out who was responsible for the upkeep of a child or pauper.
He may have been able to give his name & thus his Mother/parents found.They may have been drunk & incapable,too ill to look after him or as it seems here an embarrassment over his possible illegitimacy.
I would be looking at any possible Archived records about this eg Poor Law Records etc.

[Jonesy]

Don't assume because he was abandoned they didn't know who his parents were.
As he was likely to become a "burden on the Parish" they would carry out extensive inquires to find out who he was & whence he came.
I have seen Newspaper items where a description of children whom have been abandoned or even abducted is given.

SO do you think perhaps I should be looking at newspapers of the time?

I would be looking at any possible Archived records about this eg Poor Law Records etc.

Would this be above and beyond what the LMA have provided?