Did Mary Ann Sparkes really marry?

[sueannbowen]

Hello All

I am looking for the marriage of Mary Ann Sparke(s) to a Frank or Francis Bol(l)ingford. She was born in 1869 in Felthorpe (thanks to BG members for that find), and seemingly their first child was born in 1893 in Yarmouth.

Here is the intriguing bit. I have sent for most of the children's birth certificates and on all of them, and on one of the children's marriage certificates Frank is mentioned as the father. But, he does not show up on any census at all (Nicolina, Aislin and Geoffers have all been searching various name permutations for me) and I cannot find a marriage or a death for him. In fact, he doesn't show on any 'official' document apart from those bcs which doesn't really mean much as she registered the births. In the 1901 the children are living with relatives in Norfolk while she is working in Harley Street in London shown as married. And in the 1911 she is living in Clacton with some of the children but again, no sign of Frankie boy.

More, there are no other Bol(l)ingfords anywhere in any town on any census. I found one William Bollingford, on The Geneaologist but the original image was Rollingford. and Ancesspit had one in America in the early 1900s but they were not mine. It is almost as though the name did not exist until Mary started registering her children.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated before I go bonkers.

Sue:

[Geoffers]

Here is the intriguing bit. I have sent for most of the children's birth certificates and on all of them, and on one of the children's marriage certificates Frank is mentioned as the father.

You've probably mentioned and I've forgotten, but what was the mysterious Frank's occupation and does it remain consistent throughout the birth certificates?

As vowels are frequently the problem letters, have you tried searching for BAL(L)INGFORD, BEL(L)INGFORD, BIL(L)INGFORD, etc?............or changing the suffix to field - e.g. BOL(L)INGFIELD?

[Raffaele]

This looks like the family in 1881

Robert SPARKS,Head,41,Felthorpe, Norfolk, Ag Lab
Easter SPARKS,Wife,39,East Ruston, Norfolk
Robert SPARKS,Son,18,East Ruston, Norfolk, Ag Lab
Aurther SPARKS,Son,15,Felthorpe, Norfolk, Ag Lab
Mary SPARKS,Dau,11,Felthorpe, Norfolk, Scholar
Mable SPARKS,Dau,9,Felthorpe, Norfolk, Scholar
Earnest SPARKS,Son,7,Felthorpe, Norfolk, Scholar

The Street,Felthorpe, Norfolk
RG11 1932 / 6 / 6

The obvious conclusion is that the children were illegitimate and she invented the father. With no other proof of a marriage or the existence of the father it is the only conclusion. Quite common for young ladies in such a predicament at that time to visit relatives for the birth and report a father.

I could find just one birth in Yarmouth. Where there more children ?

[Geoffers]

I could find just one birth in Yarmouth. Where there more children ?

Censuses show births of children in Yarmouth, Coltishall, Leeds, Essex, London.

[christanel]

Many children Raffaele. In 1911 they are with Mary. In 1901 all except Frank Claude are together with relatives in Norfolk. He is with Mary's parents in Yorkshire. They all come up in marriages on FreeBMD.
There is no difficulty in finding Mary or the children it is Frank/Francis who is the problem.
In all the census prior to 1891 I found only one other Bolingford and that was Ruth in the 1861 census born 1841 in Yorkshire. However when trying to find her in 1841 and '51 I rather think she is actually a Ruth Bollen.

I am inclined to think that that the children were illegitimate. My great grandmother had 5 illegitimate children even though she put their father down as James Comb on their birth certificates. She was married to him for 1 year - he died. and she was considerate enough to say widow on the census returns.
Christina

[v.wells]

Christanel, my ggg uncle fathered 5 children with his deceased brother's wife. He went to a nearby village where no one knew him and registered the births with all the correct information but instead of giving his own name he gave a different name with correct surname. The named "father" did not ever exist!

[christanel]

Christanel, my ggg uncle fathered 5 children with his deceased brother's wife. He went to a nearby village where no one knew him and registered the births with all the correct information but instead of giving his own name he gave a different name with correct surname. The named "father" did not ever exist!

I think I see what you are getting at Vanessa (I hope!) but the problem here is that the surname Bolingford doesn't exist until Mary Ann Sparkes starts using it for the birth of her children.

Just a couple of things I noticed whilst searching. There are two births for a Robert Whitney Bolingford - one in 1904 Hendon and one in 1909 Tendring. The 1909 Robert is in the 1911 census with Mary and siblings so where is the 1904 child. FreeBMD doesn't have a death for him 1904-1911 There is also the birth and death of a Mary Bolingford in 1908. Would the death certificates give anymore clues.
Robert Whitney (19109) goes to British Giuana in Feb 1937 and returns to Britain in Dec of that year.

No answers, just observations.
Christina

[v.wells]

Deaths certs are full of clues eg will name widow(er) of and address and name of informant.
1904 child could be off staying with other rellies - sorry you got that already. Could be Frank is at sea (how convenient)! What was his occupation?

[christanel]

Amy Millicent and Evelyn Bollingford were baptised at St Thomas Acton, Ealing on 27 May 1906. The information given for the father is Frank Charles Bollingford and in the occupation column - servant. Of course Mary could have been giving her occupation. Wish it stated if the father was present!
Also in a submitted entry on IGI - a bit dodgy - someone has him as Frank Charles Bolingford born Norfolk 1867. Of course there is nothing in any census to substantiate that.
Christina

[sueannbowen]

What a good bunch you are. Here is a bit more info copied from the certificates I have:

Winifred Blanche Mary Bollingford born 7.11.1893
111 Northgate Street U.S.D
Registered in Great Yarmouth, County of Great Yarmouth
Father: Frank Charles Bollingford
Occupation: Stores Clerk
Mother: Mary Bollingford, formerly Sparks
Mary was the informant of the same address

Francis Claud Bollingford born 5.04.1895
10 Strasburg Place U.O.
Registered in West Leeds, County of Leeds
Father: Frank Charles Bollingford
Occupation: Bookkeeper
Mother: Mary Bollingford, formerly Sparks
Mary was the informant of the same address

Evelyn Bolingford born 20.03.1906
28 First Avenue Acton Park, Acton
Registered in Brentford, County of Middlesex
Father: Frank Charles Bolingford
Occupation Valet (domestic)
Mother: Mary Bolingford, formerly Sparks
Mary was the informant of the same address

Robert Witney Bolingford born 25.08.1909
67 Hayes Road, Clacton on Sea
Registered Tendring, County of Essex
Father: Frank Charles Bolingford
Occupation: Valet
Mother: Mary Bolingford, formerly Sparks
Mary was the informant of the same address

Marriage of Claude Francis Bolingford (AKA Francis Claude) and Rose Adelaide May Steel
5.09.1919 he was 23 years old and his father is shown as Francis Bolingford (deceased) no occupation for him on the wedding certificate.
I haven’t sent for any of the other birth/marriage certs. I do have Claude Francis’ death in New Zealand – in 1992. His father is shown as Frank Charles Bollingford – bookkeeper.
What is interesting about Claud that he was not living with the family in 1901 or 1911 and in 1914 joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. On his attestation paper he says his next of kin is his Grandmother, Esther (Ann) Sparkes but his mother and possibly his father was still alive then so perhaps he was estranged from them.
Finally, the family seems to be in 2 lots.
Winifred b 1893
Francis Claud 1895
Dulcie E.A.N 1898]
Amy Millicent 1899 then a gap
Evelyn 1906
Mary 1908 and finally,
Robert 1909.

Francis Claud and at least 2 of his sons worked on the big boats (Queen Mary, Olympia etc).and I have found them going back and forth to America between the early 1920s and 1940s before Francis Claud emigrated himself.
I cannot understand why he would have taken off to Canada aged about 17 in 1914? I wondered whether his father was there, but if so he must have kept popping back to see Mary! If as you have all said - he ever existed. Now I am back from hols I will start sending for more certificates and see if I can find any deaths. Mary was living in Clacton in 1911 so I reckon a trip to the ERO is in order. Thanks for all of your interest and if you can think of anything else, I would be most grateful. As Christina says, it seems as though there were no Bol(l)ingfords anywhere in this country before Mary started registering births! The IGI thing is very dodgy as there is one key piece of information on there which is completely wrong so as far as I am concerned that means it all is!!
Sue