Long on name, short on records

[Sandra Parker]

Arthur Lewis Skoulding Chilvers.

Although there are quite a few Arthur Chilvers, a few Arthur S Chilvers, even fewer Arthur L Chilvers, my chap is proving quite an elusive chap.

Arthur Lewis Skoulding Chilvers, b. 18 Jun 1898 in Diss, Norfolk Father Arthur Enoch Chlvers, mother Elizabeth Skoulding. They also had an Arthur Thomas. I believe he was the youngest of their 10 children, although he could have been Arthur Thomas’ son. There is an Arthur, shown as Grandson, of Arthur Chilvers and Elizabeth Skoulding at G E R Gate House, Tivetshall St Margaret Norfolk in 1901 census.

The fact that there are 2 children of the same first name is not unusual for the Chilvers family, there are also 2 Fredericks in another branch of the family.

Arthur Skoulding Chilvers married Ellen Sarah A. Boast Sep 1903 in Bristol R.D., Gloucestershire Vol 6a Page 177

He joined the Royal Navy on 18 June 1916 and served until 17 June 1928. Service record held at TNA.

He married Mary Joseph Flynn 29 Apr 1921 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, divorced 1926 . (I have this from a fellow researcher, I do not have further details)

An Arthur L Chilvers married Doris B A OLIVER Jun 1928 Lewisham Vol 1d page 2237

An Arthur L Chilvers married Mary Greenham Jun 1933 Hitchin, Hertfordshire Vol 3a page 2217

There was an Arthur Leonard Chilvers born Norfolk Dec 1900 Vol 4b page 324

There is also reference to an Arthur Chilvers at Jenny Lind Infirmary For Sick Childrens, Norwich, in 1901 (but pretty sure this is not my chap).

Can anyone tell me when he died and which of these ladies he married? I am reluctant to send for certificates for him, he's not in direct line and I have a few more important purchases before this one, although I'm hoping he may shed a bit of light on a couple of other queries.

thanks as always

Sandra whose spectacled aura is busy off celebrating the beginning of our wet season.

[Lizzy9]

Hi Sandra,

I cannot find a birth registered in the name of Arthur Lewis Skoulding Chilvers.

I did find Arthur Lewis Skoulding Jul -Sept 1898, Depwade, Norfolk, 4b/225

[olliecat]

Arthur Lewis Skoulding Chilvers.

Arthur Lewis Skoulding Chilvers, b. 18 Jun 1898 in Diss, Norfolk Father Arthur Enoch Chlvers, mother Elizabeth Skoulding. They also had an Arthur Thomas. I believe he was the youngest of their 10 children, although he could have been Arthur Thomas’ son. There is an Arthur, shown as Grandson, of Arthur Chilvers and Elizabeth Skoulding at G E R Gate House, Tivetshall St Margaret Norfolk in 1901 census.

I'm a bit confused over all these Arthurs. Looking at the 1901 census, there appears to be an Arthur CHILVERS born abt 1875 with parents Arthur and Elizabeth CHILVERS. This particular Arthur (born abt 1875) is a widower. Is he the Arthur Thomas/Skoulding Chilvers who you mentioned that married in 1903? Looking for a baptism for this Arthur, there is one for an Arthur Thomas SKOULDING, mother Elizabeth on 09 May 1875 at Tivetshall, and I was wondering if he was illegitimate.

1901: Piece: 1862 Folio: 99 Page: 13 (crown copyright, care of the TNA)

You say Arthur Lewis Skoulding Chilvers, b. 18 Jun 1898 is the son of Arthur Enoch Chilvers and Elizabeth, yet on the census he appears to be down as their grandson. Do you have his birth certificate as I cannot see his birth in the index?

I ask because I can see a birth and death that could be a match but the surname is SKOULDING rather than CHILVERS. However, if he was the son of Arthur Thomas (born 1875) then this may explain the surname. As an aside, there is a death registration for an Arthur Lewis SKOULDING in 1976 in the Greenwich district and his birth date was recorded as the 18 Jun 1898.

[jac65]

Hi Sandra

Looking at the Naval Medal Roll on Ancestry the entry for Arthur L S Chilvers says 'see Arthur L Skoulding'. There is a death registration for an Arthur Lewis Skoulding March Qtr 1976 Greenwich Reg District Vol 12 Page 1306. His date of birth is given as 18th June 1898 so this looks like your man as DOB matches.

Ancestry also has in British Postal Service Appointment Books, 1737-1969 an Arthur L Skoulding appointment as a postman in East Central (London) that could be him

Andy


Andy

[jac65]

Hi

Arthur L Chilvers and Doris B A OLIVER Jun 1928 Lewisham Vol 1d page 2237 looks to be him as the marriage is also indexed under Arthur L SKOULDING.

It looks like Doris B A SKOULDING (nee Oliver) died Sept Qtr 1943 Lewisham Reg Dist Vol 1d Page 576

He may have remarried quickly an Arthur L SKOULDING married Margaret M BROWN Dec Qtr 1943 Woolwich Reg Dist Vol 1d Page 1417

Andy

[olliecat]

An Arthur L Chilvers married Doris B A OLIVER Jun 1928 Lewisham Vol 1d page 2237

Looking at this record in the index, it also has...

Doris B A Oliver
Spouse: Chilvers Or Skoulding

Which would tie in with your Arthur using both surnames interchangeably. There is a death for Doris B A SKOULDING in the September quarter of 1943 in the Lewisham district, age 43, which would give a birth date of about 1900. I suspect she could be Doris Bianca Alice OLIVER born about 1900 in Sussex to parents Charles and Bertha Annie OLIVER (see Family Search.)

[Sandra Parker]

Oh dear, no wonder I was confused.
Need to spend some time sorting your answers.
Wonder why he appears to have used both names.
Thanks
Sandra

[jac65]

Hi Sandra

You probably need to purchase the birth certificate for Arthur Lewis SKOULDING to see who his parents were. I think they would be Arthur Thomas SKOULDING and Edith Elizabeth WOOLTERTON who married Depwade June Qtr 1898 Vol 4b Page 461.
Arthur Thomas SKOULDING was born Depwade March Qtr 1875 Vol 4b Page 226 which was before the marriage of
Arthur Enoch CHILVERS and Elizabeth SKOULDING who married Dec Qtr 1876 Depwade Vol 4b Page 627.
This suggests that whilst Elizabeth was the mother of Arthur Thomas, Arthur Enoch CHILVERS may not have been his father.

In 1901 census Arthur Thomas has the surname CHILVERS and is a widower, There is a death for Edith Elizabeth CHILVERS age 24 in Depwade Sept Qtr 1900 Vol 4b Page 144

It looks like Arthur Thomas might have changed his surname from SKOULDING to CHILVERS between 1898, when Arthur Lewis was born, and 1900, when Edith Elizabeth died.

Andy

[Sandra Parker]

Thanks everyone. Another interesting note now you've made it a lot plainer and I've got to thinking (always rather dangerous!)
Marriages Sep 1903
Boast Ellen Sarah A Bristol 6a 177
Chilvers Arthur Skoulding Bristol 6a 177
Now even I know that no one in England got married aged 5 !! So who on earth was this chap?
Sandra

[jac65]

Thanks everyone. Another interesting note now you've made it a lot plainer and I've got to thinking (always rather dangerous!)
Marriages Sep 1903
Boast Ellen Sarah A Bristol 6a 177
Chilvers Arthur Skoulding Bristol 6a 177
Now even I know that no one in England got married aged 5 !! So who on earth was this chap?
Sandra

Possibly Arthur Thomas Skoulding/Chilvers given he was a widower in 1901. The 1911 census would be worth looking both for Alexander Lewis and Alexander Thomas, to see what surnames are used.

Andy