I've been researching my husband's grandmother for many years. I've had various posts on here and received valuable help. I have now decided, definitively, that grannie did not marry grandad and that my father-in-law was, therefore, almost certainly illigitimate although we doubt anyone but the main players would have known.

Tracking grannie through the years in the electoral rolls reveals that my father-in-law's father used a different name almost any time he, or grannie, were asked his name. He/grannie seemed to use his proper name of Charles Ernest Hawkins or Charles Hawkins sometimes and, other times, he was noted as Charles Fleming -her married name from her first husband (who, in turn, got it from his step-father!).

I have a theory now that Charles Hawkins may not have married grannie because he was already married so I'm off to look at that and see if he appears with his real name anywhere else in the electoral register.

It must have been very confusing for them to know which name to use, when etc. etc. but how did the name get on to the electoral roll? Was a form sent round to the house for the householder to fill in? Presumably, no checks were made as to accuracy and the householder could put what he/she liked? A problem might occur with jury service, perhaps.


Audrey