Thomas Bolitho Plymouth

[Devsom]

I’m currently trying to find information regarding my great great aunt’s husband’s father. I have his birth certificate which states:
Fernley Gerald Bolitho
Born: 19th February 1911 Plym Street Plymouth Devon
Name of father: Thomas Bolitho
Name of mother: Beatrice May Bolitho (formerly Bolitho)
Profession of father: Leading seaman R.N.
Registered: 3rd April 1911

I already have the 1911 census which lists Beatrice age 23 and Fernley age one month living with Beatrice’s mother Mary Jane Bolitho. I also know that Beatrice married William George Mitchell in 1912 and that Fernley took his stepfather’s surname and was known as Gerry Mitchell for the rest of his life.

Therefore the information I need help finding is
1. Any record of a marriage between Thomas Bolitho and Beatrice May Bolitho
2. Records of Thomas Bolitho in the Royal Navy
3. Records showing when Thomas Bolitho died - he had to have died by 1912 when Beatrice married William. Beatrice’s marital status on the 1911 census is listed as single but I’m aware that this could be an error.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[emeltee]

An image of the Bolitho marriage is available on findmypast. Beatrice's marital status is given as a spinster not a widow. Also on the 1911 Census there are two other children Percie William and Frank James. The Gro ref for Percy gives mmn as Irish. The ref for Frank (Dec 1906 Plympton St Mary 5b 172) does not give an mmn. Mary Jane, who is down as his mother would have been 48 when she had him.

Possible death for Beatrice's father James Edward Bolitho

James Edward J Bolitho Sep 1898 Liskeard 5c 30 age 40

1901 Census
RG13/2191/F35/p16

Callington, Liskeard, Cornwall
Robert Bolitha(sic) 45 Butcher Callington
Mary J Bolitha wife 44 Ilsington, Devon
Beatrice M Bolitha dau 13 Plymouth
Jane Irish mother in law 68 Bickington, Devon

I can't find a Robert/Mary Jane marriage, nor can I find a death for Robert.

Something to think about!

Emeltee

[Pamelawagster]

A marraige for Mary Jane but not to Robert!

Mary Jane Irish

Name: James Edward Jope Bolitho
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 1884
Event Place: Devon
Age: 26
Birth Year (Estimated): 1858
Spouse's Name: Mary Jane Irish

[emeltee]

I've finally found Mary Jane's marriage to Robert. Apparently although he was down as Robert in the 1901 Census his full name was William Robert K Bolitho.
The marriage was Sep 1900 Plymouth 5b 527.

It obviously didn't last as Mary Jane calls herself a widow in 1911. William is alone in Liskeard in 1911 stating that he has been married ten years. He dies in 1932

William R K Bolitho Sep 1932 Liskeard aged 77.

Emeltom

[Pamelawagster]

Was this her 2nd marraige,did Mary Jane marry her brother in law?

James Edward Jope Bolitho died 1898.

[emeltee]

Looks like she did

James Edward Jope Bolitho Dec 1857 Liskeard 5c 56 mmn Bolitho
William Robert Kestell Bolitho Sep 1855 5c 54 mmn Bolitho.

Emeltom

[Devsom]

Thanks for all the help so far but I’m still keen to find out about Thomas Bolitho who appears to be Beatrice’s first husband

[Pam Downes]

Thanks for all the help so far but I’m still keen to find out about Thomas Bolitho who appears to be Beatrice's first husband

Have you looked in the census records for a Thomas Bolitho who might be a suitable candidate? e.g. someone who would have been less than sixty years old in 1910? Or was Beatrice a little economical with the truth when she registered Ferley's birth? i.e. his father was called Thomas and in the navy, but his surname wasn't Bolitho.

Pam

[Devonmade]

There is a birth of a Thomas Gerald Bolitho in Penzance during 1890

[Devsom]

I’m beginning to wonder if Beatrice made the father up. I had another search and it turns out Beatrice had a brother born in Plymouth in 1894. He died in 1895 but his name was Fernley Thomas Gerald Bolitho. That explains why she named her son Fernley Gerald and I’m wondering if she took the name Thomas and used it for the name of her son’s ‘father’.