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Thanks Jan for that. Off to watch TV for a while. Will give an update when I receive the birth cert.

The birth cert will only give one name . I know on some certs if there were twins then the time of birth is on the cert, but don't know when that was started

MC
Interesting you should say parted, as I understand that later (than 1911 I think) he 'met with' a French lady with whom he had a child in 1922 in France, so it's possible he liked to 'dally' a little. For a man who'd already fathered 12 children he was quite a lad, but I do feel sorry for Elizabeth Sarah. I haven't been able to establish whether he married the French lady so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

LB
A very good point. Intriguing. This is my wife's tree and it only gets more complicated!! I think I need a rest for a while, but I'm very grateful to everyone for your help. I definitely need to order the Lilian and Walter birth certificate. As the reference is is identical for both can I assume that they were twins and if so will I need only order, say, Walter's certificate and will it show Lilian as well?

Purely a guess, but perhaps in 1911 she hadn't died but they'd parted (even temporarily)?

Not unheard of for someone to say they were widowed rather than dumped.

Regarding the children on the army records, perhaps they were the only three that were still dependent on him?

perhaps these were the only children still at home with him?

It's strange that the Army Records start in 1915 he is aged 44years and he gives his Next of Kin as his wife Elizabeth Sarah so how could he be a widower in 1911?

Can't think why he would have said only three children on his war record. Thanks for that MC - hadn't thought to look for that, especially as he was quite old (44) at enlistment.

The Army records gives 137 Garratt Lane Wandsworth as the address the same as 1911 census

As MC says only 3 children are listed

Jane or James b 26 Nov 1900
Ernest b 12 Aug 1904
Walter b 29 Aug 1908

Marriage took place 12 Sept 1890

LB - yes I realised that and have already amended my post!

Astra
It's possible as I've not been able to find her death myself. Is the death you've found for Sarah or Elizabeth Sarah Hilton? The 1911 census for her husband is difficult to read but it looks as if the enumerator (sorry , William himself as it's the 1911?) initially wrote married and then wrote 'widow' I think.

Just looking at the 1911 census, MC, and it looks as if there were 12 children born to marriage (7 living and 5 dead).

Original of the 1911 says that he'd had 12 children but 5 had died.

HILTON, Alfred Head Widower M 39 1872 Navvy Labourer Merton
HILTON, Lezzie Daughter Single F 18 1893 Laundress Wandsworth
HILTON, Jack Son Single M 15 1896 Wandsworth
HILTON, William Son M 13 1898 Wandsworth
HILTON, Ernest Son M 7 1904 Wandsworth
HILTON, Maude Daughter F 9 1902 Wandsworth
HILTON, Michie Son M 2 1909 Wandsworth
HILTON, Dolly Daughter F 2 1909 Wandsworth
WEEKLY, Alfred Lodger Single M 30 1881 Street Hawker Merton
FULLER, Maude Visitor Single F 38 1873 Charwoman Westminster

RG number: RG14 Piece: 2417
Reference: RG14PN2417 RG78PN80 RD26 SD7 ED26 SN315
Registration District: Wandsworth
Sub District: Southfields
Enumeration District: 26
Parish: Wandsworth

Address: 137 Garratt Lane Wandsworth County: London

EDIT: Have amended my note about the number of children as I did the wrong sum! Oddly, on the original form he has written that he is married but someone else has altered that to widower.

When did Sarah die. The only death I can find is for a 66 year old in 1910 in Wandsworth. Is that her with the age mistranscribed?

When Alfred James Hilton enlisted in 1915 he claimed to have only three children:

British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Name: Alfred James Hilton
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Age at enlistment: 44
Residence: 137 Garrett Lane, Wandsworth (Matches the 1911)
Document Year: 1915
Regimental Number: 11726
Regiment Name: Army Service Corps
Number of images: 2

Occupation labourer.

Wife stated as Elizabeth Sarah Fuller, married 12 September 1890 in Wandsworth. Doesn't state his wife was deceased.

Children listed as:

Jane - 26 Nov 1900
Ernest - 12 August 1904
Walter - 29 Aug 1908

If this is a match then Dorothy(Lilian ) wouldn't have had her 3rd birthday so could be the right birth index

Thanks Jan. Sorry our posts must have crossed!

Astra
There's also a death for Walter in 1986, so you may be on to something

?? DEATH INDEX FOR A WALTER

Name: HILTON, Walter
Registration district: Wandsworth
County: London
Year of registration: 1986
Month of registration: February
Date of birth: 29 August 1908
Volume no: 15
Page no: 1048
Reg no: 286

Thanks Astra
They could be possibilities. Shame they weren't born a little later to show mother's maiden name. If nothing else comes up I will have to order a certificate of one or the other.