Genealogy Chat

When my great grandfather died, my grandfather found amongst his possessions his birth certificate which stated d.o.b 18/04/1905 name Thomas Henry Edington WATSON. This caused confusion because he had gone by Edington his whole life. This got lost over the years so I ordered a copy of the birth certificate last year and it said Thomas Henry Edington - no sign of Watson, since we didn't have the original to hand we assumed that my grandfather had read it wrong. We've since found out that his mother was a Watson and he was born out of wedlock so probably did use that surname until his parents married.

My mother remembers Thomas as being very dark skinned with dark hair and dark eyes she describes as being like raisins! This has been backed up by photographs I have seen, he was definitely very dark skinned with dark features to match. He also had his pinky finger and half this ring finger missing on one hand.

Anyway, his seaman's discharge book has since been found in an old suitcase. Inside it has details of his name, date of birth, place of birth, appearance, etc. What we immediately found odd was it lists his colour of eyes as blue and his complexion fair. He was definitely not in anyway of appearance 'fair' and his eyes were 100% not blue. It also lists his distingushing features as none, of course he might have lost his fingers and got tattoos after the book was issued.

Inside the discharge book was his original birth certificate. It states his name as Thomas Henry Edington Watson - different to the copy that I got in August last year.

I'm also struggling to find much info on his two brothers Alexander (1910-?) and George (1908-?) and my mother remembers him having a sister, Olive but I can find no record at all for her.

I'm very confused because I had thought the discription would have to be very accurate in the discharge book but it is completely inaccurate, it's left us wondering if the man my mother knew, her father's father, was actually the same man. She has always felt there was something quite suspect, she had thought perhaps he had been born to a different man other than the one that raised him due to his very very dark skin but never had any prove.

Does anyone have any ideas?

This looks like your grandfather's birth registration from the new GRO Index.

No mother's maiden name is shown, which indicates that he was illegitimate, but he was apparently given his fathers name as a third forename ..........

WATSON, THOMAS HENRY EDINGTON -
GRO Reference: 1905 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 283

Is it possible that you bought the wrong birth certificate last year??

and this looks like him in the 1911 Census

1911 Census

Name: Thomas Edington Watson
Age in 1911: 6
Estimated birth year: abt 1905
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: North Shields, Northumberland, England
Civil Parish: Tynemouth
Search Photos: Search for 'Tynemouth' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England
Street address: 5 Cross Street Milburn Place North Shields
Registration district: Tynemouth
Registration District Number: 559
Sub-registration district: Tynemouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 32
Piece: 30764

George Edington 28 b.ca 1883, North Shields, Northumberland, Fireman at Sea
Alice Edington 24 b.ca 1887, South Shields, Durham, Wife
Thomas Watson 14 b.ca 1897, Aberdeen, Scotland, Boarder
Thomas Edington Watson 6
George Edington Watson 3
Alexander Edington 7/12



WATSON, GEORGE EDINGTON -
GRO Reference: 1908 J Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 270

WATSON, ALEXANDER EDINGTON -
GRO Reference: 1910 D Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 207


George Edington married Alice Watson in the December quarter of 1910

Marriages Dec 1910 (>99%)
Edington George Tynemouth 10b 403
Watson Alice Tynemouth 10b 403

Yes he and his brother were both illegitimate, both were given Edington as a forename and Watson as a surname but Thomas dropped it over the years. No it is definitely the right certificate, correct d.o.b, correct mothers name and address - it's definitely him which is why I'm so confused.

The description of him in the seaman's discharge book is bothering me a lot too - it couldn't be any less accurate if they tried. Am I right that they should have been very accurate?

?? More children

EDINGTON, ALICE WATSON
GRO Reference: 1915 S Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 500


The only Olive Edington I can find is this one .......

Births Sep 1921 (>99%)
Edington Olive Summers Tynemouth 10b 413

She is probably the child of this marriage .......

Marriages Sep 1907 (>99%)
EDINGTON James Newcastle T. 10b 297
SUMMERS Kate Annie Newcastle T. 10b 29

Kelsey

you do realise that the baby is not given a surname on his birth certificate don't you?

It is assumed that the baby's surname is the same as the mother's name as given in column 5. If she is unmarried, then only one surname will be shown there. If she is married, then her maiden name will also be shown.

All the names shown in column 2 are the forenames of the baby ......... so if your certificate is showing Thomas Henry Edington in column 2, then those are the baby's 3 forenames.

If the mother's name is shown as Alice Watson in column 5, then she is still unmarried, and the baby's surname is Watson

The father's name is shown in column 4

Yes, the description in the seamen's discharge book should have been accurate.

This looks like George Edington with his family in 1891

1891 Census

Name: George Edington
Age: 8
Estimated birth year: abt 1883
Relation: Son
Father's name: Alexs Edington
Mother's name: Hannah Edington
Gender: Male
Where born: No Shields, Northumberland, England
Civil Parish: North Shields
Ecclesiastical parish: Western Town
Town: No Shields
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England

Registration district: Tynemouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 4

Piece: 4223
Folio: 72
Page Number: 16

Alexs Edington 34 b.ca 1857, Binton Square, Northumberland, Labourer
Hannah Edington 29 b.ca 1862, Chatham, Kent
Ann Edington 9 b.ca 1882, Howden, Northumberland
George Edington 8
Alexd Edington 6 b.ca 1885, North Shields
Robert Edington 3 b.ca 1888, North Shields

Address:- 1 Waggon Yard

Father's place of birth could be Benton Square according to the image.

Yes there was an Olive Edington which I can find no record of at all, which I mentioned in my first post, this is one of the many factor that has put a big question mark above Thomas Henry. Yes I do realise this, that's why it he led to confusion because there is a difference in the two birth certificates. I really only mentioned the birth certificates and the siblings because that, along with the inaccurate discription all came across as very suspicious. We had wondered if the Thomas we knew with dark skin and features had taken over the fair skinned, blue eyed Thomas' identity for some reason or another. My mother remembers him as being a lot taller than 5'4. I'm really just looking for insight or theories as to why this description could be wrong or any theories to go with it. Obviously we'll never know for sure.

This looks like George's birth registration on the new GRO Index, indicating his mother's maiden name was Bigley ......

EDINGTON, GEORGE BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1883 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 175


and his siblings???

EDINGTON, ANN BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1881 J Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 179

EDINGTON, ALEXANDER BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1884 S Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 196

EDINGTON, WILLIAM BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1886 S Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 194

EDINGTON, JANE BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1888 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 198

EDINGTON, ROBERT BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1888 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 197

EDINGTON, HANNAH BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1891 J Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 212

EDINGTON, ALICE BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1892 D Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 214

EDINGTON, ALFRED WILLIAM RILEY BIGLEY
GRO Reference: 1893 D Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 207

Does your mother remember if Olive was older or younger than Thomas Henry???


Incidentally, one of the reasons that I am looking back at Thomas' family is to see if there is anything in his background to indicate his colouring ..........

........ that dark colouring could be either from a black ancestor OR from a Spanish ancestor. You may know that there were a lot of shipwrecked Spanish sailors at many places around the UK after the Spanish Armada. Those that survived intermarried with girls of the area.

Alexander in 1911

1911 Census

Name: Alexander Edington
Age in 1911: 54
Estimated birth year: abt 1857
Relation to Head: Boarder
Gender: Male
Birth Place: North Shields, Northumberland, England
Civil Parish: Tynemouth
Search Photos: Search for 'Tynemouth' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England
Street address: 63 Mill Hill Low Lights N Shields
Marital Status: Widowed
Occupation: Service Fireman <<<<< image reads Screw Fireman
Registration district: Tynemouth
Registration District Number: 559
Sub-registration district: Tynemouth
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Piece: 30742

Mary Stephenson 60
Edward Elsdon Muir 30
Mayory Ann Muir 25
Edward Elsdon Muir 4
Olav Frede Muir 3
Elizabeth Graham Lancaster 15
William Grysdale 40
Alexander Edington 54 Widowed

Alexander in 1871 ............... notice how the family names keep recurring?!!!

1871 Census

Name: Alexander Edington
Age: 14
Estimated birth year: abt 1857
Relation: Son
Father's name: George Edington
Mother's name: Jane Edington
Gender: Male
Where born: Long Benton, Northumberland, England
Civil Parish: Chirton
Ecclesiastical parish: Percy
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England
Registration district: Tynemouth
Sub-registration district: North Shields
ED, institution, or vessel: 12
Household schedule number: 94/2
Piece: 5115
Folio: 72
Page Number: 18

George Edington 47 b.ca 1824, Scotland, Brick Maker
Jane Edington 39 b.ca 1832, Long Benton, Northumberland
John Edington 16 b.ca 1855, Long Benton, Brick Maker
Alexander Edington 14
Robert Edington 12 b.ca 1859, Long Benton
Ann Edington 10 b.ca 1861, Long Benton
William Edington 7 b.ca 1864, Long Benton
George Edington 3 b.ca 1868, Long Benton
Robert Edington 49 b.ca 1822, Scotland

Address:- Hay Hole


England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

Name: Alexander Edington
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 15 Aug 1858
Baptism Place: Longbenton, Northumberland, England
Father: George Edington
Mother: Jane
FHL Film Number: 1469111

EDINGTON, ROBERT GRUNDY
GRO Reference: 1858 D Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 137

EDINGTON, ANN GRUNDY
GRO Reference: 1861 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 158



???
Marriages Sep 1856 (>99%)
Edington George Tynemouth 10b 239
Grundy Jane Tynemouth 10b 239


surname for Alexander misspelled .......

EDDINGTON, ALEXANDER GRUNDY Order
GRO Reference: 1857 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 143


It looks as though Alexander's older brother was born before his parents' marriage as no mother's maiden name is shown .....

GRUNDY, JOHN -
GRO Reference: 1854 D Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 123 Order

Incidentally, according to the 1911 Census, Alice had had 4 children, and 1 had died.

They were all living in 1 room

Two possibles for the death ...............

Deaths Dec 1905 (>99%)
EDINGTON Margaret G 0 Tynemouth 10b 117

Deaths Jun 1910 (>99%)
Edington Robert 1 Tynemouth 10b 103



???
WATSON, MARGARET ANN mmn WATSON
GRO Reference: 1905 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 304 Occasional Copy: A

Except that is the same year that Thomas Henry was born :-S


and the Robert who died in 1910 has mmn Armstrong.

Have you got a Number from that Discharge Book, or found anything more online regarding Navy?...

Chris :)

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/genealogy_chat/thread/1361946

(a past reference above)


http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=108052.0

(Alexander?)


(a Robert below)

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8544462

Name Edington, Robert
Place of Birth: North Shields
Number: S 8255
Date of Birth: 18 February 1888


1939 Register (Find My Past)

71 Woodbine Street , South Shields C.B., Durham,

Robert Edington 18 Feb 1888 Male Disabled Sea Going Fireman Last Ship Homecliffe Married
Annie F Edington 28 Jan 1892 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Florence E Wilson (Edington) 17 Jun 1918 Female Waitress
(written on image, for Robert, Discharge Book No. 618174


Marriages Sep 1917 (>99%)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Edington Robert Smith Gateshead 10a 1399
Smith Annie F Edington Gateshead 10a 1399


Births Jun 1918 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Edington Florence E Smith Gateshead 10a 1845


Marriages Jun 1941 (>99%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDINGTON Florence E Wilson S. Shields 10a 2108
Wilson James H Edington S.Shields 10a 2108

There is this Olive- ?

First name(s) OLIVE
Last name EDINGTON
Birth year 1927
Birth quarter 3
Registration month -
Mother's last name Watson
District Tynemouth
County Northumberland
Country England
Volume 10B Page 427

1939 register:

Edington Household (6 People) 220 Dudge Road , Tynemouth C.B., Northumberland, England

George Edington 29 Nov 1882 Male Transport Worker Docker Married
Alice Edington 15 Nov 1886 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Doris Allison (Edington) 14 Feb 1923 Female Shop Assistant General Dealer Single
Irene Carter (Edington) 07 Jun 1925 Female Errand Girl Fruiterers Single
Closed Record
Ronald Edington 29 Dec 1930 Male At School Single
John Dyson 13 Dec 1900 Male General Labourer Widowed
------------------------------------------

Olive is likely the closed record
-----------------------------------------------

George (c1882) is described as Blue eyes, Brown Hair, 5ft 4 3/4 inches on his Service record (1902)