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The Unknown Factor!

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

CLK

CLK Report 15 Apr 2008 19:13

Hi all, i've asked before but had no joy as yet, so i thought i'd try again....
Has anyone got Jack Harrison born about 1920 in their family?
His exact birthplace is unknown but he was brought up by his Maternal grandparents Alfred (b.approx 1878) and Kate (nee unknown, b. approx 1876) Harrison in the Medway area of Kent. They were all alive at his wedding in 1940 in Chatham . I'd be greatful for any info that anyone may have.
Thanks

Liz 47

Liz 47 Report 15 Apr 2008 20:12

His marriage cert. will give his age, occupation and address, and details of his father.
Good luck,
Liz

CLK

CLK Report 15 Apr 2008 22:14

thanks Liz, we've got that but his grandfather is down as his father......and i can't find them anywhere cos we cant find his birth certificate as we don't know his parents names

JenW

JenW Report 15 Apr 2008 22:30

are you certain they're his grandparents?

Sue in Somerset

Sue in Somerset Report 15 Apr 2008 22:44

I wonder if this is the marriage of Alfred and Kate? I looked in Kent between 1885 and 1910.

Marriages Jun 1895
Airey Kate Amelia Lewisham 1d 1702
Finch Ellen Ada Lewisham 1d 1702
Harrison Alfred Edwin Lewisham 1d 1702
Secker Bertrand Lewis Lewisham 1d 1702

I'd explore this couple and find their various children. Then look for any births recorded with one of their daughters as mother.

Good luck
Sue

Sue in Somerset

Sue in Somerset Report 15 Apr 2008 22:48

Aha

Jack is often short for John

Is this his birth? Note mother's maiden name is Harrison and therefore (unless his parents have same name) he is illegitimate

Births Dec 1921
Harrison John A Harrison Dover 2a 1911

Sue

CLK

CLK Report 16 Apr 2008 08:32

Thanks for all your replies.....
I'm positive they are his grandparents, I have pictures of them as well at his wedding. I couldn't find them on the 1901 census. He was definately illegitimate and I have no details about his mother, apart from the fact that he was born out of the area and brought up as though Alfred and Kate were his parents and as far as we are aware he was definately Jack not John, It says Jack on the wedding certificate and other family papers such as his son and daughter's birth certificates.
That wedding makes Alfred 16 and Kate 19, which is possible... although I think on an old insurance paper Alfred is down as Alfred Herbert but there is always room for transcript errors! I'll investigate...
Any more ideas , please

Sue in Somerset

Sue in Somerset Report 16 Apr 2008 11:39

Saying he was definitely Jack not John does not mean he was registered as such.

My grandmother was convinced that her older brother was Tom plain and simple. She said her parents called him just that.

I've seen his baptism record and he was given the full name Thomas then and that is what his civil registration says.

Many vicars in the past would not baptise using a shortening. Jack is short for John (I know it isn't actually shorter but was perceived as the pet name for it). Even relatively recently vicars wouldn't do it because my own father-in-law would refuse to give a child a baptismal name which was a shortening for another. He used to tell the parents that they could call the child what they liked at home! A bit authoritarian but I think he wasn't alone in this.

I would be pretty sure that the John I found could be your missing Jack.

My grandfather was Jonathan but known all his life as Jack.

Sue

Katrinna

Katrinna Report 16 Apr 2008 11:59

Name: Alfred Herbert Harrison
Year of Registration: 1879
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Faversham
County: Kent
Volume: 2a
Page: 808 (click to see others on page

This could be him in 1891, Ospringe is in Faversham

Name: Alfred Harrison
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Betsy
Gender: Male
Where born: Ospringe, Kent, England

Civil Parish: Stalisfield
Ecclesiastical parish: Stalisfield
Town: Stalisfield
County/Island: Kent
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Faversham
Sub-registration district: Teynham
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Albert Harrison 8
Alfred Harrison 11
Annie Harrison 6
Betsy Harrison 41
Elma Harrison 13
Frederick Harrison 14
Jessie Harrison 10/12
John Harrison 39
Sissie Harrison 2
Thomas Harrison 4
William Harrison 19



CLK

CLK Report 18 Apr 2008 17:31

Thanks again ladies! That looks like it could be my Alfred Herbert in Faversham, thanks Katrinna it's not very far from Medway. Still pretty sure that i'm looking for a Jack, if he was a John then he didn't know either!.. But thanks Sue I'll follow that up. I'm desperately hoping that someone out there will have them on their tree and solve a few family mysteries!!

CLK

CLK Report 18 Apr 2008 18:20

Thanks Lindylu, it's certainly looking like i'll have to check out all the John's as well. How frustrating! Does anyone know if the correct name would be on WW2 RAF records and if i could access them at all?