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Hello, I've posted on here recently - and received some positive replies - so I thought I'd push my luck and try another allusive ancestor - Annie Eva Cooper :-)

On my Nan's birth certificate - Doris Eva Cynthia Hatton - it has Annie Eva Cooper entered as her mother - and Henry Hatton entered as her father. This was back in 1918 - so I would imagine having a child born out of marriage in this time was unusual?

Annie was born around 1889 - Henry around 1881. I found out from my Dad that Henry's Father - John Hatton - gave Henry an ultimatum: have nothing to do with Annie - or be disowned from the family business. Henry's Father was a Timber merchant in Wales. Henry decided to go against his Father's wishes and continue his relationship with Annie. Henry ended up becoming a Butcher...

My Nan had the maiden name of Hatton. I cannot find any reference to a marriage between Annie and Henry - but have found an entry in an electoral register saying that Annie Hatton lived in Kenwyn Road, Clapham, in the mid 1950's (this was actually the house I lived in when I was born :-)) So I'm left wondering whether there was a marriage - or whether Annie just took Henry's surname.

I have found two Annie Cooper's born around 1889: one in Hammersmith - the other in Brixton. Since my Nan's first address was in Hammersmith (St. Peters Square) I'm taking a shot that it's the Hammersmith born Annie I should be concentrating on.

So, does anyone else know of a Annie Cooper that, through marriage to Henry, became Annie Hatton?

Any info received will once again be greatly appreciated - thanks :-)

Hi Mark - children born out of wedlock was NOT unusual back then, our ancestors weren't as staid as you'd think ;-) Your nan would have had the name of Hatton as Henry had acknowledged her as his daughter.

Co-habiting was also very likely so it's quite possible that Henry never married Annie.

Do you know when and where Annie and Henry died? Their death records might be useful to work back from.

Where was Henry born? (Will look to see if there were any service records for him, often gives spouse & children).

EDIT: I see from what must be your tree on Ancestry that Henry's middle name was Vernon

Is this the right Henry in 1911? (It's what is also attached to the Ancestry tree)

HATTON, Henry Vernon Head Married M 23 1888 Butcher Trealaw Glamorganshire
HATTON, Catherine Wife Married F 30 1881 Trealaw Glamorganshire

RG number: RG14 Piece: 32422
Reference: RG14PN32422 RG78PN1854 RD590 SD1 ED21 SN136
Registration District: Merthyr Tydfil
Sub District: Gelligaer
Enumeration District: 21
Parish: Gelligaer

Address: 2 Brynavon Terrace Hengoed County: Glamorganshire

If so, what happened to Catherine?
The original image claims they'd been married two years.

They definitely weren't married at the time of Doris's birth as her birth was registered in her father's name and also her mother's name:-


Name: COOPER, Doris E C
Registration district: Hammersmith
County: London
Year of registration: 1919
Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Mother's maiden name: Cooper
Volume no: 1A
Page no: 257

and:-

Name: HATTON, Doris E C
Registration district: Hammersmith
County: London
Year of registration: 1919
Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Mother's maiden name: Cooper
Volume no: 1A
Page no: 257

I can't see a marriage for the parents so I would guess that they just lived together as man and wife - which happened a lot in the first half of the last century.

As MarieCeleste has already stated - it certainly wasn't unusual for children to be born out of wedlock in those days - it just wasn't talked about in the way it is today.

Kath. x

Oh right - thanks.Good to see things haven't changed then :-)

Annie - and her family - are proving to quite allusive. It makes me wish I took an interest in my Nan's family when she was alive - I'll get there though... :-)

If that 1911 is correct then this may be why he didn't marry Annie Eva:

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Mar 1909
HATTON Henry Vernon Pontypridd 11a 757
JAMES Catherine Pontypridd 11a 757

I think this *might* be the probate for the Catherine Hatton on the 1911:

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
Name: Catherine Hatton
Probate Date: 7 Mar 1963
Death Date: 15 Feb 1963
Death Place: Glamorgan, Wales
Registry: Llandaff

Widow, of 100 Patridge Road, Llwynpia. Died the Craig Hospital, Pontypridd. Admin to William John Hatton, bus driver. Effects £625

Relates to this death:

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2006
Name: Catherine Hatton
Birth Date: abt 1881
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1963
Age at Death: 82
Registration district: Pontypridd
Inferred County: Glamorganshire
Volume: 8b
Page: 722

Yep, the info you've both given is what I have so far - but thanks for posting.

You've both kinda confirmed for me there was no marriage - and that Annie just took Henry's surname.

I'd like to know what happened to Henry's first wife too; perhaps she refused him a divorce - so he couldn't marry Annie..?

Thanks for your time KathleenBell and MarieCeleste :-)

Possible death for Catherine:-


Name: HATTON, Catherine
Registration district: Pontypridd
County: Glamorganshire
Year of registration: 1963
Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at death: 82
Volume no: 8B
Page no: 722

Kath. x

There was a William John Hatton born 1911, registered Pontypridd, mother's maiden name James.

If that 1911 census and the 1909 marriage are correct then Henry Hatton was probably never free to marry Annie Eva.

This looks like the birth of William John Hatton:-


Name: HATTON, William J
Registration district: Pontypridd
County: Glamorganshire
Year of registration: 1911
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Mother's maiden name: James
Volume no: 11A
Page no: 1436

Kath. x

I wonder if your Nan, Doris, ever knew that she had a half brother from her father's marriage to Catherine?

Kath. x

After that 1911 birth there are 8 Hatton/James births in Bridgend up to 1934 - I'm guessing (hoping!) that it's different parents.

Blimey, there's some stuff there I wasn't aware of. I took a brief interest in the Hatton family - so I had no idea that my Nan may have had a half Brother....maybe she didn't know..?

Thanks ladies :-)

There is a Hatton/James marriage in Bridgend in 1913 but not Annie and Henry so I would think those other births are to that couple.

Kath. x