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Birth was registered in 1887

The child was baptised 3 April 1892

The mystery is solved. Harry Pridmore Jolly was born in Corby, Northamptonshire, in 1888 to John Thomas Jolly and Mary Jane Jolly, nee Pridmore. He later dropped the Pridmore. He had nine siblings. He joined the Northamptonshire Regiment in 1905 and the Hussars in 1906 when they returned to Norwich after the Boer Wars. It seems that the birth places on the 1911 censuses have been swapped round. So much for him being an only child!

Annie

Yes, I've just followed the likely spouses and found another dead end.

Annie

Editha Jolly says in 1911 that she has had NO children

Sophia Torble married George DAVEY

As you can't find a birth, it’ simply isn't possible to be definite about his forename - that's only what he called himself.

Yes, Susannah and Luannah seem to be the same person. Harry's wife, Alice, lived with my cousin and her family for a while before she died in 1962 and knew he had no siblings. He was also definitely Harry, not Henry and he only had one forename. There are two more marriages at the right time for Harry's birth, one to Editha Peachey and the other to Sophia Torble. I'm looking at everything now just in case.

Annie

That's the family which was eliminated above..................................you already said it wasn't right

1901 census posted by ArgyllGran - with clarifying comments

I've found a marriage between a John Jolly and Luannah Smith in Hartsmere in 1884. This would be about right for Harry's birth in 1885, if that's his correct year of birth. I'm going to look for them in the 1901 census.

Annie

Bungay is in Wangford registration district

I hadn't, no but it's always a possibility. I'll give it some thought.

Annie

I asked if you'd considered his being illegitimate...........................

No and he's missing without trace on the censuses too.

Annie

Sadly, the marriage cert doesn't give us any new useful info re Harry's origins.

It looks as thought the birth malyon found is correct. I checked the GRO and the mother's maiden name is Doughton and we know Alice's mother was Harriet Doughton.

Annie

Info from marriage cert.

July 13 1907 Register Office, Norwich.
Both aged 21

Harry Jolly, private in Hussars living at Cavalry Barracks, Norwich. Father John Jolly, general labourer.

Alice Flatt, domestic servant, living in Lowestoft. Father Thomas Flatt, farmer.

Witnesses, Harriet Flatt, Alice's mother and Edith ? Very difficult to decipher the last name.

Annie

Sorry, I meant Harry's and Alice's two children were baptised together. I'll get the rest of the cert information tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

Annie

is this alice's birth cannot find a birth in corby where i live

Births Jun 1889
Flatt Alice Blything 4a 920


Chediston is in the blything area

Kuros said she thinks John (at least I think she meant John - maybe she meant Harry) was a teamster on a farm, but she will ask her cousin to check the cert.

Perhaps confusingly, if that's correct, that's the same occupation as the father of the wrong Henry/Harry Jolly.

Harry himself was also a teamster, per 1939.

What was his address when he married?

What was his father’s occupation?

Have you considered that his name at birth was not Jolly?