General Chat

My grandads brother has always been told that his brother was actually a cousin left behind when his parents went to Austraila. I recently applied for his birth certificate and it says his parents are the same as my Grandad's.

Why would he have been told he was a cousin not a brother???
My grandad was born 1901 and the cousin/ brother was born 1897???

Could it have been a sick joke that stuck in the family?
Or maybe it was easier for them if they planned to leave him there.
Or...maybe they were brothers but born out of wedlock.

What about his death cert does that give any clues?

Marion

I have the parents marrage certificate they marred in 1895. My grandads brother/cousin died in WW1 and have been told I can't get a death cert for that. My Grandad is still alive. His parents died 31 12 1960 and 03 02 1952 and no clue on those certs.

Your Grandad is still alive? 108 yr old?

Or the father was his brother?

If your grandad's brother died in WW1, how do you know he was told your grandad was a cousin?

Rose

go at it from the other angle? if the 'brother/cousins' parents were supposed to have left him behind when they went to Aus, have you found out who they were and when they went? what happened to them over there? did they have children who might know?

Rose

It 's my mums grandad not mine, Have been doing this all day.

I have found all the parents (of mums g/dad and the cousin/brother) brothers and sisterrs. Have got all there marriage certificates and been through all the passenger lists on all boats but have found nothing have even looked for them going to other countries.
THey were told they were cousins when they were growing up together.

IS it possible that it was all thought about beofre the cousin/brother was born and they just went to register the birth and gave different names

This is confusing. You mean great grandad? Can you list names and dates so we can better understand?

Rose

Yes sorry,

My g/grandad Arthur b 02 02 1901 His cousin/ brother John b 27 09 1897 their parent Harry Reeks b 06 07 1873 and Mary Kibby b 18 12 1871 all born on Devon

I thought he was doing well for a 108 yr old lol

1901 England Census
about Harry Reeks
Name: Harry Reeks
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1874
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Mary
Gender: Male
Where born: Sowton, Devon, England
Civil parish: Sowton
Ecclesiastical parish: Sowton
Town: Sowton
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Registration district: St Thomas
Sub-registration district: Topsham
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 83
Household Members:
Name Age
Harry Reeks 27
Mary Reeks 28
Alice M Reeks 4
John J Reeks 3
Beatrice F Reeks 1
Auther T Reeks 2 months

Rose

There's certainly enough space between Alice and Beatrice for him to be their child.

Rose

Do you think the story came about after he died to lessen the grief of his siblings?

Rose

I suppose it's possiable but I understand htey knew they were cousins before he went off to war.

Have you looked for them on the 1911 census to see if the brother/cousin is listed as their child?
Pat

This is possibly them in 1911 - No John, But you would need to look at the image for anymore information.


HOUSEHOLD REEKS HARRY M 1874 37 St Thomas Devonshire HOUSEHOLD REEKS ALICE MAUD F 1897 14 St Thomas Devonshire
HOUSEHOLD REEKS AUTHER THOMAS M 1901 10 St Thomas Devonshire
HOUSEHOLD REEKS BEATRICE FANNY F 1900 11 St Thomas Devonshire
HOUSEHOLD REEKS DORA MAY F 1906 5 St Thomas Devonshire
HOUSEHOLD REEKS HELENA MARY F 1907 4 St Thomas Devonshire
HOUSEHOLD REEKS MARY F 1873 38 St Thomas Devonshire
HOUSEHOLD REEKS WILLIAM HENRY M 1903 8 St Thomas Devonshire

John is listed as John Recks in 1911.

Rose

This is interesting.

There's a John Goodyer on Ancestry's WW1 service records. Someone has added the alternative name of John James Reeks.

What's odd is the name on all the images is John James Reeks. I don't see Goodyer mentioned anywhere.

Mary and Harry are listed as his mother and father and an H Reeks signed for the receipt of his medals.

Rose

There is a site called Genogold which has parish registers online, including some for Devon - perhaps there may be something in these which may help - hope they are available for the area in which you are looking
Liz