Poulter birth mystery

M

Meredith

New Member
Hello,

I've got a mystery that has all of us stumped. I have a relative, Charles James Stevens Poulter, born 05/08/1874 (according to London schools record) in Plaistow Essex. He passes on 07/10/1944 in Brentford. His father was Charles James Poulter (1847 - 1901). All the censuses agree with year and place of birth, but here's the thing - we cannot find his birth entry.

Was it possible that it just wasn't registered? The reason I ask this is that Charles James Boulter married 3 sisters of the same family. The first sister was in an asylum at the time he was living with the second sister (& having kids with her and living as wife although they only married when the eldest sister died).

We've check the GRO website and all the usual, so would love help on this one.

Many thanks
Meredith
 
May I ask the surname of all 3 sisters?
Seems the other children were registered West Ham except Polly and I can't her under that name.
There is another Charles Poulter registered Chelmsford June qtr 1874
 
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Meredith said:
Charles James Stevens Poulter, born 05/08/1874
Click to expand...
Just had a look at the 1939 register as he was still around until 1944. There is a Charles J POULTER, married to Lillian, but with a birth date of 5th August 1875.

Could this be him?
 
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It's Poulter DB, according to Meredith's tree on Ancestry. In the census 1881 - 1911 the birth place of Plaistow, Essex is consistent and his age is consistent. I checked and Plaistow comes under West Ham registration district. But I still can't find him!o_O
 
Daft Bat said:
Just had a look at the 1939 register as he was still around until 1944. There is a Charles J POULTER, married to Lillian, but with a birth date of 5th August 1875.

Could this be him?
Click to expand...
Hi, yes that is him - either the school or the '39 Register may be incorrect with the birth year. He married Lillian. If his surname was originally Stevens, then why would he have Charles James as his first names? Maybe if it was an out of wedlock birth, but then the mother would also have been a Stevens? Thank you for helping me nut it out. Best regards, Meredith.
 
Archie's Mum said:
May I ask the surname of all 3 sisters?
Seems the other children were registered West Ham except Polly and I can't her under that name.
There is another Charles Poulter registered Chelmsford June qtr 1874
Click to expand...

Hi again, Polly alternated with using the name Mary. The sisters had the surname Coulbourn and its varying spelling Colbourn/Coulborne etc. from Beckingham, Kent.

Archie's Mum said:
May I ask the surname of all 3 sisters?
Seems the other children were registered West Ham except Polly and I can't her under that name.
There is another Charles Poulter registered Chelmsford June qtr 1874
Click to expand...
 
My g grandfather also married 3 sisters. Through this I discovered that is only became legal to marry your deceased wife's sister in 1907. Perhaps this might have some baring on what Charles did?
 
Meredith said:
Hello,

I've got a mystery that has all of us stumped. I have a relative, Charles James Stevens Poulter, born 05/08/1874 (according to London schools record) in Plaistow Essex. He passes on 07/10/1944 in Brentford. His father was Charles James Poulter (1847 - 1901). All the censuses agree with year and place of birth, but here's the thing - we cannot find his birth entry.

Was it possible that it just wasn't registered? The reason I ask this is that Charles James Boulter married 3 sisters of the same family. The first sister was in an asylum at the time he was living with the second sister (& having kids with her and living as wife although they only married when the eldest sister died).

We've check the GRO website and all the usual, so would love help on this one.

Many thanks
Meredith
Click to expand...
Excuse me, I meant Charles James Poulter (1847-1901) married 3 Colbourn sisters
 
annabel said:
My g grandfather also married 3 sisters. Through this I discovered that is only became legal to marry your deceased wife's sister in 1907. Perhaps this might have some baring on what Charles did?
Click to expand...
annabel said:
My g grandfather also married 3 sisters. Through this I discovered that is only became legal to marry your deceased wife's sister in 1907. Perhaps this might have some baring on what Charles did?
Click to expand...

Yes Annabel. I think there was a bit of muddying of the water when it came to giving details to the authorities by Charles James Poulter. Thanks for helping.
 
I wonder if his registration has been missed. You can contact the GRO re a missing registration. I know you don't have all of the details they are asking for but it may be worth a try. I let them know about an ancestor who I found on the FMP Civil Rgistration index and not on the GRO and they fixed it.

Code: 
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_report.asp
 
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