Disappearing name- possible adoption?

Murfomurf

Murfomurf

Well-Known Member
I am looking for a Birth record for the person in this Death record:
From FreeBMD
Deaths Dec 1949
Sykes James A 48 Bromsgrove 9d 45

Various family trees including that of a DNA Match of mine claim he was born either 7th or 17th Aug 1901 in Bromsgrove but I can find neither a Birth nor Baptism record for him, even as "Male Sykes".
Also in records associated with my DNA Match there is another James A Sykes whose middle name is Alexander and whose Birth is recorded in the GRO:

SYKES, JAMES ALEXANDER; STEADMAN [mother] GRO Reference: 1872 S Quarter in STOCKPORT Volume 08A Page 33

He married a woman from Buenos Aires named Either Millicent or Emily Grace Fowler and known as Milly.
FreeBMD
Marriages Jun 1907 [12th June 1907 at St Paul's Church, Bristol]
FOWLER Emily Grace Bristol 6a 176
Sykes James Alexander Bristol 6A 176

I had a theory that maybe the James born in 1901 was a child of the older James and Milly Fowler, given the name James Alexander Sykes but then maybe adopted, given a different name. No trace of him in the 1911 England Census that I could find. When he reached adulthood he may have re-assumed his Birth name and carried on as normal, marrying:
Marriages Dec 1934
Gowen Florence Sykes Leeds North 9b 754
Sykes James A Gowen Leeds North 9b 754;

And producing
William Richard Alan Sykes, Birth 19 JUN 1947, who is the father of my DNA Match.

Where did James Alexander Sykes born 1901 come from? Buenos Aires??
 
Murfomurf said:
Sykes James A 48 Bromsgrove 9d 45
Click to expand...
FMP has reference to a monumental inscription at St Bartholomew, Tardebigge for this chap held by the Midland Ancestors website. However, it will cost you £3 to access it:
Code: 
https://midland-ancestors.shop/index.php?route=product/search&search=I435D

Mind you, I would also want to lay my hands on a copy of the death certificate in case there were other clues there as well... ;)
 
Murfomurf said:
Marriages Dec 1934
Gowen Florence Sykes Leeds North 9b 754
Sykes James A Gowen Leeds North 9b 754;
Click to expand...
This couple can be found in the 1939 Register living at 34 Ellers Drive, Doncaster where James' dob is given as 17th August 1901.
 
I don't know if this sheds any light on things - or whether it is totally irrelevant :rolleyes::nailbiting:

Derby Daily Telegraph 18th June 1924
In the the Divorce Court, to-day, Mr Justice Horridge granted decree a decree nisi to the Rev. James Alexander Sykes, rector of Muggington near Derby, on account of the adultery of his wife, Emily Grace, with a co-respondent named Mitchell. Petitioner said they were married in June, 1907, at Clifton, and lived at Clifton and finally at Mugginton. There were four children. During the war petitioner was in France on service, but before went he had occasion to speak to his wife with reference, to what he considered her familiarity with the co-respondent. He also spoke to co-respondent when home on leave. Later, he put his wife on her honour not to see any more of Mitchell. spoke to the co-respondent in the same strain, and returned to his duties. Petitioner added that he lived with his wife till January, 1918. She had a child in October, 1918. In September, 1919, after they had separated, he saw his wife at Weston, and asked her to come back to him. She refused. He next heard that she had had a child on December 26, 1919, and he paid the expenses of her confinement. Petitioner next tried to get his wife to agree to a separation by deed, but she refused because she objected to his conditions about the custody of their children. Being anxious to avoid the scandal of divorce proceedings, he did not take any action then, but later in 1922 he learned that his wife had had another child. He then consulted his bishop, the Bishop of Southwell - who he knew had strong views about divorce - in regard to the position. When the Bishop had heard all the facts, he agreed that there was no other course open to petitioner than take divorce proceedings. Evidence was given that in the summer 1919 a man who called himself Sykes, but who was fact the co-respondent, took a furnished flat from a Miss Goddard in Newton-road, Weston-super-Mare and lived there with the respondent.

Daily Mirror 19th June 1924
1771835207972.webp
 
AnnB said:
"Evidence was given that in the summer 1919 a man who called himself Sykes, but who was fact the co-respondent, took a furnished flat from a Miss Goddard in Newton-road, Weston-super-Mare and lived there with the respondent."
Click to expand...
Interesting... so there is some reason to suspect something was awry in the relationships of Emily/Milly and others. Still not quite an explanation of the existence of James Alexander Sykes junior- but intriguing on the sequence of events in the lives of all I mentioned.
 
In 1911 the Rev. JAS is living in Crediton Devon - The Chantry, 46 Dean Street, Crediton - senior curate of Crediton Parish Church
born 1873 Heaton Chapel Manchester
With him is 1 year old daughter Thora born Liverpool, and 2 servants, no sign of Emily/Milly
He does claim married.
I cannot find his wife.
 
Emily (as Milly) is living at 6 Redford Park, Bristol with her mother, two servants (one of whom is a Mitchell) and two children, Beryl and Moira Sykes. Emily (Milly) says she is married.
 
Just fished typing that out ;) - thanks Anne :)

In 1921 the Rev and his 4 girls are at Muggington Rectory, he is divorced, has a female visitor Ellen Wooden and two children boarders with the surname Marshall
 
Have you considered the James Alexander Sykes born in Milton Glasgow in 1901? Parents William Sykes and Susan Hamilton Wallace. William and Susan are in Swinton W Yorkshire in 1921 with daughter Janet, no James, but a James appears with them in electoral rolls in 1925 and 1826.
 
Grizel said:
Have you considered the James Alexander Sykes born in Milton Glasgow in 1901? Parents William Sykes and Susan Hamilton Wallace. William and Susan are in Swinton W Yorkshire in 1921 with daughter Janet, no James, but a James appears with them in electoral rolls in 1925 and 1826.
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His birth certificate is on a tree on Ancestry and gives a DoB of 17 Aug 1901 at North Park Steet, Glasgow. His father was a flint glass maker which ties in with the 1921 census mentioned by Grizel, where William is a bottle maker, born c1868, Rotherham, Yorkshire.
 
Murfomurf said:
I am looking for a Birth record for the person in this Death record:
From FreeBMD
Deaths Dec 1949
Sykes James A 48 Bromsgrove 9d 45
Click to expand...
There is a matching probate record:

James Alexander Sykes of 34 Meadowhill Crescent, Easenmore Road, Redditch, Worcestershire. Died 13 December 1949. Administration London to Florence Sykes, Widow. Effects £2139, 16s 5d

Redditch was in the Bromsgrove Registration District 1837-1974

The wife's name of Florence matches the marriage in Leeds, and also the 1939 register at at 34 Ellers Drive, Doncaster found by Daft Bat, where James' dob is given as 17th August 1901, ie the same as the Scottish birth certificate.
 
Grizel said:
Have you considered the James Alexander Sykes born in Milton Glasgow in 1901?... but a James appears with them in electoral rolls in 1925 and 1826.
Click to expand...
This might be the best clue yet- although all the relatives of my DNA Match whom I can identify are from Warwickshire/Worcestershire and Yorkshire (his mother). Perhaps I'd better switch from England to Scotland for a whole new set of possible links to my family. Giving me a huge bias is the fact that so many of my father's relatives for centuries have been born in and around Worcestershire but it's mum's rellies who came from Scotland.
 
Daft Bat said:
FMP has reference to a monumental inscription at St Bartholomew, Tardebigge for this chap held by the Midland Ancestors website. However, it will cost you £3 to access it:
Code: 
https://midland-ancestors.shop/index.php?route=product/search&search=I435D

Mind you, I would also want to lay my hands on a copy of the death certificate in case there were other clues there as well... ;)
Click to expand...
Now I'll order that Death Cert- thanks for the insight!
 
Until the Death Cert arrives I have groped my way back to the late 1500s on the Scots Sykes ut no one has a familiar surname. Obviously more work for me AFTER the Death Cert.
 
James Alexander Sykes father, William Sykes was from Rotherham so not Scottish. He married in Scotland. James's mother Susan Hamilton Wallace was Scottish however. Could the link be via her? ( Sorry have no idea about DNA tracing) .
 
Murfomurf said:
Until the Death Cert arrives I have groped my way back to the late 1500s on the Scots Sykes ut no one has a familiar surname. Obviously more work for me AFTER the Death Cert.
Click to expand...
What extra information are you hoping to find on the death certificate?

Has the information on posts #11 & 12 not helped?
 
@Andromeda It seems I don't really need that Death Cert now, but too late- I ordered it! I had not found the missive from @Chimp in my email as I was expecting something with Genealogy Specialists in the title or body. Also I didn't see the info on William Sykes' place of birth until after I had discovered it myself- so plenty of crossed wires but a good result. But still haven't quite figured out my connection- I think it's through one of William Sykes' brothers.
 
I don't know what information was in the email from Chimp - and tbh I don't know why it couldn't have been posted on the forum instead of / as well (isn't that the whole point of it?) - but I'm glad you've had some success. Fingers crossed you can figure out the DNA link
 
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