Bonzo Dog
Still the Mad Scientist?
Apologies in advance for the long post, but there is a puzzle to be solved, and I don't know where to start looking for any answers- England, Canada or the USA.
John Stephen Edward Alston (1891-1983) had 2 daughters - Jessie Winifred and Rose Valerie, neither of whom married. Jessie was born in 1913 and died in Droitwich Worcestershire in 2010. Her obituary notice was posted by her sister Rose, who herself died just under 2 years later, in 2012, at the age of 62 - an inferred YOB of 1950.
There is a 1950 birth registration for a Rose V Alston, and her birth certificate states she was born 29 June 1950 at the former Elizabeth Garrett Maternity Home, Hampstead, London (40 Belsize Grove), and names her parents as John Stephen Edward Alston and Alice Joyce Alston, formerly Morrison. The birth was registered by John, who gave his address as 14 Handel Street WC1.
John and Jessie lived for about 30 years in Canada (Vancouver via Cortes Island), where John's first wife Jessie Gertrude died in 1927. Immigration records show that John visited England in 1948, when he was accompanied by his daughter Jessie, and in 1950, when he was listed on his own. He arrived at Liverpool about 3 weeks before Rose was born. Both passenger lists give an intended address in Solihull Warwickshire, possibly a cousin.
He made at least 2 further transatlantic trips, in 1952 and 1958. On the first he was accompanied by his daughter Jessie, and by his daughter Rose on the second. The passenger list gives Rose's DOB as 29 June 1950 and an intended address in Kings Norton Birmingham (his brother's home address). John died in Bromsgrove Worcestershire in 1983.
The puzzle is; where on earth does Alice Joyce Morrison come from, and where and when did she marry John Stephen, if indeed they bothered?
London Electoral Registers for the 1950's show an Alice J Alston, but she was living with someone named David. There are also entries for at least 2 John S Alston's, but none living with an Alice or a Joyce. Nothing in the Midlands registers.
John Stephen Edward Alston (1891-1983) had 2 daughters - Jessie Winifred and Rose Valerie, neither of whom married. Jessie was born in 1913 and died in Droitwich Worcestershire in 2010. Her obituary notice was posted by her sister Rose, who herself died just under 2 years later, in 2012, at the age of 62 - an inferred YOB of 1950.
There is a 1950 birth registration for a Rose V Alston, and her birth certificate states she was born 29 June 1950 at the former Elizabeth Garrett Maternity Home, Hampstead, London (40 Belsize Grove), and names her parents as John Stephen Edward Alston and Alice Joyce Alston, formerly Morrison. The birth was registered by John, who gave his address as 14 Handel Street WC1.
John and Jessie lived for about 30 years in Canada (Vancouver via Cortes Island), where John's first wife Jessie Gertrude died in 1927. Immigration records show that John visited England in 1948, when he was accompanied by his daughter Jessie, and in 1950, when he was listed on his own. He arrived at Liverpool about 3 weeks before Rose was born. Both passenger lists give an intended address in Solihull Warwickshire, possibly a cousin.
He made at least 2 further transatlantic trips, in 1952 and 1958. On the first he was accompanied by his daughter Jessie, and by his daughter Rose on the second. The passenger list gives Rose's DOB as 29 June 1950 and an intended address in Kings Norton Birmingham (his brother's home address). John died in Bromsgrove Worcestershire in 1983.
The puzzle is; where on earth does Alice Joyce Morrison come from, and where and when did she marry John Stephen, if indeed they bothered?
London Electoral Registers for the 1950's show an Alice J Alston, but she was living with someone named David. There are also entries for at least 2 John S Alston's, but none living with an Alice or a Joyce. Nothing in the Midlands registers.
