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My Gt Grandmother Mary Ellen Armstrong had twins, namely Frederick Hewitt Wardman and his twin sister Dorothy. Unfortunately the gentleman who was their father was shipped off to Canada by his parents. Their true fathers surname was Hewitt but I do not know his first name. Apparantly he worked at Becca Hall Farm Aberford which is where he met my Gt Grandmother. He was from a wealthy background where as my gt Grandmother wasnt hence the reason they were pulled apart and he was shipped away. Their Stepfather James Wardman brought them up as his own. I am really struggling as no one in my family was told much about it (inc the twins) as it was most likely a taboo subject. I do know that it went to court and they paid my Gt Grandmother off. I am hoping that someone may have some clues to this story otherwise I will never get anyway with that side of my family

For ref ,as no dates given,this LOOKS like the twins birth.?


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Births Mar 1924 (>99%)
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Armstrong Dorothy M Armstrong Tadcaster 9c 1736
Armstrong Frederick H Armstrong Tadcaster 9c 1736

Sorry. The twins were born in 1923

This marriage will give you Mary Ellens fathers name and his occupation,as long as she wasnt illegitimate as well of course.
Also her age.

Marriages Dec 1929 (>99%)
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Armstrong Mary E Wardman Tadcaster 9c 2088
Wardman James Armstrong Tadcaster 9c 2088
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The twins born late in 1923 were not reg until the following year in the first quarter.

I have found all Mary Ellen Armstrongs family. It is the twins true biological father I am trying to find. Their birth cert states father unknown and all I know is his surname was Hewitt and other bits of info as per my first thread

Possible for mary ellen on 1911

HOUSEHOLD ARMSTRONG MARY F 1903 8 Tadcaster Yorkshire West Riding

Unless you have some real idea of her age at the birth of the twins,or do you know when she died as that ref would give her age.

I will check passenger lists for Hewitts going out of britain.

Thanks for your help. Mary Ellen was born in 1901 and gave birth to the twins in 1923. Not sure if Mr Hewitt was shipped to canada whilst she was pregnant or after she had given birth.
I was thinking about asking for court records but not sure where to start as I am not even sure what court they went to.
I have looked at Becca Hall records and there were a few Hewitts so could end up barking down the wrong three. Its really bugging me!

Can you give me the first names and maybe years of birth of the hewitts at becca hall ,there are HEAPS of hewitts on canadian passenger lists.
Then we may be able to narrow it down a bit.

The records of the court case will most likely be held at the local records office.
I would have thught it would come under the bastardy law.

But Im not up on that,although I am sure others are.

Or maybe it was reported in the local newspaper.

Unfortunately we do not hold a first name. We only know him as a Hewitt that worked at Becca Hall and lived in the Aberford/Tadcaster area. Apparantly when my Grandad was about 13/14 years of age Mr Hewitt returned to England and looked for him so that would have been around 1936/1937.
I have never even heard of the Bastardy Law!
What really bugs me is the fact there may be brothes and sisters of Grandad who are still alive and I would like to trace them. Chances are I will never know but I wont get far unless I ask the question. I am hoping somewhere out there will know something about it.

I will search incoming passengers1934 to 1938 for hewitts born c1890 to 1905 .
Each image will have to be looked at for the place of residence while in england,so it will take a while.
I have to go get my dog from the vet now (hysterectomy),so will look later.

Hope the dog is ok

Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate this

Louise x

Over the last hour and a half I have checked all comparable ages,and then some,of Hewitts to your armstrong lady coming into the country between 1934 and 1937 and this is the only one headed for yorkshire that I can see.
Going to a hotel in he says,but I cant read where,and he has a wife and 2 small children in tow.

Name: George Banard Hewitt
Birth Date: abt 1903
Age: 33
Port of Departure: Montrã©AL, Quã©Bec, Canada
Arrival Date: 11 Nov 1936
Port of Arrival: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ports of Voyage: Montreal
Ship Name: Kenbane Head
Search Ship Database: Search the 'Kenbane Head' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Head Line
Official Number: 142492
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I would suggest a message on tips to try and find out how to get court records and find out about Bastardy laws.
Bastardy laws were to make the father pay up.

Hi
Thanks again for your help. I shall try a message on tips and see if I can get anywhere. You never know, the info you have found may be correct and it would be lovely if it was. You shouldn't have spent all that time on it but I do appreciate your effort and it is lovely to know there are people like yourself willing to help others
Cant thank you enough
Take care and I shall keep you informed if anything turns up
Louise x

Far better than spending time on housework,ugh!