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I wonder if anyone can help. I am trying to help a collegue out. It is rather a long shot, her grandfather was Frank Osborne, or so she thought! It urned out that when he died, in 1974, it came to light that he was a biggamist. His name was Francis Osbourne, she always knew him as Frank, he was born within the sounds of bow bells, so was a true cockney, but he was brought up in Banardos, in London. He married Millicent Kate Smith, about 1930, but unsure of exact year. Millicent was born in Rowde, Wiltshire, and we are presuming that they married in Wiltshire, but Frank was already married, and took a letter out of his sirname prior to marrying Millicent. He changed his sirname from Osbourne to Osborne. We know that he fought in the first world war, as he lied about his age to get in, and he joind the Welsh Fusiliers Regiment. He also fought in the second world war in France.
When he died in 1974 he was cremated in Bournemouth, Dorset, but it is understood that he may have died in Swanage.
It only came to light that Frank was a biggamist when he died, as my collegues gran was trying to apply for his life pension, but was informed that she was not entitled to it, as he was already married previously, without getting a divorce. It is very important
for my colleague to find out as much as she can, for her mothers sake, as she feels that her life has been led on a lie.
I will appreciate any info I receive, and will keep popping on here throughout the day, to check on any replies.

Many thanks in advance
Angela

Angela,
Have pm'd you.

Regards Vera

this looks like his death
Name: Frank Osborne
Birth Date: 4 May 1890
Death Registration Month/Year: 1974
Registration district: Poole
Inferred County: Dorset
Volume: 23
Page: 0797

no birth coming up as Francis Osbourne
this would tie with the death record
Name: Frank Osborne
Year of Registration: 1890
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Lambeth
County: Greater London, London, Surrey
Volume: 1d
Page: 415

How did his previous name become known?

Many thanks Shirley. His previous name became known after he died, and his first wife came forward. I do not any deatails about her though.

Angela

Maybe it was the other way round .he was born Frank Osborne but married his first wife as Francis Osbourne,
There's no marriage coming up to Millicent however if this was bigamous it wont show in the records I think

Thank you all for looking, its looking like a dead end. My colleague said she had been in contact with Banardos but they wont release any information!
Angela

Francis Osborne marriage to Millicont K Smith-(error when transcribed)
1920 Wareham Dorset
vol 5a page 845

marriage of Francis Osborne to Millicent (Millicont) K Smith 1920 Wareham Dorset. Ref 5a 845

Had a look on Military Records for you. 1914-20 Pension Records show a Francis Edward Osborne born in Bridport Dorset in 1895 joined Dorset Regiment 8/12/1915. Had a medical examination 1917 by the Travelling Medical Board whilst on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire which places him at the right area for meeting Millicent.
Mentions a deformity of little toe on the right foot.

Sounds like could be your man.

Many thanks Julie

Juie
Where did you find the info on his pension record?

I have just looked on the 1901 census and I dont think this is the man I am looking for. As I know he was born in London, and for some unknown reason, his mum gave him to Banardos!

The Army pension records are on Ancestry. Whoever registered his death gave his date of birth as 4 May 1890 but there is no corresponding birth on the records even allowing for a few years either side in that same quarter. You say you know he was born in London so what certificate do or your friend have to substantiate any of this ? Do you have any proof that he was married before? If he was born in 1890 there would be no reason to lie about his age to join up in WW1 as he would have been 24. Did he really take part in WW2 aged 50+. Not sure what the age limits were.

Julie, all I know is what my friend has told me. He was born in London within the sound of Bow bells, and his mother gave him to Banardos, reason unknown. It came to light that he was married to another women after he had died, and my friends gran tried to claim his pension of some kind, but was informed that she was not entitled to it as his other wife was still his wife, therefore, the first wife was entitled to it, my friends gran also received a phone call from the other wife clarrifying this. I don't know if my friend has any certificates, and I wont be seeing her again untill tomorrow. Apparantly he only lied about his age by a few years, my friend thinks he was really 16 or 17 when he signed up to join th Welsh Fusilliers Regiment, and he did serve in the second world way, over in France, and the family have his medals. My friend does not have confirmation of his birth year, only that he was born about 1898. Because of the name change, she is finding it very difficult to find any birth records for him. He married his first wife with the name Francis Osbourne, but married his second wife with the name Francis Osborne, and they don't know if there were any other wives, as he worked away from home a lot of the time. As you can see, ther is not a lot of information to go on, but that is all I have been given. My friend has tried go through Banardos, but they are reluctant to release any information, again, I don't know why.

Angela

I give up! Can't find any birth that fits or a marriage. If he was a bigamist and didn't want to be traced he probably made up details about his birth etc. Can do no more.

Hope someone else has more luck than me.

Forgot to say no joy on the 1911 census only the chap from Dorset.

Many thanks for trying Julie, I think if my friend really wants to find out more she is going to have to purchase some certificates, and possibly pay Banardos in London for any records they might have.

Thanks to everyone else who has helped too

Angela