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Hi Cherilyn, Thanks again for all your help. The problem I have is that there are two Robert Taffins noted on the tassie census. The Robert Henry, who from memory married Margaret Lucy, and then the other, living with Helena and Claude M. I totally agree that Frederick and Helena are Claudes parents, so I guess the Taffin thing will remain a mystery, at least to me!! Having had a mini stroke since my last search on here, things seem to take longer to sink in!!! Thanks again, the friend I was helping is blown away by all your's and helens help. An extended visit to the state library is definitely in order I think. It's so odd that they registered all the childrens births but claudes!! Regards Linda :-)

Marriage of Melville TAPLIN in Tasmania in 1904, photo here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66984812@N02/6107959138/in/photostream

The Mercury, Thursday 30 June 1949
TAPLIN. - On June 28, 1949, at Royal Hobart Hospital, Melville, beloved husband of Minian, and loving father of Lyndsey, Roy, and Claude (de- ceased), of Montagu Bay, aged 72 years.

Like the others, he is also at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, as is his wife, son Claude Hammond TAPLIN, and son Melville Roy TAPLIN.

Looks like first wife's death in Middlesex:

Deaths Dec 1886 (>99%)
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TAPLIN Charlotte Elizabeth 34 Kingston 2a 167


So it was Fredk Richard jnr who married Gertrude HOOK. Could he be the one Freddy in the census above?

Still think Robert was a son of Fredk's from prior marriage and perhaps he was in the household on the night of the census (where was his wife Margaret otherwise?!). I don't believe he was Claude's stepfather.

And that TAFFIN and TAPLIN seem to have been used interchangeably, til the 1925 formal deed poll change. Note this states Claude's mother was a widow (Fredk died in 1918, Robert not til some years later).

Found this at FreeBMD:

Marriages Dec 1867 (>99%)
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FELGATE Alfred Kensington 1a 9
Hammond Charlotte Elizabeth Kensington 1a 9
Parkes Susan Maria Kensington 1a 9
>>>TAPLIN Frederick Richard Kensington 1a 9

And sure enough:

Births Jun 1871 (>99%)
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TAPLIN Robert Henry R Kensington 1a 19


Births Mar 1869 (>99%)
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TAPLIN Fanny Maud Kensington 1a 231


Here they are in 1881 in the UK!!! Seems he was quite well off, look at all the servants!

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Frederick TAPLIN Head M Male 38 Pancras, Middlesex, England Licensed Victualler
Charlotte TAPLIN Wife M Female 29 Richmond, Surrey, England Licensed Victualler
Fanny M. TAPLIN Daur U Female 12 Fulham, Middlesex, England
Robert TAPLIN Son U Male 9 Maiden Vale, Middlesex, England
Freddy TAPLIN Son U Male 7 Maiden Vale, Middlesex, England
Melville TAPLIN Son U Male 3 Hayes, Middlesex, England
Louisa TAPLIN Daur U Female 1 Pancras, Middlesex, England
John MORRIS Servant U Male 23 Middlesex, England Manager
Annie CLIFF Servant U Female 26 Christchurch, Shropshire, England Bar Maid
Mary Ann COOPER Servant U Female 23 Barnsbury, Middlesex, England Bar Maid
Jane BLACKLEY Servant U Female 25 S Giles, Middlesex, England Cook
John KEER Servant U Male 18 Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England Waiter
Annie NASH Servant U Female 21 Stevenage, Hertford, England Servant
Emma ROGERS Servant U Female 24 Pimlico, Middlesex, England Servant
Lizzie CLARK Servant U Female 18 Rutland, England Servant

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Source Information:
Dwelling 54 Drummond St
Census Place London, Middlesex, England
Family History Library Film 1341044
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 0200 / 86
Page Number 34

Hi Helen, I agree that Frederick is Claude's father, BUT (!!), in 1914, in Hobart, Claude M and Helena M are living with Robert Taffin, and their surname is given as Taffin. I believe thats where the confusion with surnames comes in, Frederick Taplin is his father, Robert Taffin his step dad. Cannot believe all the records you've found for me!!! Thanks so much for your help with this, regards Linda :)
PS Just wish we could find Claude's birth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And have just found another marriage for Frederick Richard Taplin, to one Gertrude Florence Hook in 1901, so perhaps Helena was dumped, took up with Robert Taffin (causing the boys confusion about just who their father was), and when they grew up, decided to go back to their original last name?? Could it be so simple? Still, however can't find Frederick on the census???? :) Linda

I'm thinking Robert might have been a son of Fredk Richard's from a first marriage (notice he is 45 when he marries Helena).

OK, have printed it all out and tried to claim some order, the only thing I can't understand is that in the 1914 Tassie census, Robert TAFFIN, Helena Taffin and Claude M TAffin are all residing at the same address. Could this simply be a case of Frederick Richard Taplin going by Robert??? Or a transcribers error in the surname, and if so why legally change your surname? I can't get into the library to check birth records until tomorrow, and haven't yet found a birth for Claude Midwood TAffin/Taplin. But we shall keep on!! Regards Linda

Blimey, thanks so much guy's, so much to assimilate. Had rather a lot on today, so haven't been on the net, but shall print all you've found and try and make sense of it!! My friend is going to be really grateful. Shall PM you both in a sec. Thank you so much again, linda

Found this at Trove - seems the whole family were in on it!

The Mercury, Tuesday 6 October 1925, p.1
WE CLAUDE MIDWOOD TAPLIN of Derwent Park in Tasmania Clerk
VERNON RICHARD TAPLIN of Harbroes Avenue New Town in Tasmania
Butcher HELENA MARIA TAPLIN of Lochner Street Hobart in Tasmania,
Widow, CONSTANCE OLIVE TAPLIN of Lochner Street aforesaid Spinster and AMY MAUDE TAPLIN of Lochner Street aforesaid Spinster heretofor called and known by the name of Clauda Midwood Taffin of Derwent Park in Tasmania Clerk Vernon Richard Taffinof Harbroes Avenue New Town in Tasmania Butcher Helena Maria Taffin of Lochner Street Hobart in Tasmania Widow Constance Olive Tafiin of Lochner Street aforesaid
Spinster and Amy Maude Tafiin of Lochner Street aforesaid Spinster HEREBY GIVE PUBLIC NOTICE that on the twenty-eighth day of September One thousand nine hundred and twenty five we formally and absolutely renounced relinquished and abandoned the use of our
said surname of Taffin and then assumed and adopted and determined henceforth on all occasions whatsover to use and subscribe the name of Taplin instead of the said name of Taffin AND WE GIVE FURTHER NOTICE that by a Deed Poll dated the Twenty-eighth day of September
One thousand nine hundred and twenty five duly executed and attested and registered in the Office of the Registrar of Deeds at Hobart on the third day of October One thousand nine hundred and twenty-five No.10/9915 we formally and absolutely renounced and abandoned the said surname of Taffin and declare that we do assume and adopt and intend henceforth upon all occasions whatsoever to use and subscribe the name of Taplin instead of Tafiin and so as to be at all times called known and described by the name of Taplin absolutely.

Claude's 1961 will is online at the Tasmanian archives - digitised so you can read it.

They lived at 5 Faraday St, West Hobart. He mentions his children John Frederick, Mavis Ila (married name GOOD), Claude Norman, and Edith Ivy.

His wife Ila Mary's is there too (1972), address as 51 Pirie St New Town. Son John Fredk was executor, daughter-in-law Nancye Amelia is also a beneficiary. She mentions children Mavis and Claude but not Edith (who was already deceased). Also grandchildren with surname EVERETT, who must be Edith's children. Total estate was just over $9000.

Vernon Richard's is also there; he had a son named Claude.

See http://portal.archives.tas.gov.au/menu.aspx?search=9

The Midwood family seem to go back a ways and are well documented at the Tasmanian Colonial database. Her father's name was Vernon (he had a brother named Claude). Her mother (who was much younger than he), Josephine, died aged only 45 in 1890.

It looks to me that the family name was TAFFIN but that some family members changed it to TAPLIN.

I believe Frederick Richard was Claude's father (as per his marriage notice) but for some reason he has written Robert as nok on his enlistment.

The marriage of Frederick Richard to a Miss MIDWOOD seems to clinch it.

This archives site I gave earlier mentions the TAPLIN/TAFFIN as well as MIDWOOD

http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/default.aspx?detail=1&type=S&id=NS1252

Just a note, Robert H R Taffin, born 1872 London, married ML Laws in 1898 in tas. No children noted?? linda

Edit: wrong Robert. In the 1914 census, Robert and Claude M are living with Helena in Nth Hobart, Helena is also given as the wife of F Taplin in the tasbmd. I am so confused!!!

Dear Joan, Helen and Cherilyn (hello you!!), thank you so much for all you've found. I did think I'd found Claudes parents, but no mention of Claude in the Tasbmd, although his siblings are there, all Taplin. So the newspaper you found Cherilyn, giving his surname as Taffin and his fathers name as Robert, seems to suggest a later adoption?? Uuumm!! And he married as Taffin in 1920. A visit to the state library is in order I think. Quite late to change your name? Just "brainstorming" here, and I haven't had brekky yet!! Thank you so much again, isn't it amazing how so many of these stories have twists and turns in them :-) regards Linda

There is a photo and article about a young woman who is most likely her sister:

The Mercury, Thursday 27 June 1946, p.6
21ST BIRTHDAY
MISS MAVIS TAPLIN who celebrated her 21st birthday on Tuesday evening. Her parents. Mr and Mrs Claude Taplin, Liverpool St., Hobart, entertained about 80 friends at a party in her honour at Hanton's Cafe, Liverpool St.

Claude worked for the postal service. Apparently he was appointed under the name of TAFFIN but changed his name in 1925.

Examiner, Friday 16 July 1920, p.1
TAFFIN-POWER.-On the 26th June, 1920, at St. Joseph's Church, Hobart,
by the Rev. Father A. Cullen, Claude Midwood, second son of Mrs. and the
late F. R. Taffin, of Hobart, to Ila Mary, only daughter of John Power, surveyor, and Mrs. Power, of Launceston.

More at NLA Trove newspapers site.

TAFFIN Claude Midwood : Service Number - 8217 : Place of Birth - Newtown TAS : Place of Enlistment - Claremont TAS : Next of Kin - (Father) TAFFIN Robert

See also http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/default.aspx?detail=1&type=S&id=NS1252

Another maybe as they dont give any first names

Tasmania Australia index to marriage notice in The Mercury 1864-1954

Name C.M. Taplin
Spouse Power
Marriage date 20/06/1920
Other details Anniversary
Gender male
Publication date 26/06/1945

Might be a notice re their Silver Wedding anniversery?

Maybe ?
Australian Electorial rolls
1928 Franklyn district sub district Moonah Tasmainia
Claude Midwood Taplin Cival servant and Ila Mary Taplin house duties living 10 Amiens Ave

Wow Helen, thanks so much for this. thanks to you clarifying Ediths names I did find a tree (public) on ancestry, and now have her fathers name, 1 Claude millwood/midwood Taplin 1893-1961, and a mother of Ila Mary Power, 1890-1972, so shall head back to tas bmd and see what I can find. Thank you so much for this, it really has been a great help! :- D Regards Linda

Uum, sure she doesn't know about that!!! Thanks again, regards Linda. ps helen not martin!

Thanks Martin, we did have the death date, However the middle name was wrong, thanks for that. Regards Linda