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I'm looking for the birth details of Harry Chapman (middle name known as Thomas in later life though not sure if he was born with a second name) born in 1904 and died in 1985 in Somerset. I have found his marriage certifcate 1937 to Margaret Mary Underwood and death certificate 1985 in Somerset but nothing at all on his birth. The only Harry Chapman I came accross in birth searching was in the 1911 census where there was a Harry Chapman in the workhouse - Downend Cottage Homes. Not knowing about he workhouses - is there a possiblility that this was not his birth name but a name given to him at the workhouse. Either way is there anything I can do to trace the birth details.

Do you have his marriage cert? Is there a father named?
Jan

A copy of his marriage certificate might name his father. Harry is very often the name used by someone who at birth was registered as Henry. Have you considered that option?

"ever helpfull" Jonesey ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D

Dea Xxx

There seem to be 2 possible Harry Thomas Chapmans, but yours would have to be the Cambridge one and the birth year is way out::

Name: Harry Thomas Chapman
Birth: Jun 1903 - Edmonton, Middlesex

Name: Harry Thomas Chapman
Birth: Jun 1901 - Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Name: Harry Thomas Chapman
Birth: 10 Feb 1904
Death: Feb 1985 - West Somerset, Somerset, England

Name: Harry Thomas Chapman
Birth: 6 Apr 1903
Death: Mar 1978 - Enfield, Greater London, England

Jan

An off the wall possibility:

Name: Harry Thomas Chapman
Birth Date: 10 Feb 1904
Date of Registration: Feb 1985
Age at Death: 81
Registration district: West Somerset
Inferred County: Somerset
Volume: 23
Page: 1813

Name: Thomas Henry Chapman
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1904
Registration district: Woodstock
Inferred County: Oxfordshire
Volume: 3a
Page: 1100

PM received. Have advised Carol to post back on here.

'Thanks for you reply. I have found all the information for his marriage and death but nothing on a birth search. I have tried various avenues of searching and it's the same on all of them - zero results. It's a pity we leave this genealogy thing until the oldies are all gone and there's no-one left to ask. '

Carol, you also tell me you do not have the marriage cert. You really do need it.

Jan

No I don't have the marriage certificate - I found the record of his marriage and death on ancestory uk.and it doesn't give any details of parents. Such a puzzle

Carol

Carol, you can only get details by getting the marriage cert. Certs in England and Wales have father's name and occupation, nothing about mother.
Certs cost £9.25 and can be ordered online from the GRO:
www.gro.gov.uk
Jan

Thanks, I'll get on to it and order it and see what happens. I did have a thought this morning that it's possible he wasn't born in England.

Carol

Wise move Carol. In the meantime this looks interesting and looks related to the 1904 birth I found:

1911:

Name: Harry Chapman
Age in 1911: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1904
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England
Civil parish: Broadwell and Kencott
County/Island: Oxfordshire
Country: England
Street Address: Kencot Lechlade Glos
Occupation: school
Registration district: Witney
Registration District Number: 156
Sub-registration district: Burford
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Household schedule number: 56
Piece: 8237
Household Members:
Name Age
Lucie Chapman 40
Leslie Chapman 12
Marjorie Chapman 11
Kathleen Chapman 9
Harry Chapman 7

Note written on census form by the Registrar:

"Husband working away from home"

1901:
Name: Lucy Chapman
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Wm M Chapman
Gender: Female
Where born: Marsten, Oxfordshire, England
Civil parish: North Broadway
Ecclesiastical parish: Broadway St Michael
County/Island: Worcestershire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Evesham
Sub-registration district: Broadway
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 108
Piece: 2790
Folio: 133
Page Number: 14
Household Members:
Name Age
Wm M Chapman 33 born Woodcaton, Oxfordshire
Lucy Chapman 32
Leslie Chapman 3 6 Months
Margary Chapman 1 6 Months

1891:

Name: William M Chapman
Age: 22
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John P Chapman
Mother's Name: Charlotte A Chapman
Gender: Male
Where born: Wood Eaton, Oxfordshire, England
Civil parish: Pebworth
Ecclesiastical parish: Pebworth
Town: Broad Marston
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Evesham
Sub-registration district: Broadway
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2337
Folio: 48
Page Number: 20
Household Members:
Name Age
John P Chapman 55
Charlotte A Chapman 47
William M Chapman 22
Abraham Chapman 15
Sophia E Chapman 14
Rhoda F Chapman 12
Charlotte A Chapman 8
Bertha M Teale 27
Frances Grinell 15

Births Mar 1869
Chapman William Miles Headington 3a 636

Marriages Dec 1894
Chapman William Miles Birmingham 6d 346
Evans Lucy Birmingham 6d 346

Thanks, I'll keep this in mind. I have applied for the marriage certificate so will wait to see what information comes up.

Caz