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I am trying to locate a birth record for Leonard. My nan believes that Leonard was a few years older than her and she was born in 1920. She always thought his surname was Lamb as he was brought up by her uncle Alfred Lamb and Winifred Olive Lamb his wife. However, it would appear that Alfred and Winifred never married, although Winifred appears on the electoral registers as Lamb. Alfred and Winifred lived in Reading, Berkshire.

I have been able to locate that Winifred married William T Paris in 1922 in Reading. She lived with Alfred Lamb during the 1930's up until he died in 1937. I think the reason they didn't marry was because William T Paris hadn't died (at least I haven't found a record for him anyway). Winifred then married Lemuel John Mendes Da Costs in 1940 in Reading. The record lists Pearce or Paris or Lamb as her surname.

Leonard then take the surname Mendes Da Costa which is shown in Winifreds probate and he also marries under that name.

Based on Winifred's death record, she was born circa 1902. I have found a birth in 1901 in Surrey which I believe relates to her and I believe she is living with her parents in Eynsham, Oxfordshire in 1911 census.

Just trying to find Leonard's birth and who he belonged to! Thanks in advance.

Looks like him

Births Sep 1926
Paris Leonard F Pearce Wandsworth 1d 10

Is Leonard still alive?
Thank-you

possible
Name: William Thomas Paris
Birth Date: 1 Jan 1901
Date of Registration: Nov 1984
Age at Death: 83
Registration district: Reading and Wokingham
Inferred County: Berkshire
Volume: 19
Page: 262

I do not know if Leonard is still alive or not. As he assumed the Mendes Da Costa surname, I have searched for a death for him but haven't found one but then the records only go up as far as 2006.

Yes that Wandsworth birth is a strong possibility although I'm not sure why they would have been in Wandsworth and that would make him younger than my nan rather than older like she remembers. It certainly matches up though with the middle name and surnames.

If that William Thomas Paris death is correct, then Winifred would have been a bigamist with Lemuel!

Winifred may have been divorced by William Paris. her marriage cert to Lemuel will give her marital status

if you get leonards marriage cert it will give his age so make it easier to find his birth . Also he may have given a fathers name on it.

If Leonard was born in 1926 he would be 14 years old when Winifred married in 1940 so more likely to take her husbands name than if he was around 20 years old .

Name: Winifred D Mendes Da Costa
Birth Date: abt 1902
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1964
Age at Death: 62
Registration district: Edmonton
Inferred County: Middlesex
Volume: 5e
Page: 483

so Winifred was only 20 when she first married

if your Nan was born in 1920 then Winifred was then only c18 and hadn't married William Paris then. So if she had Leonard pre 1920 he would be reg in her maiden name. Would think it unlikely Leonard as a grown man would assume the surname Mendes da Costa . BUT he may have done so if he was illegitimate.

I would recommend some cert buying

I think you're right. My dad lives near the Berkshire record office so I've instructed him to go see if he can find the marriage records first before paying out for certificates.