Genealogy Chat

I am trying to help a friend unravel an anomaly - she wanted to know more about her grandfather, Norman Robert Baxter. He and her grandmother had been divorced in 1945, so she had no information about him after that.
Searching for him on FreeBMD, she discovered a marriage record in 1988 - but the name was linked to a Leslie R P Felstead, who is also, in the same record, linked to a Norma R Redfearn.
We haven't been able to find Norman's birth record, all we know is he was stated as 25 on his 1937 marriage certificate, and his address then was Woolwich, his father's name was Harold E Baxter.
We are wondering if Norman R Baxter became Norma R Redfearn, but same sex marriages weren't legal in 1988, so can any of you amazing research detectives come up with any other solution?
Sadly we don't know any date or places of birth, other than Leslie R P F, who was born in 1930.

Have you considered purchasing a copy of the 1988 marriage cert?

Father’s occupation?

Wife’s name? Year of birth?

Unfortunately buying the certificate is too expensive at the moment, so we were hoping to get some other views on this strange record,
Father's occupation on the 1937 marriage certificate was Labourer, Royal Dockyard.

Speculation is unwise……facts are needed, I’m afraid.

When your friend can afford £11.00, it would be a worthwhile investment

What was the name of the child of the 1937 marriage who was your friend’s parent?

Norma and Leslie were living in Northamptonshire until 2004, and Norma until 2009

Leslie died in 2005

Norman Robert Baxter and Mary Anne Patterson had a son Anthony Edward Baxter 1938 and then a daughter Elizabeth Anne Baxter 1944
I had to give up my sub to FMP as it was all too expensive, which is a pity because I miss it.
Thank you so much for taking time to look into this.
Did you find the Northamptonshire info on FMP? or where?

Yes, on FMP

Try looking at the GRO index for a possible death for Norma………you have to specify gender

Norma was alive in 2009………..unlikely to be the person who was 25 years old in 1937

There is a birth on freebmd for a Norma R Baxter…..check it out

Haha I didn't think of that, of course she couldn't have been. The plot thickens.

Yes,, I found that birth, but it doesn't resolve the 1988 Norma/Norman problem. There is only one Leslie R P Felstead.

Until the cert is obtained, I doubt you’ll have any satisfactory resolution

It may be a simple case of bad writing………..

The different surnames may reflect an earlier marriage, or a father’s name which is different from the bride’s for some other reason

Thanks for having a look for us.

Unfortunately, Norman is not recorded as living with his wife and son on 1939 Register

They are at 9, Orchard Gardens, Wallsend.

I didn't find her in the 1939, can you point me in the right direction?

On FMP and, presumably, also on Ancestry

Found by inputting the son’s name

Yes thank you I've found her now

Re Norman Robert;

Although the middle name is Edwin, not Robert, I'm wondering about this man.
His father Harold (though no middle name), was a dockyard worker;

BAXTER, NORMAN EDWIN mmn BASTABLE
GRO Reference: 1912 D Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 746


Parents' marriage:

Marriages Dec 1901 (>99%)
Bastable Esther Harriet Portsmouth 2b 1170
Baxter Harold Portsmouth 2b 1170



Norman Edwin Baxter
in the London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965
Norman Edwin Baxter [ AND Mary A Baxter ] <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Electoral Date 1938
Street Address [45 Westdale Road ]
Ward or Division/Constituency [Woolwich ] <<<<<<<<<<<<
County or Borough Newham, England



Deaths Jun 1975 (99%)
Baxter Norman Edwin 26Oc1912 Hampstead 12 1756




Norman Edwin's father:

Harold Baxter
in the Rosyth, Fife, Scotland, Dockyard Employee Books, 1892-1967
Name Harold Baxter
Birth Date 24 Jan 1879
Birth Place Portsmouth
Employment End Date 13 May 1922
Employment Place Rosyth, Fife, Scotland

Worked in Portsmouth, then Rosyth, then back to Portsmouth by 1922. Don't know where he was after that. [ EDIT: seems to have remained in Portsmouth - see 1939 and death in later post.]


Harold Baxter
in the 1911 England Census
Name Harold Baxter
Age in 1911 32
Estimated Birth Year abt 1879
Relation to Head Head
Gender Male
Birth Place Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Civil parish Portsmouth
County/Island Hampshire
Country England
Street Address 71 Highgate Road, Copnor, Portsmouth
Marital Status Married
Occupation Engineer's Joiner
Registration District Number 90
Sub-registration district North End and Buckland
ED, institution, or vessel 22
Piece 5500
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Harold Baxter 32 Head
Esther Harriet Baxter 30 Wife
Albert Edward Baxter 8 Son
Sydney Harold Baxter 5 Son


BAXTER, HAROLD mmn PHAROAH
GRO Reference: 1879 M Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 521


What was Norman Robert's occupation?
Norman Edwin was a civilian attached to the RAF in 1939.


Norman E Baxter
in the 1939 England and Wales Register
Name Norman E Baxter
Gender Male
Marital Status Married <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Birth Date 26 Oct 1912
Residence Date 1939
Address 89
Residence Place Sleaford, Lincolnshire (Parts of Kesteven), England
Occupation Civilian (Aero Engine Fitter) R A F Cranwell (Air Ministry)
Line Number 21
Schedule Number 47
Sub Schedule Number 4
Enumeration District Tidh
Borough Sleaford
Registration district 416/1
Household Members (Name) Gender
Harry Markham Male
Caroline E I Markham Female
Amelia G J Markham Female
Norman E Baxter Male
Douglas Marsh Male


The 1937 marriage of Norman R and Mary Anne Patterson is the only one I can see in England/Wales for a Norman Baxter and a Mary Ann(e), 1930-38.

Thanks for all this, I'll pass it on to my friend - who has bitten the bullet and sent for the marriage certificate.

Here's Harold suggested above (and family) in Scotland in 1921 census, as he was working at Rosyth 1916 - 22, per the dockyard record in my last post.


BAXTER
HAROLD
1921
M
41
685/5 35/ 5
George Square
Midlothian

In the same household is Albert 19, and Esther 40.


Norman 9, and Sydney 16, have a slightly different household ref number, but it must be them. (Possibly a transcription error ):

BAXTER
NORMAN
1921
M
9
685/5 35/ 6
George Square
Midlothian

BAXTER
SYDNEY
1921
M
16
685/5 35/ 6
George Square
Midlothian

In the same household as Norman and Sydney is Eileen aged 6.

BAXTER, EILEEN WINIFRED mmn BASTABLE
GRO Reference: 1915 J Quarter in PORTSMOUTH Volume 02B Page 680


Eileen married Ernest E Butler in Portsmouth in 1934; and died in Portsmouth in 1992. (DOB 14 April 1915)


Probably Harold's death:

Harold Baxter
in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Harold Baxter
Death Age: 82
Birth Date: abt 1880
Registration Date: Jan 1962[Feb 1962] [Mar 1962]
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration District: Portsmouth
Inferred County: Hampshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 719