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Can someone help please. Im looking for the birth certificate for William Meek born 1881. Born to Caroline Meek at Factory Row, Cinderford, he is shown as 2 months old in the 1881 census. I cannot find his name in the register of births for the first or second quarter of 1881 or even the 4th quarter of 1880. I have followed the other William Meeks without success. This William married Mary Ann Bennett in 1901 at St. Stephens Church, Cinderford.

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It says in the 1881 census that the children were illegitimate, have you found births for any of the other children?

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Hi Brian

I expect you have realised that the Joseph shown as William Meek's father at his 1901 Marriage to Mary Ann Bennett is in fact Joseph Phelps born 1865 that Caroline eventually married in 1885, following the birth of the illegitimate children. The parish record does however show his father as Joseph Meek. She then had children with Joseph Phelps. The illegitimate children that are on the 1881 Census are not with Caroline & Joseph Phelps in 1891.

Year: 1885
Month: Jun
Day: 29
Grooms_Surname: PHELPS
Grooms_Forenames: Joseph
Grooms_Age: 20
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Coal miner
Grooms_Residence: Steam Mills
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Phelps
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: George
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Coal miner
Brides_Surname: MEEK
Brides_Forenames: Caroline
Brides_Age: 20
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Bilson
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Meek
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Coal miner
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: he signs she marks
Witness_1: Charles Leighton
Witness_2: Mark of Charlotte Leighton
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: William Barker Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/8
Page_Number: 19
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1881 Census
Dwelling: Factory Row
Census Place: (Westbury On Severn) East Dean, Gloucester, England
Source: FHL Film 1341609 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2522 Folio 95 Page 40
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Thos. MEEK M 50 M Bailey Hill, Gloucester, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Collier
Elizth. MEEK M 51 F Mitcheldean, Gloucester, England
Rel: Wife
Elizth. MEEK U 25 F Drybrook, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: No Occupation
Charlotte MEEK U 21 F Drybrook, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: Works At Tin Works
Caroline MEEK U 19 F Drybrook, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daur
Occ: Works At Tin Works
Edwin MEEK 6 M Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child
Occ: Scholar
Mary MEEK 3 F Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child
Eliza MEEK 1 F Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child
William MEEK 2 m M Cinderford, Gloucester, England
Rel: Daurs Child

1891 Census East Dean
RG12/2005/42/33
Joe Phelps 26 Ruardean
Caroline 26 Drybrook
Pollie 8 Cinderford
Oliver 5 Cinderford
George 3 Cinderford
Albert 1 Cinderford

Year: 1901
Month: Mar
Day: 24
Grooms_Surname: MEEK
Grooms_Forenames: William
Grooms_Age: 21
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Cinderford
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Meek
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Joseph
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: BENNETT
Brides_Forenames: Mary Ann
Brides_Age: 20
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Cinderford
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Bennett
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Robert
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: Philip Meek
Witness_2: Maud Holder
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Th[oma]s Longstaff vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/2 1N 1/6
Page_Number: 75
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephens

Jim Ashton

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Thank you both for the info, I have all the births etc for the family. However my problem is, according to the birth records for that quarter, and the preceding quarter is that there is no record of the birth of a William Meek (no second name) in the Westbury district. I have followed the William Thomas Meek, born in the same quarter and he did not, as far as I can see, leave the Forest. The William I am trying to get records for moved to Pontypridd according to the 1911 census.

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I have never been able to find the birth registration/baptism of x Great Grandfather's Grandson Reginald WICKENDEN born c1897 - age 4 on the 1901 census - Blakeney - who was also illegitimate. In this case, there is a birth in Kent, but this is not the correct one. Another x Great Aunt (or may be the same daughter) from the family, went to Swindon, Wiltshire to her brothers, to give birth to her illegitimate Son who was then adopted straight away- and his birth is registered and I have his birth certificate - Thomas Edgar WICKENDEN, 1900 - in this case the father's name is listed.

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Brian

Have you tried under the name Phelps ? Who Caroline married, he may have been the father, but her own father would have given the details to the Census enumerator in 1881 and he would have used the name Meek.

Jim Ashton

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Thanks for all the help, I have tried all Meek and Phelps births and baptisms around 1881, but have drawn a complete blank. It looks as if this will be one of the unanswerable questions with we have all faced from time to time.
Keep up the good work and thanks again for taking the time, Brian

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Hi Brian,
I am not sure if you found this or not...but it might be your William baptised at age 10, altho the original birth is listed as Nov of 1881 which is late in the year for him to have been around for the census?

Record_ID: 88111
Entry_Number: 504
Year: 1891
Month: Jun
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: MEEK
Child_Forenames: William
Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Mothers_Forenames: Caroline
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Woodside
Occupation: [not stated]
Officiating_Minister: C. W. Houlston
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Nov [illegible] 1881
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/2IN 1/1
Page_Number: 63
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephens
Soundex: M200

And in 1891 he was living or visiting with his grandparents, but there is a transcription error:

Name: William Mak
Age: 10
Estimated birth year: abt 1881
Relation: Grandson
Gender: Male
Where born: Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England

Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Mak 74
Elizabeth Mak 73
A Davis Mak 74
William Mak 10
Charles Mak 30

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Trudy, thanks for that. This indeed could be the William I'm looking for. He did appear on the 1881 census as being 2 months old, so where it says Nov (illegible) 1881, perhaps it should have read Feb 1881.

One other question, I have found a record of a Sgnt William Meek killed in 1917 in France. If this is the case his name will be inscribed on the war memorial in the Triangle, Cinderford. Can anyone help on this ??

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There is a William Thomas MEEK birth - J/F/M Qtr 1881 Westbury on Severn Vol 6a Page 270

1901 Census East Dean
Factory Row

William T MEEK - 21, Collier, born Cinderford
Florence MEEK - 20 - Ruardean Hill
Annie MEEK - 1 Cinderford

Gloucestershire BMD Index
William T MEEK married Florence JOHNSON - Westbury Registry Office 1899

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Thanks for that, but already checked, and unfortunatly not the one.

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Looking at the war records both on the War Graves Commission and Ancestry - William MEEK - enlisted in Leeds - King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) although born in Cinderford -

There is a 1914-15 date - with Victory/British/15 Star Medals on Ancestry - his number 11942

There is a searchable web site for

The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

http://www.lightinfantry.org.uk/regiments/koyli/kingyork_ww1_honourroll.htm

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Now following the Regiment lead, thanks again

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Jim

Just to extend your notes ...

1891 Upper Bilson
Thomas Mak abt 1817 Lea Bailey, Glos Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Mak abt 1818 Mitcheldred, Glos Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
A Davis Mak abt 1817 Vopes Hill, Glos Lodger East Dean, Gloucestershire
William Mak abt 1881 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Grandson East Dean, Gloucestershire
Charles Mak abt 1861 Rose, Herefordshire, England Cousin East Dean, Gloucestershire

William M Phelps - William Meek Phelps ??

1901 Factory Row
William M Phelps abt 1880 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary M Phelps abt 1881 Herefordshire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Hilda B Phelps abt 1900 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire

Name: Hilda Meek ?
Estimated birth year: abt 1900
Year of Registration: 1908
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
Age at Death: 8
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 155

1911
MEEK WILLIAM M 1881 30 Pontypridd Glamorganshire
MEEK MARY ANN F 1881 30 Pontypridd Glamorganshire
MEEK BEATRICE MAY F 1901 10 Pontypridd Glamorganshire
MEEK LILLIAN FRANCIS F 1902 9 Pontypridd Glamorganshire
MEEK MARY JANE F 1909 2 Pontypridd Glamorganshire
MEEK WILLIAM ROBERT M 1903 8 Pontypridd Glamorganshire
BENNETT HILDA ROSA ANN F 1899 12 Pontypridd Glamorganshire

Now back to the BMD ...

has this one been eliminated ?

Name: William Charles Phelps
Year of Registration: 1881
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 264

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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Thanks Slowhands for all that. Tried the Phelps surname, not led me anywhere unfortunately. Don't think William had a second christian name.
The 1901 census in Factory Row I'm sure is the right family. He used the initial M after his and his wifes name, but after the daughter, who was born a base child with the surname Bennett he has used the initial B, Hilda B Phelps.
In the 1911 census she is Hilda Rose Ann Bennett age 12, living with the family in 18 Paget St, Ynysybwl, nr Pontypridd. The census shows that they had 9 children upto 1911, but only 6 were still living.

Thanks to all who have helped in this.

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I did a quick look at the preceeding pages of the 1901 census... and on Factory Row lived:

244 John Meek(age 50)and family
246 Thomas Bennett(age 25,b Herefordshire) and family, plus Philip Meek, lodger
248 John Bennett(age 24,b Herefordshire) and family
251 William Meek(age 43) and family plus nephew
254 Thomas Meek(age 86)
256 William T Meek(21)and wife Florence, daughter Annie
257 William M Phelps(21) and wife Mary M(20,b Herefordshire), daughter Hilda B

I would imagine Thomas and John Bennett are Mary's brothers.
And Mary's second name was Ann.. and the census shows M very clearly... so I assume it is for Meek?

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Brian... not sure if you had this or not

Name: Hilda Rose A Bennett
Year of Registration: 1899
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 301

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1881
Robert Bennett abt 1848 Wormsely, Hereford, England Head Kinnersley, Herefordshire
Emily Bennett abt 1847 Dilwyn, Hereford, England Wife Kinnersley, Herefordshire
Sarah E. Bennett abt 1871 Dilwyn, Hereford, England Daughter Kinnersley, Herefordshire
William Bennett abt 1871 Dilwyn, Hereford, England Son Kinnersley, Herefordshire
Robert Bennett abt 1873 Fownhope, Hereford, England Son Kinnersley, Herefordshire
Emily Bennett abt 1874 Fownhope, Hereford, England Daughter Kinnersley, Herefordshire
Thomas Bennett abt 1876 Ivington, Hereford, England Son Kinnersley, Herefordshire
John Bennett abt 1878 Ivington, Hereford, England Son Kinnersley, Herefordshire
Edward Bennett abt 1880 Dilwyn, Hereford, England Son Kinnersley, Herefordshire

Name: Mary Ann Bennett
Year of Registration: 1882
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Ledbury
County: Herefordshire, Hereford and Worcester, Worcestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 459

1891
Porbert Bennett abt 1848 Wormsley, Herefordshire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Emily Bennett abt 1845 Dilwyn, Herefordshire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
William Bennett abt 1871 Dilwyn, Herefordshire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Robert Bennett abt 1872 Fownhope, Herefordshire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Bennett abt 1874 Outparish of Lunoter, Staffordshire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
John Bennett abt 1876 Outparish of Lunoter, Staffordshire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Edward Bennett abt 1880 Dilwyn, Herefordshire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary Ann Bennett abt 1883 Woolhope, Herefordshire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
George Hary Bennett abt 1885 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Bessie Bennett abt 1887 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1893
Month: Mar
Day: 2
Surname: BENNETT
Forenames: Emily
Residence: Bilson
Age_at_death: 48
Officiating_Minister: Chas. W. Houlston Vicar of St. Stephens
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/13
Page_No: 75
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1901
Robert Bennett abt 1852 Wormsley, Herefordshire, England Head Llanwonno, Glamorgan
George H Bennett abt 1885 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Llanwonno, Glamorgan
Bessie Bennett abt 1887 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Llanwonno, Glamorgan
Mary Ann Lee abt 1851 Chedzoy, Somerset, England Servant Llanwonno, Glamorgan

Year: 1910
Month: Jan
Day: 29
Surname: BENNETT
Forenames: Robert
Residence: 16 Paget St Ynysybwl
Age_at_death: 59 years
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/14
Page_No: 16
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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