BUTLER and FLETCHER (General)

by austinfletcher, Tuesday, August 07, 2007, 23:46 (6319 days ago)

My father was Henry Powell born 1922...on his birth cert of 1922 it is HENRY....mother Leah Fletcher. When he was 18 in 1940 he wanted to sign up and required his birth cert, it came back as HENRY POWELL father Frederick Powell quoting the 1926 illegitimacy act as the reason for change.

My grandmother was LEAH FLETCHER born circa 1905......she married Frederick Powell in 1927 and her father is stated as being AUSTIN FLETCHER a quarryman
When grandmother Leah died the family couldn't find a birth cert and neither could the GRO, so they made a temp one up (based on what the family told them) to accomodate the requirement.

Leah had a brother named Austin Fletcher who died in 1953 aged 56.........he was born Austin Butler in Dec 1896 and he was christened Austin Butler Fletcher at St Stephens, Cinderford in 1897, parents AUSTIN FLETCHER & ELIZABETH. Leah also had a brother HENRY FLETCHER who was baptised in 1892......parents AUSTIN FLETCHER & ELIZABETH

I have been told that Leah Fletcher's mother died during childbirth (after 1905?)the child survived and was adopted and taken to live in Germany?

I have a suspicion that the Fletcher's and Butler's are Gypsy families in the Forest area?

It has taken a lot of years to get this far! as I live the other side of the Country......can anyone assist in knowledge of this family please

Richard