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ROSE!!

Thank you!!

I just woke up (I'm in Los Angeles) to your posts - what wonderful news. I have to run out for the day but will follow up on all these later.

Am I missing something - being new to all this, is there no link on this site to 1911 census?

Thank you again!!

Best Sue Chipperton

Sue,

The 1911 census can be found here:

http://www.1911census.co.uk

Rose

Hi All.

My sister in England just received the records I ordered from the Gordon Boys School in Woking. We always believed it was quite an elite school from the open days my family used to attend with my grandfather later in his life, but from these records its obvious back then it was a boys home. I was hoping these records would show a notation of his real mother and father. Unfortunately not. Below I have copied and pasted the email my sister wrote to me after sifting through the records.

Please note that LOUISA TUBB listed as a 'witness' on his school application is her married name, she was born LOUISA HAM and is the sister of MARY HAM _ later WILTSHIRE who adopted/fostered my grandfather. (I found that out through my own detective work!!)

From my sister:
There are a few letters which give an outline of his circumstances which sound very sad. The letters are from Rev. Humphrey Davies asking the school to take him on. He previously went to the Alton Boys' British School and I think this is where Rev. Davies was involved. The headmaster wrote a brief report on him to be sent to the Gordon Boys School - nothing outstanding.
But Rev. Davies' letters say he 'is anxious to get a destitute lad from this town (Alton) into the school'. He goes on to say the boy has no father, the mother is in service and the boy is kept by elderly work people George and Mary Wiltshire. By this time he is 14.

Another letter says, 'the boy is absolutely helpless, for the first three years after the child was born the mother paid for his keep out of her wages, and the Wiltshire couple nursed the child. The mother after three years support left the town and latterly came back again, but has not given any support to the up bringing of the boy since he was three years old. ' It goes on to say the elderly couple grew fond of the child and warmed to him. They are now unable to work and they have a little money from letting part of the house out. He goes on to say 'I plead with you in the future interest of the boy to give him a chance'. He goes on to say that he is of good health but is near sighted and asks that they provide him with glasses. He finished by saying 'I sincerely hope in the interest of the poor little fellow he may have a chance of a future through your institution'.

The application for the Gordon Boys' Home for Homeless and Destitute Boys, is dated 22 Feb 1907. And on that application it states, Baptized at the Congregational Church Alton. Parents .......... Father dead, mother Domestic Service. Guardians George & Mary Wiltshire
Health ......... He is short sighted but otherwise well developed

Signed by his guardians, witnessed by Rev Humphrey Davies and Louisa Tubb.

He left the school just over 2 years later for employment at The Hospice in Hendon.

His end report said he was Intelligent, a good worker, exemplary. With 'very good character' crossed out !

It also includes a letter from Dad returning his medals to the school and good conduct certificate dated 12.10.78. after he died. There was also a copy of a letter from the school (saying dad had informed them Grandpa had died on 1 June), addressed to Bert, Mr H.H. Milnes, 8 Grays Court, Parkleys, Richmond, Surrey. I guess he was an old school friend.

I doubt anyone has any info to help. The Rev. Davies' letters were dated Feb 1908, Bradbrook, Alton, Hants. I think we can assume he
is not longer with us!


So, interesting, but not very helpful. But I thought I would post this as it is NEW information and while I cannot see anything other than it means his mother appears to be in Alton and was there until he was at least three and that Mary Wiltshire (Hams) sister was a witness on the school application?


Still waiting on the ordered birth. cert. of William Harold Chiverton.

Good night :)

Sue

Hi Sue

Thankyou for posting that infomation,I am Glad it cleared up a few things for you.
It sounds like he had a hard life but was cared for well.
Good luck with the rest of your search.
Susan

Hi Sue,

Thanks for the update.

My money's on Alice Matilda Chiverton.

Think she married Charles Albert Andrews and is in Fareham in 1911 as Matilda.

Rose

Yes Rose, my money is on her also.

I could not find a marriage - so your info is interesting.

Hopefully when that darn birth. cert. gets here :)

I just wonder why if he was born Chiverton, why would the Wiltshires change his name to Chipperton? Do you think maybe because they were so disillusioned with the mother that it would prevent her from re-appearing on the scene years later and trying to get him back...This would prevent her from finding him?

He was Chipperton on the Gordons Boys school application at age 14 so it must have been them that changed it?

With the mother missing since he was 3 years old it's possible they just forgot his exact surname, especially if they couldn't read or write.

Rose

If Alice Matilda is the mother, she is back with her parents in the 1901 census in Alton and would appear to have another son, Thomas, born 1896. She is Matilda on the census.

...and, I was told by a member with an extensive Chiverton tree, that Thomas was illegitimate.

A trend?

Looks like it! He has his mother's surname, though both sons could have the same father.

The moment we have all been waiting for and quite interesting!!

Birth cert for William Harold Chiverton born 29th June 1894 at Turk Street, Alton, Hampshire.

No father listed.

Mother: Edith Chiverton - waitress
Residence: Turk Street, Alton

I THINK this must be him - my grandfathers birthday was 29th June! Although we had though 1892 or 1893?

As we speak I am doing searches for Edith in Alton - nothing yet.

Exciting!

No luck with Edith right now but there is a Kate Chiverton at 15 Turk Street in 1901.

Is there a house number?

Rose

Rose,

No house number.

I can't find an Edith in Alton, either. Was thinking maybe she was visiting or her first name is different?

I'll go look at Kate.

So a quick update on time line ASSUMING this birth certificate I have for William Harold Chiverton is my grandfather (which seems pretty likely):

Born: 29 June 1894, Turk St, Alton
Baptized at Congregational Church Alton: date?
Adpoted/Fostered by George and Mary Wiltshire: 1894, Alton
Mother lives in Alton and pays money to Wiltshires for boy until: abt 1897
Mother leaves Alton: abt 1897
1901 census: boy (as Chiverton) still living with Wiltshires/Newbury St, Alton
Gordon Boys School application states mother has returned to area (Alton?), but no interest in boy/boys name has now changed to Chipperton: Application date 1907/08

I wonder if she lied about her first name.

His baptismal record might just list the Wiltshires and not her name.

Rose

Baptismal records lists

father - dead
mother - domestic service
guardians - George & Mary Wiltshire
witness - Rev. Humphrey Davies & Louisa Tubb (Louisa is Mary Wiltshire sister)

Was the informant the mother or someone else?

Rose

...are you referring to how I got the info about her leaving town/paying the Wiltshires? Not sure I follow?

I mean the informant on the birth cert? Most times it's the mother but it could be someone else.

Rose

Sorry, I am sure I was involved in the Chipperton investigations cos I have pages and pages of notes about it, but I think there was more than one thread, and I think, Sue, we discussed it.

So can I get it together please:

Harold William Chiverton/Chipperton born 29 Jun 1894, to Edith, unmarried. He went into a children's home and was "adopted" by George and Mary A Wiltshire, Mary A being the sister of one of the staff of the home. Edith paid some money for the first 3 years (so was not a pauper), but then ceased to do so.

In 1901 he is living with the Wiltshires.

There is a Florence Wiltshire b 1879 who married William Spencer in Farnham, Surrey, presumably an adoptive sister.

In 1911 he is a gardener with an unrelated family.

He marries Alice Teresa Foss in Dec qtr 1918.

He died in 1978.

Is that all okay? Do I need to know anythng more?

So we are now looking for Edith Chiverton/Chipperton born at a guess around 1874. Is that right?