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Do you have access to Ancestry ?

They have a database "UK, Railway Employment Records, 1833-1963" which might be worth a look but again how would you know before the 1940's who to look for.

Nothing showing for the surname of Markinson and not sure if Leeds is on the database

I would have thought that Gordon's bigamy past was more than lIkely to have begun before his marriage to Nora yes given that he was allegedly jailed somewhere between late 1947 and 1950.
Based on the point that what we knew of Gordon's past and family etc, it could all be concocted as part of his cover-up.
Nora's family were and still are all living Co. Mayo, Ireland. Ony her sister Margaret lived in Leeds with her hence why she was possibly the only person who knew about Gordon's past and bigamy/jail term.
I don't know if railway companies at the time of their marriage kept personnel records but the marriage cert does say Gordon was a Railway Platelayer in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Gordon (and I don't think that was his birth name) married when he was about 45. Is it at all possible his bigamy case was BEFORE his marriage to Nora, with two other women? Surely the Reddington family would wonder where he disappeared to for the time he was in prison even if only for a couple of months.

Also if Nora was the one he was a bigamist with then she wouldn't be deemed married to him.


Back to Gordon's pre-marriage history, you don't know for sure where Gordon/whoever was born do you? You know his father (???), George, lived in Highbury but the first you know about Gordon is marrying in Leeds.

Looking through local newspapers might be the only answer. Start with an obituary around about the time of his death. You never know you might strike lucky.


As for his war hero brother, the CWGC that people are referring to is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website where you can search for people killed in Commonwealth wars. You can search by regiment (Green Howards). There are several Fredericks and Alfreds from that regiment. You have to remember that his brother could have been 30 or older. If Gordon was born 1900 you'd assume the brother was reasonably close to that age.

Ozi

I've heard about fires in record offices before from people quoting their family tales. Usually there has been no fire, and I think this is the case with Gordon. These are all little details he has made up.

There are 4591 birth records between Dec 1900 and Jan 1901 for Islington. Funny his should get burnt!

I did think it was a bit 'convenient' when I was told it. Non-there-less it is promising news. What would you suggest then if this wasn't the case? As I mentioned previously, I'm not one to be defeated easily but am running out of ideas with which direction to go in?

I am currently looking into researching the 'bigamy' aspect around the 1947/50 time in Leeds in newspaper archives but know it will take a while to manually go through the microfiche archives for the newspapers for this area. Luckily the archives are held in Leeds where I live.

Any other suggestions that aren't going to break the bank?

Many thanks for all your help guys, it really is appreciated. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D ;-) :-D

" When Gordon was born, in Highbury, there was a fIre at the BDM Registery offices and all records for then were lost. Convenient? More than likely."

I've heard about fires in record offices before from people quoting their family tales. Usually there has been no fire, and I think this is the case with Gordon. These are all little details he has made up.

There are 4591 birth records between Dec 1900 and Jan 1901 for Islington. Funny his should get burnt!

Ozi

Only what we already know.

George Markinson - Deceased

So was there no father named for Gordon on the marriage cert ?

Just got all the BDM certs from my mum and dad as follows:

Marriage:

Gordon and Nora married 10 Sept 1945 Saint Anne's Cathedral, Leeds. Gordon was aged 45 Tram Car Cleaner residence 9 Duxbury Street, Leeds 7

Nora Reddington - as above aged 40 and Dressmaker - same address as above.

Witnessed by Margaret MacPherson (nee Reddington) and Daniel Hopkins

Death Certs:

Gordon Richard Markinson - Retired Railway Platelayer - 7 Barrowby Crescent LEEDS - Reg date: 26th March 1971 LEEDS

Nora Markinson - Widow of above 10 Jan 1975 LEEDS

Nora DOB 22nd April 1907

Just found out that the archives for newspapers at that time for this are are held at Leeds Central Library, Headrow, Leeds on microfiche.

It'll be a trawl but I'm determined to get to the bottom of this and will not be defeated. ;-)

Another plan is to see if it is possible to look on archived prison records for inmates accused of that crime at this time. After Googling 'Bigamy', I did find out that there weren't that many acts of this crime committed around that time so fingers crossed I may uncover something.

Other than that, I'm not sure what else to try.

There is only one Markinson death on CWGC, whether a civilian or army personnel, and that has already been mentioned on this thread

Do you know where the newspapers for Leeds that cover the late 1940's are archived. ?

He might have been charged in his "real" name.

Either way it would be a long search through the newpapers without a proper name or date.

And 3370 Rosemarys are on CWGC!

I take it trying to find out soldiers from the Green Howards who were from Highbury would be impossible?

Having just spoken with my mum, all the info I have is what I've previously mentioned with the exception of this. When Gordon was born, in Highbury, there was a fIre at the BDM Registery offices and all records for then were lost. Convenient? More than likely.
The witnesses to Gordon's marriage to Nora Reddington were Nora's sister Margaret and her husband Sandie McPherson.
Gordon's brother could possibly have been an Alfred as opposed to FredderIck as my dad knew him as uncle Fred. A possibility?

Referring to GB's query about how was he found out, perhaps this happened to Gordon!

Daily Mail website - The golden rule of getting away with a bigamous wedding must be this: Don't invite anyone who was there the first time round.

Sadly, this small yet crucial detail escaped Randolf Edge, 54, in his haste to marry a woman 33 years his junior.

A guest who had also been at his first wedding tipped off King's Lynn Register Office in Norfolk.


Duh!!!!!!!!!

Apologies for the late response but it was late when I posted the original query. The issues with tracking back the MARKINSON name were exactly why I sought help from you guys. I'm new to the tracking game but definitely hooked. I ran out of credits for searching birth records but so far to answer some of your questions:

I'm waiting to hear back from my mum/dad as to whether they have the MARKINSON/REDDINGTON wedding cert. I have seen it on one of the gene sites but cannot recall which.

My father said it was Gordon himself who told him that his father was a horse trader from Highbury. No birth marriage or death certs for George Markinson.

Apparently he was a very secretive guy was Gordon and this news about his bigamy has come from the son of Gordon's wife Nora's sister - Margaret Reddington, who made him promise not to disclose the info. More than likely due to the REDDINGTON Irish family being from a strong Catholic background. Obviously this would have been a major "no no" in the eyes of the Catholic church. The reason he has disclosed this is probably due to us running up against a brick wall tracing GORDON back any further than what we know to date.

Apparently Gordon did indeed become a Catholic in order to marry Nora.

Due to this new information coming to light from the REDDINGTON side about Gordon's past, it is more than likely that the MARKINSON name was indeed created from the original name (whatever that was). As you say though, interesting that he chose MARKINSON.

The majority of the MARKINSON family I am related to are from LEEDS in West Yorkshire. There are many other MARKINSONs around this area who have a Jewish background and connection but as far as we are aware non related to us.

The only other angle I could think of was going around the other way and tracking behind the REDDINGTON side. We do have a trace back through the REDDINGTON side to Co. Mayo, Ireland from my father's cousins but is the MARKINSON side I am more interested in.

If Gordon did change his name prior to marrying NORA REDDINGTON, the question of what was his original surname could be the link to finding blood lines in London but remains a mystery. It would certainly account for the holes.

The other information regarding his family, deaths in the Blitz etc all came from Gordon himself but as previously mentioned, he dealt a very close hand (latest info on bigamy obviously being one of his secrets).

So the info of his bigamy came from his sister-in-law who.

NORA and MARGRET came to the UK early 1900s which is where GORDON and NORA met. Nora probably confided in MARGRET (due to their Catholic roots) so MARGRET is possibly the only person who know of this.

If it were possible to get hold of prison records for Gordon for his prison sentence, this could possibly shed some light, but I'm assuming that due to the nature of a search like this, it would not be possible. It would have to have either been served in Leeds or London somewhere.

I'll see what paper records I can procure from my side of the family in the meantime.

Certainly is.

Not sure this is going to get solved.

Interesting one, isn't it?

If the marriage in 1945 was a bigamous one how did anyone find out about it

Why choose the surname of Markinson

Anything is possible

So probably the witnesses on the marriage cert will not be of any help but would be useful to know the names