Genealogy Chat

Looking back through the census Alfred has been recorded a Palin, as are his parents George & Fanny right back to 1871 - think this is him and Annie with their first child:

Alfred Palin
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Annie Palin
Gender: Male
Where born: Haslington, Cheshire, England

Civil Parish: Haslington
Ecclesiastical parish: Haslington
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration District: Nantwich
Sub-registration District: Crewe
ED, institution, or vessel: 37
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 2854
Folio: 23
Page Number: 3
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred Palin 21
Annie Palin 22
Francis Alfred Palin 10/12

But there's no birth reg for Francis under the name Palin:

Births Sep 1890 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dodd Francis Alfred Nantwich 8a 332

Don't know what to make of it, strange.

Ann Cotton 1881
Alsager was the place of residence for bride and groom at the time of Annie's marriage


Name: Noah Cotton
Age: 62
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1819
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Ann Cotton
Gender: Male
Where born: Wheelock, Cheshire, England
Civil Parish: Alsager
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Street Address: Sunny Side
Marital Status: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Occupation: Laborer
Registration District: Congleton
Sub-registration District: Sandbach
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3537
Folio: 5
Page Number: 3
Household Members:
Name Age
Noah Cotton 62
Ann Cotton 48
Noah Cotton 14
Annie Cotton 12
Frank Cotton 7
Frederick Cotton 4
William Cotton 1

Forenames:AlfredSurname:DoddMarriage Date:01 Feb 1890Marriage Year:1890Age:20yRecord Group:Part 1 - 1Ref ID:item 6 p 111Spouse's Forenames:AnnieSpouse's Surname:CottonSpouse's Age:21ySpouse's Father's Name:Noah CottonParish:BarthomleyCity / Town:BarthomleyCounty:CheshireRecord source:Diocese of Chester parish registers of Marriages c1538-1910 Data provider:Cheshire Archives and Local Studies

His father was, I think, George Dodd, Labourer
Witnesses Hannah Cotton and John Farrington or Harrington
The bride and groom were batchelor and spinster.
Noah Cotton was a labourer

Thanks Margee and Helen.

This is what I find so frustrating, Margee. I have just trawled through his "supposed siblings" using the name Dodd and nothing comes up, but put in Palin and hey presto!

Curioser & curioser! That Railway employment record is dated 24 Feb. and he's Leonard Dodd. aged 14 but the census was 2 April and he's Leonard Palin, aged 14, railway worker.

UK, Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956 about Leonard Dodd
Name: Leonard Dodd
Birth Date: 27 Oct 1896
Residence Date: 24 Feb 1911
Age: 14
Company: London and North Western
Description: MR series registers 1908 - 1911

I see what you mean, Patricia, very puzzling! His birth is for Leonard Dodd and his parents' marriage was Alfred Dodd & Annie Cotton but in both 1901 and 1911 censuses the surname is Palin. I don't understand!

He's Palin in 1901:

1901 England Census
about Leonard Palin Name: Leonard Palin
Age: 4
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1897
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Alfred Palin
Mother's Name: Annie Palin
Gender: Male
Where born: Haslington, Cheshire, England

Civil Parish: Haslington
Ecclesiastical parish: St Matthew
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Registration District: Nantwich
Sub-registration District: Crewe
ED, institution, or vessel: 47
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Schedule Number: 73
Piece: 3354
Folio: 123
Page Number: 11
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred Palin 31
Annie Palin 32
Frank Palin 10
Millie Palin 9
Florence Palin 6
Leonard Palin 4
James Palin 2
Martha Oakes 64

Thanks for all the replies so far; Flip - my grandfather's name is Leonard Dodd b 27/10/1896 in Haslington, Crewe, Cheshire. parents - Alfred Dodd and Annie Cotton. The other name that I am finding in the censuses is Palin. The birth certificate I have is a copy. Any help would be appreciated as I am tearing my hair out with this one.

A birth certificate can be amended, usually (but not always) denoted by /s on the bmd index. If you want to post the details maybe someone else can take a look - many eyes better than 2!

I agree with Jonesey, I have seen many cases where a child was given the step-father's surname on the census but then reverted to his legal birth name at time of marriage. Do you have his father's name on the birth certificate? And can you find a death of his father and a re-marriage of his mother?

You might be on a false trail.

There are however many reasons why a surname might have been changed and then changed back again. The most common being if the child's mother was widowed or abandoned and then began an association with another man. In such circumstances the child may have become known by the man's name but reverted to its own surname when old enough to marry ect.

If you wish to post some details I am sure that someone will take a look to try to assist you.

I am struggling with finding my grandfather's ancestors. Rumour has it that he changed his name (or it was changed for him when he was a child). I have found what appears to be his previous surname on a 1911 census, but I have his birth certificate (copy) and marriage certificate which have his known name. Can a birth certificate be re-written or am I on a totally false trail? Can you advise me please? :-S