Genealogy Chat

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help me as I seem to have come to a standstill. I will start at the begining. In 1877 benjanim Nicholson was widowed and married a rebecca Wokes at Broomfleet. She already had a son called John George Wokes born 1868. I was not sure if he was illegitimate, but could find no record of a birth certificate. He married in 1888( to Bens daughter) so i sent of for that certificate. His dad was listed as George Wokes, Railway guard. I then persumed Rebecca must of been married previously,so i sent for her mar cert. her father was down as a William Wokes (who also witnessed the wedding he was a labourer. I dont get it, was she married to someone with the same surname? this all went on in east riding. when john george got married he named one child William f Wokes and there appears to be others on the census that match this name, but the dates dont match up. Please help me you clever lot and i will be eternally gratful. thanks

Is it possible that she married her cousin? I have relatives who married their cousins so both parties had the same surname. Do you have any census data for them?

No I cant seem to find her on the census, until she marries Ben and becomes a Nicholson. She is down as a spinster on her wedding certificate.Its driving me mad, trying to figure it all out.

Hi I'd say he was illegitmate if Rebecca wasnt shown as a widow on her marriage cert. Alot of people made up fathers on marriage certs to hide illegitmacy. Jacqui

I think he was too, but there is a george wokes listed that could fit in, and also a william who was a railway guard( listed as occupation of father on johns wedding certificate).

Where were they living in 1861 and 1871? I can't find any Wokeses living in Broomfleet in either year!

I cant find them until 1881 when they are at sculcoates. Prior to that i cant find rebecca, but I did come across a sarah and joseph bean in Broomfleet in 1871 who had a grandson with them. His name was George Woakes.

There is a Rebecca Wokes working as a servant in Leeds in 1871. She is 18 and gives her birthplace as Brough (which is near Hull). Could this be her?

They seem to be in Faxfleet. Is that near Broomfleet?

1861 - Another Rebecca Wokes working as a servant at Elloughton aged 17. Born in South Cave. Her age fits Rebecca's age in 1881 quite well.

How do you know that John George was Rebecca's son? The 1881 census says that he was Benjamin's 'adopted son', but he may have been the orphaned child of one of Rebecca's brothers?

I thought that too, But i have a living relative whose grandmother was one if Bens daughters,(Rebeccas stepdaughter) and she passed it down the family about them.I think that maybe Rebeca is one of the servant girls, as ive wondered if it was her. She apparently lived and died around Hull. Just cant figure out who her sons dad was.

hiya, do you have her birth cert??? when/where was she born, the best cause of action would be to find her on the census, that way it will enable you to piece things together better Julie

I havent got her birth certificate, but i know when and where she was born, but I cant find any reference to it on Ancestory. Can I still order one without going through them? I know I probably sound daft, but im new to this and it gets a bit confussing. Thanks

hiya, ok then post details of when/where and full name, and i'll see what i can find out, you wont have much luck if you try and find a birth cert without refs and checking all avenues first, dont worry about being new, we were all there sometime, by the way Welcome!!!! Julie

Hi, Rebecca was definatly born in Broomfleet in 1845. she was married there in 1877( got certificate). John george was also born in Bloomfleet in 1868. its his birth certificate that i would like to trace. Any help would be great, thanks

this could be her birth Name: Rebecca Whoakes Year of Registration: 1845 Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar District: Howden County: Yorkshire - East Riding Volume: 23 Page: 65 (click to see others on page) julie

Hi Wendy

John George Wokes

He was born on15 August 1867 at Broomfleet Landing, at the Faxfleet side of the Weighton canal, which is the parish boundary
His name was registered as John George Miller Voakes, his mother was Rebecca, whilst his father was not named
He married Elizabeth Nicholson on 15 August 1888 at the parish church of St Pauls at Sculcoates, Hull; his father was registered as George - Railway Guard

Rebecca was born at Broomfleet Landing on 6 February 1845(surname Whoakes), she was baptised on 22 February at South Cave(surname Vokes)

Rebecca and the rest of the family can be found in the 1851 census at Broomfleet Landing (spelt Woaks on register but Woatis on Ancestry UK)

Her father was William Whoakes 1815 - 1854 who married Sarah Johnson at Howden Minster on 18January 1840 (spelt Vokes). They had four children - John Johnson, Mary, Rebecca, William Fredrick( my gggrandfather, known as Fred) and William Isaac who died in infancy.
William died on 14 June 1854 at Faxfleet and was buried at Howden Minster where there is a monument (525) in memory of him, Sarah and William Isaac( spelt Wokes on the monument , but Vokes on the parish record)

Rebecca was married to Benjamin on 24 December 1877 at Broomfleet, the witnesses being William and Sarah Rebecca, the children of John Johnson Wokes
Most of Williams brothers and sisters emigrated to North America or Canada between 1840 and 1860 where the name was usually spelt with a V.

I hope that I have included al the information that you need

Regards

Mick Wokes

Hi Mick

Wendy's post was in 2006, so she is unlikely to see your message. You could send her a personal message (click on her name at the top of her post) and hope that she is still an active member.