Genealogy Chat

A cousin of my Grandmother, Ada Freeman, had an illigitmate son called Baron Moore Freeman who was born in St Albans Workhouse on 25th April 1903. She was 'in service' as a Domestic Servant and I have my suspicions about who was the cause of her unhappy condition. Baron lived with Ada's family and many 'fibs' were told...i.e. on Baron's marriage certificate his Grandfather's name has been entered as his father. The story goes that Ada died in childbirth but I have looked as far as 1905 and not been able to find her death registered. Before I give up on this mystery can someone check for me please? Many thanks

When and where was Ada born? Is their a clue to Baron's father in the middle name Moore?

Shes not listed on Freebmd or Ancestry for 1903 . Shirley

I see Baron was born in St Albans. Baron Moore Freeman Year of Registration: 1903 Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun District: St Albans County: Hertfordshire Volume: 3a Page: 776 Hve you got a baptism for him?

Baron may have been told that Ada died in childbirth. She may have married after his birth and therefore her death would be registered in a different surname. She would have presumably gone back to work in service after the birth, if she didn't die. I have a gt gt aunt who had 2 illegitimate children, who were passed about between her parents and siblings, they never lived together or with their mother. nell

Have you got Baron's birth cert,who is the informant? this may give a clue if it wasnt Ada . Barons reg June 1903 St Albans 3a 776

Thanks everyone Ada was born in Meesden in 1884, daughter of David and Eliza Freeman and yes I believe that her death could have been another of the fibs! I had thought maybe there might be a clue in his name as to the identity of his father but apparently not. Baron would have been conceived in 1902 and on the 1901 census Ada is working as a Domestic Servant for Richard Assheton in Grantchester, Cambridgeshire.Given that he was married with a son I can't see her going back to work for him. Glad to know I didn't miss her death - I'm usually quite thorough with my searches. I hope that she did go on find love and marry. Giving birth in a Workhouse without your loved ones nearby for support at the age of 19 must have been horrible. Lyndsey

Shirley Ada was the informanton Baron's birth certificate so no leads there.

There are 67 Ada Freeman marriages after 1903 on Freebmd- don't know how you would work out which - if any - is yours!

By starting at the beginning! I'm still a novice and still not terribly 'au fait' with the best records to consult - can you give me a tip as to where I should be looking? Sorry to sound so ignorant! Lyndsey

Sorry, I meant the best, most time productive way of looking

Lyndsey ,as Ada was the informant she obviously didnt die in childbirth!! As she was a domestic servant then she wouldnt have been able to take the child back to her place of employment so the next best thing, if her family didnt disown her!! would to leave the child with her family. Have you any further leads from there,ie she married or ?? the next sighting may be on the 1911 census if she didnt marry before then.Bit of a wait then.

Looks like it's a wait for the 1911 census then. Many thanks for all your help Lyndsey

Lyndsey, Bet this guy was the father. Marriages Dec 1907 RIDDLE Baron Moore Chesterton 3b 1093 Same town as Ada was in 1901. He's listed as Barron in 1901. Is this the connection you made? Rose

Lyndsey This is the birth record for the Baron found by Rose: Barron Moore Riddle Year of Registration: 1873 Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun District: Chesterton County: Cambridgeshire Volume: 3b Page: 494 and this is the full marriage record: Marriages Dec 1907 MARSHALL Elizabeth Sarah Chesterton 3b 1093 RIDDLE Baron Moore Chesterton 3b 1093 Suzy

Here he is with his family in 1901: Albert Ridle abt 1876 Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, England Son Grantchester Cambridgeshire Barron Ridle abt 1874 Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, England Son Grantchester Cambridgeshire Charlotte Ridle abt 1836 Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, England Wife Grantchester Cambridgeshire David Ridle abt 1839 Harrington, Cambridgeshire, England Head Grantchester Cambridgeshire Donald Ridle abt 1885 Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, England Son Grantchester Cambridgeshire Edmund Ridle abt 1878 Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, England Son Grantchester Cambridgeshire Barron is a domestic gardener, and he is only a few pages away from Ada on the census. Maybe he worked for the same people. Suzy

These are Baron Senior's children from his marriage to Elizabeth Marshall: Riddle Winifred Mary E Chesterton 3b 403 Birth Q4 1908 Riddle Donald M Marshall Chesterton 3b 716 Birth Q3 1916 Riddle Francis B Marshall Chesterton 3b 560 Birth Q1 1918 Riddle Vera A Marshall Chesterton .3b 774 Birth Q3 1913 There may be more. If Baron is the father of your relative, then these would be his half brothers and sisters. Suzy

There is this death, although the age is not correct. It might be worth looking at, since your Baron was born in St Albans. Freeman Ada age 40 St Albans 3a 1209 Death Q1 1915 Suzy

Wow Rose - I think you may be right, it would make sense! I was being very unimaginative and pointing the finger of suspicion at the 'Master of the Household' where Ada was working. How do I tell my 3rd cousin that her Grampa wasn't a wealthy landowner after all but a humble domestic gardener!!!!!!! I'm guessing that Ada cannot have given her baby up too soon after the birth since the name was obviously of her choosing and the baby certainly didn't 'magic' itself from the Workhouse to her families house in Meesden. Susy - Thankyou for your searches - may I beg a little more advice? I'm going to Hertfordshire Archives tomorrow night - is there anything I should look for there re. Ada's possible death in St. Albans? Should I be looking for a baptism for Baron Moore junior? Any information on Baron Moore senior? This will only be my 2nd visit to Archives and I'm still feeling my way! Many thanks to everyone for their help in resurrecting what I thought was a dead end! Lyndsey

Hello again Lindsey It is very exciting when you find possible information on a lead you thought was dead. That was very clever of Rose to find that Baron Senior. It is always possible that he had nothing to do with Ada, but given the location and the unusual names, I think you have struck gold there. As to your visit to the Archives Office; I have not done any research at one of those, so I am not sure what information you can get. You already have Baron Junior's birth certificate, but a baptism record may give you some extra information. The possible death record for Ada is interesting, but like I say, the age is wrong. But if you can check for a possible informant, it may prove to be positive. Do you have any information on Baron Junior's death? You could purchase the birth and marriage certificates for Baron Senior; although they are not cheap. I will look at all the census records and see if I can find out any more on him. Suzy