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Confused over name

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Tillot

Tillot Report 9 Apr 2005 22:52

See below in a min!

Tillot

Tillot Report 9 Apr 2005 22:58

My great grandfather is 'Herbert Barker' On both his marriage and death certificate, he has the middle name of 'Walter' I obtained his birth cert and this states his name as just 'Herbert Barker' (born 1st April 1886) I thought that maybe, he was given the middle name at the time of baptism so this didn't bother me at all...until now.... I've been to Stafford Records Office today (my first time - woohoo!!) and I found his baptism. The date of his baptism is the same date as his birth? If he was given the middle name of Walter at baptism, why did his Mother then not use this when she registered his birth a few weeks later. Herbert was obviously told about his middle name as he used it throughout his life? Does anyone have any ideas please or am I just missing the point?? Many Thanks Helen

Debby

Debby Report 9 Apr 2005 23:04

Helen Was it definitely his mum who registered the birth? I'm just thinking if she maybe was hospitalised after his birth, someone else may have registered him and left his middle name out? Debby

Unknown

Unknown Report 9 Apr 2005 23:04

Helen Sorry if I've misread your message - did it say Walter on his baptism entry, and was he illegitimate? nell

Tillot

Tillot Report 9 Apr 2005 23:10

Debby - Yes, his Mother did register the birth. Nell - I know I've not made it that clear, sorry. His baptism does show him as Herbert Walter Barker. Yes he was illigetimate. Gosh Nell you're psychic!!! Are you thinking that maybe Walter was his father's first or second name maybe?? Why wouldn't his mother continue with this name though when she registered the birth???

Unknown

Unknown Report 9 Apr 2005 23:30

Don't know why there is a discrepancy between the registration and baptism entries. But I would bet that Walter is his real dad's first or second name. So all you need to do is trawl through the censuses before/after his birth to see if there's a Walter Someone or a Someone Walter lurking around! nell

Tillot

Tillot Report 9 Apr 2005 23:36

Thanks Nell. I think this one will just have to bug me and bug me. You're most probably right about Walter being something to do with his father. I doubt I'll find anything by trawling though!! I really hoped it would be on his baptism as to who the father 'supposedly' was but hey, I'm not that lucky I suppose! My Aunt remembers Herbert saying that his father (a Barker) although we know otherwise!! had something to do with a Circus.....I think I'll leave it alone. Herbert mustn't have thought that his middle name was a clue to his father though, as on his marriage cert he actually named his grandfather as his father! This was probably to hide his embarassment possibly.