Weston-super-Mare & District Family History Society

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Hubert STOKES son of Charles STOKES of Portbury and Wraxall
published by Pat Hase on Tue, 28/03/2023 - 22:56

Hubert STOKES was born in Birmingham in January 1881 - mother's maiden name PALMER.

He was just 2 months old on the 1881 census of Birmingham with his father, Charles STOKES – born in Portbury, a Policeman and his mother, Eleanor. Charles and Eleanor (a widow) were married in Bristol in 1877. Only the last two children on that census were Charles’s – the others should have had the surname HOWES as they were from Eleanor’s first marriage

Hubert was christened at Ss Philip & Jacob in Bristol in 1882 giving his birth date of 14 Jan 1881.

Eleanor died in 1885 and on the 1891 census Hubert can be found with his grandparents, Charles & Lavinia STOKES in Wraxall. He was entered as Herbert and was said to have been born in Bristol.

Please can anyone find what happened to Hubert (Herbert) after 1891 and also what happened to his father, Policeman Charles STOKES, born 1849 in Portbury – he was not the Charles STOKES who was Landlord of the Priory Hotel at Portbury. Thank you.

Comments ..

Submitted by zumrob on Sat, 01/04/2023 - 18:09

There seems to be a few Family Trees on Ancestry which suggest that Charles died Jun 1923 in Kings Norton, Herbert died 23 Nov 1941 at Dudley Rd Hospital in Birmingham.

He married m Rose Gordon (widow) oct 25 1911 St James, Ocle Pychard (nr Hereford), Herefordshire. They had a daughter Lydia Rose Stokes (1912-1969).

Have checked a few of the facts and they look correct so would suggest you check out the info directly. For example I found a couple of newspaper reports that mentioned Charles Stokes, police constable in Birmingham in the 1880s

Submitted by Pat Hase on Tue, 04/04/2023 - 20:02

Many thanks Rob for once again offering suggestions in response to one of my queries. I have found that the Records of the West Midlands Police 1850-1950 are available on Ancestry and from that have discovered that Charles STOKES signed up on 26th Aug 1879 and resigned on the 11th Nov 1883. The Charles STOKES who died in 1823 was said to be 70 when he died, which is acceptable, but the only Charles STOKES in Birmingham on the 1921 census is married to an Elizabeth and has a daughter Florence who is married to a William HOLMES and who was born in 1883. My Charles STOKES had a son Charles Marmaduke STOKES in 1883 and a Florence STOKES born in Birmingham in 1883 had a mothers maiden name of ADAMS. I have sent for the death certificate for further information. Thanks again for your help. Am still working on H*bert STOKES!

Submitted by zumrob on Tue, 04/04/2023 - 23:53

Found a bit more ...

Have you noticed there were 2 Charles Marmaduke STOKES. One born in 1879 in Bristol the other in 1883 in Birmingham. Both had mother with maiden name PALMER.(Same as Hubert born in 1881.)

The 1st Charles M Stokes died at the age of 2 in Birmingham, the 2nd at the age of 0.

Eleanor STOKES possibly died 1885 in Birmingham. There is an entry for someone of her name at Key Hill Cemetery. There is also an entry for Key Hill Cemetery for Charles Marmaduke STOKES in 1883.

So Charles & Herbert were probably still knocking around Birmingham in 1885.

Rob

Submitted by Pat Hase on Wed, 05/04/2023 - 0:26

Thank you!! I did know about the two Charles Marmaduke STOKES sons - sad that they both died - would love to know where the Marmaduke came from. I had the death of Eleanor and assumed that was why Hubert was with his grandparents in 1891. The grandparents died in 1895 and 1900 so he would have moved to somewhere else at that point.

Submitted by zumrob on Wed, 05/04/2023 - 10:50

Could this be it?

From Somerset, England, School Registers, 1860-1914, Wraxall Boys School

Right place, right time...

Rob

PS In Case you cannot read this it says Herbert STOKES DOB, 10/1/81, Living in Wraxall, Father Labourer, Left 23 Sep 1892, Gone to Australia

Submitted by Pat Hase on Wed, 05/04/2023 - 12:08

You're brilliant! Now, why didn't I look at the School Records!! Thanks so much. It certainly looks like him. H*bert was born in January 1881 although his christening gives his birth as the 14th Jan. As, at the date of leaving, assuming he went to Australia then, he was only 10 years old - who did he go with? His father was still a Policeman at that date. Looking now for passenger lists to Australia. Many thanks!

Submitted by zumrob on Thu, 06/04/2023 - 11:01

Hi Pat,

We can do better!

Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 - 2 Jan 1888, Marriage of Charles Henry Stokes (widower) of England son of ... (have a look at the image it's great!)

H*bert Stokes d. 1936 son of Charles Henry Stokes - had prev. married Laura Louise Richards in Queensland in 1905

Think that my work here is done - Cheers Rob

Submitted by Pat Hase on Thu, 06/04/2023 - 12:41

Fantastic work! Apart from helping me with my STOKES research you have also proved that all those Ancestry Trees which give the death of Charles STOKES in 1923 are incorrect! That death certificate arrived this morning and it was, as I suspected, the death of a Charles STOKES who was married to an Elizabeth and from the censuses had children at the same time as my Charles. It was interesting to see that Charles was working as a warder in a gaol presumably in Parramatta. Being a ex-policeman that seems a logical employment.

I had found a death in 1936 in Brisbane on the Trove Site (Australian Newspapers) for a Hubert STOKES with widow Laura so that ties in.

I'm really grateful for your help - a second brain is so useful as trying to research alone often leads you along the same path and you miss things - like the Wraxall School Records! Many thanks.

Submitted by zumrob on Thu, 06/04/2023 - 13:31

Any time Pat. By the way noticed that both Charles Marmadukes were buried at Key Hill.

One last bit I do not understand. On the second school record H*bert is "Re-admitted" to the school in June 1890. On the first he left on 8-Feb-1889 "Gone to South Wales". This is after his father re-married (as we have subsequently found out). Where was he for that 15 months? (I originally presumed his father was working in Wales - but probably not the case now). Who did he go to live with in Wales? - or should that be "New South Wales" in which case there should be even more passenger lists (which I have not found any of) knocking around.

I'll leave that one with you...