Identity fraud etc - GERLACH

[hattie]

What a mess!

My husband's maternal grandad changed his name by deedpoll on the 7th April 1919 to James Leopold Gilbert. Prior to this he got married in 1900 to Jane Hanewell and was known at this time as Leopold Gerlach (age 21). His service record also gives his name as Leopold Gerlach with a birth date of 1879.

Now Leopold had a brother called Otto Gerlach, dob 25 Aug 1879. This birth Certificate shows Otto's father as Philipp Gerlach and mother as Louise Gerlach formerly Gerlach.

According to the London Gazette for the 2nd May 1919 it starts off Notice is hereby given that James Gilbert heretofore called and known by the name of Otto (but more commonly Leopold) Gerlach of 15 Langdon Road, Highgate, a natural born British Subject and lately serving in France as Private Leopold Gerlach etc etc............

I have Otto's birth certificate and it shows that it was used as an exhibit for the change of name. The real Otto didn't die until 1934.

The 1881 census shows Otto as being 10 and Leopold 11 but even this census form is strange as it shows the male and female boxes as being crossed off for them.

Has anyone got any ideas why it appears Leopold used his brothers birth certificate? I certainly can't find a birth certificate for Leopold. It has been suggested that Leopold was actually quite a bit older. Why wouldn't he have a birth certificate.

I'm sorry if this has left everyone confused but Leopold has really made my tree look a mess!!!

[Anne in Carlisle]

Do you think Leopold was actually NOT born in Britain? Perhaps he found it convenient to pretend to be Otto? How strange.

Anne

[hattie]

Well his mother and father got married in 1877 in the German Lultharian Church in Dalston. I wonder if he was born out of wedlock and in Germany?

[kylejustin]

well, you know where he was born, so i'd start by checking the church the parents were married at.

[hattie]

well, you know where he was born, so i'd start by checking the church the parents were married at.

This is the problem - we don't! We know where his brother Otto were born. What was the big secret with Leopold?

[Anne in Carlisle]

Just been looking at the censuses. I presume you mean the 1891 census where Otto and Leopold are 10 and 11?

On the 1881 census it appears neither of them have been born Leopold should have been on there at least but there is Karl (Charles) aged 6 months. The parents Phillip and Louisa seem to be the same people but their daughter Louisa is not the same one from the 1881 as is on the 1891. She is 2 in 1881 and 7 in 1891 (must be a later child with the same name?)

Is it possible Leopold was originally know as Karl?

Anne

[hattie]

Well I am led to believe that Louise Gerlach was born in 1878 in England, but at this stage only have this second hand!

[hattie]

Just been looking at the censuses. I presume you mean the 1891 census where Otto and Leopold are 10 and 11?


Is it possible Leopold was originally know as Karl?

Anne

Then it would have been easier for him to produce a birth certificate in the name of Karl instead of Otto's when he changed his name????? I think there are some skeletons ready to come out, for whatever reason

[kylejustin]

i meant maybe look in germany for births of children of this couple?

[maggie_4_7]

Well I am led to believe that Louise Gerlach was born in 1878 in England, but at this stage only have this second hand!

There is a Louise Margaret Gerlach born in Shoreditch in 1878 Vol 1C Page 83.

Now Shoreditch is only south up the Kingsland Road from Dalston.

Is this the birth you were thinking of?