I'm trying to find out more information about Charles William Barlow who married Eva Kate McColm (a widow) in Reading, Berkshire on 2nd Oct 1918. I have a copy of the marriage certificate which tells me that he was a 31 year old bachelor, worked as a Brass Smelter, lived at 29 Caroline Street Reading and his father (deceased) was Charles Barlow, a Cab Proprietor. Strangely, the certificate also records that he was also known by the name Preston. I thought I had found Charles in the census records (born 1880 in Caversham, living in Reading, son of Charles Barlow and Martha Dobson and working as a biscuit factory labourer), but the dates of birth are 7 years apart. The Charles William Barlow born 1880 also appears to have married Sophia Hopkins in 1908 – the two of them were living together in Reading in 1911 at 14 Blenheim Gardens. From the birth certificate of Charles and Eva’s eldest child (born October 1919), Charles’ occupation was recorded as an Army pensioner, but I haven’t yet found any record of his time in the army.
It would be great if someone could help answer the following:
- Why was Charles also known by the name Preston?
- Are the men described above actually the same person?
- If so, did Charles divorce Sophia before marrying Eva?
- Are there any military records for Charles?
- Does anyone have any photos of Charles?
A final interesting fact - one of the witnesses at Charles and Eva’s wedding was Frederick Stanley Brind (real name Lovejoy) who later became Eva’s third husband in 1933!
It would be great if someone could help answer the following:
- Why was Charles also known by the name Preston?
- Are the men described above actually the same person?
- If so, did Charles divorce Sophia before marrying Eva?
- Are there any military records for Charles?
- Does anyone have any photos of Charles?
A final interesting fact - one of the witnesses at Charles and Eva’s wedding was Frederick Stanley Brind (real name Lovejoy) who later became Eva’s third husband in 1933!
Comment