I wonder if anyone can find any information regarding this situation. It's rather long winded so apologies in advance for the ramblings. My mother is in possession of the family bible owned by her grandparents Richard (b 1820) and Susannah (nee Warman b 1825) Saunders. In the bible the children are listed as Richard Saunders b. nov 26th 1847, William Hall Saunders b. july 12th 1848?, Hannah Saunders b august 2nd 1850, Margaret Saunders b. march 21st 1852, Edward Saunders b. january 25th 1854 died march 31st 1855, Edward Saunders b. january 7th 1856, Elizabeth Ann Saunders b. july 21st 1858, Ann Susanna Saunders b. sept. 12th 1860, Susannah Saunders b. dec 27th 1865, Mary Brice Saunders b. sept 11th 1872. On the next page is a single entry Alfred Saunders born at Eastney, Portsmouth 1885, just above this entry is written Edward Bolton, as though it was added afterwards. On looking at the various census information we have found some rather ambiguous entries eg 1891 @ 15 Bouverie Road West, Folkestone an Alfred Saunders b. 1862 is listed with no further information regarding place of birth etc. underneath is an entry for Bolton Saunders b 1886 listed as grandson to Susannah Saunders. In the 1901 census Elizabeth Ann Saunders is listed as head of house with Alfred Saunders listed as son b 1886.
Alfred's birth certificate says the following
When and where born:
> 17 November 1885
> 3 Henderson Rd
> Eastney
>Name and surname of father:
> Edward
> Bolton
> Saunders
>Name and Maiden Surname of mother:
> Elizabeth
> SAUNDERS
> late
> SIMS
> formerly
> SAUNDERS
>Rank of profession of father:
> Mechanic on a
> Coffee Plantation
> at Madras
apparently Alfred never knew his father, and on his marriage certificate to FLORENCE MAUD
>RICHARDSON on 8 June 1921 in Battersea, London, his father's name just had a
>line through it.
I found the following information on a query on the internet by a member of Alfred's direct family who are also trying to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"We believe that he was illigitimate and there never was an 'EDWARD BOLTON
>SAUNDERS'. We think his mother ELIZABETH ANN was 'in service' somewhere when
>the 'event' took place and we know she was well looked after the birth. My
>grandfather owned a 4 storey boarding house in Folkestone when he married and we
>think the money had come from his mother. Also the SIMS would indicate that
>she had been married previously and then reverted to her maiden name - "
We have found an Edward Bolton listed on HMS Asia, and also an Edward Bolton at Royal Artillery Barracks, Shorncliffe, Military In Shorncliffe Camp both on the 1881 census, and i guess both of these are possibilities.
Any thoughts and ideas on the above gratefully received. Sorry for it being rather long winded for a first request!
Alfred's birth certificate says the following
When and where born:
> 17 November 1885
> 3 Henderson Rd
> Eastney
>Name and surname of father:
> Edward
> Bolton
> Saunders
>Name and Maiden Surname of mother:
> Elizabeth
> SAUNDERS
> late
> SIMS
> formerly
> SAUNDERS
>Rank of profession of father:
> Mechanic on a
> Coffee Plantation
> at Madras
apparently Alfred never knew his father, and on his marriage certificate to FLORENCE MAUD
>RICHARDSON on 8 June 1921 in Battersea, London, his father's name just had a
>line through it.
I found the following information on a query on the internet by a member of Alfred's direct family who are also trying to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"We believe that he was illigitimate and there never was an 'EDWARD BOLTON
>SAUNDERS'. We think his mother ELIZABETH ANN was 'in service' somewhere when
>the 'event' took place and we know she was well looked after the birth. My
>grandfather owned a 4 storey boarding house in Folkestone when he married and we
>think the money had come from his mother. Also the SIMS would indicate that
>she had been married previously and then reverted to her maiden name - "
We have found an Edward Bolton listed on HMS Asia, and also an Edward Bolton at Royal Artillery Barracks, Shorncliffe, Military In Shorncliffe Camp both on the 1881 census, and i guess both of these are possibilities.
Any thoughts and ideas on the above gratefully received. Sorry for it being rather long winded for a first request!
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