Thread: Derek Eagleton Confusing Birth Index entries

I know that this is a confusing post but I hope that others will be able to follow the plot and offer some thoughts!



I have a Derek Eagleton whose birth was given in his obituary as 18 March 1930 in Camberwell, London. His mother was always known to family members as Ivy Watts who had him illegitimately and who later married Frederick James Eagleton in 1933.



On the birth index Derek Eagleton is shown as a late entry in M 1940. His half-brother's birth appears in 1936 and half-sister's in 1940 - both as Eagleton’s and both with mother’s maiden name Watts and I fully understand the desire to have Derek grow up with the same surname and therefore, the purpose of the reregistration.



What is confusing me is the birth index

Q1 1930 pg 465 there is a handwritten entry for a Derek Watts - mother’s maiden name Simpkins - born Camberwell V1D see M40

Q2 1930 pg 316 there is a typed entry for a Male Watts - mother’s maiden name Simpkins born Camberwell V1d 1071.

(Coincidently, this entry is directly below one that reads Watts Male mother’s - maiden name Beadon – Ivy’s mother was Ada Beadon and this is the entry for Ivy’s much younger brother.)



The plot thickens when you note that Ivy Watts had a number of sisters one of which married my husband’s grandfather in 1931 and whose name was Albert Simkins (without the p). The 2 families knew each other throughout the years and in fact when Ivy died in 1942 her husband Frederick dated one of Albert’s sister’s.



I am about to order the birth certificates to see if I can make sense of who Derek’s mum and dad actually were, but I would appreciate any thoughts on

(a) whether I am simply making incorrect assumptions that Derek Eagleton was originally registered as this Derek Watts – mum’s name simpkins - just because the family names are so close and

(b) when I order from the GRO can I get the original certificate by quoting the see M40 reference or will I just receive the revised certificate issued in 1940.



Many thanks

[quote name='Geniegenie']



I am about to order the birth certificates to see if I can make sense of who Derek’s mum and dad actually were, but I would appreciate any thoughts on

(a) whether I am simply making incorrect assumptions that Derek Eagleton was originally registered as this Derek Watts – mum’s name simpkins - just because the family names are so close and

(b) when I order from the GRO can I get the original certificate by quoting the see M40 reference or will I just receive the revised certificate issued in 1940.



Many thanks[/quote]



Hi Geniegenie,



You may not be making an incorrect assumption as the parish would have possibly been resposible for paying for his upkeep, so I doubt if his birth was left unregistered.

If you are going to order over the internet, why not try phoning first to find out about obtaining " M40". I have found some record offices can be very helpful with this sort of information.



P.S - I didn't think your post was confusing at all. Very well written.

Hi Starlight



Great idea I will give the GRO a call.



I am so glad that you were able to follow my ramblings! Thanks for the kind comment.



May I ask another question?



Is the quarter in which a birth appears, the qtr in which the child was born or registered? The original printed entry for Male Watts to mum called Simpkins appears in Q2 1930 but the hand written amendment to add christian name Derek appears in Q1 any ideas as to why they would be entered in different qrts?! Just an error maybe?



Regards

The quarter is the quarter in which a birth was registered.

Hi Geniegenie,



The first entry was for male Watts. By the second entry, a Christian name had been decided on. My own grandaughter has her name registered in different quarters under different surnames.

Many thanks Helen and Starlight - I really appreciate the advice and help - looking forward to receiving the certificate in the hopes that it answers the mystery.