Thread: Before its too late!!

Before my aunt dies (she is 91) we would dearly like to find her biological father. Frank Augustus Woodward born 1895 - also known under the name of Frank Mills born in Holborn, London. His father was Frank Ernest Woodward - mother Phoebe Rogers all on the census' up to 1901. Then nothing else is documented for him (except for a marriage in 1920) but no divorce or death that I can find. Could anyone let me knw where else to look. I have had no luck with his service record for ww1, nor any other family trees to go on.

Hi Sujoy



this man may have adopted another alias.



When you say you haven't found a death - have you really checked all quarters of all years of the death indexes from 1920 onwards?

I am almost sure I have covered the period from 1920 to about the 1980s but not perhaps in enough detail! I will take a trip to Kew for another search. Many thanks for the suggestion.

This is his Baptism.......



Frank Augustine Woodward Record Type: Baptism Date: 21 Aug 1895 Father's Name: Frank Ernest Woodward Mother's Name: Phoebe Woodward Parish: Saint Mary, Haggerston Borough: Hackney County: Middlesex



The family were living at 106 Burnswick Street. Father Frank Ernest was a Bookbinder.

[quote name='SuJoy']Frank Augustus Woodward born 1895 - also known under the name of Frank Mills born in Holborn, London.



marriage in 1920) [/quote]





What name did Frank marry, Woodward or Mills.

Also what was his occupation and the place of marriage.



Tralena

sugxbc



On the Ancestry website has Frank A Woodward. It might be worth getting in touch.

Tralena, thanks Frank Augustus Woodward married under the name of Frank Woodward Mills. His occupation was compositer printer.

Any other information or suggestions will be really appreciated.

Thanks,

Su

Have you tried looking at the 1911 Census under both surnames.

Do you know how or why he came about the name Mills.

[quote name='Tralena']sugxbc



On the Ancestry website has Frank A Woodward. It might be worth getting in touch.[/quote]





Sorry I didn't realise sugxbc was you.



I'm a little confused. You say Frank A Woodward married under the name of Frank Woodward Mills and that his wife was stated as Lilian Margaret (divorced wife of Ernest T. Mills).



I cant see Frank wanting to adopt the surname of his wifes ex-husband.



Could you take another look at the wedding cert and see what is written also what Lilian's maiden name was (it should have something like 'formerly')



Also, the witness' to the marriage....



Regards Tralena

Tralena, You may not have the stamina to follow this saga, but here goes.Lilian Margaret was born Wilton (my grandmother). She married Ernest T. "Mills" in 1915. In 1918 she gave birth to a daughter whose father was Frank Augustus "Mills". Ernest Mills divorced Lilian on the grounds of adultery with his brother Frank Mills. Frank and Lilian married in 1920 as Frank Woodward Mills and Lilian (spinster). Ernest in his service record had made a declaration that although he enlisted as Ernest Mills his real name is Woodward and that Mills was his stage name.

What has baffled me for ages, is why did Frank then take his brother's stage name and use it in all official documents, and in rate books for the local council. I have no idea where the "Mills" surname came from (the brothers' mother's maiden name was Rogers). I cannot find anything in 1911 census apart from a Frank Mills in Rossie House, Holborn. I believe both his parents were dead by then. If you can shed light on any of this I would be very grateful.

Regards,

Su