Thread: Look up requested for death of Frank A Woodward alias Mills

Please could I request a look up for a death certificate for Frank Augustus Woodward alias Mills. Born in Holborn, London in 1895 - parents Frank Ernest Woodward and Phoebe Woodward.

Much appreciate your efforts!.

Thanks,

Su

Frank and Phoebe are my paternal grandparents. My father Arthur Alfred William Woodward born 1907. My name is Henry Alfred William Woodward born 1927!

Hi Henry,

Its so nice to hear from you. I am a little confused as to the relationship with Fitzjohn and Woodward. Did Phoebe marry again to a Fitzjohn? Do you know the relationship of Frank Augustus and Ernest Theodore Woodward. They are the sons of Frank and Phoebe which would make them the same age as your parents. Do you know anything of a "Mills" connection with the family as some documents show Frank and Ernest stating their surnames as Mills. My aunt and mother's mother was married first to Ernest (1915) and then to Frank (1920). Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

Regards,

Su

Hi Su, My fathers birth certificate shows he was born to Phoebe Woodward in a Mothers Home 396 Commercial Road Mile End on11th March 1907. Ernest Theodore and Frank Augustus are his brothers and my uncles. Frank Ernest appear to have parted after his birth,perhaps some doubt who the father was. Whem my father married he gave his name as Fitzjohn, his fathers name as Fitzjohn and seven years later buried my mother in the name of Fitzjohn. Prior to remarrying he made along with his fiancee a statutory declaration changing all our names to Woodward as a "correction" Phoebe took care of me after my mother died until my father married in1937

Phoebe and Benjamin Fitzjohn lived at 154 Leven Road Poplar E14 from 1919 to1929. Then Fitzjohn,a ships fireman in 1927 according to my parents marriage certificate disappears We have no knowledge of a marriage but an entry is in the marriage records a/m/j 1c 90 for 1908 but was unable to cross reference with a Woodward at the time. in 1930 Phoebe was using the name of Woodward. My father once told me that an uncle in Cardiff was an entertainer in the clubs. About to join the army in 1945 my father gave me my birth certificate and when I queried the entry about the "correction" he replied "Oh, it was something silly your Gran did years ago,and nothing for you to worry about!"

Hi Henry,

So much to take in... Did you have much contact with Frank and Ernest when you were growing up? Do you know what happened to Frank (I know a little of Ernest- he lived in Cardiff with his wife until his death in 1952) Frank Augustus Woodward is my aunt's father. She was born in August 1918 (out of wedlock) must be a trait of the woodwards!!! She never knew him as she was brought up by another man who married their mother much later. It still seems a bit cpnfusing but hopefully we can work this out. I am so glad to hear from you and my mother and aunt will be very pleased to catch up on your family. if you don't mind talking to us.

Regards,

Su

Henry,

I did find a marriage somewhere between a Phoebe Mills and Benjamin Fitzjohn in 1908. I wonder whether there is a connection as I said previously Ernest stated he used "Mills" as a stage name. It doesn't explain why he used this name on both his enlistment into the army ww1 and also when he divorced his wife (my grandmother) and also cited his brother as co respondent as Frank Augustus Mills. Can you shed any light on this. Perhaps it is a bit presumptious, but I wonder if you have any photos of your family that you could send on to us. We would dearly love to see them, but if not any more information that you can possibly think of would be very much appreciated. We are all desparately interested in your news.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Regards,

Su

Hi Su, Thought you might be interested in the death certificate of Frank Ernest Woodward.( Printers Assistant) He died on the11th March 1928 aged 61 years from acute bronchitis,chronic bronchitis,and bronchiectasis. his informant was his widow Ellen Darby who he married Dec qtr 1909 Islington vol 16 page 661. Death Index1873-1983 District Islington vol 1b page 387 Their address was 122 Offord Rd Islington. Regards. Henry

Thanks Henry,

Strange I thought he had died many years before as Ernest (His son) had put on the marriage certificate that he was deceased and this was in 1915. He stated that he was a licenced victualler by trade. Funny because he was always involved in the print or book trade. I have come across a census entry with an Ernest Mills (using his stage name) visiting a public house in 1911. Wonder whethr this is our Ernest.

Thanks for the information though, - anything else.......???

Regards Su and mother Joy

Hi Su,From the documents I hold. Phoebe Rogers was born 21st June 1867 to Joseph William Rogers a gasfitter whose father was a Baronet, and Harriet Rogers nee Jackson at 12 Union Square, Pentonville. She married as a spinster aged 22 a Frank Ernest Woodward,a bachelor Bookbinder aged 23 in St Johns Church in the parish of St John Walworth on Xmas Day 1889. Both lived at 20 Cole St. at the time of marriage. His father was Charles Woodward a carpenter. Witnesses were George Woodward and Mary Woodward. This is fact!. Your comments please. Regards Henry