William George Phillips - Kidderminster, 1890s

**moonridge** · 18-07-2011 08:01 PM

William George Phillips is currently the main brick wall in my family history research. Let me tell you what I do know and you'll soon understand why I'm stuck. The focal point of my tree at present is Charlotte Louisa Edge Wright (Edge is correct!) who was born in Birmingham on Nov 1st 1869 (died March 1940). Her parents were John and Procula Wright (Procula is also correct!) and the family moved from Birmingham to Kidderminster some time between 1881 and 1891.

In the 1891 census, Charlotte Louisa (listed as Louisa Wright - she rarely seemed to call herself Charlotte, so I'll call her Louisa from now on) was still living with her parents, brothers and sisters at 24 Park Street, Kidderminster.

On Dec 18th 1892, William Acton Phillips was born in Kidderminster. His birth certificate lists his parents as William George Phillips and Louisa Phillips (formerly Wright). The birth address is given as 3 Coalfield Row, which is also stated as Louisa's address. Father's occupation: Vocalist.

On Aug 15th 1895, Charles Henry Phillips was born in Kidderminster. His birth certificate lists his parents as William George Phillips and Louisa Charlotte Phillips (formerly Wright). The birth address is given as 28 Bromsgrove Street, which is also stated as Louisa's address. Father's occupation: Vocalist.

In the 1901 census, Louisa E Wright and Charles H Wright (both with correct ages) were listed living as boarders at 20 Rock Terrace. A "William P Wright" was listed as a grandson living with Louisa's parents at 38 Park Street. He was the same age as William Acton Phillips.

On Apr 11th 1903, Louisa married William Henry Pountney. On the marriage certificate, her name is listed as Charlotte Louisa Edge Wright - spinster, living at 28 Hill Street.

In Jul-Sep 1903, Elsie Beatrice Pountney was born. I haven't obtained her birth certificate yet.

On Jun 4th 1908, Harry Pountney was born. His birth certificate lists his mother as "Charlotte Louisa Pountney late Phillips formerly Wright".

In the 1911 census, William Pountney was living as a boarder in Blackwell Street, whilst Louisa was living with the 3 children at 45 Chapel Street, one of whom is named Charles Henry Wright. Meanwhile, William Acton Phillips was living with Louisa's sister Elizabeth's family (surname Brighton) at 64 April Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.

Just as an aside to indicate that they probably hadn't split up before the 1911 census, William Pountney died in hospital in 1916 with Louisa present at his death.

On Dec 22nd 1917, William Acton Wright married Stella Richards in Birmingham. On the marriage certificate, his father was named as John Wright - occupation: music hall artist.

On Dec 3rd 1921, Charles Henry Wright married Fanny Kimberlee in Kidderminster. On the marriage certificate, his father was named as George Wright (deceased) - occupation: carpet weaver.

As you can see, the surname Phillips had been ditched in favour of Wright by the time William Acton and Charles Henry got married and either their birth certificates or their marriage certificates were incorrect with regard to their father's name. Indeed, apart from on his birth certificate, Charles Henry was never referred to with a surname of Phillips.

My brick wall, then, is in identifying who William George Phillips was. The name might be fictional, but as the surname Phillips cropped up on several later certificates too, I'm assuming the name is genuine - I'm completely stuffed if it isn't of course! However, I can find no trace of Charlotte Louisa Wright marrying anyone prior to 1903 and William/George Phillips is a common name.

I've also looked through the electoral registers for Kidderminster from 1892-95 and haven't found a William or George Phillips in Kidderminster. Of course, who was eligible to vote in those days was very restricted, so there's no great surprise he wasn't on the list. Neither William Acton's nor Charles Henry's births were listed in the local paper (Kidderminster Shuttle) but, at that time, only the BMDs of the rich and famous were published I suspect.

If anyone can give me any pointers as to how I can possibly find out anything more at all about William George Phillips, please let me know. I've been stuck on this for a year now and can't see any way forward, so all advice is welcome.

**slizzy** · 19-07-2011 11:38 AM

Hi Moonridge,

Thank you for providing comprehensive information, the more we know the better armed we are to help. I have tracked your ancestors through the census returns as I find it helps me to 'get to know' them. As you are aware, a big problem here is it doesn't seem Charlotte Louisa married anyone named Phillips, and her first marriage was to William Henry Pountney. Of course William George Phillips could be an alias, Music Hall performers' did use stage names, as I see it we need to try and establish whether W G Phillips was his stage name or birth name.

Does the name ACTON feature as a surname in the family's ancestry? It is an unusual choice of middle name and I would think had some significance. Have you tried contacting the local record office to see if there were any bast**dy papers filed? It's a long shot but is possible.

**slizzy** · 19-07-2011 02:32 PM

I've looked at 28, Bromsgrove Street in 1891 and 1901 unfortunately there were two different families residing, I was hoping it may have been the same family and we could have established a relationship there, but it's not to be. In case you don't know, in 1891 a couple named Pearsall lived there and in 1901 a couple named Lucas.

In 1891 a family headed by Thomas Wilks were at 3, Coalfield Row, and in 1901 the head of family was Henry Dax.

**moonridge** · 19-07-2011 05:11 PM

Hi slizzy,

Many thanks for taking a look at this - it's very much appreciated.

Originally Posted by slizzy

Of course William George Phillips could be an alias, Music Hall performers' did use stage names, as I see it we need to try and establish whether W G Phillips was his stage name or birth name.

If he was a music hall performer at all, although "vocalist" is an odd occupation to have made up.

Originally Posted by slizzy

Does the name ACTON feature as a surname in the family's ancestry? It is an unusual choice of middle name and I would think had some significance.

I agree that it's an unusual middle name, as indeed is Edge for Louisa's third christian name. I've mentioned about John & Procula Wright and have identified both of their parents and siblings and haven't come across "Acton" in association with anyone else as yet. Apart from the people I've mentioned so far, everyone else seems to have common or garden names!

Originally Posted by slizzy

Have you tried contacting the local record office to see if there were any bast**dy papers filed? It's a long shot but is possible.

My genealogy research skills haven't yet got much beyond census, BMD etc so that such papers have ever been filed anywhere is news to me. Is that what they're typically referred to as?

**moonridge** · 19-07-2011 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by slizzy

I've looked at 28, Bromsgrove Street in 1891 and 1901 unfortunately there were two different families residing, I was hoping it may have been the same family and we could have established a relationship there, but it's not to be. In case you don't know, in 1891 a couple named Pearsall lived there and in 1901 a couple named Lucas.

In 1891 a family headed by Thomas Wilks were at 3, Coalfield Row, and in 1901 the head of family was Henry Dax.

All of that is new information to me, as I don't currently have a genealogy website subscription which enables me to do street searches for anything other than 1911, so thank you for finding that out. As you say, it's a pity that there's apparently nothing revealing in who was at these addresses in those years. Louisa does seem to have moved house a lot, but that changed in her later life.

Just to throw another teaser into the mix, Charles Henry Wright was known to have travelled down to London on the train and returned to Kidderminster with someone he referred to as "Uncle George". "Uncle George" died after a short period of time. The exact date of this isn't known, but it's believed to have been around 1960. The feeling of those who know about this event was that "Uncle George" was collected and brought to Kidderminster because he was dying. None of Louisa's brothers were called George. Although "Uncle George" wasn't living in Kidderminster, I'm assuming that, as the death occurred in Kidderminster it would have been registered there? On that premise, my searches have failed to find anyone called George Phillips or William Phillips who died at any time around 1960 in Kidderminster. Therefore, who "Uncle George" was also remains a mystery.

**slizzy** · 19-07-2011 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by moonridge

Hi slizzy,

Many thanks for taking a look at this - it's very much appreciated.

If he was a music hall performer at all, although "vocalist" is an odd occupation to have made up.

I agree that it's an unusual middle name, as indeed is Edge for Louisa's third christian name. I've mentioned about John & Procula Wright and have identified both of their parents and siblings and haven't come across "Acton" in association with anyone else as yet. Apart from the people I've mentioned so far, everyone else seems to have common or garden names!

My genealogy research skills haven't yet got much beyond census, BMD etc so that such papers have ever been filed anywhere is news to me. Is that what they're typically referred to as?

It is my pleasure to help, moonridge. I'd be happier though if I can find a concrete lead. I agree 'vocalist' is an odd choice if made up, but do think it possible W G Phillips could be a fabricated name hence my question regarding Acton.

The Bast**dy Papers, or Bast**dy Orders are available at Worcestershire Record Office, though I do not know how comprehensive their records are, see here http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/Cal...%2f3%2f2&pos=1

**slizzy** · 19-07-2011 06:02 PM

The Uncle George story is interesting, moonridge, and yes you are correct in thinking if he died in Kidderminster then that's where his death should be registered.

**slizzy** · 19-07-2011 06:06 PM

George Phillips
Birth Date:abt 1865
Date of Registration:Jul-Aug-Sep 1954
Age at Death:89
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Volume:9d, Page:123

**moonridge** · 19-07-2011 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by slizzy

The Bast**dy Papers, or Bast**dy Orders are available at Worcestershire Record Office, though I do not know how comprehensive their records are, see here http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/Cal...%2f3%2f2&pos=1

Thanks for this link, slizzy. Worcestershire Records Office is split onto 2 sites, so I'll have to check which one these records are at. Do you know under what circumstances did people end up in these records? Presumably the parents wouldn't particularly have wanted their children to be on these lists and the birth certificates of the 2 Phillips children in this case didn't imply that there was any illegitimacy of course.

**moonridge** · 19-07-2011 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by slizzy

George Phillips
Birth Date:abt 1865
Date of Registration:Jul-Aug-Sep 1954
Age at Death:89
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Volume:9d, Page:123

That's an interesting one, thanks for digging it out, but the relatives I've spoken to who recall the "Uncle George" episode think that 1954 is probably too early. I might need to get this certificate to rule him out of the equation though. I've been looking for deaths of William/George Wright as well as Phillips for someone who was 85+ when they died some time between 1955-1965, but can't find anything in Kidderminster.

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