Help finding fathers name

[ellisl]

Hi,

I am new to Genealogy. I am looking for a point in the right direction to help find my great-grandfathers fathers name.

My great-grandfather details..
Edwin Mountford Ellis
Born 2 SEP 1888 Burslem, Staffordshire, England
Died Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

He had an older sister called Emily Mountford Ellis 1867 - 1926

As far as I can tell their mother was Eliza Ellen Ellis. What seems strange is that they look to have taken her maiden name. I know she goes on to marry a James Lear in 1895 and has more children (Margaret Lear 1898 and Ellen Lear 1899).

Is it possible that Emily and Edwin were illegitimate and took the mothers maiden name? I did find a record linking Emily Mountford Ellis where the father was named James Ellis, but this just seemed strange (was this James Lear with mothers maiden name).

Does anyone have any tips on which direction to look going forward?

Many Thanks

 

[DaveHam9]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

ELLIS, EDWIN MOUNTFORD - no mother's maiden name listed
GRO Reference: 1888 D Quarter in WOLSTANTON Volume 06B Page 135

That indicates the mother was probably not married.

I can't find the matching birth for Emily yet.

Dave

 

[DaveHam9]

LEAR, MARGARET - ELLIS
GRO Reference: 1897 S Quarter in WOLSTANTON Volume 06B Page 169

LEAR, ELLEN - ELLIS
GRO Reference: 1899 M Quarter in WOLSTANTON Volume 06B Page 157

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

Registration is free and then the site can be searched. Certificates can be ordered if required.

 

[DaveHam9]

ELLIS, EMILY MOUNTFORD - no mother's maiden name listed
GRO Reference: 1887 M Quarter in WOLSTANTON Volume 06B Page 145

No indication there that it is an amended registration.


Marriages Dec Qtr 1895
Brown Elizabeth Wolstanton 6b 160
Ellis Eliza Ellen Wolstanton 6b 160
Lear James Wolstanton 6b 160
Mason John Wolstanton 6b 160

 

[DaveHam9]

Possible

ELLIS, ELIZA ELLEN - LINDOP
GRO Reference: 1867 M Quarter in WOLSTANTON Volume 06B Page 127

LEAR, ELIZA ELLEN 59
GRO Reference: 1926 J Quarter in STOKE AND WOLSTANTON Volume 06B Page 129

 

[emeltee]

In the 1881 Census Eliza Ellen is living in Enoch Street, Burslem with parents Charles , 39 born Hanley, and Ellen, 34 born Burslem. Also with the family is a John Lindop aged 72, a Tailor, and his son John, also a Tailor. Presumably they are Ellen's father and brother.

The fact that both Edwin and Emily had the second name of Mountford makes me wonder if that could possibly have been the surname of the father.

Emeltee

 

[emeltee]

There is a baptism for Emily Mountford Ellis in Burslem 30 January 1887. The Vicar had originally written James and Eliza as the parents, then crossed out James. He also noted that Eliza was a Spinster, thus confirming the illegitimacy. Image available to view on findmypast.

Emeltee

 

[ellisl]

Thank you DaveHam9 & emeltee.
That has given me something to go on, I will look into the possibility of the fathers name being Mountford. I had seen the Baptism of Emily Mountford Ellis showing the fathers name as James (I didn't however realise it had been crossed out).