Wife Swapping?

[Barbara B]

I am trying to solve a little puzzle.
I have Ralph Leonard Ashton born 1882 who married (so I thought) Olive Bull in Staffordshire in 1909. On the same page I have Harry Vale who is a cousin and who married Constance Foster. HOWEVER,, when I checked on the Staffordshire BMD Ralph is married to Constance and Harry to Olive. A simple mistake or so I thought. On finding the Ashton children their mother's maiden name is given as Bull. Yet another mistake? Then I found Ralph Leonard on the 1911 census and the other member of the household is CONSTANCE Ashton. Harry Vale is living with OLIVE Vale. Had they swapped wives do you think? Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Cheers
Barbara

[PJLong]

Hi Barbara.....well......no thoughts - but I'm sure some of the more experienced on the forum will have a plausible explanation. I'm just intrigued and will be watching closely!!!! Pauline.

[MaryA]

The BMD sites are not infallible, you will find a link on their pages to write to the webmaster, I suggest that you email him, without going into too much details just advise him that you believe these are your ancestors and asking if he would check the register as you believe there has been a mix up.

[colette]

Hi there

When you say you have the children can you give details names dates they were born etc..as you say the Ashton kids have mothers maiden name Bull, when it should be Foster.

Did Constance stick around after 1911 i notice they dont have any kids on the 1911 census...
Could it be that Olive ended up with Ralph but they never married, and this is why the kids are Bull's.

I dont know what you know you see..

regards

[colette]

Hi noticed Constance died in 1953, also noticed Free BMD havent completed 1910.13,14,15 etc, and as Ancestry doesnt have the full births from 1910-15 cant see the Ashton babies birth refs, I take it they were born in these years ???


xx

[Barbara B]

Sorry for the delay in replying but we've just got a new computer.......
The Ashton children are as follows-
Edwin b Bristol 1912
Thomas b ? 1913
Edward b Islington 1914
Annie E b Bristol 1914
Ernest G b West Ham 1915
Doris G b West Ham 1917
Leonard N b 1919

Constance or Olive certainly had a busy time of it - especially in 1914!
I did have a contact from someone on GR who is also related to the Ashtons and who quoted Ralph as being married to Olive but that doesn't explain the 1911 thing.
Was Constance an Ashton when she died in 1953?
Thanks for the interest everyone
Barbara

[colette]

Hi Barb

Yes she was..

Staffordshire Death indexes for the years: 1953
Surname Forename(s) Age Sub-District Registers At Reference
ASHTON Constance L W - Burton-on-Trent East Staffordshire BOT/27/006

What were they doing down south ???

xx

[colette]

Hi Barb do you have proof all these kids are yours do have any of their birth certs ???




Marriages Mar 1902 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashton Edwin James Bristol 6a 172 *
Bissicks Walter Bristol 6a 172
Bull Annie Bristol 6a 172 *
Elms Ellen Jane Bristol 6a 172


Marriages Dec 1912 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashton Ernest Bull W.Ham. 4a 76 *
Bull Rosina Ashton W.Ham 4a 76 *
Owen Percival Theobald W.Ham 4a 76
Theobald Rose M Owen W. Ham 4a 76

All these kids you have found belong to these people.

Are you 100% sure Ralph & Constance had any kids ????



xx

[Barbara B]

I will need to go back to GR and contact the other Ashton descendants, I think. Talk about barking up the wrong tree!
There is a connection to the south of England through the Vale family and Ralph's father, George was living in London before his death in 1884. His mother, Amelia Vale moved up to Stafford where she is in the 1901 census.
Will update as soon as I can.
Thanks to all
Barbara