Comments

 On the 1841 and 1851 census George & Elizabeth have Emily with them.  On the 1851 census she is described as his niece, born in South Brent.  The Emily Elizabeth HARDEN christened at St Michaels's Church, Brent Knoll (South Brent) in 1832 was the d/o John & Hannah.

To be George's niece, her father, John HARDEN, should be a brother of George. Does this help to sort out the Georges?

Hello Elizabeth,

thank you for your reply.  The George I have followed through in fact could be either the George born to Robert & Maria or the George born to Elizabeth & Edward.  The ages on the census vary by a few years either side & I had assigned them all to 'our George' before I realised there was another George born to Robert.  George Chappel is my ancestor so I'm sure that appears to be correct.  This still doesn't solve why two George's!  I don't see how we can prove the George that marries Elizabeth Arney is brother to George Chapel but I can't find an early death for a George Harden.  I'm going round in circles!

If you do find anything perhaps you can contact me.

Kind regards

Linda

Hello Nicola

Thank you for taking the time to reply.  I have never come across this before & wondered if the vicar had made a mistake, but after your story it appears this may not be the case!

Kind regards

Linda

I have a similar situation in several family lines spanning different centuries, but from different family lines.  The most recent were two children baptised in 1820 and 1823 which were consecutive births.  Both had first names of Edward but the elder had his maternal grandmother's maiden name as a middle name (which was also his father's full name) and the other had a normal middle name.  Its possible that the younger was named after his mother's father but as his mother is missing from the 1851 Census and dies before 1861 and was born out of county, its been impossible to confirm.  Both lived to adulthood and married.  Initially it was always thought the first must have died but that proved not to be the case.  So its not as uncommon as may be thought, and one set of brothers from the 1500s were sons of a vicar and his Will confirmed both had lived to adulthood.

Hi Linda,

I too have had the same problem but only with the sons of Edward & Elizabeth.  I found it strange that they had two sons with the same names and assumed that the first one died, although no burial was found, until I was able to follow his life through.  I thought maybe the person who wrote up the register may have got the name wrong for the second George but as you have followed him through as George, that cannot be right.  As it is only on the periphery of my tree, I have put it on the back burner until I have more time.  My connection is through Elizabeth West, wife of Edward.

As you rightly say, a bit of a mystery.

Elizabeth

Whilst admiring your concern for the correct storage of archives I feel that in this instance it is misplaced. As far as I know the records concerning the Convalescent Home kept by the admirable group who research the history of Kewstoke are a collection of secondary resources, reported memories and photographs, and are not in any danger.  

As you presumably know, this convalescent home was built in Kewstoke by the Birmingham Hospital  Saturday Fund and any primary records will be with them.  You can download a PDF about the history of the BHSF from here .