How accurate are statements given ...

[Kit]

... in divorce proceedings.

A relative of OH's has a divorce record on ancestry. It gives a statement by the wife against the husband stating he beat her and that he committed adultery. It lists the names of 2 of the 3 women involved and dates of birth of all 4 children.

The papers show that the divorce proceedings ceased as the parties started re-cohabitating.

So how likely is it he did actually father the children?

If anyone wants to have a look the couple involved are Alfred Wright Chapman and Elizabeth Sophia Batten. They married in 1888 Surrey and did not divorce in 1902.

The women he committed adultery with are:
Elizabeth Downes who had 2 children 12/1/1893 and 15/9/1894
Caroline Alice Chesterman who had a child 10/10/1896
'his bookkeeper' who had a child on 26/3/1894

I found a Caroline Chesterman who married a Alexander CCSSJ Newbery in 1899. I found Caroline in 1901 living with her parents Mark and Caroline and daughter Winifred N Newbery born 1895.

There is no Winifred Nellie Newbery but there is a Winifred Nellie Chesterman born 4q 1894 Greenwich.

The dates don't match although Winifred is b. 1897 on the 1911 census where she is a student.

If anyone can make any sense about this please let me know. I can't post links for ancestry as I can't get the site to work now.

[kiterunner]

If the divorce papers are from 1902, it could be that she got in a muddle about some of the dates?

[Kit]

That is what I was thinking, hoping, Kate. I love that she knew the date of birth of the fourth child but does not name the mother.

[Shona]

Elizabeth and Alfred's son, Alfred Reginald Robert Matthew Batten Chapman, was killed in action on 2 December 1917 and buried in the Hermies British Cemetery in France.

The CWG records state that he was the son of the late Mrs E S Chapman of Fairview, Rayleigh, Essex. He joined 19th (Public School) Battalion, Royal Fusliers, in 1914. He was serving with the 6th Battalion Machine Gun Corp (Infantry) when he was killed at the age of 26. He was a Second Lieutenant and had been gazetted in September 1916.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/299915/CHAPMAN,%20ALFRED%20REGINALD

Medal record card:

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1262/30850_A000308-02308/1277977?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk %2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26db%3dmedalrolls%26rank %3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dangs-d%26gsfn%3dalfred%26gsfn_x%3dNN%26gsln%3dchapman%2 6gsln_x%3dXO%26gskw%3dreginald%26gskw_x%3d1%26cpxt %3d1%26catBucket%3drstp%26uidh%3dfpy%26cp%3d11%26p cat%3d39%26fh%3d0%26h%3d1277977%26recoff%3d9%2b11% 26ml_rpos%3d1&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord

This shows that Elizabeth was alive in 1922 as she applied for his medals.

His service records don't appear to have survived.

There is an entry for him on Ancestry's National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) for 1928 - effects worth £1,000. The record notes: 'Former grant PR May 1918.'

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1904/31874_222728-00573/3210672?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk %2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dukprobatecal%26so%3d2%26pcat% 3dROOT_CATEGORY%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d1%26 msT%3d1%26gss%3dangs-g%26gsfn%3dalfred%26gsfn_x%3dNN%26gsln%3dchapman%2 6gsln_x%3dXO%26gskw%3dbatten%26gskw_x%3d1%26cpxt%3 d1%26catBucket%3drstp%26uidh%3dfpy%26cp%3d11&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

[Shona]

Here is Alfred's entry in the London Gazette from September 1916.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29756/supplements/9178/page.pdf

Some info on the 19th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.

The Public School Battalion started recruiting on 1 September 1914. Membership was by application only. Many of the recruits, who would normally be expected to serve as officers, wanted to be regular soldiers so they could stay with their public school and graduate friends. Following the success of the original recruitment drive, four further battalions formed at Epsom from 11 September. However, as there was such a shortage of officers in other Battalions, these public school and university graduates were encouraged to apply for commissions.

19th (Service) Battalion (2nd Public Schools)
- Formed at Epsom on 11 September 1914 by the Public Schools and University Men's Force.
- 26 June 1915 came under command of 98th Brigade, 33rd Division.
- Landed in France in November 1915.
- 27 February 1916 transferred to GHQ.
- Disbanded on 24 April 1916 with many of the men being commissioned as officers.

[annswabey]

There IS a WW1 officers file for him. Not online though - it's at the National Archives (as he was an officer, it wouldn't be on Ancestry)

[Kit]

Thanks for the information Shona.

Ann I had no idea officer files were not on ancestry. OH has another relative who I knew was an officer and I keep searching for anything on ancestry with no luck.

[Merry]

Toni, Ancestry's database "British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920 " states "This database contains the surviving service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks". If you want to search the commissioned officer records on TNA site then Ann has given some search advice here (it worked for me!):

http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/Forum/showthread.php?p=249640#post249640

[Kit]

I did not read that Merry. For one of OH's rellies I did find him and downloaded the document but appear to have read it and deleted it. I have been hoping ancestry would get it one day.

For the others I suspect may be officers I will search the way Ann showed you. Thanks