Who is Alfred?

[Phoenix]

This is Alfred in 1911, in Wales:



https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2353/images/rg14_32451_0549_06?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Leb20722&_phstart=successSource&pId=55444


Alfred Cousins is 48
Ada is 40 (married 16 years)
John is 14


All born Portsmouth.


This is coming as a hint for my John Victor Baigent Couzens.
Born 1897,son of Ada Phobe Couzens (unmarried)


Here is the family in 1901:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7814/images/HAMRG13_984_986-0689?pId=6738620


Phoebe aged 31
John aged 4


Am I (and Ancestry!) confusing two separate families, or has Alfred adopted the surname Cousins as a matter of onvenience?

[Merry]

My F-i-L did that (took his wife's name).

I see Ada died in the 1940s. Have you got her in 1939 and is she alone/what is her marital status?

[Merry]

Ada's probate entry says she is a widow and mentions her son as John Victor Couzens an incorporated accountant.

There's ony the one birth reg for a John Couzens (any spelling) in the right place at the right time.

[Merry]

Was her b'day 12 Feb 1870?

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/tna_r39_2393_2393e_005?backlabel=ReturnSearchResul ts&queryId=4824aed7b4563795900489124a8e4230&pId=3062320

[Merry]

erolls 1927-1931

70 Elms Rd, Fareham, Hants

Alfred George Couzens
Ada Ph(o)ebe Couzens

John Victor is there to for the first year.

[Merry]

I know Ada said she was a widow in 1939, but I wonder if they were separated as there's this Alfred here:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/tna_r39_2356_2356a_004?backlabel=ReturnSearchResul ts&queryId=bbdcdd85f40706cbd3072e91bea5e11f&pId=2844082

There is a death in 1944 to fit, but sadly no probate entry.

[Phoenix]

Ooh, thank you, Merry. That eroll demonstrates that I'm on the right lines, and the 1939 entry led me to 1863 Portsea births.

What's the bet that this is Alfred:

Births Dec 1863
Baigent Alfred John Portsea I. 2b 353

[Phoenix]

Okay, there is also this:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F05596%2F0315&parentid=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F05596%2F0315%2F1


Alfred John Baigent aged 47, widower in Portsmouth. Could he appear twice? I note that he is a carpenter in both places.

[Phoenix]

These things just get wierder and wierder.

Alfred John Baigent, respectable widower, marries Maria Louisa Whittle, spinster, in 1919.

Here's his probate entry in 1944:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1904/images/32858_611411_1971-00107?pId=17035454

The executor is Maria Louisa Baigent.

Here's her death:

Deaths Dec 1946
Baigent Maria L 68 Portsmouth 6b355


But if everything is straightforward and legit (and this is the wrong Alfred), where are Alfred and Maria in 1939?

[Phoenix]

Okay, so heere they are at 121 Wingfield St still:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FR39%2F2252%2F2252B%2F005&parentid=TNA%2FR39%2F2252%2F2252B%2F005%2F03


Arthur is giving a DOB 19 Sep 1876 but he is 78 when he dies, five years later.

[Phoenix]

Of other Alfreds, Hardy and Smees are dead before 1911.

[Phoenix]

Ooh, what about this one, though in 1901:

Alfred G Willis Head Married Male 38 1863 General Blacksmith Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Emily Willis Wife Married Female 38 1863 - Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Alfred W C Willis Son Single Male 18 1883 Ship Fitter Apprentice Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Hilda M Willis Daughter - Female 9 1892 - Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales

[Phoenix]

And in 1891:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/6897/images/GLARG12_4409_4411-0358?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Leb20906&_phstart=successSource&pId=492529

In Glamorganshire, calling himself a coal miner.

[Phoenix]

By 1911, Emily is calling herself a widow:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2352/images/rg14_05482_0653_03?treeid=53505731&personid=27566662606&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Leb20891&_phstart=successSource&pId=42315855


And the family do not move from Portsmouth, but a tree on Ancestry gives Alfred Willis as dying in Medway in 1909 - because, presumably, the age is right.

[Phoenix]

Note that Alfred Couzens (sic) was in what looks like a workhouse infirmary, as a patient in 1939 and described as a blacksmith:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/tna_r39_2356_2356a_004?backlabel=ReturnSearchResul ts&queryId=bbdcdd85f40706cbd3072e91bea5e11f&pId=2844082

[Merry]

I've been in Portsmouth all day, but did't get any vibes about this whilst there!

I will have to read your posts again to take it all in!

I did look at all the deaths of people called Alfred George who died between 1931 and 1939 in Portsmouth, Portsea or the district for Petersfield (forgotten now) of about the right age and eliminated all those who had a probate entry. It didn't help much and the Alfred G Couzens who died in 1944 doesn't seem to have been born with that name.

[Phoenix]

By 1908, Emily is on the electoral roll for 78 Agincourt Road - a bit premature if Alfred had not left her.

[Phoenix]

I've been in Portsmouth all day, but did't get any vibes about this whilst there!



Lol. I only get "what I should be doing" vibes while I'm in Portsmouth, and since most of the area has disappeared under flats, half the roads have disappeared too.

[Phoenix]

OMG

I have just noted an address, and realise that (if I'm right about Alfred George) Grandma at least would have known all about this.

[Merry]

Alfred G Couzens, in the infirmary in 1939, has dob 28 Nov 1863. (matched by his death reg aged 80 in Q1 1944)

Alfred G Willis was reg for birth in Q1 1863 Portsea district.

However, there are Ancestry trees that give his (AGW's) dob (and they don't know what happened to him). They say born 28 Nov 1862. :D Quite a coincidence!

[Phoenix]

Thank you, Merry!

I rest my case. I suspect that nobody bought that death certificate.

[Merry]

No.

Unfortunately the people who have 28 Nov 1862 as the dob for him as Willis don't have a source for that.