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My cousin and I are researching our granddad, Frank Mann born 1886 Margaretting, Essex, died 1957 Romford, Essex.
He married our gran Kate Rook 02/12/1917, but the 1911 census refers to him as a widow with one child deceased. Nobody in the family knows anything about this first wife/child. My cousin has been to the Essex records office looking for marriage certificates but there were pages missing for dates which we think might be useful. We've exhausted on-line material (we think) and can find nothing. Does anyone have any suggestions about what to do next? Thanks in advance.

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Try looking for deaths of a woman and infant in the right area and time-scale

Just for INFO

1901 census

Person: MANN, Frank Address: South Street, Brentwood

MANN, Lewin Head Married M 44 1857 Ostler
Playford, Suffolk VIEW
MANN, Sarah A P Wife Married F 45 1856
Fairstead, Essex VIEW
MANN, Frank Son Single M 15 1886 Milk Factory Hand
Margaretting, Essex VIEW
MANN, William Son Single M 13 1888
Margaretting, Essex VIEW
MANN, Albert Son M 11 1890
Langley, Hampshire VIEW
MANN, David Son M 6 1895
Brentwood, Essex VIEW
MANN, Emily Daughter F 2 1899
Brentwood, Essex

Full and correct name info makes a difference

Marriages Dec 1917 (>99%)

Mann Francis C H Rock W.Ham 4a 355
Rook Kate Mann W.Ham 4a 355

Thanks for replying. I have done all these things so far, without any luck, but thanks for suggestions.

Is he actually described as a widower on the 1917 cert?

Yes, we are aware that granddad does appear as Francis and Francis CH - he's not making it easy for us!

1901 England Census about Frank Mann
Name: Frank Mann
Age: 15
Estimated birth year: abt 1886
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Father: Lewin Mann
Mother: Sarah A P Mann
Birth Place: Margaretting, Essex, England
Civil Parish: Brentwood
Ecclesiastical parish: Brentwood St Thomas a Beckett
Town: Brentwood
County/Island: Essex
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Billericay
Sub-registration district: Brentwood
ED, institution, or vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1664
Folio: 61
Page Number: 27
Household schedule number: 172
Household Members:
Name Age
Lewin Mann 44
Sarah A P Mann 45
Frank Mann 15
William Mann 13
Albert Mann 11
David Mann 6
Emily Mann 2

Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 1664; Folio: 61; Page: 27

so living in the Brentwood reg district ..

and still there in 1911

Name: Frank C H Mann
Age in 1911: 26
Estimated birth year: abt 1885
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Margaretting, Essex
Civil Parish: Brentwood
County/Island: Essex
Country: England
Street address: 41 South Street, Brentwood
Marital Status: Widowed
Occupation: Chauffeur
Registration district: Billericay
Registration District Number: 193
Sub-registration district: Brentwood
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Household schedule number: 186
Piece: 9999
Household Members:
Name Age
Sarah A P Mann 56
Frank C H Mann 26
William G F Mann 23
Albert C J Mann 21
David R A Mann 16
Emily B M Mann 13
Mary E Brook 7
Arthur Wright 34

Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 9999; Schedule Number: 186.


so any marriage for him can be narrowed down to the Billericay reg district.

says married 2 years which has been crossed through

Um...I'll ask me cousin about the 1917 certificate as he has them.

There is - I'm sure - at least one other thread about this...........

1911 says married two years.......so that narrows the scale for your search

The info that he was a widower is very clearly recorded on the image

In case it helps, he has a middle initial in 1891


Name:
Frank C Mann
Age:5
Estimated birth year:abt 1886

Relation:Son
Father's Name:Lewin Mann
Mother's name:Sarah A P Mann
Where born:Margaretting, Essex, England
Civil Parish:Rogate
Ecclesiastical parish:Milland
Town:Langley
County/Island:Sussex

Lewin Mann 32
Sarah A P Mann 34
Alice M A Mann 12
John J L Mann 10
Ellen E Mann 8
Frank C Mann 5
William G Mann 3
Albert E Mann 1


This looks like his birth with 2 middle names

Births Mar 1886
MANN Frank Charles H - Chelmsford 4a 412

is he stated as being a widower on the 1917 marriage cert ?

Only one female death in the relevant area and time-scale

Deaths Jun 1910 (>99%)
MANN Sarah Louisa 38 Billericay 4a 252

......and NO infant deaths

Found this but can't see a birth for this man's name


Marriages Sep 1904 -
Mann Tipp Frank - Tendring 4a 1247
Rouse Annie - Tendring 4a 1247


EDIT :
Found an army record for him which gives his occ as agricultural labourer and approx. DOB as 1881 ( no birth in that name though)

My cousin with the certificates replied

'Grandad was 31 when he married which suggests it could well have been his second one as they all married young in those days.

However, I have looked on their marriage certificate and he is listed as a Bachelor - but he may have blocked out what happened with his wife and child and never wanted our Nan to know. This may have something to do with the fact that he went under the name of Francis rather than Frank.

Interestingly, on their marriage certificate, his father is shown as Francis Mann, and we know that he was called Lewin - perhaps Francis was his nickname?

The 1911 census is quite detailed, showing that the marriage had been for 2 years and that one child had been born and died - I would tend to think that this was accurate.'

Ok I will look in more detail at the marriages for Brentwood next, as suggested by Shirley. Thanks

Mike
I did have a look at this but the middle name Tipp doesn't fit. Thanks.

Carol, do the occupations on the marriage certificate for Frank and his father match what is known from the census?

Shirley - can't find a thing in Essex, never mind Brentwood/ Billericay specifically.
Marie Celeste - Yes, Franks occupation fits with what we know and his father was deceased by this time 1911
The swapping of names is an odd one and certainly doesn't help.
Very grateful though

Medal card of Mann, Frank
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Army Medical Corps 18491 Private
Royal Army Medical Corps 18491 Transport Corporal

(someone has above, from google)

Chris :)