A message left by Jackie Morrey on a Facebook genealogy page about her Great Great Grandfather Morris ASHMORE got me intrigued, so I decided to investigate.
“My Gt Gt grandfather Morris Ashmore is very complicated, no trace of marriage to Kate Ellen despite her using his surname on all census returns, he is deceased by the time two of his children marry and in Kate’s 1911 census, but I found a marriage between Morris and Amy Ludlow in 1906 both widowed, occupations for Morris and his father identical to my Morris as is his father’s name but this Morris is 10 years younger! Added to this his father had died before Morris was born and there is evidence that my Morris died in 1937!! Nothing seems to tally.”
ASHMORE is a fairly uncommon name when compared to some I have researched, and Morris ASHMORE even more so. From the information given above, I found the correct family in the 1891 census record. Morris stated to be 34 (b.1857), born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England and working as a House Painter. His wife was Kate E ASHMORE (born 1860 in Birmingham) and they had three children (Florence, William and Leah). Morris’s younger brother Walter ASHMORE was also living with them (and also a house painter). There is no marriage record for Morris and Kate, so suspect they were not actually wed.
1891 – 12 Branston Place, Balsall Heath, Worcestershire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morris | Ashmore | Head | Married | Male | 34 | 1857 | House Painter | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Kate E | Ashmore | Wife | Married | Female | 31 | 1860 | Charwoman | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Florence | Ashmore | Daughter | – | Female | 6 | 1885 | Scholar | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| William | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 2 | 1889 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Leah | Ashmore | Daughter | – | Female | 0 | 1891 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Walter | Ashmore | Brother | Single | Male | 32 | 1859 | House Painter | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
By the 1901 they had two more children (Harold and Neville). Morris now states to be 42 (two years younger than he should be from age given last census) and Kate was recorded using her middle name of Ellen.
1901 – 22 Vincent Crescent, Balsall Heath, Worcestershire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morris | Ashmore | Head | Married | Male | 42 | 1859 | House Painter | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Ellen | Ashmore | Wife | Married | Female | 40 | 1861 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Florence | Ashmore | Daughter | Single | Female | 16 | 1885 | Thimble Maker | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| William | Ashmore | Son | Single | Male | 11 | 1890 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Leah | Ashmore | Daughter | Single | Female | 10 | 1891 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Harold | Ashmore | Son | Single | Male | 7 | 1894 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Nevill | Ashmore | Son | Single | Male | 5 | 1896 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
Skip forwards another 10 years to the 1911 census and Morris is now gone. Kate Ellen is confusingly recorded as “Mrs Ashmore – Wife – Widow“. The sheet was filled out by her son William, rather than herself. They were living in Sparkbrook, Warwickshire, England. Daughter Leah was boarding in Birmingham at this time, and married later that year. She also stated her father to be dead on her marriage record.
1911 – 34 Main Street, Sparkbrook, Warwickshire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs | Ashmore | Wife | Widow | Female | 52 | 1859 | Takes In Washing | Edgebaston, Warwickshire, England |
| William | Ashmore | Son | Single | Male | 21 | 1890 | Brass Polishing | Basall Heath, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Florance | Ashmore | Daughter | Single | Female | 26 | 1885 | Wrapping Up Flour | Basall Heath, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Harald | Ashmore | Son | Single | Male | 18 | 1893 | Brass Polishing | Basall Heath, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Neville | Ashmore | Son | Single | Male | 15 | 1896 | Silver Smith | Basall Heath, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
I’ve only found the first and last of the children’s births registered under surname ASHMORE. As it doesn’t appear Morris and Amy were actually married, I also checked under her “maiden” name of WILKINS (as stated on Florence and Neville’s birth index). There is a Leah Charlotte WILKINS with mothers maiden name TIMMS, and also an Arthur Harold WILKINS with mothers maiden name TIMMS (both Kings Norton like Florence and Neville – there were no more children registered in this district as Ashmore/Timms). Kings Norton covers Balsall Heath, where all children are stated to have been born. Leah’s 1939 register record confirms her date of birth to be 29th Oct 1890, which fits with the birth index date. Arthur Harold seems to have actually gone by “Alfred Harold”, and the 1939 register states his birth date as 18th Oct 1892 (right quarter but a year out, although I’ve seen this error a lot in the 1939 register).
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Year | Registration District | Mother’s Maiden Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence Helen | ASHMORE | 1Q 1885 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | WILKINS |
| William | ASHMORE | Not Found | Not Found | Not Found |
| Leah Charlotte | WILKINS | 4Q 1890 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | TIMMS |
| Arthur Harold | WILKINS | 4Q 1893 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | TIMMS |
| Neville Victor | ASHMORE | 2Q 1996 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | WILKINS |
Could TIMMS actually be Kate’s own mother’s maiden name, used perhaps to cover the fact she wasn’t married to the father of her children? A search finds a Kate WILKINS registered in 1Q 1857 Birmingham with mothers maiden name “TIMMS “. This Kate’s mother was called Charlotte. In 1871, the Wilkins were living at 46 Ryland Street, Bordesley, and some of the Ashmore’s were also living on Ryland Street (in a terrace somewhere near no.23). I’ve found no possible matches to William’s birth record.
What of the younger Morris ASHMORE mentioned, with wife Amy LUDLOW? In 1911 they too were living in Sparkbrook, Warwickshire, England. Morris stated to be age 44 (b.1867) born in Edgbaston, Warwickshire, England and working as a House Painter. He was living with wife Amy, her mother, Amy’s daughter from her first marriage and an adopted son. The head was Amy’s mother, not Morris, but “stepdaughter” is referring to Morris’s relationship with Hilda.
1911 – 126 Anderton Road, Sparkbrook, Warwickshire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs | Mawby | Head | Widow | Female | 74 | 1837 | None | South Killworth, Leicestershire, England |
| Amy | Ashmore | Daughter | Married | Female | 45 | 1866 | Lamp Lappaner | South Killworth, Leicestershire, England |
| Morris | Ashmore | Son In Law | Married | Male | 44 | 1867 | House Painter | Edgbaston Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Hilda | Ludlow | Stepdaughter | – | Female | 14 | 1897 | Electric Work | Small Heath Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Francis | Logell | Adopted | Single | Male | 18 | 1893 | Electric Work | Small Heath Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
When tracing Morris back through records is becomes clear that he shaves a few years off his birth year each time so the fact he says he’s only 44 in 1911, when in reality his birth record (as found further down) confirms he was 59, is not too strange (it’s just usually women who do this!).
More confirmation these two men are the same person can be found in the electoral registers. Morris and Amy lived at 8 Leicester Place, Sparkbrook in 1920-22. Amy died in 1924, and Morris was still living at the same address in 1930, where he gives his full name as Morris Gregory ASHMORE . He died in 1937 aged 85 (his correct age!) and was registered under Gregory M ASHMORE.
Morris and Amy married 25th March 1906 in Sparkbrook, and they both state to be widowed and age 40. Morris gives his profession as “Painter” and his father as “Edward ASHMORE, Brass Founder“. Their residence at the time of marriage was 9 White Road and the witnesses were Job Steel and Florence Smith.
Why state “widowed” if he wasn’t ever married to Kate? My first thought was that he was already married to someone else when he was in a relationship with Kate, so couldn’t marry again legally at that time. On searching the marriage index I found a marriage of Morris ASHMORE to Sophia TAYLER in 1875, but when searching for Morris in 1881 I found him visiting with his brother Walter and described as unmarried (the parish record isn’t online to confirm their fathers unfortunately). I’ve found no mention of a Sophia ASHMORE in census or death records, so if they married and then parted ways, it’s possible she also used an assumed married name and perhaps it was her who died making Morris a widow when he left Kate and married Amy. I think I’ve identified her in 1871, but it doesn’t lead anywhere useful.
1881 – Court 1 House 12, Angelina Street, Bordesley, Warwickshire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles | Jeffery | Head | Married | Male | 37 | 1844 | Plane Tool Maker | Bristol, Gloucestershire, England |
| Catherine | Jeffery | Wife | Married | Female | 39 | 1842 | – | Ireland |
| Jane E | Jeffery | Daughter | Single | Female | 6 | 1875 | Scholar | Sheffield, Yorkshire, England |
| William | Shee | Lodger | Single | Male | 38 | 1843 | Brass Founder | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Alfred | Patry | Lodger | Single | Male | 20 | 1861 | Painter (House) | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Morris | Ashmore | Visitor | Single | Male | 23 | 1858 | Engine Driver | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Walter | Ashmore | Visitor | Single | Male | 20 | 1861 | Baker | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
I’ve not found Morris in the 1871 census, so traced Walter back instead and found him living with their mother and older brother William (who was the head of the household). William worked as a painter.
1871 – 4 Ryland Terrace, Ryland Street, Bordesley, Warwickshire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William F | Ashmore | Head | Unmarried | Male | 21 | 1850 | Painter | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Mary A | Ashmore | Mother | Widow | Female | 49 | 1822 | – | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Walter | Ashmore | Brother | – | Male | 12 | 1859 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
1861 – 49 Summer Street, Edgbaston, Warwickshire, England
Morris was age 9 in 1861 (matching his actual birth of 1852, which doesn’t happen again until his death record) in Birmingham, Warwickshire and living in Edgbaston. His brothers Walter and William are present, along with another brother Thomas and half brother Edward. Their mother Mary was a widow in 1851 also.
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Ann | Ashmore | Head | Widow | Female | 38 | 1823 | Fundholder | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Thomas | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 13 | 1848 | Artist | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| William | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 11 | 1850 | Scholar | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Morris | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 9 | 1852 | Scholar | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Walter Jones | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 3 | 1858 | Scholar | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Edward | Ashmore | Son In Law | Married | Male | 23 | 1838 | Option | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Emma | Ashmore | Daughter In Law | Married | Female | 22 | 1839 | Dressmaker | Gloucestershire, England |
| Mary Ann | Lloyd | Visitor | Married | Female | 53 | 1808 | – | Shropshire, England |
Mary Ann MARSHALL married the widower Edward ASHMORE in 1Q 1848 (just before their son Thomas was born), and Edward died in Dec 1849 (just before or just after their second son was born). Mary’s last two children (Morris and Walter) cannot possibly be Edward’s, even though they name him as their father on their marriage certificates. Note how Morris and Walter have a surname for a middle name, perhaps relating to their biological father(s)? When looking over Edward ASHMORE‘s will, one of his executors was called Thomas GREGORY, an optician who lived in Birmingham. He was born c.1795 in London and married the widow Sarah ASHMORE in 1835 (was she previously married to a brother of Edward?). Perhaps there was also an optician called Mr JONES!
Birth records for Mary’s four sons:
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Year | Registration District |
Mother’s Maiden Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Isaac | ASHMORE | 2Q 1848 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | MARSHALL |
| William Frederick | ASHMORE | 4Q 1849 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | MARSHALL |
| Morris Gregory | ASHMORE | 2Q 1852 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | MARSHALL |
| Walter Jones | ASHMORE | 2Q 1858 | Kings Norton, Warwickshire | (not listed on GRO website) |
In 1851, Mary gives her age as 36 and birthplace as Liverpool, which is quite different from the 1861 and 1871 censuses. Either way, this is the correct family for Morris and they were living on the same street they were on for William’s baptism in 1841 (William from Edward’s first marriage).
1851 – Summer Street, Edgbaston, Warwickshire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Relationship | Marital Status | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Ann | Ashmore | Head | Widow | Female | 36 | 1815 | Living On Interest Of Money | Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Edward | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 14 | 1837 | Scholar | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Thomas | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 3 | 1848 | – | Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| William | Ashmore | Son | – | Male | 1 | 1850 | – | – |
| William | Colvert | Lodger | Unmarried | Male | 22 | 1829 | Tailor | Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Frederick | Nalson | Lodger | Unmarried | Male | 21 | 1830 | Wood Turner | Bristol, Gloucestershire, England |
Edward ASHMORE was previously married to Maria ALLEN (27th Dec 1835). They had two sons before she died (at some point between 1841-48). Their second son died aged 2, leaving just Edward Jrn (as seen in the census records above). This is the household in 1841:
1841 – Edgbaston, Warwickshire, England
| First Name(s) | Last Name | Sex | Age | Birth Year | Occupation | Birth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward | Ashmore | Male | 25 | 1816 | Spectacle Maker | (not born in Warwickshire) |
| Maria | Ashmore | Female | 25 | 1816 | Warwickshire, England | |
| Edward | Ashmore | Male | 4 | 1837 | Warwickshire, England | |
| William | Ashmore | Male | 1m | 1841 | Warwickshire, England | |
| William | Burks | Male | 15 | 1826 | Apprentice | (not born in Warwickshire) |
| Sarah | Allen | Female | 65 | 1776 | Warwickshire, England |
The marriage record for Morris to Amy states his father, Edward Ashmore, was a Brass Founder not Spectacle Maker. The information provided on census, baptism and marriage certificates confirms they are the same person:
- 1837 – Baptism of son Edward – Father “Edward Ashmore” Occupation “Brass Founder“
- 1841 – Census – “Edward Ashmore” – “Spectacle Maker“
- 1841 – Baptism of son William Thomas – Father “Edward Ashmore” Occupation “Spectacle Maker“
- 1847 – Men qualified to serve on juries – “Edward Ashmore” – “Spectacle Maker“
- 1860 – Marriage of son Edward – Father “Edward Ashmore” Occupation “Spectacle Maker“
- 1870 – Adult baptism of son Thomas Isaac – Father “Edward Ashmore” Occupation “Whip Mount Chaser” (occupation is Thomas’s, not his father, as this was an adult baptism)
- 1875 – Marriage of son William Frederick – Father “Thomas Ashmore (dead)” Occupation “Brass Founder” (name of Thomas presumably a mistake as definitely the correct person)
- 1906 – Marriage of son Morris – Father “Edward Ashmore” Occupation “Brass Founder“
CONCLUSION
All evidence confirms that Morris ASHMORE with wife Kate Ellen WILKINS is the same man as Morris ASHMORE with wife Amy LUDLOW (nee MAWBY).
There is only one matching Morris ASHMORE in any census record covering all birth years he gives (and wider). There is also only one matching birth record, a Morris Gregory ASHMORE registered 2Q 1852 in King’s Norton, Worcestershire (which covers both Edgbaston and parts of Birmingham, even though they are in the next county up). This again matches the death record in 1937 of Gregory M ASHMORE. Morris gives his full name as Morris Gregory ASHMORE in the 1930 electoral register, and was at the same address 10 years previous with wife Amy.
Things which these records cannot answer are why Morris and Kate did not marry (unless was he still married to Sophia Taylor – in which case, where did she go?). Why Morris left Kate to then marry Amy in 1906, claiming to be a widower. Why Kate claimed to also be a widow in the 1911 census and their daughter Leah claimed her father was dead when she married at the end of the year, even thought Morris was living only a few streets away.