Many thanks to Jenny for help with deciphering a name in an old will for me. I have posted the message below to the Middlesex list but thought there may be someone on this list who might give me some answers to my puzzle. Thank you Jenny Robin in West Oz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin Ellis" <grellis30@bigpond.com> To: <Middlesex_County_UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 6:51 PM Subject: REYNOLDS; HOLMES; FELDWICK; MAYO Puzzle? > In the will of George Reynolds Chichester, he writes: > "to my daughter Ann (now Mrs Feldwick) > Looking up the Free BMD on the page is listed:- > Frank FELDWICK > Mary HOLMES > Apollonia Ann REYNOLDS > John Horsley MAYO > All listed for Sept. 1883 at Pancras. > Apollonia Ann Reynolds as Ann MAYO and John Horsley MAYO boarded the "Indus" > for Australia arriving at Albany WA where a child was born, December 1883 > the certificate stating father unknown. The child was left in Albany in > care. and the Mayo's returned to UK living at Gower Street until his death > when she Ann went to live in Malta. No further contact was made with the > child. > Now whom do I believe, the will of George REYNOLDS, Ann or John MAYO and > what about poor Frank FELDWICK. ???? > Any suggestions to arrive at the proof of the puzzle? > Anyone researching any of these families? > Robin in West Oz >

Hi Robin > Any suggestions to arrive at the proof of the puzzle? Well I would suggest obtaining the marriage certificates first of all. This might show that the names were aliases for the same people.... I am going to London on the 21st June and would be happy to order them for you (and any others anyone wants!) and can accept payment in $$AUS. Contact me for further details if I can help. Kind regards Polly

Here's my go. Ann dropped the Apollonia bit quite quickly as anyone would. She married Frank Feldwick. Had relations with John Horsley Mayo of some sort and perhaps at the same time as living with Frank Feldwick as his wife. Found she was pregnant but was not sure which man was the father. The marriage wasn't going too well so she and John Mayo decided to run away to Australia. She gave birth but was not sure who the father was so gave both the benefit of the doubt by putting father unknown. It would also make the child easier to disown. After a reasonable time and being assured that Frank Feldwick wouldn't make any trouble, the pair returned to England to live together as man and wife. The child was an encumbrance and so was left behind in Australia to fend for itself (poor little thing). As she never married John Mayo, she was still technically the wife of Frank Feldwick. Her father never recognised any other relationship. Malta was a haven away from gossiping tongues and afforded a good life. It could be that, without a child around of the union between Ann and John, she could pretend, for the purposes of probate, that she was still properly Frank Feldwick's wife and so benefit from her father's will. After all, if she never married John Mayo, officially she would have still been Mrs. Feldwick. Don't believe the census because they didn't look into what people were called officially, taking only what they were told by the people concerned. These things happened. With me it was my great grandfather who was the villain of the piece. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin Ellis" <grellis30@bigpond.com> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 3:44 AM Subject: [OEL] Fw: REYNOLDS; HOLMES; FELDWICK; MAYO Puzzle? > Many thanks to Jenny for help with deciphering a name in an old will for me. > I have posted the message below to the Middlesex list but thought there may > be someone on this list who might give me some answers to my puzzle. > Thank you Jenny > Robin in West Oz > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Robin Ellis" <grellis30@bigpond.com> > To: <Middlesex_County_UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 6:51 PM > Subject: REYNOLDS; HOLMES; FELDWICK; MAYO Puzzle? > > > > In the will of George Reynolds Chichester, he writes: > > "to my daughter Ann (now Mrs Feldwick) > > Looking up the Free BMD on the page is listed:- > > Frank FELDWICK > > Mary HOLMES > > Apollonia Ann REYNOLDS > > John Horsley MAYO > > All listed for Sept. 1883 at Pancras. > > Apollonia Ann Reynolds as Ann MAYO and John Horsley MAYO boarded the > "Indus" > > for Australia arriving at Albany WA where a child was born, December 1883 > > the certificate stating father unknown. The child was left in Albany in > > care. and the Mayo's returned to UK living at Gower Street until his death > > when she Ann went to live in Malta. No further contact was made with the > > child. > > Now whom do I believe, the will of George REYNOLDS, Ann or John MAYO and > > what about poor Frank FELDWICK. ???? > > Any suggestions to arrive at the proof of the puzzle? > > Anyone researching any of these families? > > Robin in West Oz > > > > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ >