Genealogy Chat

How valid is it to accept somewhat circumstantial evidence in geneology? I've been trying to break down my family brickwall for a number of years. My Gt Grandfather John Henry Gater bn Hampstead 1 August 1893 (according to death cert-died 1977). Married Mabel Bettyes 1919-Hampstead, named father as Frank Gater painter decorator/deceased on his wedding cert. A witness to the wedding is a Francis Gater. I have found records of Frank Gater/painter decorator in 1891 census with a son Francis and daughter Maude and wife Mary Ann nee Yates, all in NW London. Later census just show Mary Ann, Maude and Francis no John Henry and no Frank. Frank Gater when he was married was a soldier my gt grandfather was a soldier before and during WW1. First official evidence I can find of John Henry Gater is his medal card which shows he enlisted in 1915. I have completed all searches imaginable for JH Gater; looking at births over 10 yr period, even military births. Gater is an unsual name so how much weight should i give to this Frank Gater painter decorator in NW london being same Frank Gater painter decorator/deceased named on JH Gater wedding cert? Any thoughts?

Marie,

Your post is a bit hard to read. Hope you don't mind but I have broken it up a bit which might help understand what is going on.

How valid is it to accept somewhat circumstantial evidence in geneology?

I've been trying to break down my family brickwall for a number of years. My Gt Grandfather John Henry Gater bn Hampstead 1 August 1893 (according to death cert-died 1977). Married Mabel Bettyes 1919-Hampstead, named father as Frank Gater painter decorator/deceased on his wedding cert.

A witness to the wedding is a Francis Gater. I have found records of Frank Gater/painter decorator in 1891 census with a son Francis and daughter Maude and wife Mary Ann nee Yates, all in NW London. Later census just show Mary Ann, Maude and Francis no John Henry and no Frank.

Frank Gater when he was married was a soldier my gt grandfather was a soldier before and during WW1. First official evidence I can find of John Henry Gater is his medal card which shows he enlisted in 1915. I have completed all searches imaginable for JH Gater; looking at births over 10 yr period, even military births.

Gater is an unsual name so how much weight should i give to this Frank Gater painter decorator in NW london being same Frank Gater painter decorator/deceased named on JH Gater wedding cert?

Any thoughts?

Thanks...it reads better now, i shouldnt have had that glass of wine!

Do you have John Henry's birth certificate? I can't find him on FreeBMD

EDIT: how stupid am I! Didn't read the last bit thoroughly!

It seems you haven't found his birth index so don't know his parents for sure. Is that right?

Ozi.

yeah thats right...cant find his birth anywhere!

Have you found Frank/Francis on the 1901 census?

Is this lot a possibility?

1911
GATER MARY F 1866 45 Hampstead London
GATER JOHN ANDREW M 1894 17 Hampstead London
GATER DOROTHY ELIZABETH F 1905 6 Hampstead London

!901 Census
Mary Ann Gater 40 M bn London,paddington
Maud Gater dau 14 bn london,paddington
29 Granville Rd, Willesden, London

Frank Gater
27 Granville Rd, willesden, 16 Paddington, London



There was the another entry on 1901 census that said '_Gater re to head null emp undefined address 29 Granville Rd', Willesden. This would suggest someone else lived there but error in recording?

Willesden is where John Henry lived and died.

I have Francis Gater birth cert which said his parents were living in 8 Cottage Rd, Kilburn in 1884 when he was born;names parents as Mary Ann Gater nee Yates, father Francis Gater House painter.

Mary and Francis wedding cert of Aug 1 1881 states they were living at 1 York Row they got married at Church of St Michael and all Angels, paddington and middlesex, Mary was 21 and Francis was 26.

I came across John Andrew Gater recently and this could be a possiblity but he doesnt have a birth registration either!

1911
GATER JOHN HENRY M 1898 13 Willesden Middlesex

Seems to be with a Walter George & family. It doesn't necessarily mean he was his son.

Looks like he was.

1901 England Census
Name: John H Gater
Age: 3
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1898
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Walter G
Mother's Name: Ada
Gender: Male
Where born: Clerkenwell, London, England
Civil Parish: Willesden
Ecclesiastical parish: Kensal Rise St John
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Registration district: Hendon
Sub-registration district: Willesden
ED, institution, or vessel: 35
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 217
Household Members:
Name Age
Walter G Gater 37
Ada Gater 28
Walter F Gater 10
Edward P Gater 7
Sidney W Gater 6
John H Gater 3
Florence A A Gater 1

ozibird, thanks for that search. sadly i thought that was the missing link sometime ago esp since my gt uncle john henry's son is called Walter George but have subsequently looked into further and John Henry Gater son of Walter and Ada died when he was in his early 30's.
Thanks anyway

Thanks Von, but no John in that family...but who knows could have changed his name.

would any genealogist give weight to my circumstantial evidence? When I watch So Do you think your Royal? they seem too...or is that just for TV appeal!

Von
Could be but no way of confirming that..im hoping the red cross WW1 records that have recently been discovered may help but its likely to take years before they are accessible..i've been trying to break this brick wall since 2000 so few more years wont hurt!
Thanks
Marie

How about

Births Dec 1898
CATOR John Hampstead 1a 627

Joan

Thanks but i checked deaths on freebmd and there is a death registration for John Cator so it cant be him

What about this birth:-

Name: John Henry Gater
Year of Registration: 1897
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Holborn
County: London, Middlesex
Volume: 1b
Page: 680

The year is wrong but whoever registered his death may not have been certain of his year of birth. It's registered in the right quarter of the year for his birth to be 1st August.

Kath. x

It's worth pointing out he's just John Gater when he marries.

Rose