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ErikaH
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12 Apr 2026 18:50 |
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The MMN on the son’s birth is clear.
Have you looked for Ellen in censuses pre-1901?
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Jinet
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12 Apr 2026 18:39 |
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Hi Erika,
Yes Ive Ernest Clifford Neve's he has a completely different Mother and father unknown. John Joseph took him before his mother Esther Ruth Neve sailed for New Zealand to join her husband. Whilst her husband was abroad she had an affair with her boss said to be a relative or was indeed John Joseph May.
Grace b. 1897 in Bath Somerset - I haven't been able to find any registration to order a birth certificate.
JOhn William Eward May b. 1901 in Cramlington - Mother Ellen May nee Serle.
Ellen it appears to have passed herself off as being married to John Joseph taking his name as it appears on her Death Certificate. and John William's birth certificate.
As she was 28 when Grace was born I wonder if she had been married before and so Serle is/was her married surname before May. I also wonder if this is so, maybe he was also alive.
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ErikaH
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12 Apr 2026 17:53 |
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Yes, that’s what I found :-S :-S
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Jinet
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12 Apr 2026 17:50 |
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In the 1911 Census John Joseph appears with his new wife following Ellen's death in 1907.
John Joseph May
Age in 1911 51
Estimated Birth Year abt 1860
Relation to Head Head
Gender Male
Birth Place N C On Tyne, Northumberland, England
Civil parish Gateshead
County/Island Durham
Country England
Street Address 14 Hillgate Gateshead On Tyne
Marital Status Married
Occupation General Labourer
Registration District Number 557
Sub-registration district Gateshead
ED, institution, or vessel 33
Piece 30443
Household members
Name Age
John Joseph May 51
Mary Elizebeth May 31
John William Eward May 10
Ethel Margret May 5
William Charlton 20
Ernest Clifford appears in the 1911 Census as follows:
Ernest Clifford May
Age in 1911 20
Estimated Birth Year abt 1891
Relation to Head Boarder
Gender Male
Birth Place Nk
Civil parish Cramlington
County/Island Northumberland
Country England
Street Address 6 Double Junction Row Cramlington
Marital Status Single
Occupation Coal Miner
Registration District Number 559
Sub-registration district Cramlington
ED, institution, or vessel 04
Piece 30841
Household members
Name Age
Henry Langman 56
Mary Camilla Langman 54
Franas Ellen Langman 23
John Henry Langman 20
Eveline Langman 17
Edith Langman 15
Sidney James Langman 9
Ernest Clifford May 20
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Jinet
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12 Apr 2026 17:46 |
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ErikaH
According to his birth certificate John William Eward May - mother Ellen May nee Serle.
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ErikaH
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12 Apr 2026 17:36 |
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Ernest wasn’t with them in 1911, he’d been left with the next-door neighbours from 1901
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ErikaH
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12 Apr 2026 17:31 |
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The son John William E was registered in 1901………find the record on the GRO site to confirm MMN
The GRO site is FREE
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Jinet
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12 Apr 2026 17:13 |
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Apologies its Ellen Serle
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Jinet
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12 Apr 2026 17:12 |
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Then in 1906 John Joseph himself marries:
Mary Elizabeth Charlton
Registration Year 1906
Registration Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District Newcastle upon Tyne
Inferred County Northumberland
Volume 10b
Page 278
Household members
Name Age
Mary Elizabeth Charlton
John Joseph May
I don't have a death for him sadly.
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Jinet
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12 Apr 2026 17:08 |
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She appears in the 1891 Census:
Dorothy May
Gender Female
Age 27
Relationship Servant
Birth Year 1864
Birth Place Gateshead, Durham, England
Civil parish Gateshead
Residence Place Gateshead, Durham, England
Registration District Gateshead
Sub registration district Gateshead
ED, Institution or Vessel 28
Neighbors View others on page
Piece 4180
Folio 43
Household members
Name Age
Joseph Percival 39
Edith Percival 9
Dorothy May 27
Robert Percival 3
This relationship didn't last sadly, and so in the 1911 Census we have her re-married
Dorothy May
Registration Year 1911
Registration Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration District Gateshead
Inferred County Durham
Volume 10a
Page 1229
Household members
Name Age
Robert Daley
Dorothy May
Dorothy Daily
Age in 1911 46
Estimated Birth Year abt 1865
Relation to Head Boarder
Gender Female
Birth Place Gateshead
Civil parish Gateshead
County/Island Durham
Country England
Street Address 99 Providence Place Gateshead On Tyne
Marital Status Married
Occupation Housekeeper
Registration District Number 557
Sub-registration district Gateshead
ED, institution, or vessel 36
Piece 30446
Household members
Name Age
Patrick Burke 52
Alena Burke 41
Margaret Burke 12
Dorothy Daily 46
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ErikaH
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12 Apr 2026 17:00 |
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If May ‘left’ his wife, he probably didn’t marry Ellen. Or Emily……….which is correct, please?
What happened to the first wife?
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Jinet
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12 Apr 2026 15:42 |
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Hi,
Im returning after a long spell and struggling to find the details of a relative.
In the 1901 Census Ellen May b. 1866 in Bristol, Somerset. She then appears in the Death Records for 1905 in Cramlington. I sent for her Death Certificate which shows she was Ellen Serle.
I cannot find her birth or Marriage to my Grt Grt Grandfather John Joseph May b. 1859 in Newcastle. He left his first wife c.1888 (Dorothy nee Armitage) I cannot find him in the 1891 Census.
I know the took custody of a baby boy Ernest Clifford Neve (May) b. 1891 in Longwood, Norfolk in 1892 after Ernest's mother left for New Zealand leaving her baby with John Joseph.
Emily and John Joseph in the 1901 Census have a daughter Grace b. 1897 Bath, Somerset. Ernest Clifford also appears aged 10 yrs.
I suspect she may have been married before and Serle is not her maiden name.
I am unable to send for birth Certificate. for Grace as I cannot find a birth for her either, which would hopefully help.
Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated
Jinet
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