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Frank King

N

Nevil

proper brummie kid
My maternal grandfather was Frank King. Apparently he was associated with Bingley Hall boxing club. No record of his death or birth can be found, but he probably died around 1943/1944. He had been in the navy and had boxed for them. The possible reason why there are no records of him is that he changed his name. Family legend is that he was a member of the Lowe family haulage company. He had eight children with my maternal grandmother Lizzie (Elizabeth) King nee Witherford. Their children's names are including my mother Fred, Joe, Beryl, Kath, Brenda, Neville, Madeline and Walter. Can anyone she'd some light on Frank King?
 
Is that not his death registered Sep qtr 1945, Leicester?

Who does he list as his father on his marriage?
 
Thanks for the reply. I could not find any record of marriage. My mother said he died when she was 14. She was born in 1931. So his death could be 1945.
 
I do have a record of a marriage to Archibald Whitehead. They had a son Howard. It is possible that she was still married to him, as that happened on my paternal side. My paternal grandfather fathering 10 children with 2 women.
 
If she was still married to him that would explain why she never married Frank.

So was you grandfather not born as Frank King?

Taking the 1939 register details at face value his birth is 3rd Apr 1899. There are 3 Frank Kings, no middle name registered Jun qtr 1899. You can probably rule out 2 (Wellingborough & Reading) leaving 1 in Saffron Walden.

However, there's a marriage for a Frank King to a Lucy E Towers in Leicester. Is she the mother of his other 2 children? What's interesting is that on the 1939 register she appears to be living with family (no Frank) but with them is a William A King. This William King has a brother Frank, birth year is slightly out but more than a coincidence?
 
Archibald Whitehead married Lizzie Witherford in 1920 in 1939 living

LongmoorRoad , Sutton Coldfield b 6th aug 1899 says status Married working at Fort Dunlop
with him is Margaret D Whitehead b 1924 mother Witherford.

The other children b Whitehead /Witherford are
Leslie 1922, Lilian V 1923, Howard 1926.
The twins Frederick /Joseph b are registered both Whitehead/Witherford and King/Witherford. in 1928
 
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Reactions: MWS
Thank you very much Alberta. That information is amazing. I don't think my mother knew that Howard was a half brother, and she certainly never knew about the other children. The reason why I asked about Frank King is that I have inoperable bowel cancer and don't know how long I have left. It would have been nice to solve the enigma of Frank King. We found out that my paternal grandfather was a bigamist. Do you know if I can look at the Leicester Mercury archives?
 
I tried looking here but I don't think it reaches the dates you want.

Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive

Whether you are a researcher, historian or you simply want to know more about Britain's history, take this fantastic opportunity to search The British Newspaper Archive - a vast treasure trove of historical newspapers from your own home.
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Just realised Leicester Daily Mercury seems to be on to 1950
 
Sorry, to hear of your cancer.

If he didn't marry your grandmother (which atm it appears that he didn't) then he wouldn't have been a bigamist.

Archibald also seems to have had a son with the woman he was with on the 1939 register. She is listed as Whitehead on her death but I can't see any marriage for them either. Archibald may then married a Lily Alcock in 1960. Not sure (if him) if that means he and your grandmother were divorced by then.

Is any of info I put in post #6 (above) relevant?
 
MWS said:
If she was still married to him that would explain why she never married Frank.

So was you grandfather not born as Frank King?

Taking the 1939 register details at face value his birth is 3rd Apr 1899. There are 3 Frank Kings, no middle name registered Jun qtr 1899. You can probably rule out 2 (Wellingborough & Reading) leaving 1 in Saffron Walden.

However, there's a marriage for a Frank King to a Lucy E Towers in Leicester. Is she the mother of his other 2 children? What's interesting is that on the 1939 register she appears to be living with family (no Frank) but with them is a William A King. This William King has a brother Frank, birth year is slightly out but more than a coincidence?
Click to expand...
Thank you for taking such an interest. It is quite humbling. I spoke to my auntie Brenda just before she died and she said that he was born Frank Lowe and had left his family who owned the Lowe haulage business.
 
pjmburns said:
I tried looking here but I don't think it reaches the dates you want.

Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive

Whether you are a researcher, historian or you simply want to know more about Britain's history, take this fantastic opportunity to search The British Newspaper Archive - a vast treasure trove of historical newspapers from your own home.
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Just realised Leicester Daily Mercury seems to be on to 1950
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. The reason why it might be worth looking at the archives is that Frank apparently died while cycling and got hit by a bus. This was when the family was living at Farm Close. Such a violent death surely would have made it into the local newspaper.
 
MWS said:
Sorry, to hear of your cancer.

If he didn't marry your grandmother (which atm it appears that he didn't) then he wouldn't have been a bigamist.

Archibald also seems to have had a son with the woman he was with on the 1939 register. She is listed as Whitehead on her death but I can't see any marriage for them either. Archibald may then married a Lily Alcock in 1960. Not sure (if him) if that means he and your grandmother were divorced by then.

Is any of info I put in post #6 (above) relevant?
Click to expand...
Yes thank you.
 
Nevil said:
Thank you for taking such an interest. It is quite humbling. I spoke to my auntie Brenda just before she died and she said that he was born Frank Lowe and had left his family who owned the Lowe haulage business.
Click to expand...

Ok, so you mentioned 10 children with 2 women. Do you know anything of the children he didn't have with your grandmother?
 
Firstly here's a link to the Leicestershire archives, which has copies of the Leicester Mercury and possibly electoral rolls. I'm not sure if you able to get there but there's contact details at the bottom.

www.recordoffice.org.uk

Welcome - The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland

The Record Office exists to preserve and provide access to a wide range of resources on the history and culture of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.
www.recordoffice.org.uk www.recordoffice.org.uk
 
If he was born Frank Lowe then there are only 3 registrations that match his 1939 dob and I can rule out all of them. Could your aunt have got her story wrong? Family stories do have tendency to drift over time.

I'm still curious about the Frank King that married Lucy Towers. On the 1939 register Lucy lists herself as married and when she dies in 1958 she is listed as a widow on her probate. There are only 3 registrations in Leicester for a Frank King between those dates, two I can rule out and the other is the one who dies in 1945.

It's still a bit of a leap but atm I can't see anything else.
 
May I just clarify something?
In post #1 it says Frank was involved with Bingley Hall boxing club. I assumed he lived in Birmingham. We now seem to be looking in Leicester - is this because there is a possible marriage and death there?
Where is Farm Close?
 
Farm Close is in Leicester. It's unknown where Frank was born or even if his name was King.

Lizzie Edith Witherford was born in Selly Oak and had a number of children reg Bham (with her husband) before going off with Frank. Frank and Lizzie's children are all reg. in Leicestershire and they are there in 1939.

So, as Lizzie lived in Bham and if Frank was involved in Bingley Hall it's probable they met here but no certainty he was born or lived here.
 
pjmburns said:
May I just clarify something?
In post #1 it says Frank was involved with Bingley Hall boxing club. I assumed he lived in Birmingham. We now seem to be looking in Leicester - is this because there is a possible marriage and death there?
Where is Farm Close?
Click to expand...
Yes. You are right. They moved to Leicester, and Farm Close is in Leicester.
 
MWS said:
If he was born Frank Lowe then there are only 3 registrations that match his 1939 dob and I can rule out all of them. Could your aunt have got her story wrong? Family stories do have tendency to drift over time.

I'm still curious about the Frank King that married Lucy Towers. On the 1939 register Lucy lists herself as married and when she dies in 1958 she is listed as a widow on her probate. There are only 3 registrations in Leicester for a Frank King between those dates, two I can rule out and the other is the one who dies in 1945.

It's still a bit of a leap but atm I can't see anything else.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that information. I really appreciate your help.
 
MWS said:
Farm Close is in Leicester. It's unknown where Frank was born or even if his name was King.

Lizzie Edith Witherford was born in Selly Oak and had a number of children reg Bham (with her husband) before going off with Frank. Frank and Lizzie's children are all reg. in Leicestershire and they are there in 1939.

So, as Lizzie lived in Bham and if Frank was involved in Bingley Hall it's probable they met here but no certainty he was born or lived here.
Click to expand...
I can safely say that Frank lived with the family at Farm Close. The way my mother described him, he was a real character. Unfortunately he liked a drink and got locked up for d&d quite often. My mother used to go and visit him at the local police station.
 
I would like to thank everyone who has responded to my posts. Here are two photos of Frank King. One in his naval uniform, which was part of a much bigger crew photograph. When I was young and used to visit my Nan in Leicester, there were photos of Frank wearing his boxing belts, which I assume he won while boxing for the navy. Many Thanks to you all.DSC01522.jpgimg006.jpg
 
Nevil said:
My maternal grandfather was Frank King. Apparently he was associated with Bingley Hall boxing club. No record of his death or birth can be found, but he probably died around 1943/1944. He had been in the navy and had boxed for them. The possible reason why there are no records of him is that he changed his name. Family legend is that he was a member of the Lowe family haulage company. He had eight children with my maternal grandmother Lizzie (Elizabeth) King nee Witherford. Their children's names are including my mother Fred, Joe, Beryl, Kath, Brenda, Neville, Madeline and Walter. Can anyone she'd some light on Frank King?
Click to expand...
Hi I don't how to begin this I think I'm your cousin. My dad was Neville King. I've the same photo of Frank King (my Grandad)and have been told the same stories. I knew Auntie Brenda, Auntie Kath and Madeline. I knew Auntie Beryl moved to Wales. Please text or phone x Thinking of you Debbie x
 
Sadly, it appears Nevil has passed away...

www.southwalesargus.co.uk

nevil olufsen

OLUFSEN Nevil Also Known as Nevil Parry Sadly passed away at St. David's Hospice, Blackett Close, Malpas. My most Darling Husband to grieve stricken…
www.southwalesargus.co.uk www.southwalesargus.co.uk

Rip Nevill
 
MWS said:
Sadly, it appears Nevil has passed away...

www.southwalesargus.co.uk

nevil olufsen

OLUFSEN Nevil Also Known as Nevil Parry Sadly passed away at St. David's Hospice, Blackett Close, Malpas. My most Darling Husband to grieve stricken…
www.southwalesargus.co.uk www.southwalesargus.co.uk

Rip Nevill
Click to expand...
Omg I'm devastated.I have been trawling the Internet for years using my Dads name Neville King!! I should have used my Grandad Frank the Rascal by the sounds of it. I know for certain we originate from BRUM. Farm Close is where my Dad lived when we celebrated VE day as he painted it on the wall. My Grandma Elizabeth Witherford was an inspiration. I lived with her for a while when I was young when she lived in Eyres Monsell. To know that people are intrigued and interested in my Family is amazing! If I can help in any way please ask x
If any member of Nevil's Family wish to get in touch I would love that.x
Much Love
Debbie Spencer nee King !!
 
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