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yes i agree jan..witton is massive and even with the grave numbers can prove very hard to locate..
i was just looking at the 1949 electoral rolls for burbury st and i see that along with fanny and henry blewer fannys hubby william is living there..he is down as william J S dalton..just another observation
ignore my post 31 i have just looked at the 1921 census and fanny is living with her dad and 2 young children (no sign of hubby) one of which is william J S dalton aged 1 year so the william J S dalton on the 1949 electoral rolls is fannys son not her hubby...sorry about that
yes i agree jan..witton is massive and even with the grave numbers can prove very hard to locate..
i was just looking at the 1949 electoral rolls for burbury st and i see that along with fanny and henry blewer fannys hubby william is living there..he is down as william J S dalton..just another observation
That would be William John Stanley Dalton, My grandfather I'm hoping this timeline below makes sense! It's unbelievable how confusing this has been, albeit a lot of fun.
September 1889: William is born illegitimate to Minnie Dalton and takes her maiden name. Minnie subsequently lives with Henry Handley, and William is raised alongside several Handley half-siblings.
1894: Fanny Roberts is born to John Thomas Roberts, a wheelwright.
5 January 1913: William Dalton (23), working as a tinplater, marries Fanny Roberts (20) at St Stephen's Church, Birmingham. Both reside at 1 Albert Place, Hospital Street. William lists his father as "Edward Dalton" (highly likely a cover for his illegitimacy). The witnesses are James Everill and Mary Eliza Hadley (likely Handley).
Late 1916 / Early 1917: Fanny gives birth to their first child, Jessie Dalton.
1919: William operates a possible burglary ring from a base at 29 Rodway Street. He potentially uses the alias "George Frederick Everill" on the electoral register. His 22-year-old half-brother, John Handley, lives at the same address. This is still to be investigated further.
Autumn 1919: William's gang breaks into Messrs. Warr Ltd on Key Hill in the Jewellery Quarter.
Late 1919: William and a 56-year-old accomplice, William Hoar, attempt to break into Harry Friend’s jewellers on Soho Hill using a false key. Three lookouts flee the scene. William is later arrested by detectives inside his home at 29 Rodway Street and officially charged under the name William Dalton.
Aug/Sept 1919: Fanny falls pregnant exactly when William was at the absolute height of his criminal operations.
May 1920: Fanny gives birth to their son, William J.S. Dalton. William is officially convicted at the Birmingham Assizes, labelled a "Habitual Criminal," and sent to HM Prison Camp Hill/Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight for preventive detention until 1928.
19 June 1921: With William locked away on the Isle of Wight, Fanny (27) is forced to move back in with her 66-year-old father, John Thomas Roberts. They are living at No 2 Court 52, Farm Street, Birmingham. Fanny is listed as Married and working as a Capstan Hand at the Lucas Ltd factory to support 4.5 year old Jessie and 1 year old William J.S.
15 August 1928: William's penal sentence expires. He is certified as "Insane" and transferred directly from the prison system to Winson Green Mental Hospital (All Saints) in Birmingham, or as it's listed on his 1919 conviction Birmingham City Mental Hospital, Winston Green (sp?)
1929: Fanny has subsequently moved on and gives birth to a daughter, June Blewer, with her new partner, Henry Blewer.
September 1939: The 1939 Register is taken. Fanny and Henry Blewer are living at 235 Burbury Street, running a shop. Due to the law, Fanny is still officially recorded as "Married" under the surname Dalton with an occupation as grocer, while Henry is listed as "Single." with an occupation of shop keeper.
My thoughts...
There's an 8 year black hole between the 1921 Census (where Fanny is living with her father on Farm Street) and the birth of June Blewer in 1929.
Did Henry Blewer work at Lucas Ltd alongside Fanny?
Was he a neighbour in the Farm Street or Hospital Street area?
Did they only get together after William was transferred to the asylum in August 1928, or was the relationship already quietly blossoming while he was locked away on the Isle of Wight after 1919?
I'm also looking to find June's 1929 birth certificate. The address listed on that certificate will pinpoint exactly where they set up their first home together I'm thinking....
Then when William Dalton Sr enters the asylum in August 1928, the paper trail goes completely dark for him. Pinning down the exact year he died within those walls remains another final hurdle.
It also appears William J S Dalton, my grandfather served in World War 2, records scarce though!
The reason you can't find William on All Saints records will be due to the 100 year confidentiality rule.
He entered in 1928 less than 100 years ago so any records will be "closed"
to add to janices above posts and in answer to your question if henry and fanny worked together at joseph lucas ..we know fanny was working there in 1921 and living in farm st but at that time henry was still living in hospital st with his parents and working as an iron welder for a company in porchester st which is off farm st but of course henry could have worked for lucas after 1921
I'm hoping this timeline below makes sense! It's unbelievable how confusing this has been, albeit a lot of fun. 