Robert Hutchinson

Robert Hutchinson was born in Seaham Harbour on 23 October 1837 to Mary Hutchinson, a "singlewoman".

The 1837 birth certificate specifically states that Robert was a "bastard", and no mention of a father is made on the birth certificate.

Robert Hutchinson married Alice Defty in Monkwearmouth on 28th February 1859. The marriage certificate records that Robert (aged 21) was employed as a waterman. His father is named as a Turner Hutchinson and Alice's father as Henry Defty (shoemaker).

Given that Robert's birth certificate makes no mention of a Turner Hutchinson and that Hutchinson was clearly the maiden name of his mother Mary, then it is more than possible that the name of the Robert's father on the marriage certificate may have been manufactured. To lend support to this argument, a thorough search for a Turner Hutchinson has been made in any number of records without any success.

By 1871, Robert was employed as a labourer. The 1871 census shows him and his family living at 385 Hardwicke Street in Monkwearmouth Shore:

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/record/viewimage?recordid=gbc%2f1871...

By the time of the 1881 census, Robert, his wife Alice, several children, and adoptive father, Joseph Langman had all moved to 7 Bonners Field in Monkwearmouth. Robert had changed employment and was now working as a puddler in an iron works:

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/record/viewimage?recordid=gbc%2f1881...