This family  – parents George Hutchings (1832-1898) &  Elizabeth Sarah Edwards(1840-?) – was one of the first I investigated when I started family history research about 10 years ago.  In those days it was difficult to access information and I was a novice, so research was slow and painstaking and results not always accurate (a bit of guessing went on I must admit).

I have often felt that I should relook at the work I did then and check it for accuracy – nowadays, so much more information is available online and many people share their family histories.  It was while looking at some of these that I have come across information (accuracy not yet confirmed) which has reinforced these feelings. so, back to George & Elizabeth….

First of all, they were not married.  I have found no record of a marriage , which backs up the information that my mother gave me – ie  – that they did not believe in marriage, but stayed together as a couple  for 40 plus years. The interesting bit comes when I look at the birth registrations of their children – the earlier ones were registered both as Hutchings and Edwards with both names appearing on birth certificates and in the GRO Birth Index.  The later children (including my grandfather Aaron) were registered only as Edwards and the father is not named on the birth certificates. 

This in itself, whilst peculiar, proves nothing.  However, my oldest sister Mary remembers talk of some scandal concerning the parentage of Aaron etc and reckons an Irish eel fisherman was involved somewhere along the line.  Moreover, my mother did once mention to my other sister Irene that there was an Irish connection in the family somewhere – she later denied this and I have found no evidence of it so far, but it makes me wonder.

I have checked this story out with our only cousin from this side ie Jeff Pobgee, who knew nothing about it –  but did coin some lovely advice which makes me giggle whenever I think of it  – ie  -“beware of Irishmen bearing eels”. 

However, given all the factors above, I think this bears further investigation, so I shall do the following-

1. check with Mary and Irene again about  their recollections

2. check with Jeff again to see if he has any family background info which may help

3. investigate each of the children involved to reconfirm details of birth, also their later histories – perhaps this story of the Irishman also exists in some descendants’ families

4. Look in censuses more closely to try to find itinerant Irish fishermen – certainly, the Hoo peninsula was home to many fishing vessels.