The man with two surnames: Findmypast expert user Colin Simmons uncovers bigamy and deceit in his family tree
2-3 minute read
By The Findmypast Team | December 8, 2015
Colin Simmons has been involved in genealogy and local history for the last 15 years. He has had five books published and enjoys finding out more about his ancestors and the world they lived in. He is married with two children who he likes to annoy with his saxophone playing.
My grandmother told me that her grandfather said that he could use two surnames, Penn and Tracey. But what did that mean? I got hold of my great grandfather's birth certificate and it said Frank Edward Penn Tracey, with his parents listed as Charles Tracey and Alice Betsy Augusta Brown. I looked up the wedding certificate, and had no luck under Tracey, but under Penn there was a match for 1886.
On 8th November 1886 at All Saints, Warwick, Charles married Alice Betsy Augusta Brown. It showed he was a soldier so I found his service record.
As a soldier, he used the surname of Penn. Charles was a farm labourer in 1881, but on 15th December 1881 he enlisted into the Prince Consort's Own) (Rifle Brigade). He enlisted in Cork, Ireland. The Rifle Brigade was also known as the Royal Green Jackets. When he enlists he uses the name of Charles Tracey.
When he enlisted he was 19 years old, was 5ft 4 ½ inches tall, weighed 120 lbs, his chest measured 34 inches, his complexion was sallow, he had grey eyes and brown hair, and his faith was recorded as "Church of England". For the rest of 1882 Charles was based in Cork, Ireland. In 1883 he was stationed Curragh, Ireland. By 1884 he was moved to Aldershot, Hampshire, where he remained until 1887, when he was discharged from the army deemed physically unfit.
In his six years in the army he was off sick for a total of 6 months for palpitations, gonorrhea, boil, full of glands, and depression. He was discharged, 3 May 1887 in Woolwich, Kent, England. His character on discharge was indifferent, however he received two good conduct pays in his service.
"In his six years in the army he was off sick for a total of 6 months for palpitations, gonorrhoea, boil, full of glands, and depression
"
In the census records from 1891, Charles uses the surname Tracey. Something clearly occurred between 1886 and 1891,m and when I checked online I found Charles had been sentenced to 18 months hard labour for feloniously marrying Alice Brown during his wife's lifetime.
In the local paper it said that his first wife (his real wife) Fanny had found out and had reported him to the authorities. What was interesting was that both wives may have known of each other, they both came from Leamington and were of a similar age.
Penn was his birth name but his step fathers surname was Tracey. However it would seem his mum had the same problem of marrying multiple times and not getting divorced from previous marriages, although she was not caught. Later in life he rejoined the army (not declaring he has served before) and using the surname of Tracey this time.
He stayed with Alice until she died (they had 6 children). He then remarried again for the third or second time?
Colin Simmons discovers incredible recordings left by his grandfather
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