Chris Paton

AbOuT The experTS
Over the past few months, we’ve been asking you to send us
your family history problems and enquiries. The response has
been astounding!
So, we collected together 50 of your most pressing queries,
and put them to some of our professional genealogists
and historians. Whether you asked a question or not, their
responses will show you how to get around family history’s
most frustrating roadblocks.
Anthony Adolph has been a professional genealogist for almost 20 years. Alongside his
day job helping people trace their roots, he’s presented TV shows such as Gene Detectives and extraordinary
Ancestors; and written books including Collins’ Tracing Your Family history.
Doreen Hopwood is a professional genealogist for the City of birmingham. She
regularly talks at family history events around the country, and lectures in social history at birmingham
university.
Chris Paton is an expert in english, Scottish and Irish family history. he runs the Scotland’s
Greatest Story research service, and is currently writing the book Tracing Your Family history on the Internet,
for publication in March 2011.
Paul Reed is one of the uK’s leading military historians. he has written books on both World
Wars, and contributes regularly to family history magazines. he also works as a historical consultant for the
bbC, on programmes including Who Do You Think You Are? and My Family At War.
COnTenTS
Section one - Family history basics ............................................................................................................ pAGe 3
Section two - Delving Deeper .......................................................................................................................pAGe 9
Section three - Military Forebears ............................................................................................................. pAGe 15
Section four - Looking Abroad .................................................................................................................... pAGe 19
pAGe 2

Family History Basics
Fill in those frustrating gaps in
censuses and birth, marriage and death records
WIThOuT A TrACe: “I’m stuck. My greatgrandfather
Charles Robert Middleditch was born in
1839 in Saffron Walden, Essex. I can find him in the 1841,
1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses, and he married Mary Ann
Bunton between January and March 1860. In the 1881
Census, Mary Middleditch is shown as a widow living in
Wimbish Essex.
I’ve searched in vain for a death or burial record between
1871 and 1881. I’ve also looked for emigration, prisoner
and probate records, without success. I’m starting to
assume that he didn’t die in the 1871-1881 decade but
disappeared for some reason.” -Ray Grainger
Charles is noted in the 1871 census as a farmer and
beer seller at potash Farm and beer house. he’s
therefore likely to be listed in the county directories
for essex at Ancestry.co.uk – try to follow his listings
each year from 1871 to 1881 to see if and when the
listings suddenly cease. That may narrow down the
date of death, or a possible date when he sold up,
though bear in mind trade directories were usually
a year out of date by the time they were published.
It’s also worth checking for an obituary in local
newspapers – ask at the nearest record office.
It may also be that his death was simply missed in
the General register Office (GrO) indexes. Contact
the local superintendent registrar’s offices in essex to
see if they can check the local death register for you
– radwinter will most likely be covered by the one in
Saffron Walden. -Chris Paton
hACKInG ArOunD: “My grandfather Thomas
David Hacking, born in 1890, was illegitimate. His name
was also misspelt as Ackinley. His death in 1957 is
recorded twice, under both Hacking and Ackinley.
On his birth certificate, his mother is Mary Jane Hacking,
formerly Carr. I’ve traced her in the censuses as Carr,
and then as Hacking living with a Tom Jolliffe. However,
I can’t trace where the Hacking comes from – there’s no
marriage. Can you help?” -Mavis Hunt
The 1891 Census shows that Mary was a 29-year-old
housekeeper to Thomas Joliffe at 17 Jackin Street
in Cleckheaton, Lancashire. She was also noted as
single and born in burnley, Lancashire, as was her
six-year-old daughter Mary ellen hacking. Although
his birth was registered in bradford, one-year-old
son Thomas was noted as having been born in
Cleckheaton.
Daughter Mary’s birth is registered in the official
indexes in the fourth quarter of 1883 in blackburn
(volume. 8e, page 498). You should order her birth
certificate, as this may supply additional information
on her mother. If this also says she was formerly
known as Carr, it may mean that Mary Jane had her
name changed as a child. You could then look for a
much earlier marriage between a Carr and a hacking,
and earlier evidence in birth indexes and censuses of
a Mary Jane Carr in the burnley area.
-Chris Paton
prObLeMS AT bIrTh: “I’m trying to find
the birth certificate of my grandmother Esther Eaton,
born according to family information on 16 April 1866
in Palmers Green, Middlesex. I have no idea who her
parents were. I’ve searched 1865, 1866 and 1867 with no
luck.
pAGe 3

I’ve also tried to find a marriage certificate, as I know she
went to live with a James Brown who had already been
married, and at the time changed her name to Esther
Brown. My family said that some 25 years after the first
wife left they got married. What would you suggest I do
next besides tearing my hair out?” -Jo Knott
esther is shown as ‘estha’ in the 1871 Census at
hazelwood Lane, edmonton, 5 years old and born
in palmers Green, Middlesex. Also present are her
father Joseph, a 48 year old labourer from Southgate,
mother Sarah, 47, and several siblings. even with
this information I’ve been unable to find a GrO birth
index entry for esther, or a baptism entry in the
London parish record collections at
Ancestry.co.uk.
You could order the birth certificates of one of
esther’s siblings – this will provide her mother’s
surname. If esther was still alive in 1939, and you
know her address, you could obtain her details from
the national register, which will confirm her date of
birth and full name.
It’s possible that esther’s father Joseph married
in 1843; there’s a marriage for a Joseph eaton in
edmonton in the official indexes, with four possible
partners listed on the page – two being Sarah Fuller
and Sarah Satchell. -Chris Paton
nATurAL DISASTer: “During our childhood,
my sister and I were always told that my grandparents
were killed when a roof blew down during high winds.
They lived at 36 or 38 Kennedy Road, Weaste, Salford.
I’ve tried to get information via the Salford City Reporter,
but to no avail. This has been chipping away at us both
for most of our lives – please could you help?”
-William Glover
You need to find out when this tragic accident
happened, so start by working out when your
grandparents were last known to be alive – for
instance, see if they were witnesses at your parent’s
marriage by searching the marriage index at
Ancestry.co.uk, then ordering the certificate. If you
have an idea of when they were living on Kennedy
road, you can check the electoral registers at your
local archive to see when they were last listed at that
address. This information will help narrow down a
search of the death index – working forwards from
then.
You can then purchase their death certificates
which, as well as showing when and where they
died, will include the date and place of the inquest
and the name and jurisdiction of the coroner. If your
grandparents died before 1935, you should be able
to access any surviving coroner’s report. These have
a 75-year closure period, taken from the date of
the inquest. You’ll usually find reports at the record
office covering the coroner’s area. If the accident
happened less than 75 years ago, you can search
local newspapers for any reports. -Doreen Hopwood
ADOpTeD AT bIrTh: “My niece’s mother was
adopted at birth. She died in 1995, having never been
particularly interested in tracing her biological parents.
My niece would like to try and trace her mother’s family,
but all she has is a copy of the adoption certificate,
which shows a birth date of 23 June 1951, an adoption
date of 7th January 1952, and the court being Soke of
Peterborough Juvenile Court.
I’ve been told by the General Register Office that only her
mother would have been able to seek information and
that now she’s dead this is no longer possible. Does my
niece have any options open to her?” -Richard Appleton
My personal opinion is that people in your niece’s
situation have a moral right to know the true identity
of a deceased adopted parent. The last case like this
in which I was actively involved was in Scotland,
where the Sheriff’s Court that held the records took
the same view and released the information.
I advise your niece to approach the adoption section
of her local social services, explain that she’s the
next-of-kin of a deceased adopted person, and make
it clear that her reasons for wanting this information
include the need to know about her biological
ancestors’ medical history. If that fails, invoke the
Freedom of Information Act, or seek the support of
her Member of parliament: tell her never to give up.
pAGe 4

Alternatively, a child born on 23 June 1951 would
have been registered in the June or September
quarter of that year. The birth was probably in
peterborough. You could start with the birth Index,
then use the peterborough registrar’s records; it
should be possible (given time and money) to
identify all girls born there on that date, and from
that you could start to work out which may have
become your niece’s mother. -Anthony Adolph
MISSInG GrAnDMOTher: “I’m having
great difficulty tracing my grandmother. Her marriage
certificate says she was Annie Minnie Nolan, aged
22, and her father was Stephen (deceased), Doctor of
Medicine.
Her death certificate in 1933 gives her name as Minnie
Annie Nolan, aged 37. As there was a post mortem, I
contacted the Coroner’s Office. I was told the age on her
death certificate could be approximate, as the person
who gave it may not have known her actual age.
They also said the age on her marriage certificate should
be correct, as she would have had to show her birth
certificate when she got married. I’ve not been able
to find a birth certificate for her as the only one with
a birth year matching that on her marriage certificate
had a different father’s name. Please do you have any
suggestions?” -Jacqueline Aldridge
There are several record collections on Ancestry.
co.uk that you could search. Try the 1901 Census
first, as she would have been about four or five years
old then and presumably living with her parents.
At the time of her marriage she wouldn’t have been
asked to produce her birth certificate as proof of age,
but if either the bride or groom was under 21 (‘full
age’), parental consent would have been needed.
The official birth, Marriage and Death Indexes
only cover england and Wales, so if she was born
elsewhere (such as Ireland or Scotland), she won’t
appear there. however, as a doctor, Stephen should
be listed in the Medical registers, which are available
up to 1959, and his entry will include details of where
he had practised, so you should be able to find out
where Annie Minnie was born from these.
If Stephen died before his daughter, you may find
her listed as a beneficiary in his will, so also try the
national probate Calendar. -Doreen Hopwood
CAreer ChAnGe?: “I’m looking for any record
of my great-grandfather John Robinson before 1871
and have hit a complete brick wall. He was a master
bootmaker, born in Paddington between 1827 and 1830,
and lived from 1871 in Watford, Hertfordshire. In the
1871 Census he’s living with his wife Emma at 230 High
Street, Watford.
I’ve found a John Robinson in 1861 who says he was
born in Paddington and is a miner living in Long Benton,
Durham with his wife Elizabeth and 2 children. However,
I can’t find any record of this family in 1871. Also, I can’t
find any death records for any of the Long Benton family
after 1861.
Could these be the same John Robinson? Would it be
usual for someone at this time to change their profession
so dramatically and move away to a different part of the
country?” -Yvonne Robinson
A change from miner in Co. Durham in 1861 to
master bootmaker in hertfordshire in 1871 is
incredibly unlikely, but not actually impossible
(especially if John lied about being a ‘master’ of his
trade). Finding a miner in Durham who was born
in paddington is pretty unlikely too, especially as
robinson is a northern name, yet you’ve done that!
I would tackle this by ordering a birth certificate
for one of the children of John and Dorcas in
hertfordshire, and one of the children of John and
elizabeth in Durham. These will tell you the wives’
maiden names (and perhaps a little more about the
fathers into the bargain). Then, you can seek both
marriages in the official indexes, and see if the ages
and grooms’ fathers’ names match. If they do, you’re
well on your way to uncovering an unusual life story.
If not, and the Durham chap turns out to be a red
herring, I’d broaden the search for John in the earlier
censuses: instead of paddington, he may have said
he was born in Marylebone, or perhaps just ‘London’.
It is also possible that he was out of the country
altogether, though, serving in the army, perhaps, as
so many young men were at that stage. Try looking in
the 1841 Census for him as a boy with his parents in
Marylebone. -Anthony Adolph
pAGe 5

CerTIFICATe SeArCh: “Please can you help
me, as I’ve been trying track my grandfather down for
over two years. I have his marriage certificate to my
grandmother Edith Rowe, formerly Bates, dated 15
November 1928 in Camberwell. He was 29, son of Henry
Sheppard. They lived at 14 Anchor Lane, Peckham.
His death certificate, dated 13 May 1960 at Guy’s
Hospital, Southwark, gives his age as 59. My uncle thinks
his father was brought up in Nunhead, which would have
come under Camberwell. I keep drawing a blank when I
look for his birth certificate.” -Sue Myers
Your grandfather’s ages suggest a birth about
1900. The problem could lie simply in the several
different ways by which the surname can be spelled:
Shephard, Shepperd, Shepherd, Shepard, Shepeard,
Sheperd, Shepheard, Sheppherd or even Shippard
(and so on).
You can hone your searches by looking for him and
his family in the censuses – he may have been born
by 1901 – that would narrow down the period you
will have to search for him in the birth indexes. be
systematic, and compile a full list of possible births
under these different variants. To save money buying
certificates that may not be relevant, you can use
the censuses to seek the children concerned, and
eliminate any with the wrong fathers’ names.
-Anthony Adolph
neVer MArrIeD?: “I’m trying to trace my
grandparents, who, according to my mother’s birth
certificate were Thomas Armstrong and Gertrude,
formerly Whittaker. My mother was born on 23 July 1914
in Dalton in Furness, Lancashire. However, I can’t trace
a marriage between Thomas and Gertrude. Does this
mean they never married?”
-Christine Birkinshaw
Armstrong isn’t easily misspelled, but Whittaker
could be rendered Whitaker, Whittacker, Whitacre
and so on, so searching under variant spellings in
the marriage indexes may solve your problem. Many
people don’t search far back enough – you could go
as far back as 1894. In rare cases, couples claiming
to be married got married after the event, so a search
from 1914 up to, say, 1919 would be valid too.
Was Thomas a soldier in 1914? he probably became
one afterwards, in the Great War, and may have
been one earlier on, in the boer War, for example.
The General register Office’s Army marriages
contain many weddings usually overlooked by family
historians. You can search these indexes at London
Metropolitan Archives and several record offices and
libraries. Find out more. -Anthony Adolph
TrICKY JOb: “I’ve noticed on many census forms
the occupation ‘carman’. What exactly did this job
entail?” -Pat
Carmen were those who carried goods by road. In
the Middle Ages, this often entailed literally carrying
things about on your back, or using mules and carts.
In the 19th century, carmen usually had horses and
carts. As the railways developed, they tended to
congregate around railway stations, talking goods
on the final legs of their journeys to private houses,
factories and shops. -Anthony Adolph
LOST ShepherD?: “I’ve been unable to trace
a birth registration for my grandfather, John Shepherd,
who appears on the 1901 census as the son of Lewis and
Ellen Shepherd, born in London. His date of birth was 23
January 1900 and I think he was a Roman Catholic.
I’ve had no joy either from online sources or, indeed, from
the Tower Hamlets Register Office. Is there anywhere else
I can look? I’d really like to know Ellen’s maiden name, so
I can continue tracing that line.” -Susan Ingram
even though the registration of births became
compulsory in england and Wales in 1875, many
babies remained unregistered after this date. To find
out ellen’s maiden name, I suggest you search for the
births of any of John’s siblings. This will help you find
her marriage to Lewis/Louis Shepherd
You could also search for John’s baptism in the
registers of churches in the local Catholic Diocese –
check local record offices. his entry may include his
mother’s maiden name – or the godparents may have
been members of his maternal family.
pAGe 6

emember that the birth index is arranged in
strict alphabetical order, so check for any spelling
variations of Shepherd in case it was written down in
a different way. -Doreen Hopwood
WhO’S The DADDY?: “My wife’s natural
father, Joseph Brookes, married twice: once in 1930 and
again in 1932, following the death of his first wife. On
both certificates, his age suggests he was born in 1895,
and his father’s name is shown as Thomas Brookes,
deceased.
However, I have his birth certificate from 1888, which
gives his father’s name as William Brookes. Would he
have had to show legal proof of his age when he got
married? I’ve spent years searching for Joseph¸ and I
would be grateful for any advice.” -Derek Johnson
Joseph would not have been required to produce
proof of his age when he married in the 1930s as
he was over 21 years old – those aged between 16
and 20 were minors and needed to provide parental
consent. Age discrepancies on different documents
aren’t unusual – perhaps he ‘lost’ a few years
because he was older than his wives.
however, as he gave his father’s name as Thomas on
both marriage certificates, I would double check the
birth, marriage and death indexes to make sure there
wasn’t a birth registration for Joseph brookes around
1895 in the correct area.
If you can get a copy of Joseph’s divorce papers,
these will show his address at that time, and you
can check electoral registers and city directories to
see how long he lived there before searching for his
death. -Doreen Hopwood
neVer reCOrDeD?: “After three years of
searching for my grandmother’s birth certificate, and
checking with the Liverpool Register Office, I’ve found
she’s not recorded in the GRO or local birth index.
As she was born in 1876 or 1877, I believe that birth
registration was mandatory at that time. Do you have
any explanation as to why she may not be listed in the
index?” -Marion Charlesworth
even though registering births was meant to be
compulsory in 1875, after which you could be fined
for not doing so, many babies continued to remain
unregistered. The reasons for this varied – such as
the parents not getting round to registering within
the statutory period of 42 days following the birth,
and then being afraid of making a late registration.
There’s a possibility that your grandmother’s birth
was registered but that her forename(s) hadn’t
been chosen, so she could be listed as “female” at
the end of the entries for her surname. Or, if your
great-grandparents weren’t married when your
grandmother was born, the registration may have
been in her mother’s surname.
If you need the birth certificate to find out your
great-grandmother’s maiden name, search for the
registration of one of your grandmother’s siblings as
their birth certificate will provide it. -Doreen Hopwood
hAbITuAL LIAr?:“I’ve been trying to find out
about my husband’s ancestors but have been completely
stuck for several years now. An ancestor of his was Ralph
Howard, who died on 25 May 1934 in North Kensington
(we have the death certificate). He was conditionally
baptised into the Catholic Church on his death bed, and
gave his name as Ralph Howard, born 31 October 1858,
son of Thomas and Elizabeth nee Wood.
He was married to Catherine (Kate) Delahunty. Kate
originally married Richard Harwood in 1880 when she
was 19, and they had a son, but Richard was apparently
lost at sea. Then Kate had six children with Ralph, born
between 1887 and 1898.
A living relative says Ralph was born in Yorkshire, but in
the 1901 census he gives his birthplace as London, and in
1891 it’s changed to Manchester! Family legend says he
was the illegitimate son of Lord Halifax.
We wonder if Richard Harwood and Ralph Howard
were the same person, and maybe the ‘missing at sea’
story was a cover-up for him being a deserter. Was he
illegitimate and brought up in an orphanage, maybe not
knowing his true identity, or was he just a habitual liar?”
-Kath Clark
pAGe 7

You have tried to find ralph in the censuses; I would
also advise looking for his father, under the two
possible names of ralph and Thomas. That may yield
some results.
So too might looking specifically for the death
of richard harwood, Kate’s first husband. You
can consult indexes to deaths at sea at LMA and
major libraries, and if you could rule him out of the
equation, that would help. however, the idea of
richard and ralph being the same man is appealing.
Your troubles do seem to add a little weight to the
suggestion that ralph was of deliberately obscured,
illegitimate, aristocratic origins. Charles, 1st Viscount
halifax was born in 1800, and his son Charles, 2nd
Viscount, in 1839. Interestingly, their family name
was Wood.
You could also have a Y chromosome DnA test on
a male-line descendant of ralph, and then write to
the family of the present Lord halifax (Garrowby,
Yorkshire, YO4 1QD according to my copy of burke’s
peerage) to ask if a male member of his family
would be willing to have a similar test. If the results
match, this would suggest that there is a direct link.
-Anthony Adolph
runAWAY bAKer: “I’m trying to find out what
happened to my great-grandfather, Albert Murray, who
was born in London in 1878, and married Ethel Eleanor
(‘Effie’) in 1899. They had two children, but, shortly
before the birth of my grandfather, Percy Charles in 1901,
Albert ran off with another woman whose surname is
believed to have been Llewellyn.
There are several Albert Murrays on the censuses, but I
can’t tell if any of them are him. We don’t know where
he ended up living, or if he remarried, despite never
divorcing my great-grandmother.
A letter written by my great-grandmother in July 1940
suggests that Albert had been taken to court in Hove
and Croydon, and that there was a daughter who he
had brought into the business he owned (Albert was a
baker).” -Mrs S Richards
As Albert Murray was a baker, you could try
searching for men with the correct occupation in the
censuses and in directories for the areas referred
to in your great-grandmother’s letter. A search of
telephone directories on Ancestry.co.uk would also
be useful, especially as you know that he still had the
business in 1940.
I couldn’t find any record of a marriage between
Albert Murray and a Llewellyn in the GrO indexes
between 1905 and 1930, or a birth registration after
1911 in the name of Murray, with a mother’s maiden
name of Llewellyn. As you know Albert Murray’s year
of birth, you can search for his death because, from
1866, the deceased’s age is shown. -Doreen Hopwood
pAGe 8

Delving Deeper
Learn more about your family through parish records, the
National Probate Calendar and other advanced records
ADuLT bApTISM: “I was looking for the baptism
of William Pearce, the father of William baptised in 1770
and my 4x great-grandfather Joseph, baptised in 1777,
in Romford Essex. But the only William Pearce I can find
baptised in the Romford or Hornchurch area was in 1759,
which would make him only 11 when his first son was
baptised. Could it have been possible that some children
were baptised at a later age?” -Michael Pearce
Children were usually baptised at birth, but it wasn’t
always the case. It may well be that William senior
was baptised late in 1759, but you won’t be able to
ascertain that without further evidence.
It may be worth trying to find out more about the
potential father of this William – when he died, for
example, did he leave a will which might name his
son and grandchildren? Finding William’s gravestone
may also help, as it would record his age.
The other possibility is that William may not
necessarily have been from romford or hornchurch,
so it’s well worth exploring nearby parishes adjacent.
Additional parish material, such as settlement
certificates, may also help – the essex County record
Office’s online catalogue will have details.
-Chris Paton
SeArChInG FOr A STAr: “I’ve been trying
to piece together my family tree. My 97-year old nan
talks about Arthur Roberts (1852-1933), an uncle of hers
who was a famous music hall star of the last quarter
of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. I`ve
researched Arthur and indeed he was a very famous
comedian, mixing with royalty and being accredited with
having invented the game and the word “spoof”.
Looking into the tree, Nan’s father was born in 1884,
which I think makes it unlikely Arthur was his brother.
So, I moved on to his father Alfred Thomas Roberts, who
was born in 1856. This is where I come unstuck as I can
find no more references regarding Alfred or how many
siblings he had.
I`ve also tried to come at this from Arthur Robert’s side,
but again can find no references to a BMD certificate or
web-based family picture. Was Arthur Roberts a stage
name – and is he no relation – or am I digging in the
wrong places?” -David Wilkins
It’s always possible the story has become confused in
the telling, but if your aunt said Arthur was her uncle,
I think we should tread carefully before dismissing
her story as being incorrect.
On the basis of dates, I agree Arthur was less
likely to have been an uncle than a great-uncle, but
men could have children born over many years,
especially if they married more than once. I suggest
investigating this possibility very thoroughly, and
certainly trying to find the robertses in all the
available censuses.
Many performers did take stage names, making it
incredibly difficult to trace their origins. The Victorian
and Albert Museum, however, has many publications
on the subject of 19th- and 20th-century performers,
including Who’s Who in the Theatre (1912 onwards),
which includes some dates of birth and parents’
names.
Sometimes, the stage name may have been the
mother’s maiden name, so maybe Arthur took his
pAGe 9

stage name from his mother. If so, he may have been
a first cousin of your nan’s father.
If he was so successful, Arthur may well have left a
will. The national probate Calendar for england and
Wales for 1861 to 1941 includes a couple of possible
Arthurs around 1933. his will may mention your
nan’s family and clarify what the relationship was.
-Anthony Adolph
LOST In LOnDOn: ”I‘ve been searching for a
long time for John Botley, born in 1819 in Westerham,
Kent, son of Edward and Mary. I found his wife Sarah
and son John in the 1841 Census in London, but can’t
find him. I know he was a butler in the 1851 and 1861
censuses at 9 Connaught Place. Where can I look next
please?” -Patricia Robins
John was presumably away somewhere in 1841 with
his employer. Try searching the 1841 Census for
whoever was employing him in 1851 and 1861.
Then, if you haven’t already done so, seek John’s
baptism. It may be in the Westerham parish
registers, if he was an Anglican, or perhaps in
nonconformist registers. The first port of call, at
any rate, should be the Centre of Kentish Studies,
Maidstone.
While you’re there, it’s always worth looking in
the local will indexes to see if any botleys wrote
wills, and examining them to see how they might
fit together, and whether they identify your own
ancestors. -Anthony Adolph
upSTAIrS-DOWnSTAIrS: “My father,
Percival Robinson (1928-2007), from Leeds, Yorkshire,
always maintained several hand-me-down stories. One
was that one of his ancestors was born on ‘the wrong
side of the blanket’ and that the mother had worked in a
large house and was pensioned off.
He thought the child may have been his grandfather
Richard Robinson, as he thought he remembered
collecting his pension for him when he was a teen, but
his aunt always maintained that the offspring was a
female child who later went to the first cordon bleu
cookery college. How can I learn more?” -Jacqui Christie
Many families have stories of illegitimate descents
from liaisons between masters and servants. This is
probably because there was no end of such upstairsdownstairs
hanky panky!
In many cases, such stories are unprovable,
especially when the resulting children are registered
as illegitimate with no fathers named; if you can find
an ancestor who was illegitimate, you may have a
chance of narrowing in on the source of the story.
In other cases, though, such stories were dreamed
up by people with aspirations to grandeur, or were
stimulated by a misunderstanding. The pension
story may be one such example; many men received
pensions as a result of service in the Army or navy,
for example. You could use the World War I pension
records at Ancestry.co.uk to investigate whether
richard robinson had been in the Army.
London’s Le Cordon bleu school opened in
Marylebone Lane, London in 1933. It’s still there, so
you could ask if they have records of past pupils,
which might, just possibly, include a female relative.
-Anthony Adolph
LOnDOn burIAL: “My ancestor died in 1850,
after living in London. How do I find out where he was
buried or any other information in regard to his funeral?”
-Alan Affleck
It’s a shame that death certificates don’t say where
people were buried, but at least they give a date
and place of death. This can help you search other
resources.
The best place to start is London, england, Deaths
and burials, 1813-1980 at Ancestry.co.uk. This is a
huge collection of burial registers from the capital’s
churches.
You can also try will indexes. before 1858, Londoners’
wills could be proved in a number of different places,
but the most popular was the prerogative Court of
Canterbury – search its indexes.
If your ancestor was a fairly prominent chap, London
newspapers might mention a funeral. You’ll find
many at the british Library. -Anthony Adolph
pAGe 10

nObLe rOOTS?: “I’m trying to trace my greatgrandfather.
My grandfather Clifford Chadwick was
born in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham in 1890. His birth
certificate shows his mother Charlotte Chadwick
(nee Dobson) and his father as her husband Joshua
Chadwick. However, Joshua had been dead for five years!
My grandfather was adopted at about three weeks old
by Moses Hughes who lived in Stockton. I think this must
have been arranged through the church as Moses was a
very strict Methodist.
Although Moses didn’t earn much, Clifford had nice
furniture and silver cutlery. Also, he told my father many
times that when he was very young someone used to
visit in a grand carriage with a footman and an emblem
or coat of arms on the side. So we believe the real father
was someone wealthy.” -Ann
how many aristocrats, I wonder, really attempted
to conceal their paternity of illegitimate children by
sending money to them in their grandest coaches,
identified for all the world to see with their coats of
arms? There must have been one or two, to start of
this very widespread genealogical myth, but it is, in
almost all cases, a myth.
Widows sometimes took a peculiar attitude towards
sex: once they were married, they considered
themselves to remain so, even if their husbands
died. Many didn’t hesitate in registering the children
resulting from new affairs as the legitimate children
of their deceased spouses.
bastardy bonds exist for many illegitimate children,
but they are few and far between for those of
widows. You could also look for Clifford’s baptism in
local parish registers. Look for both of these in the
nearest record office.
The father may have been anyone whom Charlotte
knew. The best culprit you have here is Moses
himself (strict Methodists were not unknown to have
had sex), or perhaps one of his sons.
-Anthony Adolph
Where’S A WILL?: “I have two relations who
died in the early 1900s. Both were substantial property
owners and builders in Staffordshire when they died.
Why is it that I can’t find any reference to any wills they
must have left in the new National Probate Calendar?”
-Brian Gray
not all wills were proved as soon as people died, so
maybe try later years in the Calendar? Sometimes,
you’ll find a spouse’s will was kept until their widow
or widower died, then both were proved together.
This may be many years after the first party died.
Another reason may be that the Calendar at
Ancestry.co.uk isn’t quite complete in its coverage.
It currently doesn’t include the books for the years
1858-1860 and there are some gaps for the years
1863, 1868, 1873, 1876, 1877, 1883, 1888, 1899-1903
and 1910-1911. It’s working to fill in those gaps soon.
however, many people, however well off, didn’t leave
wills. The records you expected to find may simply
never have existed. -Anthony Adolph
SenT TO bArAnADO’S: “My grandmother,
Mary Payne, was born in Sutton Hoo, Kent, in 1899, and
her parents were Harry and Ellen (nee Parker). It seems
the family owned a horse, and because it grazed on land
where it shouldn’t have been, they frequently moved and
used different surnames to avoid being jailed.
My nan and her brother Jack were put into Dr Barnardo’s
and I know they were there when the Titanic sank.
They had an older brother (or half/step-brother from a
previous marriage) who was serving in the Army. With
the help of his Captain, he managed to have Nan and
Jack removed from Dr Barnardo’s, and they were taken
to members of the Parker family.
How can I find out what happened to them when I don’t
know what surname they were using?” -Sue Dyer
If the family moved frequently, there’s a strong
possibility they were missed off the censuses – even
though everybody was supposed to be enumerated
wherever they were on census night. In the same
way, if Jack’s birth coincided with one of the family’s
moves, his birth may not be in the indexes.
pAGe 11

You know your grandmother and great-uncle were
in a Dr barnardo’s home in 1912, and it’s likely they
were known as either payne or parker when they
were admitted. I suggest you contact barnardo’s –
records of children in its care go back to the 19th
century. Surviving admission registers usually record
the circumstances leading to the child’s admission
and parents’ names. -Doreen Hopwood
SenT TO bArAnADO’S: “My greatgrandfather,
Francis Alexander Gates, was born in
Billericay in 1858, the son of James Gates. Although
Francis was the informant on his father’s death
certificate in 1897, when he gave his address as
Freyering, Essex, I haven’t been able to find him on the
1891 or 1901 censuses.
He married Kate Johnson in Northampton in 1883,
and she re-married in 1907 when she stated she was a
widow, but I can’t find any death registration for Francis.
I would appreciate some advice please.” -Michael Gates
If you have birth certificates for any of Francis and
Kate’s children, look at the date of birth, then try
looking at the closest census return for the address
given, in case the family was missed off the surname
index.
There’s a chance that Francis was a soldier who died
during the boer War, so try a search of the Casualty
List on Ancestry.co.uk will be worthwhile. This would
account for his death not appearing in the official
index for england and Wales.
he and Kate may have separated before James Gates
died. Check the national probate Calendar to see if
you can find a will for him. If you’re successful, check
whether or not his daughter-in-law is mentioned.
-Doreen Hopwood
WeLL SerVeD: In the early 1900s, my maternal
grandmother, Evelyn Lines, was in service working for
a chemist and his family in Hampstead. She regularly
delivered prescriptions. She told of one day when she
was in the kitchen and the floor gave way revealing a
large well! How can I find out where she worked?
-Janet Plant
A large proportion of young single women were
employed in domestic service at the beginning of the
20th Century, and as they were not eligible to vote,
it’s really difficult to locate where they were working.
The exception to this is large estates where they
would appear in the accounts books.
I suggest you try to narrow down the period when
you know your grandmother was a maid. For
example, look whether or not she was with her own
family when the 1901 census was taken. You can then
search city and county directories of hampstead for
the names and addresses of any chemists in the area.
There may well have been a report of the event
you describe in local newspapers, and some local
libraries and record offices have old copies of local
papers. Also try www.newsplan.co.uk
-Doreen Hopwood
eArLY LeArnInGS: “For the first 8 years of my
life I was in the Brentford Union Workhouse, and my
birth doesn’t appear to have been registered. I’m now 89
years old and would dearly love to find out something
about my beginnings.
The National Archives says all records were destroyed
during the war, and I need some other ideas where I can
look. I was told my date of birth was 6 April 1921, and
my name Jean Margaret Hoskin, but I don’t know how I
got it. I would appreciate any thoughts.” -Joan Morris
I really hope you’ll be able to find information about
your early years. You can search many London
poor Law records, including those for brentford, on
Ancestry.co.uk. There may be a register of baptisms
for the workhouse that includes an entry for you.
plus, if you know which infants’ school you attended,
you may find the admission registers.
The Adopted Children’s register was introduced in
1927, so if you were formally adopted after this date,
there may be surviving records. I suggest you contact
your local authority to find out how to apply for
these. -Doreen Hopwood
pAGe 12

YOunG ApprenTICe: My ancestor, Martha
Law, was apprenticed to Thomas Silk of 5 Chapel
Street, Cripplegate, London in 1803. She was to learn
‘Householdry [?]uisnofs’ – the first letter looks like an
‘M’. Do you know what this trade was please? Also,
she was apprenticed by the Overseers of the Poor of
the Parish, so does this mean she was in a workhouse?
Thank you for any help you can give.
-Peter Law
under the old poor Law, it was possible for parish
overseers to place orphans or pauper children
as apprentices. Often this meant that they were
apprenticed to a local tradesman or business within
their own parish. however, many such apprentices
were taken on by mills and other manufactories in
the growing industrial towns.
parish apprenticeships could last for up to 14 years,
unlike normal apprenticeships which had a term of
seven years. You’ll find that most girls were taught
some form of domestic trade and I think the term
used on Martha Law’s indenture was probably
‘householdry business’.
While there’s a chance that Martha had been in a
workhouse, it’s more likely you’ll find her family listed
in the overseers of the poor accounts as being in
receipt of parish relief – try the local record office.
-Doreen Hopwood
SpArrOW SeArCh: “I’ve been unable to trace
our family before the marriage of Jeremiah Sparrow to
Margaret Howell at St James the Great in Middlesex in
1868. Their marriage certificate shows they both were
“of full age” and that Jeremiah (whose father was also
called Jeremiah) was a widower.
When the 1851 census was taken, Margaret was living
with her parents in Tower Hamlets, but how can I find
out where and when Jeremiah was born and who he
married before Margaret? There are quite a lot of
Jeremiah Sparrows in Suffolk and Norfolk, but I have
been unable to link them to our Jeremiah.”
-Albert Goldsmith
You’ll find the marriage entry for Jeremiah and
Margaret in the collection of London Marriages and
banns on Ancestry.co.uk, and I note this shows that
Jeremiah Sparrow (senior) was deceased in 1868. I
also found the marriage of Jeremiah and Margaret’s
son, James Jeremiah (born 1877) to Mary Thompson
Watt at St paul’s, Old Ford, on 5 August 1899. This
gives his father’s occupation as ‘lighterman’.
I suggest you search the censuses from 1871,
following the marriage of Jeremiah and Margaret, as
the entries will provide his year and place of birth.
Once you have this information, you can look for his
birth.
Also try searching the earlier censuses to find him
with his first wife and any children of that marriage.
If you purchase one of their birth certificates, this will
show Jeremiah’s first wife’s full name, and let you
look for their marriage. -Doreen Hopwood
MISSInG MIGrAnT: I would like to know what
happened to Lawrence Andrew Pereira between 1891
and 1910. On the 1891 census (aged 8) he’s living in
lodgings in Wapping with his mother Emma and sister
Daisy Emma. His father Andrew Pereira was a ship’s
steward of Portuguese origin, and so presumably was at
sea, or he may have deserted his family.
In 1892, Emma applied for her children to be admitted
to Dr Barnardos, but Lawrence remained with his
mother, and Daisy Emma was sent to Canada in 1896.
He may have gone into a children’s home later, other
than Barnardos, but I’ve checked all the organisations
concerned with child care in London without success.
I’ve been unable to find Lawrence or his mother on the
1901 census. -Monica Beavan
emma pereira could have remarried after her
daughter was placed in Dr barnardo’s and this could
account for her not being on the 1901 census with
the name pereira. If this is the case, Lawrence could
have also taken on his stepfather’s surname.
Try searching for a second marriage in the official
index and if you find one look for emma’s death
under her new surname.
pAGe 13

I found the baptism of another child of emma
and Andrew rose pereira in the London baptisms
collection on Ancestry.co.uk – he was Arthur Samuel,
baptised at St George in the east on 17 October 1886,
but as he didn’t appear on the 1891 census, he may
have died in infancy.
If Lawrence Andrew pereira was in another
institution in 1901, he should have been enumerated
there on the census. -Doreen Hopwood
LATe STArTer: “I’ve traced my father’s line back
to Joseph Hazell who was born in 1787 in Birmingham,
and who married someone called Mary who had been
born in Middlesex between 1792 and 1801. The first
record I’ve found of children was in Birmingham between
1832 and 1834 when Joseph was aged about 45, and his
wife was at least 30 years old.
This seems to be quite old to have started a family in
those days, but I can find no evidence of older children in
Birmingham. This suggests to me that they could have
met and married elsewhere. I would also like to know
what records I can search to find Joseph’s movements
before his marriage.” -David Hazel
even back in the 18th century, our ancestors were
more migratory than we tend to think, so search the
england parish registers collection as well as London
Marriages and banns on Ancestry.co.uk for the
marriage of Joseph hazel (and spelling variations) to
Mary.
If Joseph was in business on his own account, have
a look at the city and county directories to try to
pinpoint when he was in birmingham. You can also
search the death indexes, and as he was still alive
when the 1861 census was taken, search the national
probate Calendar. If he left a will, it may mention any
older children. -Doreen Hopwood
pAGe 14

Military Forebears
Uncover every detail of your relatives’ service, and
remember their sacrifices
pICTure pOSer: “I’m having problems regarding
my granddad who served in World War I. I have photos of
him in his uniform and the lace postcards he sent home to
Nan, but I can’t seem to find him on any military records.
He survived the war but I understand he had contact with
mustard gas.
He’s Charles Arthur Wheeler, born about 1884. I’m not
sure what regiment he was in (there’s no-one alive to
ask) but the photo shows him with what looks like a
riding crop and he has spurs on his boots. I hope you can
enlighten me.” -June Davis
A good starting point is the photograph you mention.
The riding crop and spurs may well indicate a cavalry
or yeomanry regiment, but such things were also
worn by men in the artillery and engineers, as well as
the Army Service Corps. If he has a cap on his head
look for any badge on it and compare that to images
on websites such as Military badges.
Your next step is to check his name in the Medal
rolls Index Cards at Ancestry.co.uk. These don’t
usually include middle names, so just type ‘Charles
A Wheeler’. If you still have no hits, try ‘Charles
Wheeler’ and cross reference any matches with the
Service and pension records. -Paul Reed
WAr WIDOWer: “My parents’ marriage
certificate states that my father was a widower. Neither
of them ever mentioned this during their lifetimes. A
relative told me that my father’s first marriage took place
during World War I, and that his wife died shortly after,
during the flu epidemic in 1918. I have no idea what her
name was or where she came from.
My father was born in December 1898, so the marriage
and her death must have taken place between 1917 and
1919.” -John Richards
If your father signed up for military service towards
the end of the war, it’s first worth checking the british
Army service record collections on Ancestry.co.uk to
see if a record has survived for him. If so, his date of
birth should be included, enabling you to identify him
correctly, and his first wife may be named as his next
of kin.
The civil marriage index from 1916-2005 now
provides the names of prospective spouses – you’ll
see the Find Spouse option at the bottom of each
prospective search result. It’s worth starting with
the county where your father married your mother,
and his home town if different, and it’s then a case
of ordering the most likely certificates and looking
for your father’s details to see if they match up with
those from his marriage to your mother. -Chris Paton
In The nAVY: “I’ve been quite lucky and now
have over 100 people on my family tree, but one thing
constantly eludes me, the military information.
My grandfather was firstly a stoker then went on to be
in the Fleet Air Arm as a sergeant armourer and made a
bit of a career of it back during World War I and beyond,
but I can’t find him anywhere. I would love to know
details of his career, is there nothing online?”
-Sue Jackson
pAGe 15

You’ll find royal navy Medal rolls at Ancestry.
co.uk. These range from 1793-1972, and include both
World Wars, so your grandfather should be included,
assuming he was awarded at least one campaign
medal.
royal naval service records for WWI are available at
The national Archives and its website. The originals
are huge ledgers with one page per man listing his
basic details, and then a list of all his shore and ship
postings.
A simple search facility enables you to trace a man
with just a name, and then pay a fee to download his
record. The index tells you details of date and place
of birth – it’s worth checking these against birth and
census records on Ancestry.co.uk to check you have
the correct man. -Paul Reed
CheLSeA penSIOner: “On my family tree, I
have John Parr marrying Jane Hilton. John was born in
Ireland in 1778 but I can find no record of the birth. Nor
have I found his record as a Chelsea Pensioner, or what
medals he won in his time in the Army.
I always understood the Parrs went to Ireland from the
UK . Jane was born in Gibraltar in 1794 and I’ve not
been able to verify her birth, though I imagine her to be
an Army brat. Can you point me in the right direction
please?” -David
A man born in 1778 may well have fought in
Wellington’s Army during the peninsular War, and
possibly even earlier during the campaign in Flanders
in the 1790s or perhaps in India. You should start by
searching the Military Campaign Medal and Award
rolls, 1793-1949, at
Ancestry.co.uk.
If John’s service record survives it will be in class
WO97 at the national Archives in London. TnA has
digitised the records for this early period and made
them available to download at its website. There’s a
useful index where you can input just a name to see
if anything survives. -Paul Reed
MYSTerY VeTerAn: “My Grandfather Oliver
McQuinn has always been a bit of a mystery. I know
when he was born (12 April 1890) but not where.
He served with The King Edward’s Horse Regiment
in World War I and I’ve traced his medal record card
showing he was a PTE later sergeant No 1677 515080.
Do you have any idea how I can establish where he was
born?” -Sharne Worrall
having found Oliver in the Medal Index Cards and
established his unit and numbers, the next step is to
look for his service record or pension papers. using
the Ancestry.co.uk search it’s easy to trace whether a
record for this man survives.
If it does, it may well answer some of your questions,
but it’s worth remembering that soldiers weren’t
required to give their date of birth; they only had to
state their ‘assumed age’ on enlistment. Many gave
false ages for all sorts of reasons, especially if they
were under or over the age of enlistment.
If no service record survives – many were lost
in bombing during WW2 – then the only way to
establish his date of birth is through the civilian
records on Ancestry.co.uk: census records and birth,
marriage and death indexes. -Paul Reed
STOWAWAY SOLDIer: “My father stowed
away on a ship to America in 1919/1920. He joined the
American Army until about 1927. He used a false name
– Thompson – until he was found out and returned to
England. Is there any way I could find Army records for
that period?” -Alan Hardaker
With very little information and the fact that he
served under an assumed name, this makes your
search potentially very difficult. having joined the
American Army after World War I, it’s unlikely he
served outside of the country so he won’t appear on
any medal rolls.
however, he may appear on the uS Draft Cards,
which you can find at Ancestry.co.uk – you’ll need
to be a Worldwide member to access them. Service
records for this period were all sadly lost in the 1970s
when the building they were being stored in was
burned down. -Paul Reed
pAGe 16

In The CAVALrY: “I’ve been using Ancestry.
co.uk for some 12 months, but I can’t trace my father’s
WWI service. I have memories of his cap badge, and
recall seeing a whip, a pair of spurs, and a photograph
of him wearing jodhpurs, which all suggest he was in a
horse-mounted regiment – I believe it was the 15-19th
Hussars.
I do appreciate that some records were burned, but I just
can’t find any traces at all – any ideas?” -Peter Chambers
With a common name and no firm details of his
military service, it can be frustrating making a
search in the military records. The first step is to do
what you’ve already done and start with the Medal
records.
Given that you know he was in a mounted unit,
make a note of any men with the correct name in
cavalry units or the Artillery or Army Service Corps;
the latter two also wore uniforms along the lines of
those you describe. You can then cross-reference the
details of all these men against the surviving Service
and pension papers, to eliminate those who are
obviously not your father. -Paul Reed
SerVICe AbrOAD: “My great-grandfather was
Gilbert Crawford Kennedy. He was born at sea in the
Bass straights on the way back to England in 1870. He
appears in all the censuses up to 1891.
Gilbert married Emily Elizabeth Saunders in 1891, but she
remarried in 1898, and is listed as a widow.
What I want to know is how I can find where and when
Gilbert died?” -Adie Lewthwaite
It certainly sounds as if Gilbert Kennedy was serving
in a military unit outside of the united Kingdom if
you have found him on the censuses up to 1891 and
then not afterwards.
You can find service records for men who served
during this period in class WO97 at The national
Archives – they have a good survival rate and are
arranged alphabetically.
It’s also likely Gilbert was awarded at least one
campaign medal at some point. You can search a
huge range of medals in the new Campaign Medal
rolls at Ancestry.co.uk – you’ll need to be a premium
member. -Paul Reed
FOrGOTTen FLYLer: “I’m trying to trace an
uncle who served in World War I in the Buffs regiment
and then transferred to the RAF. I have a copy of the RAF
records but can find no trace of Army records or medal
records.” -Keith Marsh
Men who first served in the Army and then
transferred to the royal Flying Corps, which later
became the royal Air Force, had their medals issued
post-war by the rAF. In some cases, where they
served overseas with the Army in 1914 or 1915 and
were entitled to one of the ‘Stars’, they also appear
on the Medal Index Cards.
The rAF didn’t compile index cards or a medal roll
in the same way the Army did, and normally the
only source to confirm the issue of war medals is via
the rAF service records in AIr79 at The national
Archives. his Army service records would have been
forwarded to the rAF on transfer and information
drawn from them before their destruction. -Paul Reed
bATTLeD The bOerS: “I’ve just found an entry
in the Casualties of the Boer War which I think may be
my great-grandfather. Are there any other records that
show where the person was born or that give the full
name and any other info?”
-Georgina Nichols
The next place to look at Ancestry.co.uk is the
Campaign Medal rolls. These cover the boer War
and dozens of other pre-WWI conflicts, acting as
virtual roll calls of the british Army at several points
in its history.
You can then look in the pre-WW1 service records
held in class WO97 at The national Archives –
they’re not online. These records are organised
alphabetically, and if a record for him survives it will
include details of where he was born and his next of
kin. -Paul Reed
pAGe 17

ArMY CAreer: “I have my father’s Army number
and the regiment he served in and would love to chart
his progress through World War I. All I know is that he
went to Ireland during the uprising in 1916 and at some
time he was in Belgium. Could you point me in the right
direction, please? He was one of the fortunate ones and
returned safely.”
-Kath Matlock
With his number and regiment, a search for your
father should start with the Military records page at
Ancestry.co.uk. enter his name into the Search box,
and then for each set of records use his number to
narrow down your search.
Very quickly, you’ll be able to access his Medal
Index Card to show what unit(s) he was in and what
campaign medals he was awarded. You may also find
that a Service or pension record has survived, which
will show you when he served and with whom.
Service records don’t list the battles a man served in,
but once you know what battalions of the regiment
he was with, you can use online sources like The
Long Long Trail (www.1914-1918.net) to work out
where he served. -Paul Reed
ALLerGIC reACTIOn: My uncle Ernest
Randolph Turner enlisted in Mill Hill, Middlesex. He was
a Private in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own 14th battalion.
His number was G/21724. I understand from relatives
that he had the necessary vaccinations and injections
but didn’t go to war due to having an adverse reaction to
these, and died on 15 March 1916. I can’t find any record
of his place of death or where he’s buried. Can you help?
-Gwen Bragg
The first place to look for servicemen who died is the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
This lists all those who died in uniform, even if they
died at home never having served abroad.
In theory your man should be listed, but many men
who died at home of war-related injuries or illness
aren’t. Currently a group of researchers are running a
project known as ‘In From The Cold’ in an attempt to
get these men properly listed. It would be worthwhile
contacting them via their website http://www.
infromthecold.org. -Paul Reed
pAGe 18

Looking Abroad
Extend your family tree around the UK, and even
further afield
nIGerIAn MYSTerY: “My Scottish grandad
died in Jos, Nigeria, on 23 July 1940. I have a photo of
his grave that I assume is in Jos, as my dad said the body
was never repatriated.
How can I get the death certificate, and find out how
he died? There’s no explanation. He was only 40 and a
mining engineer for Metal Box or a similar company.”
-Paul McLaughlin
From 1901, nigeria was a protectorate of the british
empire, until it gained its independence from the
uK in 1960. The national Archives has some birth,
marriage and death records for british nationals in
African protectorates in series rG 36 (Africa and
Asia 1895-1965).
It may also be worth checking local newspapers at
the record office for the town where he was born in
Scotland, in case his death is noted there. And look
for a will using the national probate Calendar at
Ancestry.co.uk, in case a will was probated in britain
following his death. -Chris Paton
SeCreT JOb: “I’ve just started tracing my paternal
family, the Whites, originally of Renfrewshire, Scotland.
I’ve started looking at my father and grandfather (both
deceased) and their occupations and interests. Before
he died, my father started writing a memoir of his life
to give to my son. Somewhere near the beginning he
mentions his father and his ‘secret job’ which will be
explained later. Unfortunately it never was because my
father died before finishing his memoir.
I’ve inherited some of my grandfather’s papers, such as
passports and his National Identity Card, and a photo
of a group of apprentices at ‘Whites’ (I don’t think any
relation) in 1920. His passports list his occupation as
Machine Tool Engineer and he made a number of visits
to the US, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, France &
Holland in the 1950s. I have photos of him in Ontario
looking smart with lots of other suited gentlemen but no
indication of why he was there.
Any hints you can provide would be really helpful.”
-Luci Martin St Valery
The unfortunate thing about a secret is the secrecy!
Did your grandfather have any siblings or aunts and
uncles that you can trace descendants of, as stories
of his secret job may have found their way into
another branch of the family? If not, all you can do
is to keep plugging away looking for documentary
resources to help explain his career.
As he travelled around a lot internationally, check
the uK Incoming passenger Lists 1878-1960 to see
what information is recorded on each return trip from
Canada and the uS. If you also have his address, look
at the city and county directories, as they may name
the firm he worked for.
As you have his national identity card, you can
check for his registration in the national register of
September 1939. If he was resident in Scotland, you
can get this from extract Services, General register
Office for Scotland, new register house, 3 West
register Street, edinburgh, eh1 3YT, with a cheque
for £13 payable to the General register Office of
Scotland – simply provide his date of death.
-Chris Paton
pAGe 19

LIVInG In AMerICA: “My great-grandfather
arrived in New York from Liverpool in 1874. The 1880 US
Census lists him, my great-grandmother, their daughter
(my grandmother) and two sons born between 1875 and
1879, living in Main Street, New York. They were back
permanently in the UK for the birth of another son by
1885.
Will there be a record of the children’s birth in New
York? If so can you suggest where I should look?”
-Colin Barnes
There are five boroughs in new York City, being
Manhattan, Kings, Queens, the bronx, and Staten
Island (sometimes referred to as richmond). You’ll
first need to know which borough Main Street was
in, which you should easily find noted on the census
record.
You can order birth records after 1910 can be ordered
from the new York City Department of health and
Mental hygiene, but before this you need the city’s
Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street. See its
website http://www.nyc.gov/html/records.
You’ll also find a number of separate collections
covering new York births at Ancestry.co.uk. All of
these are part of the Worldwide membership. The
easiest way to scour them all is through the Card
Catalogue. -Chris Paton
brITISh SubJeCT: “I’m searching for my
husband’s great-grandfather. His name was Jacob
Theobald. I‘ve found loads of information about him
from the 1881 Census right through until he died in 1902.
My problem is trying to find out how to get records
relating to him before he arrived in Bristol. He was born
in Bavaria, Germany and shown as a British subject in
the 1881 Census. How do I research in Germany? What,
exactly is meant by British Subject, and how can I find
out when he came to England?” -Jenny Theobald
The 1881 Census for bristol shows Jacob living with
his brother-in-law henry new (head of household),
henry’s wife betsy, and Jacob’s bristolian wife Fanny.
Jacob isn’t actually noted as a british Subject, but
simply from bavaria, Germany, though henry, his
brother peter new and a 37-year-old lodger called
John Theobald are all shown as british subjects.
This makes sense, as before 1949 a british Subject
was someone who was born within britain’s
dominions.
Jacob’s marriage to Fanny Stinchcombe is registered
in bristol between July and September 1875 (Vol
6a p.7). Order the certificate, as it should provide
Jacob’s father’s name.
Then turn to immigration records. probably the most
useful at Ancestry.co.uk are the Alien Arrivals. These
go up to 1869, so if Jacob came over before that, you
may be able to find when he arrived and where he
came from.
You can then check to see if Jacob naturalised at
any point – if so the records should reveal where in
bavaria he was from. The national Archives has a
helpful guide. -Chris Paton
IrISh WeDDInG?: “In my father’s tree on his
paternal side I’ve got back to 1723, but on his maternal
side I’m struggling with finding my great-grandmother,
who was born in Monkstown Ireland in 1872. I can’t find
anything apart from on the 1901 census, when she was
already married to my great-grandfather and had my
grandmother.
Can you find any info on Bridget Coleman’s birth in 1872
and also her marriage to my great-grandfather Herbert
Gomersall, which I think may have taken place in Ireland.
I’m assuming they were married in Ireland and then
came to Leeds, West Yorkshire, between 1896 and 1901.”
-Anne Barnes
Irish civil indexes from 1845-1958 are freely available
on the FamilySearch website but I couldn’t find a
wedding between bridget and herbert. however,
a check on the english marriage index at Ancestry.
co.uk uncovered that they married in preston in
the third quarter of 1892 (preston 1892 Q3, Vol 8e
p.1052). Order the certificate to discover bridget’s
father’s name.
Monkstown is in Antrim, but I could find no birth
for bridget in 1872. In the 1901 Census, her son
bartholomew is noted as a year old, meaning it’s
pAGe 20

likely the couple moved to england in 1900 or 1901.
A bartholomew Gomoral born in the last quarter of
1899 in Cork might well be the right baby (1899 Q4,
Vol. 5, p.73) – you can order the full record from the
Irish GrO. -Chris Paton
SCOTTISh TrAVeLLer: “I seem to have come
to a dead end trying to track down my great-grandfather.
He returned to Scotland from India in 1908, but I‘ve been
unable to find a record of his death in Fife in the 1920s.
There’s some suggestion he may have committed suicide
following the failure of his farm and therefore his death
may have gone unrecorded. Is there a possible source to
confirm this?” -Ken Joss
If your great-grandfather died in Scotland his death
will have been registered, no matter what the cause
was, so a note of the event should appear in the
death indexes held at the Scotlandspeople Centre in
edinburgh.
It’s possible the cause of death wasn’t immediately
recorded, as the death was probably investigated
by the procurator fiscal, but if so the cause would
later have been added to the register for Corrected
entries. You could also try looking for local
newspaper coverage of his death – Ancestry.co.uk
has an index to several Fife newspapers from 1833-
1987. -Chris Paton
LOST In WALeS: “I hope you can help me. I’ve
reached a dead end with my paternal line.
David Edwards appears as father on the 1851 marriage
certificate of my great-grandfather, Isaac Edwards, who
was born in 1826 in the village of Llanrhidian in the
Gower Peninsula. David appears in the 1841, 1851 and
1861 censuses with various family members.
Isaac would have been about 15 in 1841 and may have
been the son of a previous marriage, but I haven’t been
able to find his name in the 1841 Census. In 1851, he’s
shown living in Nantyglo, Monmouthshire and working
in an iron works.
I’m most anxious to confirm that the information I have
on David Edwards is correct and also to identify his
antecedents. Anything you can suggest would be most
appreciated.” -Hugh Edwards
The national Library of Wales in Aberystwyth has
copies of baptisms from 1730-1885 for the Church of
St. rhidian and St. Illtyd in Llanrhidian, as well as an
irregularly kept series of bishops’ transcripts for the
parish going much further back to 1671. The records
have been indexed and placed online through the
International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch, but
there’s no sign of Isaac or David around 1838, which
may imply they were nonconformists of some kind.
The Topographical Dictionary of Wales from 1849
states that in addition to the Anglican church there
was a chapel of ease and “places of worship in the
parish for Calvinistic Methodists, Independents,
and baptists”. Your best bet for their records is
Glamorgan Archives. -Chris Paton
TrACInG A SAILOr: “I traced someone who
I believe is my great-grandfather, James Mills, age 34,
on board a ship called the Philo in 1882, but I can’t find
where or how he died. I think he was in the Merchant
Navy.
I would appreciate any help you can give. The page is
28 but I don’t know which document it is from, at the
very top is the number 91. Is it possible to obtain a death
certificate?” -M A Evans
by tracing your family tree back normally at Ancestry.
co.uk, though General registration records of births,
marriages and deaths , you should be able to confirm
that your ancestor was a merchant seaman (they’re
often called ‘mariners’). Their records are at The
national Archives in class bT (board of Trade).
The document you’ve seen is probably from there,
so explore the records more fully to find the original
and see what else you can find. With persistence, it’s
often possible to follow sailors forward from ship to
ship, and that, of course, can provide clues as to when
they died.
Many sailors just went off abroad and never came
back, so finding James’s death is not guaranteed.
however, many sailors retired, and their deaths
appear in the normal indexes. Others died at sea and
appear in the registrar General’s separate indexes to
Deaths at Sea. -Anthony Adolph
pAGe 21