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Welcome to the
Genes Reunited web chat, where you can get help and advice from our resident genealogist and expert family historian, Anthony Adolph.
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Thanks again to Anthony and everyone who joined in on the sessions so far.
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Questions already answered
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| Ricky Gocmen | 19/06/2012 21:43:55 |
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I have found the birth record of my great grandmother, however i do not know how to find out her parent from this i only have her mothers maiden name, i dont not know her mother first name or her fathers how can i find this information |
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I think you have probably what we term a 'short birth certificate' that has no spaces for parents' names at all. If so, order a full one, that costs £9.25, from http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp |
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| Ann Julia Apps | 19/06/2012 21:43:14 |
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Many thanks Julia |
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My pleasure |
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| Ann Julia Apps | 19/06/2012 21:33:59 |
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Hi I have my grandfathers birth certificate he was born in Culcavey Blaris, Antrim in 1881, where can I send it to get the rest of his family as I know he had siblings. I have tried and been looking for about 2 years and to no avail. Also how do you go about getting someone in Ireland to look for you. Thanks Julia |
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There are two options here: you can use (Northern) Irish civil registration records (Registrar General of Northern Ireland, Oxford House, 49-55 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 4HL, 028 90 252000, www.groni.gov.uk) to seek siblings and trace the family line back, or you could use the church registers (Catholic or Protestant) as appropriate. For genealogists there you can use Association of Ulster Genealogists and Record Agents or I can organise it for you - send me some more details at mail@anthonyadolph.co.uk. |
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| Bryan Dugdale | 19/06/2012 21:28:59 |
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Hi Anthony, My grandparents, (Isaiah Danks and Emma Porter) he died in 1893. My Grandma remarried in 1902 to Peter Hall. Between these dates, Grandma gave birth in 1899 to a son, Lawrence. I have been unable to trace the father. What is the correct way to show this in my family tree? Also, is it possible to show Maiden and Married names in the same box? Regards, Bryan |
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The best way here would be to add Lawrence as Emma's son, and show the father as an unknown partner. If you were drawing it out on paper I'd advise putting Isaiah on Emma's left, the unknown man below her, and the second husband on the right. It is worth bearing in mind that Lawrence's father might always have been the man who later became the second husband: maybe he could not marry Emma until, say, his own first wife had died. |
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| DENISE clarke | 19/06/2012 21:21:32 |
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Hi Anthony I have an old photograph in which the elderly female subject is wearing a white puffy looking cap. She is sitting in a garden, and I wonder if you could make an estimate as to the date this may have been taken. It would help to identify the lady. |
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If I could see it I'd be happy to try to help! Can you e-mail it to me at mail@anthonyadolph.co.uk and then send me a message via this message box to tell me you've done so, so I can reply. |
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| ken Compton | 19/06/2012 21:18:19 |
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I am search for a Della Fenton Born 3.09. 1884-6 in Cork. Ireland Birth/ Baptise Certificate. She was a Catholic and went to USA around the 1900's married in State of Maine 8th Oct.1908. appears in 1920 census Manhatton Borough New York USA Della Married a Augustus N. Mudge |
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That should be easy enough, as Irish General Registration had started (1864) by now. The records are in Dublin or you can contact Registrar General of Ireland, administrative and corresponding headquarters: Convent Road, Roscommon, 90 6632900 www.groireland.ie or else I have a very good searcher there who can look for you. . |
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| Marilyn Edwards | 19/06/2012 21:05:11 |
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marilyn edwards. Hello Anthony. The brother of my grandmother was a corporal in the 1st w.w.However from his medal card it says that he was 'tried by D.C.M., reduced to Pte 1.11.1917 and sent home'. Please could you tell me who to contact to find out the full details. Thank you |
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This helpful, if abbreviated, piece of information presumably indicates that your great uncle was Court Martialled. The records are at The National Archives, in class WO: I'm afraid I don't have the exact reference, but you'll find it using www.nationalarchives.gov.uk and looking at the catalogue and on-line research guides. Poor chap - or did it save his life? |
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| Jane Morris | 19/06/2012 21:00:20 |
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Hi Anthony, my problem is that I have been searching without any success for the death certificate of my grandfather. The GRO have done several ‘block searches’ of three years in an effort to find it, sadly to no avail! His full name was Edward Ellis Burns but I guess the middle name was not used on the death cert or else I guess it would have been found easily! Likewise, his last known address, although quite clear in the electoral rolls, was probably not where he was actually living at the time of death! He was very elusive to say the least. Did death certificates in the forties/fifties and sixties give the place of birth? ! I am thinking that maybe they didn’t because he was born in Scotland, died for sure in the UK and I think that had there been a section for place of birth, the certificate would have been found by now! I know his date of birth but of course unless the person who was the informant knew this, it could have just been a guess. Very frustrating to say the least…I wish I could let it go!! Any more suggestions much appreciated – thank you Anthony. |
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Unfortunately, places of birth are not stated on death certificates. Instead of three year block searches, you can simply use the indexes here on this site, and see all the Edward Burns deaths in one go, and then seek ones of the right (or approximately the right) age. They cover England and Wales only. If he died in Scotland you'll need to look there separately - you can use www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. |
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| David Bourne | 15/05/2012 22:05:59 |
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Another question for you Anthony, My 3xGt GF Samuel Brown, a Herald Painter, born about 1791 Chester, has census entries until 1861, and electoral roll details until 1867. I have the deaths of both his wives, who share the same funeral plot, but I, a cousin and Cheshire Archives staff have been unable to find his death. Any help will be appreciated. David Bourne. |
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Herald Painters were not so common on the ground, and it would be fascinating to find some of his work. But they weren't recorded in any formal detail, so far as I know, though I bet that somewhere amongst the voluminous records of the College of Arms there will be some reference, somewhere, to his work (and maybe to his demise, but there would probably be no easy way of finding it). Local papers might mention his death, and the Gentleman's Magazine, maybe, and you could look in the national will indexes (at First Avenue House, and on-line at Ancestry). |
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| jean chadwick | 15/05/2012 22:04:03 |
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hi i am looking for an olwen jones this is my granmother she gave my mother up for adoption when my muother was a few week old ,olwen came from 18 russell street myrther tidfil dowlais south wales my mother has been looking for olwen all her life but sadly my mother passed away 3 years ago . Olwen was sent to Manchester to 11 elouisa st openshaw to stay with a lady called catherine halleran ,mrs hallerran adopted my mother and olwen went back to wales mrs halleran never told my mother anything about her mother olwens father was called isaac jones and her mother was called margaret jones nee davies ,i hope you can help even if its just a little Thankyou Regards Jean chadwick |
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Because you know Olwen's parents' names, you could seek her birth with some confidence. You may have to buy many Olwen Jones birth certificates before finding the right one, but find it you eventually should. You could then try to trace down- see if she married and had further children, or if not you could seek births for her siblings and try tracing them down to the present - all possible (though potentially expensive, in the case of Joneses, I'm afraid) using General Registration records of births, marriages and deaths. . |
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| Patricia Hehir | 15/05/2012 21:52:26 |
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I can't find my grandmothers b/c. She was Mary Ellen Hughes and according to her wedding cert in 1910 was born in 1886. Her father was named as Hugh Hughes and his occupation was a plasterer. Can you advise me please. On my mums side have gone back to the early 1800's but can't find this on my dads side. Best Regards Patsy Jackson |
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You can start by seeking her in the 1911 census, and then working back, decade by decade - and if stuck, you can look for Hugh Hughes, plasterer - a lot of Hugheses to wade through, but persist and you should get there. |
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| David Bourne | 15/05/2012 21:50:35 |
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Hello Anthony, I am unable to find the birth registration of my cousin's husband Desmond Stanley Pitman, born August 5th 1931, Andoversford area of Gloucestershire. His sisters Goergina born 2nd qtr 1928 and Doreen born 4th qtr 1934 are readily available; both were registered Nothleach Registration District, as was their parents' marriage in 1925. To my knowledge, he was not adopted. The thoughts are that, as he was born on a farm at harvest time, he was never registered. It is not fully known or understood how his pension and other paperwork were related to allow him to receive his driving licence et cetera. He has not had a passport. Best regards, David Bourne. |
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Well, maybe he was adopted, or maybe some of the information you state about his names and dates and place of birth is wrong, and by widening the search on all fronts, you will find him. If you haven't bought the other certificates for which you have found references, do so, as they may give you extra clues. |
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| June Woolford | 15/05/2012 21:46:35 |
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Thank you Anthony for your advice with reference to Romany familes. Will definitely join Society and get the book. Secondly, I am so sorry if my query on Scott Howard Wilson HATLEY is a bit confusing. Can I try and put it a bit clearer in an e mail to you? Thanks |
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It's OK - I've just answered it. |
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| Richard Thornley | 15/05/2012 21:38:38 |
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Hi Anthony, 2nd question of the night from myself... My great great grandmother (same relative in my 1st question) was born in Ireland in 1857. All I can find is her father if I want to go further back. Is there any way of finding out more about my great great great grandparents? Thank you Richard |
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Yes: Ireland's records are not perfect, but a lot of them do exist for this period. They had not started General Registration by then, so you'll be relying on church registers. The whole subject is explained in my book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors. |
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| Margaret Shaw | 15/05/2012 21:29:28 |
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Hi anthony ,i am trying to find my grandfathers birthdate, i have his marriage cert , but it only says he is 28, he died 2nd jan 1950,commiting suicide,his army records say he was born in maryport cumberland but the only joseph storey born there was married to hannah cameron in1914,that is where was when he joined the army,and i believe he joined in northumberland.on his army records it says he was was 25 and 5 months he lived at 179 kenton rd gosforth when he took his life, he married maryellen lovell in 1918 his full name was joseph partrick storey, i am at my wits end now ican not move on untill i find his birth date as there are so many joseph storeys in newcastle,i remember my grandfather so you see i am getting on a bit myself and want to do my tree so i can pass it on to my children,thank you margaret rudd |
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Did the father of the Joseph who you have found being born in Maryport have the same name and occupation as your Joseph's father, as stated on his marriage certificate? If so, maybe Hannah died between 1914 and 1918, and Joseph went on to marry Mary. Or, and I'm sorry to raise the possibility, as you remember your grandfather and perhaps with fondness, but this could be a case of bigamy. Use the 1911 census to find out exactly hoe many Storey /Story families there really were in Maryport. |
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| Monica Punter | 15/05/2012 21:28:40 |
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Hello Anthony, I'm new to this and I have 2 questions: What is the benefit of getting a birth certificate from the General Register Office? Will it have the parent's names on it which the online records don't have? And secondly, a lot of my family seem to have moved to Canada. Can I search records in Canada? Many thanks. Monica |
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The benefit is exactly as you say. Buying certificates is quite expensive, but they provide exactly the building blocks you will need to trace your family tree back successfully. Yes, Canada has excellent archives - each province has Provincial Archive. See www.cyndislist.com under 'Canada' for more detail, and read Angus Baxter's book - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MOQzgxViSa0C&sitesec=reviews. |
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| Kathleen James | 15/05/2012 21:27:04 |
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Hi; Anthony, Can you help me find any information regarding Louisa James, born in Stafford 1878, father William James, mother Harriet Parton. It was her mothers second marriage, she was married to Ephraim Boon 1867-1875, William James 1876 |
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It seems that you have the key information already: you can fill the story out more using census returns. But is there something specific that you are seeking? |
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| tinkers ....... | 15/05/2012 21:21:29 |
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hello there thank you for my last question i have grandmothers marriage cert and it showss she was living in london at time of marriage and her dad was a farmer (i persume in wales) where do i go from hee many thanx |
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Then, you calculate her approximate birth year from her age, and compile a list of possible births. You may have to buy quite a number to find a girl with the right father's name and occupation. If early enough, you can use the 1911 census to eliminate false possibilities. |
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| Jennifer smith | 15/05/2012 21:15:56 |
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hi anthony, im needing some help, have come to a dead end on my mothers side of the family. My grandfather Robert lemon was born in Ballymoney in Dec 1935, we have his mum and dads name and even the house number he was born in. we know his mothers maiden name and have a birth cert for him, we know he married my grandmother in Manchester in 1956. but can't find any record of him since. is there any where i can see the census for the years round his birth for free as we think he may have had a brother. My mum was adopted and we know that her mother has died so we can't go down that line. is there anywhere a can see the cert from Ireland before buying them as lemon seems to be a popular name. Thanks Jennifer |
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The latest census you can see if from 1911, unfortunately. As to birth records, no, I'm afraid you'll need to bite the bullet and pay for them - that, I'm afraid, is how the system works, but it will be worth it, as if you hone your searches properly you will gain the good, useful information that these documents contain. As for the demise of Robert Lemon, maybe he went abroad - many Irish people tried to seek their fortunes in America or Australia. |
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| Pamela Brown | 15/05/2012 21:13:31 |
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How can I trace my grandparents when I have no idea of their christian names. My grandfather was a ships doctor and my grandmother came from County Waterford, but to my knowledge my mother only ever lived in England. I cannot find my mothers birth or marriage certificates consequently no parents names, She was born in 1890 her name Sadie Annette Turner.I believe there were at least 3 brothers. She married Oscar James around 1915 but left him after 13 years and lived with my father, they were never married.On mine and my sisters birtth certificates she is listed as Sadie James formerly Turner and I cannot find my brothers birth certificate, he was born in 1929 name Albert Reuben Brown. I am sorry this is a bit muddled, but I hope you can help me as I would like to leave my family more history than I ever had, and at 77 years of age, maybe not a lot of time left to do so. Many than ks Pam Hammer nee Brown |
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I'd start here by seeking Sadie's marriage about 1915. This will give you her age and father's name. Then you can look for her in the 1911 census, and then you'll have two strong coordinates to help seek her birth. If you cannot find what you are looking for here in England and Wales (and on this website) then as there was an Irish connection, the events you want might be there instead. |
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