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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.
To find out more about Anthony click here.
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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| Karen Watkinson | 22/03/2005 21:10:05 |
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What is the best way to discover the line of a genetically inherited disease through a family? Both parents need to be carriers. Should I search all available records for the extended family and look for clues - causes of death, notes on census returns - or try to identify likely 'candidates' and investigate these indiviuals futher? The disease was only formally diagnosed in the late 20th century. |
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Your doctor can give proper advice on this. However, as far as research goes, the deaths certificates are of key importance. Even when deaths took place before the disease concerned had been identified (thus leading to 'incorrect' cases of death being given) you may be able to trace the descent of the disease through the ages at death. |
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| Gillian Watkins | 17/11/2005 22:20:36 |
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thanks for answer, here's hoping xx |
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Good |
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| Gillian Watkins | 17/11/2005 21:22:51 |
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HI, My great grandfather was born to Elizabeth Meek and Sir George Baines. George Baines was apparently a grounds keeper for the bowels-lyons family and lived in fforest of dean. I am unable to obtain any information regarding George Baines, I have obtained my G Grandfathers birth certificate and fathers name is left blanc as he was illigitimate. How would you sudjest i find information on George Baines, as im begining to believe he didn't exist... |
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The late Queen Mother had quite a sense of humour and I'm sure she would have smiled as seeing her family described as Bowels-Lyon. I'm fairly sure they didn't have any connection with the Forest of Dean (but am prepared to stand corrected). I can be absolutely sure that their grounds keepers did not get knighthoods. If you search in census returns and General Registration you may, however, find an appropriate Mr George Baines knocking about in the Forest of Dean, and you could then work on evidence for and against him being your great great grandfather. |
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| Janet Watkins | 15/05/2012 21:07:12 |
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I am searching for any family from my 10 gt uncles.they were all born in kings norton birmingham between 1882 and 1905. i have them on the 1911 census all living in the same house with there parents in selly oak birmingham. emma there only sister was my grandmother . how do i go about tracing what happend to my gt uncles. |
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The next step would be to use the marriage indexes to see if any of them married. Then you can see if they had children, and then see if they married, and so on. |
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| Janet Watkins | 15/05/2012 21:11:18 |
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Hi Anthony i forgot to say that their surname is Phillips |
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Not the most distinctive, unfortunately! |
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| ann Waters | 17/11/2009 21:35:25 |
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Hi Anthony I have been unable to find when my grandfather died. He was a merchant seaman and I know he was alive in 1911, but deceased by 1946. If he died at sea - will there be records held somewhere? |
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Yes, the Registrar General has records of Marine Deaths and Deaths at Sea - see www.findmypast,com. From 1891 there is a separate series of Registers and Indexes of Births, Marriages & Deaths of Passengers and Seamen at Sea from 1891-1964 in the national Archives in BT 334. |
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| Patricia Warrington | 19/01/2010 21:07:23 |
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G'day from oz. trying to find my Paternal Grandfather, who had a defacto relationship with my grandmotherresulting in 3 children my father the only surviving child. The only positive info I have is an address on my Fathers Birth certificate and no one to confirm if any info I have found on him is correct, so hope you can help as I am about to give the search away thanks Pat . |
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He will appear in General Registration: you may have to make some wide searches and elminate false possibilities before you can be sure you have found the right person. To gain a few extra clues and coordinates, you could search forward and back for that address in the electoral registers: one advantage of these is that they would indicate if anyone else with the same surname, and therefore likely relatives of his, was living with him. |
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| Anne Wark | 14/11/2006 21:15:59 |
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Hello, I have found an entry in the 1891 census that may or may not be my GT. Grandfather George Turner.born South Shields 1865c He is in the Calvary Barracks at Aldershot. Who can I write to, regards finding out this G.Turners next of kin and birth place to see if it matches my information. Thank you |
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The army records you want are at the National Archives, Kew: see www.nationalarchives.gov.uk - following this up and seeking the army records will be thoroughly worth your while. |
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| Kristeen Warhurst | 20/04/2004 20:36:15 |
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Hi Anthony, My husband's grandfather was in the 17th lancers but the regiment has no trace. Apparently when the family was in Ireland the both twins died aged about 5 and he was court-martialled but acquitted. Can you tell me where I can go to find out about the court-martial? Did a quick search through Ireland newspapers for 1910 but no joy. Kristeen |
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Records of military courts, dating from 1688 are at the National Archives in class WO 71-72 and 81-93, with officers (1806-1904) in WO 93/1B. You could also seek his army service records there (regardles of what the regiment themselves have in their ow records) and this would also give information on his misdemeanours. |
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| Pamela Ward | 28/09/2004 21:21:54 |
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From Pam in Plymouth --- Hi Anthony ,I am trying to find more details of my great grandfather. I have my grandmothers birth cert (dob 29/07/1887)which was registered on 5/9/1887 by her father George Richardson who was not married to her mother (Mary Millar) but gave his address as same as my grandmothers. Unfortunately no ages are given on birth cert but fathers occupation is given as hospital steward. By 1991 census my gran has been "adopted" by a couple who have several adopted children who all keep their surnames so I presume this is adoption in name only. My g. grandmother is employed as a servant but I can find no trace of George Richardson employed as hosp. steward either on 1871, 1881, or 1901 census. I would never have believed how many George Richardson and Mary Millar (also often wrongly transcribed as Miller)there are. Not having an age to narrow it down my one hope is if the hospital he was employed in in 1887 kept records with ages !! Only coming from Rotherhithe there seem to have been so many hospitals in and around london at that time plus work house infirmeries etc. Do you think I stand a chance of "tracking him down " Any help , hints or advice would be gratefully accepted. Thanks Anthony |
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I think you mean 1891 census. Adoption only came in formally in 1926, so no, the adoptions you have found would have been informal arrangements. There's a link on my website (www.anthonyadolph.co.uk) to the Institutions Website run by the admirable Ross Brett, which may help you find hospital records, but it's incredibly unlikely that records, even if they survived, would help you with things like ages. Frankly, you are very, very lucky that your illegitimate grandmother's father's name was recorded at all. Your best hope may be to make a concerted attack on the 1891 census, using indexes available or just the original returns, and hope against hope you find George listed as a hospital worker. Could be very hard work, but you may be rewarded with success. |
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| Jason Ward | 26/10/2004 21:11:40 |
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Hi again, another brick wall I hit was with my g-g-grandfather. The 1881 census says he is born in 1844 in 'Sleaths', Yorkshire. I think there is no such place. On the 1891 census, it says 'Staithes', Yorkshire. This place does exist, but I can still find no record of his birth in the Family Records Centre or at the North Yorkshire Records office in Harrogate. Can you offer any advice for tracing this rellie? Thanks. Jason. |
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I agree with Staithes. Many early biths were not registered, so try the parish records and the 1851 census instead. |
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| Jason Ward | 26/10/2004 21:05:46 |
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Hi, Anthony, I've been researching for a number of years now and have hit one or two brick walls! First of all, one or two of my ancestors are not appearing on the 1901 census. I have thier marriage certificates and birth certificates of their off-spring and there is no reason I can think of why they aren't there! Do you have any suggestions? Rgds. Jason Ward. |
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They may be listed under variant spellings. However, the 1901 census isn't desperately well transcribed or indexed. If the index does not reveal what you think should be there, search in the original returns at the Family Records Centre, using the addresses you have fropm the birth and marriage certificates. |
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| Marie Ward | 22/05/2007 21:27:23 |
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hello anthony g/grandfather working in house with a smith family aged 12yrs name thomas lovett can you tell me how to find parents. |
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Presumably this information is from a census. It should state the boy's age. You can therefore seek a birth certificate for him, in General Registration. You will find full details of how to use General Registration, censuses and all the other records useful to genealogists in my books, You should find help with your research in my books, "Tracing your Family History" – a comprehensive guide to tracing your family history in Britain and "Need to Know? Tracing Your Family History" – a short guide for beginners, which I wrote especially for Genes Renuited members who are starting out on the exciting quest that is tracing your ancestry. Before you seek the boy's birth, however, don't forget to obrtain his marriage record, as this will tell you his father's name and occupation. (http://www.anthonyadolph.co.uk/needtoknowfamhist.htm). |
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| Sue Ward | 18/03/2008 21:49:10 |
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Hi Anthony, I am trying to find out about my great grandfather William Crompton Dale. I have his marriage certificate and what I thought was his birth certificate, but his father's name is different on the two certificates. I have searched the BMD indexes and can only find 1 William Crompton Dale born around 1875 (he was aged 31 on his marriage cert in 1906) and the marriage was in Walthamstow. Marriage cert says father is William Crompton Dale and birth cert says William Duncombe Dale, so I am stuck please can you offer some advice. There is a family story that we are related to Samuel Crompton of the Spinning Mule fame, so I am out to try and disprove or otherwise this story! Many thanks Sue. |
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The censuses will show you whether your WCD who was born in 1875 was born in the place shown on the brith certificate. The names are so unusual here that I expect you have the right birth record, but that the father's name is wrong in one of the sources (presumably the marriage record, as the father may not have been present then, whereas he would almost certainly have been around when his son was born). You could also use the censuses to see if the father can be found: if you can also find the 'other' father then you will know that things were more complex. |
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| Caroline Warburton | 15/04/2008 21:09:32 |
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Evening Anthony - thank you for being available We have just found out that our great grandfather was arrested for embezzling in 1875, and three weeks later was declared bankrupt. This was in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, and he was committed for trial at Northallerton. Almost immediately after that his wife had a baby in Reading, which died soon after birth. We've always wondered why the family suddenly went to Reading, and now we're guessing that he was sent to Reading Gaol. How do we find out? And would his wife be likely to get any help from the parish or anywhere that would leave records. She'd just had a baby that died, she had a two-year old child, her husband was bankrupt and probably in prison, and she was far from family and friends. Caroline |
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What an interesting tale. If the mother did not have her baby in Reading Workhouse, then she was probably not receiving any oficial help, though she may of course have gone thence becasue she had friends or family there. Maybe she was just trying to get as far away from Middlesborough as possible. Regarding your great grandfather, you should find plenty of local newspaper reports about his trial and bankruptcy. |
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| Caroline Warburton | 22/08/2006 21:00:56 |
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Hello Anthony, Thank you for being on hand to answer questions. I’m looking for my grandmother’s brother, Charles White, an unfortunately common name. This one was on the stage; we’re not sure what as. He sang risqué ditties and was very disapproved of. He was born in Reading in 1878, and we have him in 1881 and 1891, age 3 and 11, with his parents. We can’t find him in 1901, unless he’s the blacksmith married to Minnie, which doesn’t seem likely. We know he married Maggie, and her death certificate says she was the widow of a theatre manager. We don’t know her maiden name. We haven’t found the marriage certificate or his death – there are so many Charles Whites, and we don’t know for sure where he was. The likely places are Reading and Brixton. We don’t know Maggie’s maiden name. We have found a playbill where Charles White, actor, played with the Dippers in Bristol in 1922. I don’t want to fall into the trap of wishful thinking. How can we chase this up? Best wishes Caroline Bagshaw |
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There are excelletn archives of theatre memorabilia and playbills, at the Theatre Museum, and a biographical dictionary, called (something very similar to) Who's Who on the Stage, all of which may help. One tip - you could look for a will - these are indexed and you do much more information in the indexes to help you decide whether you've found the right person. |
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| Margaret Walters | 19/08/2008 21:22:40 |
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Hi Anthony After lengthy searches I can find no record of my g grandmother Annie Butcher prior to her marriage to g grandfather James Ritchings in March 1887, in Fulham age 22. The marriage cert. gives her address 43 Charlotte Rd but no mention of where, fathers name William Butcher. Census records birth as Pimlico/ Westminster she died 1911 aged 46 also as Annie. Where else can I look to find her prior to 1887. Maggie Cox |
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A street address minus a place name usually means that the street was in the parish where the marriage took place. You should be able to find this woman and her father in the 1881 census (see www.familysearch.org) and then seek her birth. |
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| Dean Walsh | 19/08/2008 21:21:12 |
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Hello Anthony, My Gt-Great Grandfather was born in 1870 in Eastry(Kent) workhouse, he was an illigitimate child as there was no fathers name on the certifiate, please could you tell me where i would start looking for Bastardy records and/or Workhouse records, or would there be any other records that may give me a fathers name. Thanks Dean |
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Any useful information of this sort that survives (you have identified the correct potential sources) would be in the relevant Kent archives – probably the Canterbury. |
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| Lucia Wallbank | 31/08/2004 20:50:26 |
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Hello, Can you help me find my great grandfather, Albert Goodge? I have asked relatives for information about him, but only know that he was in a mental institution. His death certificate states that he died in Coulsdon, Surrey in 1952. I know of two asylums in Coulsdon - Netherne? and Cane Hill. Where can I find records for these asylums and what would they reveal? I have his marriage certificate from 1914 but I think that the details may be wrong as his age is different on the death certificate. There is no address on the marriage certificate that I can search on the 1901 census. I cannot find his birth as no one knows when he was born and I can't verify anything I have found on any census as I don't know anything about him. According to his marriage certificate, his father was Alfred Goodge, a tobacconist, but I haven't found anything in directories. I believe that Albert's family opposed his marriage and that is why my grandfather never had any contact with his father's family. My grandfather once mentioned an Annie Holmes married a Goodge, perhaps Albert's father. There is a suggestion that Goodge is a German name. Is there any evidence of this? Many thanks for your help, Lucia |
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For mental institution records for the 1950's I would suggest approaching the institutions themselves, or if they are no longer there, the local health authority and/or local archives. The Surrey History Centre in Goldsworth Road, Woking would know. Ages at death are much, much less likely to be correct than ages at marriage- the latter were given by the people themselves, whereas the former were given by others who were unable to ask the deceased to confirm the information! As the 1901 census has been fully indexed you should be able to use it to pick Albert up, and indeed seek the father Alfred as well. Goodge may sound German but in most cases it as a variant, predominently East Anglian, of Gough. |
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| Lucia Wallbank | 17/02/2004 21:05:40 |
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Hello Anthony, Do you know anything about the origins of the surname Gorbold? |
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This is a good, distinctive name which should be a joy to trace. It has a Suffolk sound to it but in fact the earliest reference I have to hand is William Gorebald in Cambridgeshire (next to Suffolk) in 1273. It means 'son of Gerbold', which is an unusual but certainly verifiable personal name of Saxon origin. Garbutt is the more usual variant of the name. |
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