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I know this birth has been posted before but I do firmly believe that this is the one you should be looking at. There is a death registration for him too.

William Clarke
Year of Registration: 1913
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Mother's Maiden Name: Clarke
District: West Bromwich
County: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
Volume: 6b
Page: 1507


William Clarke
Birth Date: 21 Sep 1913
Death Registration Month/Year: Dec 1995
Age at death (estimated): 82
Registration district: Birmingham
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Register number: C2B
District and Subdistrict: 0611C
Entry number: 259

Hi Astra
I tend to agree with you on this one as you've probably read further back, if mind numbness hadn't set in before you got to the end. I've sent for copy of his marriage cert the date of which i know to be correct so for the moment I'm going to wait until that arrives before I send for anything else.
Many, many thanks for helping me.

Still waiting for marriage cert for Ellen Clarke, 1905 West Brom. There was a lot of info yesterday, my brain simply wouldn't absorb it, overload? I will read through it all again today

Good Morning Everyone and you thought I'd given up!

The Ellen Clarke marriage certificate has finally arrived: -
No: 139
When Married: 23 Sept 1905
Names & Surnames: James Wheatley & Ellen Clarke
Ages: 21 & 21
Condition: Batchelor & Spinster
Rank or Profession: Striker & ---
Residence at time of marriage: 87 & 97 Barncroft St West Bromwich
Fathers Names & Surnames: Benjamin Wheatley and John Clarke
Rank or Profession of Fathers: ?Puddler & Ironworker

So it looks like this isn't my Ellen, odd coincidence that the father's name is John Clarke though. The Wheatley name isn't familiar neither are the addresses nor is this John Clarke's occupation

If all you regular volunteer helpers would like to keep a record as this is one where the male name isn't displayed when you do a search

As I know the details I have for Williams marriage are correct, I am now waiting for a copy of the marriage cert hoping that his age, address and occupation together with his father's name and occupation will help me. Despatch date is 29th Aug so another long wait.

In the meantime since discovering that the William Clarke born 1904 in West Bromwich wasn't my William I searched other GR family trees for a William born 1913. Only this morning I sent some messages out, so fingers crossed they might be able to help me.

Hooray, another breakthrough.
I have received a positive response from someone, he says that he is just off on holiday and will reply on return with more details.
He says that what I said in the messages I sent out this morning about William being my dad's half brother, that he was married in 1936 and had 3 children does seem correct since his mother was 1 of 3 and gives their names, they are the names I know to be Williams children.
He also says that his mom had mentioned an Auntie Ivy ? (my mum) Smethwick way ? (that's where we lived)
So there are good days

Sorry should have posted this before, thank you Victoria for the information about the family at 5 Court 6 Catherine Street

Woo-Hoo. Fantastic. That's great news Tony.
Can't wait for his return to give you more details.

That's wonderful! Thanks for the message too. I do like to keep an eye on this thread as you know!
Jan

Pleased to hear you've had some good news, bet you can't wait for his return.

Christine

This is wonderful, Anthony! How difficult for you to have to wait now.

The result will be even better because of the hard work you've had tracking them down. Persistence pays.

Thanks for the pm, much appreciated, although I keep an eye on your thread but just haven't had anything to contribute.

Ozi

Morning Everyone
Nothing to add just waiting for Williams grandson to return from his holls - gosh suppose he's gone for 2 whole weeks or even longer! and copy of Williams marriage cert which I sent for before I knew about the grandson

More really good news - I have just made contact with one of William's sons, part of his message to me: -

yes we are related. I was the cousin who reguarly cycled and fished with your brother roy circa 1953-56.
I would appreciate an exchange of emails as you may be able to assist in my fathers side of trre. my contact is:

Oh dear! he thinks I may be able to help him, if only he knew all the ups and downs I've shared with you all. So things can only get better from now on or have we all thought that before?
Will keep you all informed

Pleased to hear you've made contact with William's son.

I had to smile at the comment of being able to help him with his father's family.

I was also wondering what year William was born.

Christine

Thanks for the PM Anthony. Great news, but I suspect William's son doesn't know what he's letting himself in for!! But he - or one of his family - might just have a tiny clue which will help.
Fingers crossed.
jan

Goodness, you better not tell him about this thread or he might run away!

Only joking. I hope the two of you can get it sorted.


Ozi

Good Morning
Would you like the good news or the bad? It's good that we've made contact after all these years, I've just given him access to my tree and vice versa for the moment, I thought we could both take a good look to see what we have and haven't got and then ask questions later. I knew that there'd be a catch - he's only got himself on his tree!
Apparently he's in touch with Williams grandson, whose mother wants him to trace her mothers side of the family so William's son thought he'd join in and trace his father's side, as you say Jan if only he knew...............
For the moment it's back to waiting for the copy of his marriage cert to arrive for me, should be any day now and waiting for Williams grandson to return from his holls.

Hi Anthony.
Thanks for the PM with the good news. I have been away for a few days but from what I have read we are still waiting for the marriage certificate which seems to be taking forever to arrive! I never was the world's most patient soul.
I will have a more thorough read-through of the new postings later but everything I have looked at so far seems to be very positive.

I am starting to feel like an honorary Babbington!!
jan

Hello all my loyal and supportive friends, I feel I can call you friends now we've been through so much together.
The search goes on but painfully slow, still no sign of the copy marriage cert for William.
This is part of William's son's latest email to me: -

just a couple of quick points:

1: I have Just sent for dad's birt cert., he was born 1913, it should be here by end of month. I will let you have all details then.

2: I remember Lillian and her family they lived near top of windmill lane smethwick I can remember going there at Xmas when I very little. Had forgoten all about them so thanks for reminding me

3: 4/19 Alfred street was the house I grew up in (we moved there in 1941). I have been unable to find the right alfred street in census. I was curious to know who lived there in 1911.

So you were right Astra to insist that I take a re-look at the birth you found in 1913, I think we can assume that the death you found will also prove to be correct.

I notice that he says that the family moved to 4/19 Alfred St in 1941 but, I think it was you Vanessa who found a Nellie Clarke (Ellen Clarke) there on the 1920 census and at 4 Court 2 Alfred St in 1922, being joined in 1930 by Nellie Jane Babbington, by 1935 they were both joined by William Clarke. The address 4/19 Alfred St is also on Rosie May's marriage cert. I'll ask him a little more about this when he's managed to take in all that we've found out.

I know that you said BrummieJan how much of a headache those back-to-back houses gave you when you first started so perhaps you or someone else can tell me how the numbering worked and would these 2 addresses been close to one another.. As Nellie Clarke was at 4/19 in 1920 and 2 Court 4 in 1922 and later but Rose May's address in 1923 was 4/19.
Ah! just realised Rose May's bridegroom was also at 4/19 so maybe they were living there as a couple before they married after Nellie had moved to 2 Court 4.

Good to see your update Anthony. I feel you will get there in the end but it's hard work isn't it - I admire your perseverance. What a family! You would think this name would be a piece of cake but no such luck. Still, the sense of acheivement wil be great when you solve it. But what will you do with your time after that?!
Jan x