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BMD India in 1940's

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

jimarg45

jimarg45 Report 18 Mar 2015 22:36

Hi all,
I've been trying in vain for some time now to find child/children of Genevieve Theresa Stephenson (could be Stevenson).
All I know is she was born in India around 1918/1920. The name is her married name, her husband was a British Serviceman; but she could have been divorced/widowed.
She had a child in 1946/7.

I have no more details so any help will be greatly appreciated - I know it's a bit of a non starter, but every little helps. ;-)

Sylvia

Sylvia Report 18 Mar 2015 23:42

Possible Death
Genevieve Theresa Stephenson
Birth Date: 27 Apr 1919
Date of Registration: Sep 1985
Age at Death: 66
Registration district: Luton
Inferred County: Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire
Volume: 9
Page: 336

jimarg45

jimarg45 Report 18 Mar 2015 23:49

Thanks Sylvia.

I've been told she was of Indian origin, but I have no idea of her maiden name.
I had actually found this record, but then wondered why she would come to England if her family were all in India.
I really am grateful for anything searches turn up.
I've tried looking at Indian military births but the records are very hit and miss.

Sylvia

Sylvia Report 19 Mar 2015 00:04

Yes it is very difficult if you do not have her maiden name. I will have another look for you . Good luck in your search.

brummiejan

brummiejan Report 19 Mar 2015 00:14

Have you considered getting the cert to see who registered the death?
The place of birthand maiden name should be shown if the informant knew them.
Jan

jimarg45

jimarg45 Report 19 Mar 2015 00:22

Thank you for that, brummiejan,

It's worth getting as I'm at the proverbial brick wall again.
Doh!!! why didn't I think of that :-D :-)

jimarg45

jimarg45 Report 19 Mar 2015 00:23

In the meantime, if anyone else has any snippets, I will be very pleased to hear from you.

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 01:40

This is purely speculative. Unfortunately the full details are not given/image not available as less than 100 years ago. It tallies with the birth year given on the Luton death posted earlier.

First name(s) Genevieve Therese Stuart<<<<<<<<<<<
Last name Sheppard<<<<<<<<<<<
Baptism year 1919
Birth year 1919
Place Erode
Presidency Madras
Mother's first name(s) -
Mother's last name -
Father's first name(s) -
Father's last name Sheppard
Baptism date 1919
Birth date 1919
Archive reference N-2-125
Folio 111
Page -
Catalogue descriptions Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras
Record set British India Office births & baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms
Collections from Great Britain

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 01:50

Got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was her.

Here's the marriage:

First name(s) Geneviere<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Last name Stuart Sheppard<<<<<<<<<<<
Marriage year 1943
Marriage date 1943
Spouse's first name Leslie<<<<<<<<<<<
Spouse's last name Stephenson<<<<<<<<<<<
Place Madras
Presidency Madras
Groom's age 23
Bride's age 24<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Groom's father's first name -
Groom's father's last name -
Bride's father's first name -
Bride's father's last name -
Catalogue description Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras, : 1698-1948
Archive reference N-2-173
Folio number 397
Entry number -
Record set British India Office marriages
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Marriages & divorces

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 01:52

Wondering if this might be a sibling?

First name(s) Marie Stuart<<<<<<<<<<<
Last name Sheppard<<<<<<<<<
Marriage year 1942
Marriage date 1942
Spouse's first name George Anthony
Spouse's last name Paulie
Place -
Presidency Madras
Groom's age 23
Bride's age 23
Groom's father's first name -
Groom's father's last name -
Bride's father's first name -
Bride's father's last name -
Catalogue description Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras, : 1698-1948
Archive reference N-2-170
Folio number 351
Entry number -
Record set British India Office marriages

and another possible?

First name(s) Gerald Joseph Stuart<<<<<<<<<<<<
Last name Sheppard<<<<<<<<<<<
Marriage year 1942
Marriage date 1942
Spouse's first name Mary Enid
Spouse's last name Welsh
Place Royapuram,Mater Dolorosa
Presidency Madras
Groom's age 30
Bride's age 31
Groom's father's first name -
Groom's father's last name -
Bride's father's first name -
Bride's father's last name -
Catalogue description Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras, : 1698-1948
Archive reference N-2-170
Folio number 280
Entry number -
Record set British India Office marriages

Purely speculative based on the 'Stuart'.

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:06

Baptsim of Gerald Joseph Stuart was over 100 years ago, so parents are listed. Father was a telegrpher on the baptism register image.:

First name(s) Gerald Joseph Stuart
Last name Sheppard
Baptism year 1911
Birth year 1911
Place Mylapore,Mae de Deus
Presidency Madras
Mother's first name(s) Florence Mildred
Mother's last name -
Father's first name(s) Arthur Henry
Father's last name Sheppard
Baptism date 4 Nov 1911
Birth date 24 Oct 1911
Archive reference N-2-110
Folio 190
Page -
Catalogue descriptions Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras
Record set British India Office births & baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:08

Another Stuart Sheppard?

First name(s) Joan Margaret Stuart
Last name Sheppard
Baptism year 1920
Birth year 1920
Place Bangalore,St Patrick
Presidency Madras
Mother's first name(s) -
Mother's last name -
Father's first name(s) -
Father's last name Sheppard
Baptism date 1920
Birth date 1920
Archive reference N-2-127
Folio 52
Page -
Catalogue descriptions Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras
Record set British India Office births & baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:10

Oh dear, Stuart Sheppard, but with different parents, so can't be sure who Genevieve belongs to:

First name(s) Robert Stuart
Last name Sheppard
Baptism year 1911
Birth year 1911
Place Mylapore,San Thome
Presidency Madras
Mother's first name(s) Grace Clara
Mother's last name -
Father's first name(s) Robert Stuart
Father's last name Sheppard
Baptism date 11 Jun 1911
Birth date 13 May 1911
Archive reference N-2-109
Folio 82A
Page -
Catalogue descriptions Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras
Record set British India Office births & baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms

Father an Act Inspector Salt Dept.

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:12

Another belonging to Florence and Arthur:

First name(s) Reginald Evelyn Stuart
Last name Sheppard
Baptism year 1909
Birth year 1909
Place North Black Town,St Francis Xavier
Presidency Madras
Mother's first name(s) Florence Mildred
Mother's last name -
Father's first name(s) Arthur Stuart
Father's last name Sheppard
Baptism date 20 Nov 1909
Birth date 03 Nov 1909
Archive reference N-2-106
Folio 167
Page -
Catalogue descriptions Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras
Record set British India Office births & baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:14

Too late for parents' details on transcript:

First name(s) Marie Therese Stuart
Last name Sheppard
Baptism year 1918
Birth year 1918
Place Royapuram,Mater Dolorosa
Presidency Madras
Mother's first name(s) -
Mother's last name -
Father's first name(s) -
Father's last name Sheppard
Baptism date 1918
Birth date 1918
Archive reference N-2-125
Folio 290
Page -
Catalogue descriptions Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras
Record set British India Office births & baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms
Collections from Great Britain

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:23

If you really want to identify Genevieve's parents, you need to see if the baptism register is in the India Office collection at the British library:

"We offer a remote ecclesiastical search service for enquirers who are unable to visit our reading room. The Ecclesiastical Returns (copy registers of births/baptisms, marriages and burials of European and Eurasian Christians in India, Burma and territories controlled from India) held in this collection are not complete. We estimate that 20-30% of the returns are missing. Therefore with any search conducted there is the possibility of failure. Certified copies, i.e.. an official copy with the seal of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, can also be provided. The fees for Ecclesiastical Searches and Certificates are as follows:
£36 per search for enquirers of EU countries (includes VAT)
£30 per search for enquirers of non-EU countries
£18 per certified copy"

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/familyresearch.html#search

I think the info on the baptism I posted above can be reformatted asN/2/125/111
so you would only have to pay £18 for the cert copy, not for the search as well, but it might be best to ring the number on the form linked below, 0207 412 7642, or email at the address given on the form, to check that's ok, and ask any other questions you may have.

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/ecclesiasticapplication2010.pdf

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:26

I'm afraid I haven't really helped with your original question about children. There are some Stephensons born in India, though records tend to peter out after Independence in 1947, but as no maiden names are given for the mother, hard to connect any with Genevieve.

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:33

Not sure if this is Genevieve's Leslie, he is the right age. he is with a batch of other young men described as Bevin Boys, many of whom have Indian names:

Name: Leslie Stephenson
Birth Date: abt 1920
Age: 23
Port of Departure: Bombay, India
Arrival Date: 25 Nov 1943
Port of Arrival: Glasgow, Scotland
Ports of Voyage: Suez
Ship Name: Nea Hellas
Search Ship Database: Search for the Nea Hellas in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: Anchor Line
Official Number: 146307

This may or may not be the same chap travelling back.If so, he is now a fitter. he and the other men have their UK address as Indian Trainees Hostel , The Peoples House, Letchworth, Herts.

Name: L J Stephenson
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Birth Date: abt 1920
Departure Date: 20 Jul 1944
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Destination Port: Shripad
Ship Name: Modasa
Search Ship Database: Search for the Modasa in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping line: B I S N Company, Limited
Official Number: 146272
Master: A Drummond

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 02:42

I have pmed some Stephenson, mother maiden name Sheppard births in the Luton area, but as it's getting very late/early, I haven't looked for other Stephenson/Sheppard marriages that might account for some or all of them.

Also, being post war, some women may be nee Sheppard, but have married their Stephenson groom as a widow, using their first husband's name, so the marriages may not be obvious, if they exist.

Kucinta

Kucinta Report 19 Mar 2015 10:10

You said her husband was a British serviceman, on the offchance he was the Leslie Stephenson who came to the uk in 1943 as a Bevin's Boy but went back as a fitter in 1944, this may be his birth in India:

First name(s) Leslie Joseph
Last name Stephenson
Baptism year 1920
Birth year 1920
Place North Black Town,St Francis Xavier
Presidency Madras
Mother's first name(s) -
Mother's last name -
Father's first name(s) -
Father's last name Stephenson
Baptism date 1920
Birth date 1920
Archive reference N-2-128
Folio 39
Page -
Catalogue descriptions Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Madras
Record set British India Office births & baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms
Collections from Great Britain

I know he had no middle name on the marriage, but Genevieve did not have her second name of Theresa on the transcript either.

????

Name: Leslie Joseph Stephenson
Birth Date: 12 Apr 1920
Date of Registration: Jun 1978
Age at Death: 58
Registration district: Brent
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume: 11
Page: 0588

Apologies if this is a complete red herring.