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Have been trying to find my Grandfather for quite a while now through this site with the help of to name a few Bernice,Suzanne,Janice cordy and Janice Avinou.If I have spelt your names wrong please accept my apols.Every avenue has been tried and have even asked for advice on how to find him with the little info I have.I dont want anyone to go over the same grounds as this isnt fair.What I am asking is...Do you think I would get any further by asking a professional geneologist to look into it for me.Have paid for all sorts of sites so would a prof.have access to other sites that I cannot use.Your thoughts and advice on this would be very welcome and thanks once again to ALL who have helped me.TEARFULLY.Wanda.xx

Hi I have used a researcher before, but mainly because it was an unknown area to me. What are you looking for? Who are you looking for?

A professional will have access to the same information that we all do. They may be able to travel to records offices in different parts of the country but of course this is going to be expensive research. Why not try and have another go on here? A few more pairs of eyes might just spot something that was overlooked by others.

and snap to what Helen has said, they have access to all the same sources of information as we have.

Oh Helen Thanks but this is one of them that comes up and ends in a blank.Due to the fact that no marraige is recorded havnt even got a rough age or fathers name to go on.His children,one my dad were put into care or taken? so no info inthat quarter.Have contacted Manchester libraries to see if they can help but they said to look on the 1901 census...its ok looking but its only guesswork as to which person he is....Harold Brierley living at 34 Greengate Salford from 1924 -1930.Partener or wife Mary Ellen Goulden.Not married.She was born in 1893 and is on the 1901 census as Mary Ellen Golden in Chorlton.She married Thomas Mitchell in 1914 but in 1925 had my dad James to Harold Brierley in Salford.How do I work out which Harold Brierley he is.Have done the ...lets see if the names of children match relatives and have come up with one that does have all the names in the family.Harold Brierley born 1891 Manchester.When I go back into his family they live in Greengate according to the census`s but is this enough to go on? Have no hot matches or anyone looking for him or for any of the family for that matter.So is this good or bad? As no one else has claimed him could he be mine?..Wanda.xx

I would say no to professional help, Wanda. I don't want to paint them all with the same brush, but I have seen some results from the so-called professionals that are garbage! Give us another go, there are new people on this site that might be able to spot something that others have missed and it won't cost you anything. Margaret

I have just sent a pm to Wanda which said pretty much the same as you all. Perhaps a fresh look at the info. will find the elusive grandfather. Regards - Jim

Electoral rolls might help? If you have a good idea of the address then the local library for the area will hold the records. I've not actual done this myself but have seen plenty of posts where people have phoned the library in question, the librarians have done a lookup and called back with the info, all for free. If you asked for a lookup for a year when Harold would have been at least 21 but hopefully still at home, you may just get him and his parents at same address.

Mary Ellen Goulden(Golden on 1901 census) had William Goulden 23/4/1911.in Chorlton. On the 21/3/1914 married Thomas Mitchell and on the 25/4/1914 had Mary Mitchell.On the 16/3/1919 had Leo Mitchell (fathers name not on birth cert..On the 9/7/1922 had Harold Mitchell(fathers name not on cert) All in Chorlton then in 1925 had James 18/3/1925 in Salford and Herbert 30/3/1928 in Salford.Fathers name Harold Brierley..address 34 Greengate,Salford.Marys(mother) middle name on birth certs for James and Herbert is now Agnes and not Ellen and her maiden name on certs is Mitchell.Wanda.xx

Thank you James,Willo the wisp and Helen.I have got the electoral roll records for 1924 to 1930 when Harold was listed at 34 Greengate,Salford.Mary Ellen only appeared on it once in Oct 1930 and she died 22/11/1930.The children were taken in by the Salford Childrens Catholic Rescue Society on the 13/1/1931.We know Harold was in ww1 and Janice Cordy has given me info on one Harold Brierley from the records at Kew but there are 6 listed.He was severely wounded and this may be the only way I can find him.If I knew where he came from then that would help but havnt even got that info..If you can help then thank you....Wanda.xx

Hi Wanda You sound so dispondent! Please think again I know you have spent money on things in the past, and people are here to help. You have ordered certificates and they could shed light, please wait till you receive these and then come back. It takes time and I am still willing to do further searches for you, so please save your money. Everyone here tries to help, and this is free. Janice xx

Wanda The only other thing I can suggest, is that you get the military records of all six men with the same name and try to trace them forward and eliminate them that way. This will be expensive, but not as expensive as paying a professional to do it for you. OC

Hi Wanda I know this is important to you, but please take your time and save your money. Time is on your side I know it is. Janice xx

Hi I'd go with Old Crone. Get the service records from WWI. This will tell you which of the 6 were wounded (if the records survive) and it should have next of kin details. My husbands great grandfathers had the pension details as well. I ordered in a film of Service Records into my local Mormon Family History Centre, it took about 6 weeks to come but then I had a month to go through the films. (Are WW1 records coming to Ancestry soon??!?) From Family search site:- Title Military records of the British Army, 1914-1920 (surnames A-E) : Film Number Box B-2857 Brierley, George to Brierley, Harold; Box B-2858 Brierley, Harold C. to Brierley, James; Box B-2859 Brierley, James to Brierley, James - VAULT BRITISH Film [ 2093536 ] Teresa There are a couple of Harold Brierley deaths on the CWGC site for WW1 one from Mossley, Manchester who you could discount from your search.

Hi Wanda I go to Kew about every 6 - 8 weeks and would be willing to have a look for you. I am due to go again mid feb, perhaps earlier it all depends on workload. PM me if you want me to look also if he was badly wounded in WW1 then the chances are that he would have been awarded the silver war badge.

Thank you all for your replies.Am feeling a bit that way Janice as not been feeling very well.Mum thinks I may have plerisy.Got to say thanks for your great help in this and as you know awaiting quite a few certs. James have put the info on this thread that you asked.Did this before I realised you had mailed me so I hope thats ok.The working forwards on the ww1 records seems like a good idea.Have downloaded the medal cards for Harold Brierley but was dissapointed as my dad said he was a sapper but only privates on there and someone pointed out that a sapper was in the Royal Engineers but none listed say that.The one Janice did for me was wounded but had a wife called Lydia which I cant find any trace of marraige for that either.Like I said all help appreciated in this and sorry for only just replying but my computer is playing up and keeps telling me it has encountered a prob and has to close.I know the feeling!! Wanda.xx

Wanda A sapper is what the RE's call a private - it's the same thing Peter

Have pm`d Teresa,Willow and James....Peter wouldnt it say on the medal card though that it wasthe Royal Engineers.All they have on is regiment,corps or fusiliers but no RE. Thanks for reply...Wanda.xx

Hello Wanda and all the Grandfather Search Team. What do you think about this from Ancestry Free BMD ? MARRAIGE ??? Mary Ellen Goulden -1909 Q3 - Chorlton - Vol. 8c p.1697 Harry Brierley - 1909 Q3 - Chorlton - Vol. 8c p. 1761 I know that the details should all tally but could there be a mistake with page number do you think ? Seems a very strange coincidence !!! Check it out. If it is correct then Mary Ellen was about 16. And Harold was about 18 when they both married according to these details. Regards - Jimbob

As a long shot - there is a medal card listed for a Herbert Brierly (Driver, RE) and another for an L Brierly (sapper RE). Is it possible his name was actually Herbert Harold or Harold Herbert (especially as his son was a Herbert...... P