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Just another clue it is him - note no middle name as with marriage. You still need the marriage cert to be sure though.

Births Dec 1881 (>99%)
WELLS Wilfred Bradford 9b 1

Jan

I think the death might be right you know. This is the only Wilfred Wells I can see in Dewsbury in 1911 and it would account for no birth record in the area. It is also the right YOB to match the death (the Wilfred who died 1934 was 52).

1911 England Census

Name: Wilfred Wells
Age in 1911: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Wyke Nr Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Civil parish: Batley
County/Island: Yorkshire-West Riding
Country: England
Street Address: 41 Carlinghow Lane Batley
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Spinner
Registration district: Dewsbury
Registration District Number: 503
Sub-registration district: Batley

James Hesketh Wells 54
Emily Ann Wells 52
Wilfred Wells 29
Harriet Emily Wells 24
Arthur Wells 13
Herbert Wells 10
Louie Wells 1

Peter, I feel a bit guilty for not pointing out this site to you before. It's called Freebmd, free and easy to use. It's the first place to go for births, marriages and deaths 1837-about 1955.

www.freebmd.org.uk

Do have a look - you can play around and find the wells/barrett marriage Dewsbury for example.

You do need the marriage cert, I agree, to track down Wilfred and Annie. I can't see births for them in Dewsbury unfortunately which would help to ascertain if that is Wilfred's death as found above.

Jan

Think you need to get the marriage certificate for Wilfred/Annie so we have their ages and fathers names. Then they can probably be located on the 1911 census and theiir deaths found.

There is a death for wilfred in Dewsbury 1934, but without his age it is impossible to know if this is the same person. Just thinking, if they really were well off there may be probate records.

I've been trying to work through Alice Watson/George West children, and think their oldest Jack died within weeks of birth in 1933. Looks like Eric died in 1944, but this still leaves a number of other possibles between 1938 and 1950, including George. During your conversations have they referred to any other names - I think there may have been a Laura?

I was speaking to my father and he seems to think it's possible that Jacqueline didn't go into care - that the grandmother took her. He's not sure. He's a bit of a closed book as it's all very emotional for him so I'm trying to get him to remember little things. It's all so long ago and the problem is he found it all so hurtful that he forced himself to forget - so now, after 68 years he's struggling to remember. He doesn't recall hardly anything of the paternal grandparentsr except they were extremley well off.

I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to every single one of you who have taken the time to read my post and take time out of your own lives to help me with your research and advice. I certainly didn't expect this support when I signed up. You're helping me to make my father's wish for almost 70 years come true and it means an awful lot - THANK YOU each and every one of you. Pete

Oh how did you find this? I have been looking for their names but I couldn't find anything - I think I'm useless at this!! Should I order their birth certificates or find their death records? I 'm assuming Wilfred died and that's why only the grandmother took Jacqueline. Oh there I go again, assuming things!!!

So i guess you need to trace what happened to Wilfred & Annie Wells if you can? Can't recall if we had this so just in case:

Marriages Mar 1916
Barrett Annie Wells Dewsbury 9b 1233
Wells Wilfred Barrett Dewsbury 9b 1233

Charlie's birth certificate is due for delivery on 8th March - the other's are coming 23rd.

Unknown,

If the home was local authority run or by an organisation detailed paperwork may not have survived but admission and discharge books were usaully archived,and will have been disposited with local record office or archive these have a closure of a number of years on them some 100 some 75 some 50.,,,,unless you are seeking your own information then access can be given for that information to be released in copy form.

Discharge information usually state into whos care the discharge was made.

Hi Julia - Sandra didn't confirm Alice's married name but she did refer to her children Eric & Jack.
My mother's older sister is visiting this weekend and she has confirmed Jacqueline didn't actually go to the cottage homes - she was taken in by her paternal grandmother (Charlie's mother).
I have an archavist who works for kirklees doing a search on some old records for cottage homes - he is adament no records from Cottage Homes exist however some of them were run by the childrens union who do have some records.
I think I need to redirect my search now to Charlie's mother.
As for Derek - I don't have a clue where to start with him. I think it's a case of waiting for the birth certificates now.
I've learned that you can't rely on people's memories.
I'm not giving up - Jacqueline and Derek MUST have been registered somewhere at some point.

You say Sandra's mother was close to sister Alice - did she confirm Alice's married name?

What about getting the certificate for Irene's second marriage, it should show her status - ie widowed or divorced?

Marriages Dec 1947 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Townend John H Wells Dewsbury 2b 807
Townend John H Watson Dewsbury 2b 807
Watson Irene Townend Dewsbury 2b 807
Wells Irene Townend Dewsbury 2b 807

cwwg,,,,shows no matching name or even leaving out middle inital being killed in WW2.either civillian or forces.

On a completely different tack, have you considered 'going public'? By which I mean using local newspapers - even radio if possible?
Jan

The birth cert should give you your answer as it will have his date of birth. I guess it shouldn't be too long before it arrives now?
Jan

Chares Barrett Wells surely seems to be the same person in the family tree, however I need to completely discount this idea that he was killed in Singapore. Can anyone tell me the right place to search this info? I really need to be able to tell my father one way or another.

The marriage on the Ancestry tree - Peter has this already by the way. I am aware it is moving away from the main focus but for this search everything helps.

Name: Charles B Wells
Spouse Kathleen M Sutton
Date of registration: Apr-May-Jun 1947
Registration district: Atherstone
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Volume Number: 6d
Page Number: 59

Hi again,

Just done some checking with RAF war deaths and their service numbers didn't have a letter prefix so I think it is his service number you've been given.

Pat

Hello! What have we here.

I just knew it. So maybe that tree on Ancestry is right after all and he re-married in Nuneaton (PM sent previously).


Name: Charles Barrett Wells
Birth Date: 29 Oct 1917
Date of registration: Jun 1990
Age at Death: 72
Registration district: Nuneaton and Bedworth
Inferred County: Warwickshire
Volume: 31
Page: 169

Jan