Find Living Relatives

Jax - Thank you for the tip for a cheaper Birth Certificate!! I have already ordered one from Ancestry so I know how epensive they are - you're advice is greatly appreciated.

Sheila - I will follow this up - many thanks once again.

Just a thought but if the death registration was correct then someone on this site has a John Townend born 1917 in her tree, there where a few matches for that name in Yorskhire in that time frame, could be worth trying to contact her and rule this one out as well.

Please do not order the cert through ancestry it will cost over £20

Use GRO

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

£9.25 including postage

Thank goodness for that - for a moment there I wondered if they werent even married at all!!
I will order Irene's birth certificate from Ancestry tonight - it wold be foolish of me not to get evidence. I'm not convinced Sandra will be able to tell me anything of the other 2 children as by the time they were all born Jacqueline had moved down south and Derek never came home either. My guess is that the other 2 children were not spoken of again which is why my father knows very little of them. I think my main 3 goals now is to find out about Charlie Wells for sure, perhaps trace Jacqueline or her children, and find out what became of Derek (Peter).

Our messages crossed, but I recently tried to helpeanother member whose father was born around the same time as your father - he never knew his birthday and although he stipulated a specific date his birth was not registered under the given name.

Until the 1980s I don't think you had to produce proof of who and when you were born - I was married in 1974 and didn't have to proove who I was

Peter,

That's great news, but a word of caution - get Irene's birth certificate to confirm her parentage.

However, on the possitive side, if Sandra is going to talk to her sister Jacqueline between them they may remember more about your father & his siblings. Shame there's none of the original family left though (that Sandra knows of).

You always knew this would be a long haul didn't you?

I'm still very puzzled as to why my father didn't know his correct birthday - wouldn't he have needed his birth cirtificate to my my mother?? They are having a party this weekend to celebrate 50 years of marriage and I believe there could be some very old friends there - I'm going to see what information they can give me,
Also - isn't it strange that 2 sisters (Irene and Emma) would both name their 1st born children Jacqueline??

Great News - Flip found a lady called Sandra Curnin who's mother was Emma Jane Watson, a possible sibling of Irenes. After a brief telephone conversation with my wife she has confirmed she knew "aunt Renie" and vaguely remembers my father. She didn't know Jacqueline or Derek, but perhaps thats becuase once they went into care they were never een again. But this is a massive step as we now know the lead on Irene's family is the right one. Sandra was slightly overwhelmed by my call as expected so she has agreed to let me call her back on Wednesday evening when she should be over the shock by then! In the meantime she is going to speak to her sister to see if she remembers anything of Jacqueline, David or Derek. Unfortunately she has no older relatives to ask so I may not find out any further information from her.

It could be worth getting Irene's birth certificate, just to confirm her parentage and whether the family from 1911 is hers.

"IF" it is her family (& a big IF), I think Mark Watson died in 1932, and you mentioned you thought Jacqueline went to live with her grandmother (not grandparents), so could be relevant.

Try your parents with some of Irene's other sibling's names - see if it triggers any more memories - maybe your father can remember some of his aunts & uncles? Not sure how many of them you've found (apart from the census), but all the other possibles are on freebmd - Alice, George, Mark, Harry, Ronald & Emma J. Just wish more of them had second names!

My mother has confirmed that "Peter" was in fact called Derek. As soon as I mentioned it to her she remembered it to be correct.
My mother also said she thinks he was sent to live at a seaside resort. Aparently my father was removed from Cottage homes after a couple of years by his mother Irene however he ended up back in care some time later - Victoria Boys Home in Dewsbury. I am going to apply to the council for any records they have from both homes.

If the family for Irene is correct, her youngest sister would be Emma J born 1927, there is a marriage in Spen Valley 1946 to Alderwin Stead. She died in 1991 (right birth year) and he died 1993 (born 1920), both reg Dewsbury. It looks like they had 3 children, will pm the details as one married an unusual name and I think is in the Dewsbury/Batley phone book and also on 192.com

A possible lead, a member on here (Debbie) has Laura & Alice Watson in her tree along with Mark Watson & Jane Calvert - it is only a slim chance but could be worth trying to contact her. You need to search trees for Laura (1904), there's only a few results.

Thanks Liz.

The reason for this was there are a number of Watson/Calvert births, but the only local marriage I can see is 1902 between Mark Watson and Jane Calvert - so wanted to see if there were earlier children than Alice 1913. The last Watson/Calvert child in Dewsbury was 1927, and Jane would have still been young enough.

1911 census - household transcription

Person: WATSON, Mark
Address: 17 Cross Mill St Batley

:

WATSON, Mark Head Married M 28 1883 Rag Warehouseman Yorks Softhouse VIEW
WATSON, Jane Wife Married
8 years F 25 1886 Condenser Minder Yorks Batley VIEW
WATSON, Laura Daughter F 6 1905 School Yorks Batley VIEW
WATSON, Tom Son M 5 1906 School Yorks Batley VIEW
WATSON, Norman Son M 2 1909 Yorks Batley VIEW
WATSON, Ada Daughter F 0 (4 MONTHS) 1911 Yorks Batley VIEW
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
27246 Reference:
RG14PN27246 RG78PN1556 RD503 SD2 ED20 SN108

Registration District:
Dewsbury Sub District:
Batley Enumeration District:
20 Parish:
Batley

Address:
17 Cross Mill St Batley County:
Yorkshire (West riding)
census search results 1911 address search redefine cur

My sub has run out but could someone check the 1911 census for Mark Watson (1883) and Jane Watson (1886) they are living together in Dewsbury please?

I think it's safe to say I cannot rely on my fathers memories and need to look at everything. - like u say a few steps sideways may just help me make 1 step forward.

I wonder if you would have more luck trying to find Irene's siblings - there are 6 other Watson/Calvert births in Dewsbury 1913-1927 who could be connected.

It's just there is some doubt about Charlie - originally thought to have died overseas?

I agree it is important not to lose the focus, but sometimes you have to go sideways a bit!

Have you ever tried contacting neighbours of your grandmother? I assume you have an address on the death cert. This can be searched on Friends Reunited. People often share info with friends & neighbours, certainly worth a try, and easy to do.

I wonder if it is worth checking out all the Derek R. Wells on 192.com, again if only to exclude them? There are only 9. One is Derek Robert in his 60's so I would start with him. You might be in for the long haul with this one don't you think?

Jan

Definitely going to look at the birth certificate for Charlie B Wells, like you say if only to rule it out. I would really like to conentrate on finding info about Charlie, Peter (or Derek) and Jacqueline. My father is particularly interested to find out about his siblings. I think contacting the local authority for any records of the home is an idea I certainly will try. All you helpers are amazing to give up your time like this, I cannot thank you enough.

Might this be the death of Irene's husband? I wonder who registered it?

Name: John Herbert Townend
Birth Date: 30 Jul 1917
Date of registration: Jan 1988
Age at Death: 70
Registration district: Dewsbury
Inferred County: Yorkshire
Volume: 4
Page: 1425

Jan