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Hi, I'm trying to find out about my grandparents, I only received my dad's birth certificate in the post today! He was much easier to find as he was a consular birth, born in Shanghai.

I have just found out that my grandfather is Frank John Robinson, born in England, profession is Insurance. His residence information is 102 Route Ferguson, Shanghai.

My granny is Jean Walker Robinson, formerly Taylor. I really don't know anything at all about her! All I know is that she gave birth to my father at the County Hospital, Shanghai.

I was told that they may have been born in 1918 or 1919. I found two possible matches for my grandad. There is a Frank J. listed in the Births registered in Oct - Dec 1919. Mother's maiden name Rubley, district Wolverhampton.

The second was in the Births registered in Apr - June 1918. Frank J., mothers maiden name Broughton, and he was born in the Leigh district.

I'm trying to ad as much as I can here but I cannot find any marriage documents or anything else and it's getting a little frustrating. Can someone please help me?

do you know where they married?

did Frank stay in Shanghai .do you any idea when he died?

It looks as though he may have been born earlier than you thought. This certainly looks like the family on the outgoing passenger lists.


Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960

Name: Frank John ROBINSON
Date of departure: 11 March 1949
Port of departure: Southampton
Destination port: Hong Kong
Destination country: China

Date of Birth: 1903 (calculated from age)
Age: 46
Marital Status: Married
Sex: Male
Occupation: Merchant
Notes:
Passenger recorded on: Page 12 of 19

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The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -
Derek Brian ROBINSON

Jean Walker ROBINSON

Jennifer Jean ROBINSON

Michael John ROBINSON


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Ship: CANTON
Official Number: 166555
Master's name: Captain G S Stable
Steamship Line: P. & O.
Where bound: Hong Kong, China
Square feet:
Registered tonnage: 15784
Passengers on voyage: 574

I've been trying to search marriage records abroad and in England, narrowing my search to 1938 give or take 5 years as I think my fathers Uncle may have been born in 1934. So far their names haven't turned up.

It says on my fathers birth certificate that they had lived at 102 Route Ferguson, Shanghai. My father was born 9th March 1938 but his birth was registered 13th May 1938.

Here he is again.


Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960

Name: Frank John ROBINSON
Date of departure: 26 November 1924
Port of departure: Liverpool
Destination port: Shanghai
Destination country: China

Date of Birth: 1902 (calculated from age)
Age: 22
Marital Status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Insurance Assistant
Notes:
Passenger recorded on: Page 4 of 7

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Ship: SARPEDON
Official Number: 147214
Master's name: Capt J N Williamson
Steamship Line: Ocean Steam Ship Co Ld
Where bound: China
Square feet:
Registered tonnage: 6921
Passengers on voyage: 141

If the above information is correct, this looks to be the most likely birth.


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Births Sep 1902 (>99%)
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Robinson Frank John Romford 4a 575

Name: Frank Robinson
Birth Date: abt 1903
Age: 33
Port of Departure: Dairen, China
Arrival Date: 13 May 1936
Port of Arrival: London, England
Ports of Voyage: Liverpool
[Kobe]
[Shanghai]
Ship Name: Hector
Search Ship Database: View the 'Hector' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Blue Funnel Line
Official Number: 147282

Travelling with a Jean Robinson aged 28

Looking at the date he went out to China it looks possible that the couple may have married in China.

Oh my gosh 1903? Yes my father and Derek were on the same consulate birth form that I found online, but I didn't know Derek's middle name. I can't believe I was looking at the wrong date of birth! This is fantastic news thank you so so much I am so grateful. I almost lost hope but now I think that I may have something to go on here.

Zara xxx

1911:

ROBINSON, Sidney Head Married M 49 1862 Corn And Flour Factor Essex East Hornden
ROBINSON, Mabel Alice Wife Married
13 years F 38 1873 Essex Southead
ROBINSON, Ronald Sidney Son M 10 1901 School Essex Ilford
ROBINSON, Frank John Son M 8 1903 Essex Ilford
ROBINSON, Walter Henry Son M 5 1906 Essex Ilford
ROBINSON, Clara Mabel Daughter F 0 (5 MONTHS) 1911 Essex Ilford
BAKER, Clara Isabel Servant Single F 23 1888 Nurse Domestic Middlesex Shepherds Bush
CHAPLIN, May Servant Single F 18 1893 General Servant Domestic Suffolk Bucklesham
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
9851 Reference:
RG14PN9851 RG78PN521A RD191 SD2 ED2 SN39

Registration District:
Romford Sub District:
Ilford Enumeration District:
2 Parish:
Ilford

Address:
15 Mansfield Road Ilford County:
Essex

Possible for 1911


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ROBINSON, Sidney Head Married M 49 1862 Corn And Flour Factor Essex East Hornden VIEW
ROBINSON, Mabel Alice Wife Married
13 years F 38 1873 Essex Southead VIEW
ROBINSON, Ronald Sidney Son M 10 1901 School Essex Ilford VIEW
ROBINSON, Frank John Son M 8 1903 Essex Ilford VIEW
ROBINSON, Walter Henry Son M 5 1906 Essex Ilford VIEW
ROBINSON, Clara Mabel Daughter F 0 (5 MONTHS) 1911 Essex Ilford VIEW
BAKER, Clara Isabel Servant Single F 23 1888 Nurse Domestic Middlesex Shepherds Bush VIEW
CHAPLIN, May Servant Single F 18 1893 General Servant Domestic Suffolk Bucklesham VIEW

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RG number:
RG14 Piece:
9851 Reference:
RG14PN9851 RG78PN521A RD191 SD2 ED2 SN39

Registration District:
Romford Sub District:
Ilford Enumeration District:
2 Parish:
Ilford

Address:
15 Mansfield Road Ilford County:
Essex

looks like they could have married in China

Additional return to the UK:

Name: Frank Robinson
Birth Date: abt 1903
Age: 27
Port of Departure: Bombay, India
Arrival Date: 16 May 1930
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ship Name: Castalia
Search Ship Database: View the 'Castalia' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Anchor Line
Official Number: 124140

Although returning from India his last permanent residence is shown as China.

is this Jean?
Name: Jean Walker Robinson
Birth Date: 25 Oct 1907
Death Registration Month/Year: Jul 1994
Age at death (estimated): 86
Registration district: Surrey South-Western
Inferred County: Surrey
Register number: A2A
District and Subdistrict: 7612A
Entry number: 163

I believe now that Jean Walker Robinson is my granny. But only till a little while ago did I found out about her middle name. I've been looking at completely different years, thinking they were born around 1918/19. But seeing as though the names of their children when travelling to China are consistent with the names that I have found, it's definitely them! I didn't expect to find so much information on here, this is my first time but it's worked.

I'm currently very happy and shocked so I apologise if I don't make any sense.

This looks as if it might be your grandmother's birth.

Consular Births 1906-1910 Volume 12

Taylor Jean W Shanghai Page 791

According to the passenger list, her estimated birth year was 1908. So the dates fit.

Oh so my gran was born in Shanghai as well? Oh wow, that sounds amazing. I've added all this information to my family tree and the records for my grandfathers household is now coming up. I'm hoping that hers will do so as well.

I'm hoping that when I go to the national library tomorrow I'll be able to find out more about them and more about my family. Thank you so much for all the help! This has really put me on the right track.