Genealogy Chat

I'm trying to do a family tree for a friend and struggling from the outset.
All she knows of her father is that his name is John Thomas Matthews and she believes he was born in Walsall (or nearby)
I've got the marriage cert (married 1962) which shows John's age at the time to be 20yrs which would put his DOB about 1942 - living in Providence Lane Walsall and working as a bricklayer.
His father's name was also John Thomas Matthews and he was a lorry driver for British Railways.

But that's where it ends -I can't find a John Thomas Matthews born Walsall -any suggestions other than send off for half a dozen different birth certificates on the off-chance?

Terry

Unfortunately when he was born there were no electoral rolls due to WW2.

Has she no knowledge of the grandparents ie when they married etc and who gran was.

Unfortunately nothing at all.

Terry

Here are some poss.

Name: John T Matthews
Mother's Maiden Surname: Billington
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1941
Registration district: Smethwick
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume Number: 6b
Page Number: 1934

Name: John T Matthews
Mother's Maiden Surname: Purchase
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1941
Registration district: Rowley Regis
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume Number: 6b
Page Number: 1966

Name: John T Matthews
Mother's Maiden Surname: Tolley
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1941
Registration district: Cannock
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume Number: 6b
Page Number: 863

The marriage cert will have age of persons and wife's name. However I feel that you should really post this on the "Living Relatives" board, not here.

Thanks Rollo.

Terry

It looks like the Rowley Regis one died a year later

Deaths Dec 1942 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthews John T 1 Rowley R. 6b 820

Thabnks -that's one less.

T

Bricklayers (being part of the Construction Industry) often moved around. So that 1962 address may have only been temporary. But if Walsall area is correct, then the John T Matthews 1942 Rowley Regis RD is a likely one. This RD is close to Walsall.

If you choose to go the multi certificate route I suggest that you call the GRO. You used to be able to specify that one or more checks be carried out - in this case that the fathers name was John Matthews / John Thomas Matthews. You pay the full rate per certificate, but get a rebate on the 'fails'. I don't think that checks can be specified for online ordering, but I may be wrong.

Thanks Inky

T

If Rowley Regis is out, then the next nearest is the Cannock 1941 as stated above.

Cannock includes Essington, about 4 miles north of Walsall.

I think that's probably favourite thanks Inky

Wungle I ordered a certificate on line once but it was wrong and i got n email and a credit back to my account....

good luck

Cheers Kim

T