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Any ideas how I might find a death record for someone who technically never existed?
His surname was deliberately mis-registered at birth.
The family were known by yet another surname for much of his life; through successive censuses.
It was not until 1901 that official records show him using his correct name. (Even then it is mis-spelled as Murdock not Murdoch)
He died post 1929, post released censuses: so I have no idea how to even research where he died?

The sequence of names is as follows:
Born 1870, Annfield Plain, Lanchester, Durham, registered as Henry PETTICREW (father was calling himself Petticrew but he was actually Robert Murdoch)
1871 census - PETTICREW
1881 & 1891 censuses - CARR
1901 census - MURDOCK (left home .. living Bishop Auckland. Married)
1929 Henry MURDOCH Mayor of Durham (fact. ... deceased family member's recollections)
Presumably died as Murdoch some time after 1929?

Too late for a census to find a place of residence!
Typing in the DOB (I have his birth cert) doesn't help, as it doesn't apply to Murdoch.
I don't know how old he was when he died. He was 59 in 1929. but that isn't much help.
I hoped to find a marriage cert for Jane J MurdocK, (his wife on the 1901 census); as I thought that might be a back route, but I can't find that either
I think this is difficult but I also think I must be missing something!! Am I being hopeless?
Carole

Maybe the 2nd initial for Jane was an i and not a j?..... Did you check the original?


Marriages Sep 1894

>>Jeffrey Jane Isabella Guisbro' 9d 760
>>Murdoch Henry Guisbro' 9d 760
Stephenson Hannah Guisbro' 9d 760
Stephenson Richard Guisbro' 9d 760


The district Guisbro' is an alternative name for Guisborough and it is in the county of North Riding of Yorkshire

I did see her. I wondered if I was just trying to 'find' a match as it looks like a definite J on the census form! BUT that might be enumerator or transcriber error?
I seem to remember that his 'wife' came from Bishop Auckland but that doesn't mean that she wasn't in Guisborough at the time of their marriage.
I was beginning to wonder if they were actually married? It was something of a family habit not to be!
I'll go through the Jane Murdocks and Murdochs death records and see what I can find. I need to find a later address than 1901. It might not help, but it might?
Thanks
Carole

You could try contacting the Mayor's office in Durham to see if they can help. I note that a Henry Murdoch was listed as Mayor in 1929 on th City of Durham website.

Been there, done that ... Long chat with the Mayor's secretary. Nice lady. .... but couldn't help me.
They have no records pre 1973 when councils amalgamated. ..... "Don't know where they are?" "Try The County Records Office"
Tried Durham County Records Office: nothing there .. they referred me back to the Council Offices.
Carole

Local papers - as he was mayor they may have printed an obituary.

Moody Blue Brenda
If you are right you are an absolute genius!!! How on earth did you manage that so quickly?
I'm going to send for those certificates.
Wow! This is within living memory. There may still be people alive out there who know their story.
Thank you so much!!!
Carole

Potty
I had thought of that but the Northern Echo archives are held in Darlington library and I was told that they needed a death date in order to locate an obit. But now it looks as if I might have one .... so two birds have been killed here with one stone; a date and additional information.
Thanks for suggestion
Carole

Really Brenda
Do spill the beans.
How did you do it?
I might have arrived there in the end but it would have taken me ages to trawl through the years! Much longer than half an hour, which is about the length of time you took.
Carole

Hi Carole

This website has details of Jane Isabella Murdoch and the address matches the Nevilleholme one we got the other night. It doesn't give much info but names the solicitors who were dealing with her estate.

http://www.londongazette.co.uk

Gazette Issue 40709 published on the 14 February 1956. Page 59 of 72

Regards
LfW

Hi LforW
You are always there to bail me out when the going gets tough. Thanks!!!!
But, am I missing something?? You mention, 'the other night' and 'Nevilleholme' ?.... I may be having a senior moment but a don't have any recollection of this particular conversation?? .. You have got me worried now!!
Carole

http://www.genesreunited.com/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1078392


Address in phone directory.

I must be becoming brain dead?
I did the www.londongazette stuff etc and it came up with absolutely zilch!!
I tried it by issue number first, when that got no results I tried date.
Either, there is an incompatibility problem with my Mac, or I might have picked the wrong office. I chose London? Other than that I can't see what else I can possibly have done wrong? I'm not totally stupid, yet.
Carole

Hi Carole

I had another look at the addresses and noticed the Nevilleholme one is for 1956 which is after the death in 1944. I wonder if he is a son!!!

Regards
LfW

Thanks Ozibird
Definitely time I went to bed and let you converse with more alert members.
I had disregarded that snippet at the time, as I assumed that Henry and wife were probably dead by then.
They were as it happens but the number was probably still in the phone book.
Sorry!!
Carole

Hi Carole

If you can't access the document PM me your email addy and I'll forward you a copy. I searched - London - Isabella Murdoch than refined the search to dates between 1 Jan 1855 and 31 Dec 1858 and it was the 4th document down.

Regards
LfW

Thanks LforW
Got it
And guess what else?? I have even found a photograph of Murdoch's Emporium on the Durham County website.
I'm well pleased!
Carole

Thanks Brenda
I have been wondering about a subscription for Find my Past for sometime; but to date I have settled for buying batches of credits.
This clinches it. When the present lot run out I will buy one of the annual packages!
Thanks
Carole

Nevilleholme has something to do with them definitely.
I'm not sure how many shops Henry had? Murdoch's Emporium was definitely his. It was in Crook and there is a photo on the Durham County Site. According to the London Gazette, it was liquidated in 1956; the year after Jane ISABELLA Murdoch died.
I must see if I can find the proprietor of some of the other businesses on the phone book list?
Carole

THANKS EVERYONE!!
I think that unless something amazing comes anybody's way we have gone as far, with this thread, as we can so I think we will call it a day.
I'm not sure what to do to close a thread?
You have all been marvellous and I have a lot to think about and to do.
Until the next time
Carole