Genealogy Chat

Can anyone suggest where I may look, I've got the bit between my teeth now.---------------------------- Give me a few minutes--------- Vivienne

My fathers eldest sister born 28/12/1899 was married in 1917 giving her age as 21. Her daughter was born in 1920 & shortly after Maud disapeared leaving her daughter with my Grans sister. My Dad was only about 12 or 13 so he had no idea what went on. When his Mum died in 1953 Dad & his brother tried to find Aunt Maud with no luck. I tried in 1980 by writing to the DHSS but again, no luck. Now I think I may have found her death cert & am climbing the walls waiting to hear from Plymouth registry office. Can anyone suggest where I could look for info to fill in the time from when she went missing? Bit of a long shot, I know but I'm really intrigued Vivienne

I've just had a pm telling me to put my Aunts name on here. I thank the person concerned but I am not asking for anyone to do my research for me, just ideas for where I could look. Vivienne

You could look in the National Probate Calendar, which is an index of wills and estates that went to administration, and see if there is an entry for her in there. It is on microfiche at some record offices and probate offices up to 1943, and in bound volumes in some record offices, my local one goes up to 1968. You would have to find out where there is one near you that has the years you want (it goes by year that probate or administration was granted, which could be the year of death or any number of years after! Usually it is the year of death or a year or two after, though.) I found my elusive great-grandmother on the National Probate Calendar, entry dated 6 years after she died in Belfast. Otherwise I would probably still be looking for her death! Kate.

Oh, I just realised what you are asking for. Hmmm... not so easy. Can't really think of anything because if you don't know where she was living you can't look at electoral registers. Have you found her husband's death? That might give some clues. Kate.

Thanks Kate, no I haven't been able to find his death. For all I know he could have died in the war. My aunt died, if it is her, in 1995. The reason I believe it could be her is the birth date. Although the year is wrong, the date & month are the same & it is the only one I can find. I guess I have to wait & see if I get the cert. Wish I had found it when I first went sick, I go back to work tomorrow. I feel so frustrated. Vivienne

I guess you will have to track down the informant of the death. Perhaps they can fill in a few gaps for you or at least give you some ideas to work on.

Hi Vivienne If she died between 1984 and 2002 she will appear on the Ancestry Death index, you cansearch by date of birth Louise

Hi thanks for replys. I'm just being impatient. All these years trying to find her & I find the ref just before I go back to work after being off for two weeks. aahrggg. As you say Gwyneth, if it is the right cert, that is where to start. Vivienne

Oh well, I've just found an email from Plymouth Registry. It seems the maiden name & place of birth don't match so I'm back to knowing nothing. I now feel so flat I could slide under the door. Vivienne

Oh, how depressing! Ok, let's think through the pssibilities. Maud may have run off with another man, been sent to a lunatic asylum or put in jail. Not sure how you start. I think you really need a death cert first to give you somewhere to look. Is it possible she remarried and therefore her death would be in a different surname? nell

Hi Nell, I have Maud's marriage cert. They were married in 1917 & she lied about her age. There must have been some big family row as she had left home & was living with my Grans sister. Her daughter was born in wedlock in 1920 but the baby was left with Dads aunt & his sister was never heard from again. Through here I have made contact with a niece of the baby but unfortunately after she had died. They didn't even know the maiden name. I really have no idea where to look now. Vivienne