Genealogy Chat

Im trying to trace my grandfather Francis Gonsalves, I know that he was born in South America, but dont know were, I know that he used to work in the diamond mines, and used to work on the ship that carried them over to England, I know that he was born in 1909 and died in 1970 in Hull England, ive asked my mother his daughter but she dosent know much as she was in an orphanage when she was young. Can Anyone Help Me Please as its impossible to find his surname anywhere. I do know that he change his surname when he came to live over in England to Stanely-Gonsalves.

brazil has huge reserves of diamonds 'Most diamonds are mined in central and southern Africa, although significant deposits have also been discovered in Canada, Russia, Brazil, and Australia' so that's were i'd guess he came from

Thanks for the information Lousie.

Hi Melanie, do you know your grandmother's name - and was she married to your grandfather in which case would their marriage cert help?

Do you have his death certificate? If not this is the reference for it:- June qtr. 1970, Hull, 2a., 391 It gives his date of birth as 24th Feb. 1903 and not 1909. If you haven't got the certificate, it could give you an address as a place to start, or it could give you a relative who may have been the informant. Kath. x p.s. His surname at death was still Gonsalves, and his first names were Fransis Stanley.

Trudy, My grandmothers name was Elizabeth Pauline Grace Jubb, dont know when she was born or when she died but I do know that she died of TB.

Kath, I dont have a cert, and an address would be brilliant for me to look for thanks for the information, my mother must have the year of his birth wrong thank you once again. Mel

You'll have to send for the birth certificate to get the address, I'm afraid.

Brian, It was the death certificate that I thought could give Melanie an address. Her grandfather was born in South America, so she's not sure how to get a birth certificate and neither am I. Kath. x

Sorry about the delay in replying, my server went down. Just spoken to my mother she said she was told he was born in British Guiana, but she is not sure.

If he really was born in British Guiana perhaps his birth was registered in Britain (since it was a British colony) You could have a look at 1837online overseas records - consular records. I don't have any credits at the moment otherwise I would have a look myself. Have a look at cyndislist.com - under the Hispanic and West Indies section - there are one or two Guiyana related links. Finding his marriage certificate would also provide useful information. Again some hunting on 1837online is probably needed - working back from when your mother was born.