Find Ancestors

I should be grateful if anyone has the time and interest to find out what became of my old schoolpal Valerie who was born in 1939 in Hampstead. The last I can find is the London Voters in 1961 on Southend Road - and then GONE!
Yours hopefully - and cheekily I hear you all cry!

I imagine the chances are she married somebody!
I see she had no middle initial, but there are quite a few possible marriages in the London area.. I suggest you approach this differently. My first inclination would be to look for deaths of her parents, or maybe for siblings - preferably male!
Jan

Calculated guess

Name: Philip H W Jones
Spouse Winifred Dearman
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1931
Registration district: Hampstead
Inferred County: Middlesex
Volume Number: 1a
Page Number: 1090

If the above is her father, I would bet this is his death. The name of the informant might well prove useful. Obviously, unless you happen to know his name, you would need her birth cert to be sure.

Name: Philip Henry W Jones
Birth Date: 2 Jun 1903
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1977
Age at Death: 74
Registration district: Hampstead
Inferred County: London
Volume: 12
Page: 1728

Hello Jan, I have traced a definite death for her father and two possibilities for the mother - both after the father's death so it seems I have no alternative but to get 3 death certs - and the pension won't stretch that far. The last parent to die would most certainly have her as an informant - in case the worst happened and she had married and pre-deceased them. I have to ask myself "Just how much am I prepared to pay out to find Valerie?" If all else fails - then I may have to.
T hanks and regards, Jenny

Yes that is her father. Her mother Winifred I think died in 1979 but the given age is slightly out so I can't be sure. I did think Valerie had a younger brother but can't find his birth listed. Thanks to all.
Jen

Tricky! Have you checked for any possible matches by using 'search trees' above?
Where is Southend Road?
Jan

Hampstead, London NW3. Yes I did the search trees and nobody is slightly interested in Philip or Winifred nee Dearman.

There are actually several possible deaths for a Winifred in the London area, both before and after Philip's death.
I can't see an obvious route apart from getting his death cert, at least you are sure that is the right one. It will give you an address to work with at least, and you never know, with luck Valerie might have registered it.
Jan

Thanks. I just wanted to be sure that there was no other way - before I sent for one. As you say it could be the daughter Valerie who was the informant as maybe Winifred was not mobile by that time.

Good luck Jennifer, let us know what you find out.
Jan

Thanks - Will do!

I bit the bullet and ordered the death certificate of Valerie's mother and it has just arrived and shows her has the informant and called VALERIE PALMER. It seems that she married a KENNETH S PALMER in Q2 1979 at the age of 41 so possibly no descendants. The marriage was a couple of months before her mother died! At least I know her name but not where she went. Surely it can't be possible that she and her husband do not still live at 7 Southend Road NW3? Thank you all for your interest

Have you tried www.192.com for them on the electoral rolls

Why not take a chance and write to the last address she may still be there. i always enclose a SAO when making such enquiries

Yes - but not much luck. Maybe they cleared off abroad once Winifred passed away? I will look for his birth to see how old he was

Thanks - that seems to be my last resort. Do you think it's worth looking for offspring - in case she had one either straight away or before the wedding?

You could try Friends Reunited as you know the school you went too.

i found my old best pal from Grammar school on there and we hadn't been in touch for almost 50 years. We are still in touch now some 8 years later.

Never thought of that! A good excuse to leave the ironing for a bit longer!!

I think looking for births of possible children will be too difficult as the names are so common. My feeling, after investigating the address. would be to get the marriage cert and look for Kenneth or his relatives. There is a good chance he was married before, assuming he is around Valerie's age, and he might have children, or siblings, who might be able to help you.
Regarding the address, if you are local it might be worth checking the electoral register. This would indicate how long they lived there, and also whether there are any other adults in the household.
Jan