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This is a sketchy one, but I have been asked by a friend for some help. Her father was illegitimate, and she wants me to try and find his real dad, so her granddad. All she knows is his surname was Coats/Coates and she doesn't know his first name. He lived in Severs Street, Middlesbrough and died in WW2 ... is there anyway we can find out more about who he could be?

Best wishes,

Peter

Peter, my first step would be to check out the electoral register for that street, if you haven't already done so. It isn't available during the war years, so you would need to do this either side.
With a bit of luck there will be a Coat(e)s living there.
You will have to do this in person or ask staff to do so for you.
Jan

you could have a look at the CWGC site and see if he's listed on there

this one's Yorkshire

COATES, ROBERT

Rank:
Private
Service No:
4615400
Date of Death:
05/07/1944
Age:
38
Regiment/Service:
Corps of Military Police
Grave Reference
Sec. O. Grave 2950.
Cemetery
SKIPTON (WALTONWRAYS) CEMETERY

and this one

COATES, DONALD

Rank:
Private
Service No:
4540140
Date of Death:
19/01/1947
Age:
28
Regiment/Service:
West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)

2/5th Bn.
Grave Reference
Section D. Grave 35. 12754.
Cemetery
YORK CEMETERY, YORKSHIRE

Thank you Jan, I thought the same but am away for another month so it will have to wait.

And thank you Anne. My friend's dad was born in 1926 and his mother was only 15 at the time, so presumable he would be about the same age, but we shouldn't assume. I am sorry I can't confirm your efforts one way or another yet.

There are lots of Coates births Middlesborough, never mind anywhere else!
Have you tried looking for a birth using your friend's father's first names, on the off-chance he was named after him? Worth a try, you never know.
Jan

Interesting he was named Harry Nathaniel offically, which were maternal family names, but I have his entry in the workhouse birth register where he is called George Henry ... going to run onto Free BMD now ...

Births Sep 1910 (>99%)
COATES George H Middlesbro 9d 537 Scan available - click to view

IS THAT HIM?!

Just be cautious about that birth year, if you are assuming he was the same age as your friend's grandmother.
Jan

Crossed posts there!

Yes Jan, and I will be very cautious and look this up on the electoral register also. My friend's nana was born in 1909. Might I ask for a look up for this George H Coates to see if he died AFTER the war as I can't see anything on CWGC.

Problem is, there are several possibles - and even if you found his death, it won't tell you if you are on the right track.
I would explore the electoral register first if it were me.
Jan

I agree, but was just bounding ahead. I can't do the look-up for about a month so hopefully my friend may remember the first name of her granddad before then!

Thank you for your help!

Peter
x

looks like that George H Coates is not the one -


England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915

Name: George H Coates
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1910
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1910
Age at Death: 0
Registration District: Middlesbrough
Inferred County: Yorkshire North Riding
Volume: 9d
Page: 340

http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/bridgeender/page1.phtml

http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/bridgeender/page15.phtml

(the above from google, if worth contacting, name might jog someone's memory!)

Chris :)

Ah thank you for both bits of information. Very interesting indeed!

I'll get onto it! x

Hi again,

Just looked on the electoral register and in 1926 there is a George and Elizabeth Coates living in Severs Street. Is there a way of finding out more about them and who their children are ... it is difficult without a census at this point!

Help appreciated!

Peter

Try looking at freebmd for a marriage.then for children's names (if any)

But.........................Coates is a very common name in the north-east of England

To be honest, your chances of identifying a man of that surname who fathered an illegitimate child must be considered very slim.

Not sure I agree Reggie - we have a likely couple to be the head of the family. It is them I am trying to find out more about.

If the head, or a son of theirs died in WW2 it would appear to be the man, at least according to the family legend.

Can someone take a look into this for me please?