Find Ancestors

Help please, can anyone tell me how I can find the address of a soldier who enlisted in 1916 who was living in Weston-super-Mare, Gloucestershire at the time of his enlistment. He was killed in action in Ypres in 1917. Many thanks Mary

Hi Maryann, Weston super Mare is in Somerset not Gloucestershire. Have you tried looking up the casualty on the Commongwealth War Graves Commission site. It sometimes gives more information about the deceased. You could also try the Historical Directories site (just google) and the family may be listed. Kate

Hi Kate, thanks for help, I have his date of death and where he died but, the only way I can trace his family is to go backwards and try to find where he was living when he enlisted, I then may be able to find my Grandmother, does this make sense. Regards Mary

One way is to find his military records. His attestation papers would usually have his address on there - plus name and address of next of kin. You will need to go to the archives at Kew for this, though - or hire a military researcher to do it for you (some are quite reasonably priced).

Hi Athena, thanks for replying. I have his regiment, number etc., I also have where his wife was living at the time of his death (which I can't find) I just thought maybe the address he was living when he enlisted might tell me more. How do I go about finding someone to look this up for me please. Thanks Mary

Athena, How do I find when he enlisted, as I only know when he died, do you know. Thanks Mary

If you post his name and any details you may have perhaps on a separate thread, (people on here are so very helpful), and they may be able to trace something for you. It may be able to pick something up from the 1901 census, and you can go from there. Jen

If you are looking for an address for 1916 I think the only way is to check electoral registers. IF, if his records have survived and unfortunately most were destroyed during the second war then that would give an address. You said he died in action Ypres 1917 but then you say you cant find his death? Do you mean someone told you this? Have you looked at the CWGC site which lists men who died in the WW1? Have you looked on National Archives on line to see if his medal card is there for downloading? What do you actually want to find on this man? If its a case of looking for his parents, then you can buy his marriage certificate (you say you know the wifes name?) which will give his fathers name, her fathers names, all parties occupations plus addresses where they were living at the time of the marriage and witnesses names. Once you have his fathers name it would be a case of tracking back in the 1901 - in fact he should be in the 1901 census aswell. Is this what you mean to do, actually research backwards rather than just info on him in particular?

Hi, thanks Heather and Jennifer......I seem to have confused you, sorry. I know his death date.....25/10/1917 and I know his parents names. I also know his wifes name and where she was living at the time of his death I have all this from the commonwealth war graves commission, I also know what medals he should have received. I can't find any records of a marriage between him and my gandmother, although it clearly states she was his wife!! that's why I thought I may be able to trace them from 1916 when he was living in Weston-super-mare, somerset. Having said that it states on his memoriam that in 1917 his wife was living in Bristol. Hope that makes things clearer. Many thanks Mary

Sorry, have to ask again - you mean you want to trace HIS ancestry backwards? Then you need to find that marriage - what details do you have for definite? Did they have kids, if so, who and when and where? If they are your grandparents, does your father/mother not have a birth cert giving grans name on it?

Hi Heather, I am trying to trace him and his ancesters, the information I have is his birth cert....Ralph Hartley born 17/05/1893 Manchester, mothers name...Mary Hartley formerly Buckley..fathers name.John Hartley ........then I have my mothers birth cert......Marion Hartley born 28/01/1913 born Stroud....mothers name...Jane Hartley formerly Jackson, fathers name.......Ralph Hartley......then information I have been given from the Royal British Legion regarding Ralph's death are his wifes name and his parents names. I can't find any marriage certs for either Ralph and Jane or his parents John and Mary.....So I thought if I could find out where he was living when he enlisted and work backwards it might help. Thanks for replying, much appreciated, does that make it any clearer? Regards Mary

LOL, its probably me Maryann! But try to look for one def thing at a time. Lets put it like this for me and anyone else? You want to find Ralph Hartley born 1893 in Manchester with parents called John and Mary in any census. By 1916 he was living in Weston Super Mare. In 1917 his wife Jane was in Bristol. He died in 1917 in WW1 and you have the death details.

I think I'm going mad...........no I want to find Ralph Hartley born Manchester 1893 with parents John and Mary I do have his birth cert. Mary

Sorry, phone ringing, just realised that the parents were living with them and that the father was Briggs not Ralph. Sorry Im working at the moment so Im having to pop in and out.

Looks like his birth: Name: Ralph Hartley Year of Registration: 1893 Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun District: Manchester (1837-1924) County: Lancashire Volume: 8d Page: 334 (click to see others on page)

Thank you so much ladies.........Brenda oddly enough I sent for the marriage cert. you mentioned and the names all fitted except Ralph's father was shown on the marriage cert as Thomas Hartley and the name Pegg threw me as I always thought it was Jackson so I thought I had the wrong cert. but, on reflection I think you are right and maybe Jane was married before, so maybe I should now be looking for a marriage between Pegg and Jackson, I think I will try that, many thanks. Heather, you have been really helpful and I really appreciate, the only thing with the info you gave me is although the dates am I right in assuming that Annie and Briggs are Ralph's parents or are they his grandparents as I'm pretty sure they were John and Mary, confused what do you think.....I have to say this is the nearest I have got to finding info about them. Regards Mary

Sorry Maryann, havent been of much use, Im working and at same time dealing with trauma in sons life by phone! LOL. I will try to concentrate. I ditched the Briggs one - I dont think thats right. I am wondering if they wandered over the border into Wales.

Heather it should have read...........althouh the dates are right, am I right in assuming etc., Regards Mary

On the 1901 census, Ralph Hartley, born 1893-4, Manchester is living with his parents Briggs & Annie Hartley and grandparents, Robert & Sarah Satterthwaite in Barrow-in-Furness, Blackburn, Lancashire.

Name: Ralph Hartley Age: 7 Estimated birth year: abt 1894 Relation: Grandson Father's name: Briggs Mother's name: Annie Gender: Male Where born: Blackburn, Lancashire, England Civil parish: Barrow IN Furness Ecclesiastical parish: St John County/Island: Lancashire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Barrow in Furness Sub-registration district: Barrow in Furness ED, institution, or vessel: 40 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 35 Household Members: Name Age Annie Hartley 32 -----dau Briggs Hartley 31 ----son in law Ralph Hartley 7 --------g/s Thomas Hartley 6 ------g/s Robert Satterthwaite 64 head Sarah Satterthwaite 65 wife 1901 census Living at 13 Penmon Cottages Barrow in Furness Does this help Jen