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Here is an update of this continuing saga!! After several months I was contacted through GENES by my late father's cousin, which I had no knowledge of! Then to learn that they only lived about 6 miles way! After several meetings I have now met other 2nd cousins and there are numerous ones still in the area! Evan WAS much older than his wife, the family said they recall Evan was even older than his father-in-law, which did not go down well. Evan apparently was from Wales, and he was a miner, prior to him becoming a driver for the A.S.C. I have even got photos of Evan at his sons wedding in 1947, and there is a woman with very strong same features as him, which I suspect was his sister. My search continues---------------------------------! Thanks to one and all

Chloe Please except my apologies, I did not mean to ignore your suggestions. Yes, I think the same as you re age wise. We were just going by census returns re first we thought was my Evan, where John father was born about 1858, this has just totally confused me. I think I had the wrong people on the census, just because the ages and father's name corresponded with the wedding certificate, I assumed, and should have known never to assume anything. Basically I got it wrong right from the start. Once agaim Sorry, and many thanks to you and everyone who has tried to help solve my mystery kindest regards Sue

Chloe, Gosh I am so sorry, I will go back through the replies. I would never ignore anyone who has been kind enough to add to my thread, not on purpose. Bare with me and will get back to you in a mo Sue

Sue - why did you completely ignore my two postings?

Yvonne I do know how you feel, as I also have same problem Davies marrying Davies in more than one generation, all over Wales!! Oh well, time to carry on Cheers everyone Sue

Dear me!!! This is getting depressing!! If only one of my relations had just a tiny bit of information, I might have got a bit further, but will just carry on, as I WILL get to the truth eventually!! Right, his son was present at death, and he was the informant.. Spoke to a person who knew my grand parents, and she said he was at least late 70's, and had a bad chest. He was older than my gran, so all that fits in. Anyone fancy doing a search in S Wales for a Davies, you are most welcome to try!!! Sue

Sue, Don't be confused, be INTRIGUED - I certainly am! Jay

as i see it....all you have is a cert that says the person that registerd his death THOUGHT he was 80 when he died. Who did actually register the death? Jess

Yes, do have the correct Evan Davies. I have a birth certificate for two of his children, and mother's maiden name is the right one. Yes, states he is a Bachelor, age 30 yrs when married. I agree, seems very unusual for a first marriage at the tender age of 50!! Hope to go to archives records in library next week to see if there is an obituary for him. I really am even more confused!! Sue

It would be a long and dreary task, but if you do find his soldiers' papers, they would provide addresses, next of kin and a rough age, to prove you have the right man. If you look for death notices in a local paper, these may give a potted biography or a list of mourners, and probably an age. I would be as suspicious of his age at marriage - 30 as his age at death - 80 As a rule, I don't trust anything with a 0 on the end as it just sounds like lazyness. Other records may give very different ages. Good luck!

Oh dear, Sue! Well, seems it's back to the drawing board and looking in census for Evan's origins in Wales! If age at death is correct ( and I can't see that being as much as 18 yrs out ) seems like they told one big porky at the marriage! I can understand why. Did Evan say he was single when he married? Mmmmm? Have you got names and dates for all children of the marriage? The son who was informant of the death was one of these children? (I assume you have a birth cert for one of them, or some other means of verifying you have correct marriage?) When, where & at what age did your grandmother die? Most intriguing – a man of hidden secrets, perhaps. Jay

Results!!!!!!!!! Well folks, looks like I will have to do a complete research on my grand dad now. Death certificate states Evan Davies, age 80yrs a Retired Coal Miner, present at death his som E.J.Davies., one of his conditions of cause of death was severe bronchitis 1, Looks like he was from the Rhonda area as was first thought, 2, Was he really 2 years older that his father to be on his wedding day? Pleased I have certificate, but gutted as to all the hours researchig, But proves EVERYTHING you find MUST be double checked and verified where possible. Now, where do I go from here? Sue

Well fancy this!! I spoke to my cousin earlier this evening, she is nearly 20 years older than me, so was quite hopeful, alas all she said was Evan was born in Wales Rhonda area, and worked in the mines, so she thinks, as she said she was 11 yrs old when he died and she can remember him with a bad chest, always trying to clear his throat. She was not shocked when I said about him being 80yrs old when he died, but would not think the wedding would have happened if he was nearly double her age, but who knows?!! I will wait until the certificate comes, then have a rethink. Once again, thank you all for your help in trying to solve this mystery of mine. kindest regards Sue

Sue, I am waiting agog to hear what date is on Evan's death cert when it arrives - if it does say 80, then I would want to check if there was another Evan Davies in that area, or the next reg district at around the same time.(perhaps the Registrar read the age for the entry above or below if she did it over the phone.) If 80 is correct, and Evan really was born in 1868, then he would be 48 when he married, 2 years older than his father-in-law. Yes, I think you should probably be looking in Wales for the origins of Evan - remember if he was from the valleys, he could have been baptised 'chapel'. I don't think a sergeant-major would have a personal driver assigned to him - not sure what sort of role Walter would have played in the war. Before the last 2 or 3 posts, I had wondered if he was a batman or some kind of family retainer, and if that was how he came to live in the posh house - and of course I had decided that Evan was the driver for Walter's officer!!!! I think I should take up trashy novels. Do tell us when you hear! Regards, Janet

Janet I was told on the phone by the registra, that Evan was 80 yrs old when died in 1948. Yes, Winifred's father Walter Leon was a Sgt Maj inThe Royal Field Artllery, and Winifred was born in Monmouthshire, as in 1901 the family were living in The Barracks. I still think that Evan was a miner before he was a driver, as that is what is on the certificates, so where was he in the mines? I have always thought that he was born in The Rhonda, near Treorchy / Tonypanndy area, and that he had family there/ Wonder if Evan met Winifred while driving her dad, what do you think/ Sue

Kate Walter Leon is Winifred's dad All I know is that Evan and family lived at that address until the early 1930's, and Winifred's family were well off, as the saying was back then. Kate, I thank you so much for your help, it is very much appreciated. I have ordered Evan's death certificate, and wait till I see it then think what else and where else can I go? A BIG BIG thank you to Everyone who has helped with my little mystery. When!!! I solve it will post on this thred!!!!!!!! kindest regards Sue

Sue, You have told us where and when Evan died, but you STILL haven't told us WHAT AGE he was alleged to be when he died! This bit of info may just help someone locate him in census. As already posted, you cannot rely on age on marr cert alone. Am I right in thinking Winifred & her family were in Monmouthshire in 1901 & that her father already had an army connection? If the house they lived in immediately after the 1916 marr was in a posh area, they were probably in lodgings - remember this is during WW1. Jay

Okay, let's try again... London Suburbs Post Office Directories 1916 Tressillian Road - Pasco William Wareham 1917 Tressillian Road - Maisey Walter Leon 1918 Tressillian Road - Maisey Walter Leon 1919 Tressillian Road - Maisey Walter Leon I think that means you will only find your grandmother's rellies there on the electoral roll, not your grandfather's. Isn't it a good job her name wasn't Mary Brown?! At least her side should be relatively easy to trace. Kate.

Kate The correct address is number 87, sorry Suex

1919 Tressillian Rd, Brockley SE4 84 Dowdell Joseph 1918 the same 1917 the same 1916 the same Need another idea... Kate.