Genealogy Chat

Hi Von

I will and thanks again,

Lou

Hi Lou
Good luck with the search and do let us know if you find anything
take care
Von

Hi Von

What a brilliant tip. Thanks so much. My granddad's died in the Sept 1945. So that's a starting point. And I have 2 possible areas.

Thanks again for the brilliant tip, I will start on it tomorrow morning. Finger's crossed.

Regards, Lou

Hi
If she left a substantial amount of money then it was likely to have been reported in newspapers.
Obviously you need a approximate date of death and location but could then trawl newspapers to see what you could find.
I find newspapers a huge source of information and have spent hours trawling through several years. Sometimes you only find snippets of information but it all helps to build up a bigger picture.
Von

Hi Ann,

Yes it's my grandfather's father's sister. Her name was Betsey / Bessie Baker she was born in 1866. She worked as a governess / nurse's maid caring for young children. She did work for an Army Major in 1891 and went to Australia to work, but she returned around 1901. I did find a match on passengers lists.

My elderly aunt told me that at her father's funeral (in Sept 1945) it was discussed what to do with his share of the inheritance from the Aunt who was a spinster.

Betsey had a sister who I thought was also a spinster but recently received the marriage certificate for her so that rules her out as the other spinster. But I have also discovered that Betsey had a neice who was a spinster so it's possible that these two are the 'old dear's' the family talk about. I have searched for a Will for Betsey around 1943 - 45 with no luck.

I have found a possible death entry for a Betsey in Jan 1943 in Surrey. Surrey is where her neice was living in 1932. I don't know where her neice lived after then. But I know that the spinster's did live in Bournemouth and or Bath as family member's visited them. I have also found a possible death for a Laura Baker in 1944 but it's for Middlesex. The age 63 - should be 62 so a close match.

Regards Lou

Correct me if I'm wrong, if as you say the spinster is believed to be your grandfather's aunt, then surely you are looking for either your grandfathers father's sister or your grandfathers mother's sister. So if you have your grandfathers details is it not possible to trace the spinster's name?

Ann

Hi Brummiejan,

I do have a possible name and 2 locations. I have managed to trace this family as far back as 1763. It's just that the Will was supposed to mention other ancestors some of which I may or may not know. Plus it might give me some insight to the life she led and possibly her last address. She did leave at least £1000 back in 1945 which by today's standard's would be worth around £26,000

I know it's a long shot and probably impossible, but you just never know with this game. Someone may just know of another way to search.

Regards, Lou

At my grandfather's funeral- the family had discussed a recent Will reading of another relative believed to be his aunt. All I know is that the person was a spinster. I do have a spinster in this family, but the problem is that the family also talked about '2 old dears who lived together' both believed to be spinsters. But I don't know if the spinster was one of the 'old dears'. I believe the 'old dear's' lived in Bath and or Bournemouth.

I contacted York and paid for a search for the Will of the one believed to be the spinster, but it came up blank. Is there anything else I can do. I know the lady left quite a considerable amount of money and the year was around 1945.

The other 'old dear' who I thought was her sister I have since found evidence that she married and had several children so it can't be her. The other sister had already died.

I know this sounds stupid but is there anyway I can find out who it was? She is believed to have left a lot of money to all her nephew's and neices so the Will could help find more ancestors.

Regards, Lou