Genealogy Chat

Hi My Grandfather had 3 brothers, two of them died during WW1. The 3rd survived the war but suffered with Shell Shock and lived the life of a tramp after the War. My mother who was born 1923 can remember him calling at her house for meals and a bath when she was little. But none of the family no when or where he died. His name was Enoch Spencer and was born in 1885 in Cheshire. I've started trawling through the deaths from 1930 onwards to see if I can find him. With him being a tramp would his death have been recorded? Cheryl

Yes, and there may well have been an inquest. But, if he was a tramp, there could have been a problem with his name not being known or being recorded incorrectly. Some of the 'tramps' of my childhood were always known by nicknames. Jay

Hi Cheryl I found this on Cheshirebmd. Any good? note that they didn't know his age, so presumably nobody claimed him. Cheshire Death indexes for the years: 1945 SPENCER Enoch - Nantwich Cheshire Central NA/7B/077 The reference is the one you would need to quote for the death certificate. Write to: Superintendent Registrar, Cheshire Central Register Office, Delamere House, Chester Street, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 2LL, UK Or you can visit cheshirebmd.org.uk and download an application form. Cert will cost you £7.00 and you'll need to send an SAE. best wishes Amanda

Hi Amanda I didn't look on their today he wasn't there yesterday!!!!! They must have updated. Could well be him, I only work round the corner from the Cheshire BMD offices will call in and order certifcate now. With my luck its probably not him. Thankyou

Hi Trouble is I don't know what his nick name was???? I am assuming he didn't more very far from Cheshire. I would just love to know where he ended up. I'm up to 1941 now still no sign of his death, will keep trawling, eyes getting crossed now!!!!!!! At least I know his death must be somewhere. Thanks Cheryl

Would this be the family in 1891? The birthyear here was 1883. 1891 census Wrexham Rd., Burland, Cheshire Edwin Spencer, head, 49, general labourer Elizabeth, wife, 43 Albert, son, 12, scholar Ellis, son, 10, scholar Enoch, son, 8, scholar Annie, dau, 4 Frank, son, 8 months All born Acton, Cheshire.

According to the full BMD Enoch Spencer died the Jun qtr 1945 aged 85 in the Crewe area. Cheshire have not noted the ages on some of their index - it's not that they do not have an age

Hi Cheryl, I had a similar problem with my Grandfather who was wounded in W W 1 and nobody knew anything about him after he separated from my Grandmother etc, I discovered he became a Travelling man with Gypsy Caravan and horses went around doing contract farming and Shepherding, he had a drink problem which didn't help. I looked at Death Indexes, I think it was under Z for unknowns or something like that, it's a possibility, sorry my memory fails me at being precise. I wish you luck, I know what it's like not being able to trace someone you know suffered in the aftermath of that awlful war. If I think of anything else which may be beneficial I'll let you know. Regards Ellen.

Hi Margaret Sorry I've only just replied . Couldn't get on genes!!!!!! Yes thats them in 1891, I have his birth certificate definately born 1885. Thanks for your help. Cheryl

Hi Ellen Thanks for your advice. I think its such a same that we can't find him, we are such a big family, it would be nice just to go to his grave and lay some flowers. Will keep looking, as they say never give up. Cheryl

Hi Andrea Thanks for that, he was born 1885 so that can't be him. Oh well back to the drawing board Cheryl

Andrea, I said there was no age for him because on the cheshirebmd site every other person who appears on the page DOES have an age next to their name, so he stands out particularly as not having one. That's why I presumed his age was not known. Amanda

Andrea You do not know who the informant on the death cert was - they may not have known him and not known his real age. A life on the tramp could have made him look many years older than he really was. It might be worth ringing the local Register Office and asking them if the death informant was a relative, or an official, explaining the circumstances - local Registrars are usually very helpful. OC

Hi OC After what youv'e just said, you could well be right. Never thought of that. I think I'm going to take a risk and order the certifcate. Its worth spending £7.00, you never know. I could get lucky. Thanks Cheryl