Genealogy Chat

My grandmother Mary Ellen Wright b 1904 grantham (dad thinks) Mary (domestic spinster) married Leonard Gamble Brown in 1927 st annes parish grantham, fathers name says deceased, rank and profession box empty...... the problem i have is i have managed to trace a fair bit of Leonards tree, but no info on my gran ~Mary ellen Wright, Mary died in her 30s leaving her husband with 4 children 2 of whom were soon put up for adoption..........which means we have no paper work, records etc, i cant find her death as there are so many of her name and dad only thinks she was born in grantham where they lived, is this a hopeless case ? Any advice welcome ps i have gone through 100s of birth,death records and dont know how to tie in Mary with no idea of mother and fathers names..... Margaret

So are you saying that no father's name is given.....only that it says deceased? It should also give her age at marriage. Does that tie in with what your father thinks....that she was born in 1904? What about witnesses at the wedding. Do any of them look like family members? Jeanette x

hi Jeanette, Mary ellen Wright is age 23 on marriage certificate, no fathers name is given on certificate in the name box it says deceased, no family photos my dad does not have a photo of his mum (his biggest wish) witnessses to the wedding are i assume husband leonards brother as 1 ........ Archibald Leslie Brown and 2..... Frank ? scribble cant read sir name. thanks Margaret

This suggests she was illegitimate and would have been registered in her mother's name only. However, you might have to wait for the 1911 to sort this one out. OC

thanks OC, i didnt even give a thought to her being illigitimete, just thought her dad was dead so she didnt put his name down, but it makes more sense now,looks like i will have to wait for later records, thanks again Margaret

Yep I tend to agree with OC. When I've had deceased father's on certs it has given their names. Looks like you will have to wait. How frustrating for you!

are you resident close to the grantham area? if you are it may pay to visit a library/record office that covers the area. what you need is a trade or town directory after 1929. >>>>find the husbands name and that may hopefully give you an address....you didnt have to have an established trade to be included-it would basically be a householders list.....in name alphabetical order. >>>>once you have an address ,you will get her entry confirmed besides his on an electoral role after 1929....so in the event of his name being popular the juxtaposition of the names will confirm address or location. >>>>once that is proven then keep looking each year into the 1930's until their names no longer appear together ......and look for a death in the year before that as records are one year retrospective. Its a case of working with what you do know....and making the best of it as you get closer. ____________________________________________________- records available for the area>>>>>> grantham electoral roles: Grantham & District Register of Electors 1920-23, 1930-39, 1945-2001 grantham city/town directories: Palmers Almanac (Grantham) 1906, 1907-8, 1911-13, 1915, 1916-18, 1920, 1922-24, 1925, 1926-28, 1929-1932, 1933-38, 1939-43 Harrisons Almanac (Grantham) 1915, 1917-19, 1925-49, 1950-58 grantham county and regional directories: Pigots Directory of Lincolnshire 1828/29, 1830, 1834 Kelly's Lincolnshire 1849,1868,1885,1889,1892,1896, 1900,1905,1909,1913,1919,1922,1926,1930,1933,1937 Lincoln & Grimsby Trades Directory 1936/37 1940,1955/56 1956/57,1962/63,1967,1972/73 Eastern Counties Trades Directory 1935/36 1938/39,1960/61,1966/67,1969 ______________________________________________ Grantham Library Isaac Newton Centre Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 6EE Tel: 01476 591411 Fax: 01476 592458 Email: [email protected] Contact: Amanda Boxford/Jan Burrows

Many thanks for your help i will follow details and hopefully find Mary, now that dad is getting on a bit its constantly on his mind to find even a little information on his mum, i will try my hardest to find her. really grateful for all your advise. Margaret