Genealogy Chat

.....I really want to find out more about my recently deceased grandad's family but I have so little to go on that I fear I may be on a useless mission. I only know his name, approx YOB, the fact he went to the same school as Mick Jagger (!), has an MBE, was in the RAF and that he had 2 maybe 3 brothers he hasnt seen since he was 16. Can anyone more experienced tell me whether there is hope? Sam

so you have a name and a location, what kind of when i dont know where or when Mick jagger wentt o school so....you'll have to tell us more ( and kep our fingers crossed the name isnt Smith)

You know his name..........do you know who and when he married? If not sure, find the birth cert for whichever of your parents was his offspring. The find the marriage........... The marriage cert will tell you his age at the time, plus the name and occupation of his father. You can then start to look for his birth....the cert will tell you his mother's name.........then you repeat the process until you get back to 1901, when the census comes into play............. You say he died recently..........his DOB should be on the death cert............... Reg

His name was Donald Woodbridge yob approx 1920 and it was Dartford Grammar School

Hi - my father like my Grandad is not a big talker about past family and I dont think he would appreciate me looking into this therefore I havent asked to see the death certificate. I know it makes life more difficult but I dont want to go there with him......he didnt particularly get on with my Grandad and I dont think he would be keen to know who any of his relatives are.

With a name which is not exactly common, you should have very little difficulty in finding his birth reg'n.............just go to the Ancestry website, and search the birth registration index. It is free. Reg

He died in Sept 2004

......in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Sorry didnt see the last bit of that question

Odd..........no sign of the registration............ Reg

When did he die? And where? Reg

typical - at my Grandad's funeral there was mention of a time (for which he got his MBE) that he went on a 'mission' and they thought he was killed, my Nan was told then 6 months later he turned up at the doorstep. He since had cause to try and retrieve his records from the RAF and was advised that Donald Woodbridge was deceased and his records had been archived somewhere else....... This sounds unlikely but my Dad says it happened, I dont know how this would have been rectified but presumably this wouldnt affect new records in his civilian life?

wow - I wonder if that really could be him! where did you find that information? do I have access to it - I dont mind paying if it means I can find out about his (my!) family

Found one Donald Woodbridge between 1918 - 1920 Woodbridge Donald A S Dartford.2a 1447 Birth Qtr 1 1920 Mothers maiden name Smith I cant find a death either

I think it could be him - his birthday was 14th January but the year was an estimate and the record shows Q1. I wonder what's going on with the death record.....

Thats just an entry from the birth/death/marriage index....it gives no more information than that...You will need to order the birth certificate from www.gro.gov.uk they cost £7 and tick reference known box. Woodbridge Donald Dartford.2a 1447 Birth Qtr 1 1920 The 2a is the volume 1447 is the page Qtr 1 means it was registered Jan/Feb/March Are you sure about the year of death? really you should find the death certificate first, this will give you his birth date then you can cross reference this with the birth certificate.

I think Im going to have to try and get help from my Mum on this - she knows no more about Grandad than I do but may be curious if she knows I am looking and who know's she may be able to find some information in the house. I feel like a spy.

You could try applying direct to the registry office where your grandads death was registered...the websites we use to look for BMD's only go up to 2004.

Samantha You could always contact the Lincolnshire registration service about the death cert. They hold all the Lincolnshire certificates and can supply copies. If you ring 0845 331400 or 01522 782244 then you can speak to the office. Just out of interest is/was your dad a keen cyclist? Glen

My Dad Fredrick 'Dave' Woodbridge was a marathon runner....my Grandad Donald Woodbridge cycled everywhere up until 2 years before he died, dont think it was anything more than a means of getting about.....peculiar question, any particular reason for it out of curiousity?

HI Was your grandadfather buried or cremated? Try phoning the vicar in the village or the Crem. which i think maybe Boston and ask if they have any D Woodbridgein they year you are looking for. I did that in Manchester for a friend. If he is buried in the church cem the burial record will still be there. Regards Kate