Genealogy Chat

I am trying to find where my grandfather lived between 1931 and 1967. I have found him on an electrol roll from 1967 til 1973 but would like to try and find him before 1967. I don't know where in the country he would have lived. He lived in Essex in 1931 and I found him living in Surrey from 1967 until 1973. I put a letter in the local paper in Surrey to see if anyone remembered him but got no replies. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks Pam.

When was he born? Would he have been of the right age to be in the forces during WW2? Presumably he married...........look in the bmd records for his marriage registration; the cert would tell you his address at the time. Reg

Thanks Reggie. Bit complicated. He was married to my nan and he left her in 1931. I found he died in 1973 in Surrey. I then discovered he was living with a lady named Almina Marian Hone. His name Albert Edward Hone born 1897. I searched from 1929 through to 1973 quarterly (which took forever) but no sign of a marriage for him. I put a thread on asking if Almina was a common name and someone found a Marion Almina Watson born 1903 in Greenwich. She died in Surrey in 1977 and I got her death certificate which confirmed she was born abt 1903 and that she was the widow of ---- Hone. No other details. So very frustrating as my family all thought he died in the 1940s. Been hunting on and off for him for about 3 years but can't get any further. AAARRRGGHH! Thanks for advice.

Reggie, bit more I have thought of. He was a bank clerk in 1931 but on his death certificate he was a retired aircraft worker. Presumably went into that during the war. I have tried a few places in Surrey that I was given but no luck there.

Pamela - can you find out where there were WWII aircraft factories? Then perhaps look at where he was born, where your Grandmother was when he left her, where he was living up until his death - and make some educated guesses; Victoria

Aircraft worker could include fitter - in WW2 these would be based at camps to maintain planes, as opposed to working in factories where aircraft were made. Depending on where he lived in Surrey, he could have worked in a nearby county, like Hampshire - Farnborough was one of the big places for aircraft. Just a thought - have you looked for any Hone births with mmn Watson post 1931? Jay

Thanks Jay, Yes I trawled through from 1931 to 1973 looking a birth with a Watson as maiden name but nothing. Both my grandfather and Almina were buried in unmarked graves. Found this odd as she was living with him in same house when he died in 1973. She died in 1977. They lived in Claygate Surrey. He left my nan in 1931 taking the family fortune with him! No one knows where he went. I have searched through the papers at Stratford Library as it apparently hit the headlines and was plastered over the billboards outside the station. It took a day to search just a year. I got to December 1931. I know his mother and 2 sisters had moved to Clacton by 1933. Need to go back and search some more to see if I can find the article. Thanks again Pam.

Did he leave a Will? Any clues there to a past life? Gwyn

Hello Gwyn, No idea if he left a Will. Got onto Surrey Social Services to see if any of his or her possessions were left but no records of anything. So very frustrating. Looking for the lost 35 years or so. My nan had 5 children. The youngest unborn when he left. My aunt is now 80 and for her birthday I put together with I had found out about the family in a photo album for her. I found a family member via this site, who had a full photo album going back to early 1900s with photos of my grandfather as a young boy as well as his brothers, parents etc. She was amazed and has now bought herself a laptop! Would love to be able to find more out for her about her father. Thanks for suggestion. Pam.

Have you tried contacting any of the neighbours or commmunity leaders in Claygate? Someone might remember something. http://www.claygate.info/usefulcontacts.htm Rose

Thanks Rose. I did email the Esher local paper and they said they would put an article on the letters page to see if anyone remembered them but I never heard back so presume no one did but I will try the address you have given me. Thanks, you never know, someone may remember them. Fingers crossed. Pam.

Rose, Just had a look on site. Lots of phone nos. Think I will be busy today. Thanks again. Pam.

Good luck Pamela. Let us know how it goes. Rose