Genealogy Chat

On my grandfather's death cert, the informant is noted as widow of the deceased. I have given myself a headache trying to find marriage or death info. This is probably a really stupid question but is it possible that she called herself his widow but they weren't married or am I just not looking on the right way or places? Geraldine

Geraldine, it is certainly possible that she called herself his widow even though they were not married. Do you want to post up the details you have so that others can help you look for a possible marriage and / or death? Kate.

Thanks Kate My grandfather was William Henry Redman born - 31/03/1901, died 29/12/1970. His 1st wife was Margaret Crawford b - Q4 1901 (waiting for cert), died 15/09/1947. The lady who notified his death is on death cert as his widow named Audrey Naomi Ellen Redman. I have no idea of her dob or maiden name. I always knew her as Aunty Audrey. My grandfather was born & died in Portsmouth, Hants. Is there anything else I need to mention? Geraldine

This is rather a round about way but as you have an address for the informant, you could look in the electoral list to see what Audrey calls herself there and see when she goes off the list, to narrow down her death record.( she could have moved or gone into a home, of course) As you knew her, is there not someone who knows just a little more about her? If you could find her death record you will hopefully get her maiden name entered there, as it was after 1969. The Portsmouth evening paper 'The News' sometimes has a column called.... Where are they now?... Maybe you could write there for friends or family of Audrey to contact you. Gwyn

Thanks for that Gwyneth. I'll shall google electoral role. Geraldine

The lists will be in Portsmouth, possibly in the main library or the Record Office. Only more recent ones are online, I think. Gwyn

My thanks again Gwyneth. I thought I'd search the forum here re electoral roll before googling & quickly realised that I need to contact/visit the library myself. I am grateful for the info & tips. Geraldine

This is a bit obvious, but have you searched through the GRO marriage indexes quarter-by-quarter for his name, from the quarter when his first wife died through to the quarter when he died? Kate.

Heres her death: 1982 September 1/4 District: Portsmouth Name: Audrey naomi E Redman D.O.B: 18 Jan 1918 Vol/Page: 20 0513 Suzanne XX

their marriage: 1952 June 1/4 District: Surrey Mid E William H Redman Audrey N E Moss or Auty (This means she has married before) Vol/Page: 5g 477 her Birth: 1918 March 1/4 District: Croydon Name: Audrey N E Moss Mothers Maiden Name: Busby Vol/Page: 2a 413 parents marriage?? (The only Moss/Busby from 1912 -1920) No Surname Forename1 Forename2 Forename3 Spouse District Page No Event Quarter Year Moss Arthur S (Busby) Croydon.2a 593 Marriage 2 1917 Busby Minnie M (Moss) Croydon.2a 593 Marriage 2 1917 Her first marriage: 1940 March 1/4 District: Surrey Mid E Audrey N E Moss Norman R Auty Vol/Page: 2a 1031 a possible baby's death? (always sad) 1942 March 1/4 District: Surrey Mid E (Female - Auty) (unnamed) Vol/Page: 2a 602 Only birth I can see from 1900-1920 for a Norman 'R' Auty No Surname Forename1 Forename2 Forename3 Mothers maiden name District Page No Event Quarter Year Auty Norman R (Carr) Pontefract.9c 266 Birth 4 1920 Suzanne X P.S. I feel I may have overstepped boundaries, forgive me if this is true, I dont want to take away from you the search for these details but believe me family trees go on forever!!!!!! There is always plenty to research. I hope the above helps.

Suzanne - no boundaries overstepped as far as I'm concerned. I had spent hours going through records quarter by quarter & really did end up with such a headache. I must have missed this info or didn't enter the search criteria correctly, which is more likely I think;-) I had a suspicion that perhaps they never bother with the whole wedding thing but I am so pleased I was wrong. The only other people in my family that are likely to have remembered her are my older brother & sister & they couldn't help. Many thanks & off to order certs. Geraldine