Genealogy Chat

I have been trying to find the birth ref for the John Townsend who died in 2000 not sure if I am unsuccessful due to the hour or whether it is another mystery.

Glen this prob wont help at all sorry :( but are you 100% sure that Sheila (the other member you was on about) has her information correct? im asking this cus ive seen tree's on ancestry that have my direct line ie: grt grt grandparents and the details for them are wrong. Just a thought good luck xxx

So just to clarify: We don't know what happened to Annie or where she came from and she could possibly be a second/third/fourth wife to John Townsend who may or may not exist if James was illegitimate.

Thats right Pippa. James Townsend is my birth father (at least the three sources;adoption file,a half sister and brother through my mother,and the other tree owner all agree on this.) All i have for a year of birth for James are the details in my adoption file and the marriage cert,they suggest 1923,his daughter claims 1924. The 1923 birth cert isn't helping much save for confirming Lincoln as place of birth,,his death cert and my adoption file both say he was a labourer/scaffolder so look like they could be about the same person. The death index has both the name Turner and Townsend with the same reference. Would a lookup for the birth address on the 1923 electoral roll be worthwhile? Would Annie (if she were known by that name) be on the roll in 1923 if she were under say 30 years of age? Glen

Hi again Pippa I missed the post at the bottom of page 1 re John Townsend birth. I have had a look and can't seem to see a match for the 2000 death,. Sheila had her tree to just really help with seeking other children James fathered,i just wish i could contact her (or some of them,after all we are all half sibs to each other),perhaps she does have more accurate information but hasn't got it on GR. I believe Marjorie is still alive bsed on Sheilas comments pre xmas,but as to where in the country she is i have no idea. Glen

Sorry Glen I can't really advise about the electoral roll look-up as I have not been terribly successful on that front to date. I would think that area expertise would be OC and Alter if they are about. All I was thinking about was trying to track Marjorie backwards to see if you could get any answers that way. Do you know if she has any children and approx when she might have married? Also have you found the death of James' father?

Hi I started trawling for details for Marjorie earlier,but nothing as yet. I think her marriage is the best place to start with,seeing as her birth looks like a bit iffy. As for death of James' father,that is still to do. The eyes start to go with all the trawling,but the 1945 mrg cert does say deceased so might help to pin down a 20 year timeframe. Glen

If George was one of the witnesses I suppose conveniently Marjorie wasn't the other one?

PS Is it easier to use family relatives than ancestry for free?

Hi Brenda I did find that one,and it looks like the only likely candidate so far,i did get back to 1905 and cross ref the vol/page numbers under both surnames. I just get the feeling that Annie was telling porkies with the birth cert details but will continue trawling for the marriage for Marjorie to George Goddard. The 1945 James marriage cert shows bride and groom both in the forces,and no Marjorie wasn't the other witness i'm afraid. I will crack this,just not sure which way round the wall is the right one at the moment. Glen

Glen, If the lady you would like to contact (Sheila) has a message on the trying to find board, then you can click on her name and send her a personal message. It doesn't matter if she is no longer a member of Genes. As long as she hasn't changed her email address, she will still get the email telling her she has a message, and will still be able to view the message and reply to it. The only thing she cannot do is make the first contact. Kath. x

Kathleen She has changed her home, address,e-mail and telephone contact details since christmas. I have tried via GR before and have had no response, Glen

Glen, She is not trying to avoid you is she? Are you getting anywhere?

No her membership lapsed a while ago,and i know she was moving with work,due to her type of work she is ex directory,and without knowing where she went it is a bit awkward!! I'm not even sure she could answer some of the questions should i ever find her again. Glen

Re the other children. If James was illigitimate is it possible the others were also, and maybe different mothers? Then perhaps they were registered with the mothers name at birth and not the fathers? Just a thought. I know it doesn't help... if anything it makes it worse but it may be something to consider. Helen

Very true Philip. I wonder if mother had illegitimate kids then married Mr Townsend some time later,just very difficult to find what names the kids are (or aren't) registered under. Nothing in the marriage index (except for the one posted earlier) appears even close,and i have checked 1908 to 1928 Back to trawling again. Glen

Are you worn out yet? Just had a thought did you say something about a forces marriage in 1945 so have you checked the forces or overseas section?

Hi again Pippa The 1945 Jmes Townsend marriage to Nora Stockhill shows he was in the Royal Signals and Nora was in the WAAF. I did go to get his service record a while ago,but didn't have his death cert so couldn't do it. So many routes i could take,just which way to go. Glen