Genealogy Chat

Hi I wonder if anyone can help me. Im trying to trace my fathers and mothers grandparents. All the infoirmation I have is that my fathers, father was called Albert Leopold Hodgson Born 1916 and his mother was called Elisabeth Hodgson Born 1918 the only information I have about my great nan on my granmothers side is that we called her nanny suv and she died about 1988-1989 agaed 93. I have no information about my greta grandparents on my grandads side. They all lived in romford or dagenham essex and my grandfather was in the second world war in the merchant navy, On my mothers side all I have is that she is called Dorothy Helsdown aka Skinner we think could be woodhouse and that she lives in Hatsing Sussex and has all her life. Her husbadn was called James Helsdown born about 1927. All other information I have is that my mums Grandfather was killed at sea in 1950 of off the sussex coast and he is listed in the died at sea book in Hastings old town as William woodcock. Any help would be gartefully appreciated.

Hi Anthony As this is your direct line you will need to send for some certificates to ensure you have the right families to follow back to 1901 (and then into the census years) From your post you are looking for your grt grandparents,namely Albert Lopold Hodgson b1916 and his wife Elisabeth b 1918. To learn her maiden name you will need the marriage certificate,this should also give you the names and occupations of the fathers to the bride and groom. But are you absolutely certain that you have the right information for the descendants of this couple?Do you know for certain that they are your grt grandparents. It might be advisable to work back a generation at a time through certificates and birth/marriage references just to be sure and confirm that you have the right people. It isn't unknown for someone to make a mistake with a name and follow the wrong family backwards. Glen

Sussex Family History Society (FHS) is very active and has lots of useful info. It would be worth finding their website - and maybe joining for a year,say, 'cos you can get quite a lot of stuff from them, I'd say. Christine

There's a 'getting started' section on the GR homepage. Scroll down to find it. Most of us started out with very little information. It's amazing how much you can find out, if you put some time and money into it. Good luck nell

Anthony If you have recently started researching it would be advisable to read the 'geting started' section on the GR homepage. The sites you need to look for birth/marriage and death references are numerous,but there are free ones you can use,don't be misled into thinking you have to pay to search for birth/marriage and death index. To get back to 1901 is the most awkward part of research,but with careful searches and a certificate or two it can be done without any huge expense. If you need help just ask,on the boards,there are some great people on here who will offer advice and help if you need it. Good luck Glen