Genealogy Chat

A while ago I asked for pointers where I might look for my missing, now deceased, aunt. I've now tried everything I can think of except the ONS so before I pay out £30, maybe someone on here would like to try.------give me a few mins to type in the info-----Vivienne

My Dads eldest sister born 28/12/1899 in Kensington London was named Maud Mary Elizabeth Barker. At the age of 15, I believe after a family row, she went to live with my grans sister & at 17 she married,giving her age as 21, with grans sisters husband being a witness. She married Gilbert Montague Coleman in a Catholic church in Kensington on 16/12/1917. In 1920 she gave birth to a daughter & shortly after vanished leaving the daughter with her aunt & uncle. My dad was only 12 so I have no idea what happened but Dad & his brother tried to find her in 1953 with no success. If anyone can help I have this bee in my bonnet now & want to know what happened to her. I don't even know if she went with or without her husband. Sorry it's taken so long Vivienne

I wouldn't know where to start with this one and presume that you have looked for more children she may have had, have you also looked on ancestry for her death working backwards, and a possible second marriage Wjat about her child, have you looked for a marriage for the child to try and shed a bit more light Sorry if you have already tried the above Someone may come along who can advise you better. Joanne

Daft question, but do you know she's dead? Do you have a death reference or anything like that? After all she would only be 107 if she were still alive... My husband's uncle disappeared in the 1930s leaving his wife and children behind and I managed to find his death certificate. Turned out he had a second family and had been working at Heathrow Airport. What do you think? Sheila

Do you know what happened to Gilbert? His name came up when I did a Google search. Was it the same person, I wonder. I know you aren't looking for him, but rather Aunt Maud but sometimes if we skirt round the edges, we can come in through the back door, so to speak.

Thanks for the replies. I've tried all the obvious. Twice thought I had found her but further investigation proved wrong. Maud Coleman seems to be quite a common name. I thought I might have more luck with Gilbert Montague Coleman but no, he seems to have dissapeared also. I do know, through someone on GR, what happened to her daughter but my contact was not even aware of her maiden name. The biggest problem is not having the slightest idea what part of the country to look. Vivienne

So Gilbert was NOT the one on Google? He is mentioned as someone's husband.

Well, are you even sure she stayed in this country? It could be that she emigrated or moved to Scotland or Ireland. I had a lot of trouble finding out what happened to my great-grandmother and it finally turned out that she had gone to Belfast and died there, but I only found that out because there was an entry for her in the (England and Wales) National Probate Calendar, otherwise I would still be wondering! Kate.

Hello Gwyneth, Thanks, I thought I had googled for Gilbert but as you mentioned it decided to try again. Looks interesting especially as one of the results asks for info on another possible wife but I can't work out how I contact them. When I click the link I get a page saying forbidden, you do not have permission to access. Any ideas how I get in? Vivienne

Hi Kate, as I said I have absolutely no idea where she went, could have gone to timbuctoo for all I know. Thats why I'm thinking of the ONS. If she registered when the NHS started that will put me in the right direction. Vivienne

If you click on the submitter, you should get an e mail address. I'll send it in a personal message incase it doesn't work for you.

Thanks Gwyneth have answered your pm Vivienne

Looks like I will have to go to the ONS after all. I've had no reply from the site asking for info on a previous wife of Gilbert Coleman. I found a reference for the marriage of a Maud M Coleman to a William Coleman in Bristol, (where Gilberts family was from) & thought maybe this was a clue to family scandel but cert has arrived & it's not her. curses! Vivienne xx

Will send you PM.