Genealogy Chat

Hi I'm trying to find where and when my Great Uncle Enoch Spencer died. Got his birth Certificate he was born in Nantwich Cheshire in 1883. I have a picture of him taken in 1918 with his Army Unit. The family know he survived War1. Have checked the death records for Cheshire and cannot find him.Also checked FreeBMD,haven't tried 1837 yet as I don't know what years to search.He was a bit of a free spirit and just took off when he felt like it never telling anybody where he was going or how long he would be away. Has anybody any idea's on where to look first or any suggestions how to make the search a little bit easier and not cost me an arm and a leg as they say. Cheryl

Cheryl Ask your family when and where they last remember seeing him - it might be quite a while after WW1. That will give you a starting point. I think it will involve a lot of trawling unless you shelve this problem until FreeBMD's coverage is more extensive. I've just ploughed through volumes and volumes of deaths at the Family Record Centre looking for a gt gt grandfather and it is very hard work, even if you are looking in a period of less than 10 years. I haven't found him - very frustrating!

Hi Helen Thanks for the advice. I didn't think there would be any easy way of solving this one but I was hoping I was wrong. The last time he was seen was at my Auntie's Wedding in 1942 and he said he was going on the Great North Road nobody has seen him since. But by 1942 he would have been in his 60's my mum can't remember him being at the Wedding at all.But her sister insists that he was, this is the trouble I don't really know who is right. Was he there or wasn't he? Anyway thanks again for the advice Cheryl

Cheryl How maddening! Unless you unearth a postcard he sent later I think you will have to a) wait until details appear on a computer (though I believe there may be problems with people born less than 100 years ago) b) pack a picnic lunch and thermos and go to the FRC or a library with the GRO index. Is your Auntie still around and would she remember her brother giving her a wedding present?

There was an update to Cheshire BMD yesterday, but no Enochs. Mind you, at the moment, you don't even know where he died, so that doesn't tell you much ! Any chance of winning the lottery ? then you would have the cash to trawl through 1837 from 1942 to present day. But then again, that assumes that he died in England or Wales. If he was last heard mentioning the Great North Road, he might have died in Scotland ?? don't envy you on this one, can't think of any tips, can only commiserate with you !

Hi Helen, My Auntie is still around, Enoch was her Uncle he was my Grandads brother, I have asked her and apparantly Enoch had called at my Grandads house on the day of the wedding for believe it or not a Bath. She says he had a meal and his bath wished her all the best and went. But my Mum who was a bridesmaid was also their on the Wedding Day can't remember him being there. My Mums family consisted of 16 children can you imagine what the confusion would have been like on the day of a family wedding, everybody trying to get ready as I said before my Mum was a bridesmaid but so were 7 of her sisters, it must have been chaos!!!!!so he could have been there and my Mum just didn't see him. This is driving me daft!!! My Grandad was 1 of 4 brothers his 2 younger brothers both got killed in WW1,my Grandad didn't serve because he had 2 fingers missing on his right hand.So Enoch was the only brother that served in WW1 and came back alive.Than what does he do but dissappear not very considerate of him is it lol! Thanks for your help Cheryl

Hi Bob Woundn't it be nice winning the Lottery!!!! Its was his nephew (my Uncle) he told he was going up the great North Road. I'm pressuming when he said he was going up, it did mean going up North. My Grandfather was 92 when he died so if Enoch lived to be the age of his brother its going to be a lot of years I have to look through.I come from a large family and other members have been looking for years for information with no luck. After the War when he returned he could never rest for any length of time in 1 place which why he was always going walkabout. I'm going to keep looking he's got to be somewhere!! I'll keep you posted if I find him. If by any chance you happen to be looking in death records for anybody and come up with an Enoch Spencer born in Cheshire please think of me it could be my elusive Uncle. Cheryl