Genealogy Chat

Ian Do they or did they remember their father or mother you should find a birth certificate if you have an age, but always look 2 or 3 years around that date, things do get confused as I have found. For 1837(.)com Do you have his siblings names, are they older or younger. Start at least 5 years before you think the eldest was born you can save each qtr. Have a folder for birth indexing, and name each qtr i.e. 1940 (surname) 1 Mar (as in March qtr 2 June, 3 Sept & 4 Dec ) Then you can check each one at leisure studying them for district of birth, this will give a clue remember that they didn't always use their first name as well. Write down possibles see if they make any sense. Have you got any marriage certificates hopefully this will give his fathers name. Then if you find a birth cert you can check to see if it matches. Or you can go to your Local Family History records centre (or phone them) and ask if they have or can get the Indexing which is in London, this should not cost anything to look through. At this stage I would go with the Local Family history centre, or if they don't have it go to London, Myddleton Street. It will be a day worth it in the long run. It may seem like a neddle in a Hay stack at the moment but the reward it worth it. If you do go to London then make sure you get there early and stay as long as you can. Take plenty of paper to write down all the information in the indexing. Year, qtr, all names, district vol and page nos. Which ever you decide on good luck, if we can help you any further just post a message. Irene

Hi Ian, Shirley Oaks is now a private hospital, not sure whether it used to be the old school though, Lynda

I read the last entry with interest as the record for my father might well give me more detail than I had imagined. Does anyone know of a possible sea school in the thirties in Ventnor, I.O.W./ and how to trace these records please? Thanks, Mary

school admission registers have parents names, address, occupation, childs date of birth, and time they spent at that school, sometimes they will state childs next school or destination after leaving, depends on the school really but they can be a useful source. George

Not sure school records (if they are available for you to search) would tell you much, other than school attendance. If you want the birth and death certs for your grandparents, have you looked on FreeBMD or 1837 online? Helen

This may also help: Shirley schools, Croydon Croydon, Surrey 1902-1931 : admission and discharge registers, apprenticeship and service registers, administrative papers Joint Archive Service of the Corporation of London: London Metropolitan Archives Reference : BBG NRA 13540 Bermondsey BG George

Thanks very much thats very helpful, thanks to all the replies. Ian

There is Mile Oak school, Graham Avenue, Portslade,Brighton...it's a very old school so imagine thats the one you are looking for. Sheila

Croydon archives in Croydon Library hold some school records. I have no idea which ones give them a call or e-mail them Local Studies contact... Address: Level 3 Central Library Croydon Clocktower Katharine Street Croydon CR9 1ET Phone: 020 8760 5400 ext 1112 Email: localstudies AT croydononline.org Fax: 020 8253 1012 Have had to put the word AT instead of the normal sign and also theres no spaces in thier e mail addyok this is their site.. http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/artsentertainmentculture/culture/archives/?a=5441 hope this helps Shelli

My father and his siblings were taken into care in the 1930's. My father aged 11 and his younger brother age 9 were sent to Milloak School, Brighton. and his sister age 5 and other brother age 2 to Shirley Oakes in Croydon. I wonder if any one could suggest where to look for records. My aim is trace their parents, birth and death certicate are proving hard to trace for my grand parents. My last contact was the electrol register 1932.