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Missing paternal G/parents

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Michael

Michael Report 7 Jul 2003 22:19

Can anyone "out there" give me any tips on finding out about my paternal g/parents? My Father would not talk about them so I know very little. I have thier names from dads birth cert, I found them in "Kelly,s" but they dissappear about 1918. I have tried the PRO at Winchester, the archives in Southampton and spent countless hours on this contraption, all to no avail. PLEASE, any suggestions where I try next? Regards, Mick.

Michael

Michael Report 7 Jul 2003 22:51

Hi Deborah, Thanks for the reply. I,ve tried Births, marriages, deaths and the census at Winch. PRO, no luck on them anywhere. My dad born 1911, he had at least one brother, maybe two, and two sisters, none of them would talk to thier offspring about the parents. They were all taken in by nieghbours when my father was very young, one child per nieghbour, so that they would not be too "split up". On dads marriage cert, (1940) his father listed as deceased. Quite a family mystery!! As I said, thanks for your reply. Regards, Mick.

Ruth

Ruth Report 8 Jul 2003 00:12

Are you only looking in Winchester and southampton areas? Have you tried looking on FreeBMD across a wider geographical area?

Michael

Michael Report 8 Jul 2003 09:40

Hi Ruth, I have not had any luck on free BMD, in spite of leaving out counties, various "guesstimated" ages etc. Am thinking of doing the London PRO, I believe they hold the records for the whole country, would you know if this is correct? Many thanks for your reply by the way. It really is as if my g/parents just dissapeared, but I,m sure the answer is "out there" somewhere. Regards, Mick.

Ruth

Ruth Report 8 Jul 2003 10:32

Hi Michael The Family Records Centre London has all BMD since 1837 by quarter in alphabetical order (the GRO). These can also be searched at 1837 online at 10p or less per page you view (depending how many credits you buy). It is easy to get through a lot if you aren't sure of the year or your ancestor has a common surname! I got an excellent book from my local library: 'The Family Records Centre a user's guide' by Sheila Colwell, which also includes useful tips with a wider application. I believe you can also search the GRO on fiche at your local LDS Family History Centre. Hope this helps Ruth

Margaret

Margaret Report 8 Jul 2003 11:27

Try the local library. Mine has the BMD on fiche for the whole country. Although some of them are hard to read. Margaret

Michael

Michael Report 8 Jul 2003 19:43

Hello Ruth and Mary, Thank you both very much for your advice. I will try to get the book also try Southampton archives once more. It seems like there are a few ways to try yet. Look towards being mentioned in dispatches, (well, the success page anyway), should I find the G/parents. Once again, thank you both. Regards, Mick Davie.