View Full Version : Probably an impossible question
Muggins in Sussex
29-08-09, 15:00
LOL!!! - So I don't mind if no one answers!!! :d:d:d
I have spent years trying to discover someone's identity.
I know the person's forename, his D.O.B. (in 1919), and his baptism date (I think).
But what I don't know is his surname!
Any ideas where I should start?
Thanks
kiterunner
29-08-09, 15:06
Do you know where he was born? And where he was baptised?
Olde Crone
29-08-09, 15:06
Not an impossible question, but a nearly impossible task!
You could go through the GRO index for 1919, noting every instance of the forename you have. You could then try to marry or kill them off one by one from the indexes.
In theory, the last one left will be yours but as we all know in this game, theory and practice rarely match.
OC
Erm - so what do you know about this person? I suppose you could trawl through all the birth indexes now they are transcribed for the quarter(s) he was born - I assume you could narrow it down by county if not registration district?
Or you'd need to check the baptism registers, though I suppose if his name was William or John you wouldn't know if you'd found the right chap.
Or - if he is dead, you could check 1984-2005 death indexes on Ancestry using his dob as a check?
Muggins in Sussex
29-08-09, 15:12
Do you know where he was born? And where he was baptised?
Sadly I don't have any idea where he was born, Kite - not even sure which country!
I had a clue as to the church where the baptism took place, but someone kindly checked the records for me and found nothing.
I just have a dated photo of the person in what apppears to be a christening robe ....it could really have been anywhere ( although quite possibly in the Manchester area.) The photo has a forename but no surname!
Thank you
Muggins in Sussex
29-08-09, 15:18
Not an impossible question, but a nearly impossible task!
You could go through the GRO index for 1919, noting every instance of the forename you have. You could then try to marry or kill them off one by one from the indexes.
In theory, the last one left will be yours but as we all know in this game, theory and practice rarely match.
OC
Erm - so what do you know about this person? I suppose you could trawl through all the birth indexes now they are transcribed for the quarter(s) he was born - I assume you could narrow it down by county if not registration district?
Or you'd need to check the baptism registers, though I suppose if his name was William or John you wouldn't know if you'd found the right chap.
Or - if he is dead, you could check 1984-2005 death indexes on Ancestry using his dob as a check?
Thanks OC and Nell.
I started trawling, but it seemed, as OC says, impossible!! LOL - it felt as though as was doing the family tree of everyone in the country!!
I then narrowed it done a bit by finding all the people born with that forename in that quarter by using Family Relatives... but even then, there were several I couldn't eliminate.
Nell, he is still alive ! And I know quite a lot about him, but as he is still alive, I can't say
Margaret in Burton
29-08-09, 15:23
Joan
Have you tried FreeBMD just putting in the first name?
Muggins in Sussex
29-08-09, 15:35
Joan
Have you tried FreeBMD just putting in the first name?
Thanks Margaret :d
Yes, I have tried that.
This person is a very close relative, and the whole thing drives me to distraction sometimes...particularly as I am sure the person knows the answers but won't tell me - LOL
Joan how many are there with the first name in the time frame you are looking at?
If there aren't many, or aren't many you can't rule out, maybe you could apply to the GRO specifying the DOB as a way to rule out those who aren't yours.
I think I know who you are after. Good luck.
Muggins..................I know it sounds dumb..........lol......but sometimes I need to just sit and do something really mind numbing.
If you want to pm the first name and dob, I'll trawl for you.
Muggins in Sussex
30-08-09, 09:12
Joan how many are there with the first name in the time frame you are looking at?
If there aren't many, or aren't many you can't rule out, maybe you could apply to the GRO specifying the DOB as a way to rule out those who aren't yours.
I think I know who you are after. Good luck.
Ooh that's a good idea, Toni - I'll try that
Thank you:)
Muggins in Sussex
30-08-09, 09:14
:)Muggins..................I know it sounds dumb..........lol......but sometimes I need to just sit and do something really mind numbing.
If you want to pm the first name and dob, I'll trawl for you.
Blimey, Libby :d - and thank you :)
I'll PM you
is the man starting with E Joan ??? am I allowed to say that ??? delete me if not .
I dont mind having a look too
Muggins in Sussex
31-08-09, 14:34
Yes he is Val :d:d:d:d
And many thanks
unless I am missing something here Joan?? there are only 9 men with the first name, you know what ,registered in 1919 in the UK have you discounted those?
Muggins in Sussex
31-08-09, 17:23
unless I am missing something here Joan?? there are only 9 men with the first name, you know what ,registered in 1919 in the UK have you discounted those?
I found about 40 I think, Val :d - on Family Relatives ...and have discounted the likliest :eek:
LOL!
I only found 9 you know whos in 1919 ??? ummmmmmmmmmmm maybe I have the wrong E
let me have the details again will you pm or email me thanks
Muggins in Sussex
31-08-09, 17:33
LOL Val - will do ....you must be a glutton for punishment!! :d
cannot bear mysteries lol
Muggins in Sussex
31-08-09, 17:43
LOL Val - you & me !!!
If you know the exact date of birth the search period could be narrowed down to 2 quarters, couldn't it? The one the birth occurred in and the one after.
MargaretMarch
01-09-09, 12:32
If you know the exact date of birth the search period could be narrowed down to 2 quarters, couldn't it? The one the birth occurred in and the one after.
Good thinking Kit !
Joan you never sent me that pm ???
Muggins in Sussex
02-09-09, 00:52
If you know the exact date of birth the search period could be narrowed down to 2 quarters, couldn't it? The one the birth occurred in and the one after.
Good thinking Kit !
I've been thinking it can be narrowed down to one quarter, because the birth was in early Feb :confused:
Muggins in Sussex
02-09-09, 00:53
Joan you never sent me that pm ???
Sorry, Val - I thought I had :o - but it seems I didn't!
Will do
MargaretMarch
02-09-09, 17:15
I've been thinking it can be narrowed down to one quarter, because the birth was in early Feb :confused:
If you PM me I don't mind helping with the search.
Margaret
Muggins in Sussex
02-09-09, 18:50
If you PM me I don't mind helping with the search.
Margaret
Ooh thanks Maggie :) ...will do
maggie_4_7
02-09-09, 19:04
I don't mind helping if you explain what/who we are looking for in a PM.
Muggins in Sussex
02-09-09, 19:08
Gosh Maggie:) thank you :)
Will pm you
kiterunner
02-09-09, 19:11
You aren't trawling through all the birth indexes for a quarter looking for people with a particular first name, are you? Surely ancestry's birth index search will find them all in one go?
Muggins in Sussex
02-09-09, 19:17
You aren't trawling through all the birth indexes for a quarter looking for people with a particular first name, are you? Surely ancestry's birth index search will find them all in one go?
I hope not, Kite! :d I thinking I'm just thinking that maybe might be able to think of a new angle on this :confused:
You aren't trawling through all the birth indexes for a quarter looking for people with a particular first name, are you? Surely ancestry's birth index search will find them all in one go?
I'm just checking that.............I thought all of them would come up, but there doesn't seem as many as I thought there would be.
MargaretMarch
03-09-09, 15:26
I was trying to think of other ways of finding info about your EW and wondered if you knew what schools he went to and whether you could contact anyone through friendsreunited who are registered at those schools for the years concerned. Regardless of the birth cert name you might find someone who remembers EW with parents FW and BW.
It might also be worth joining the Cheshire FHS to see if there are any school records available locally to search.
Maybe someone on here or another forum might live in the area and can look for you if the records are not online.
Is the address where they lived still there? could there be anything we could look at (other than the 1921 census:)) that might give some clues.
Margaret
MargaretMarch
03-09-09, 15:28
Another thought - have you found FW's WW1 record? that might have some info as they did look at BC's for children who were declared.
Margaret
MargaretMarch
03-09-09, 16:52
I found the marriage for Frank and Beatrice in Bucklow 1905 so looked for births with their surname W soon after and there are 2 that look interesting. I wonder if you have any siblings for your E.
On the 1911 they have 1 daughter and B is 35 which would make her 44 when E was born. F would have been 46 in 1919 so perhaps not in WW1.
Margaret
Muggins in Sussex
03-09-09, 20:21
I'm just checking that.............I thought all of them would come up, but there doesn't seem as many as I thought there would be.
Thank you -that's just what I thought, Libby! :d
Margaret - thank you...I really like the idea of school records :)- I don't have any idea which schools he went to, but know the address he lived at...I hadn't thought of that line and will look into it.
I found what I thought was FW's WW1 record card.....it didn't say much - would there be any more detailed records anywhere?
The marriage you found for FW & BR is the same as I have and I only know of one other sibling...I met her once
Thank you again :)
Joan did FW get a war pension ?? that might give you a clue
Muggins in Sussex
03-09-09, 20:29
Joan did FW get a war pension ?? that might give you a clue
Ooh - I don't know Val -any idea how I would find out?
you could start with ancestry ?? I'll have a nosey shall I ?? what year was he born ?
do you have his army reg number anywhere??
Muggins in Sussex
03-09-09, 21:16
Hi Val - if you have time that would be lovely, thanks :)
My sub has expired -
He was born in 1875 and I found his medal during one of my rummages!
The number on the back is 255747 and it says he was a private in the Cheshire Regiment
Thanks again :)
okay but I just looked and there are lots of FWs so dont worry if you dont see me for a week
He was born in 1875 and I found his medal during one of my rummages!
The number on the back is 255747 and it says he was a private in the Cheshire Regiment
Thanks again :)
Are you sure that number is correct?
I was going to ask that Merry ??
Well..............I can't find that number in the first 150 FWs.
If there's a few of us searching, maybe we could get together and do a few each.
Was there ever any hint of a middle name?????
kiterunner
03-09-09, 23:30
Libby, you can just type the number into the search box, can't you?
Libby, you can just type the number into the search box, can't you?
That's what I did Kite. I don't know who we are looking for, but there was no one with those initials and that number didn't match anyone in a Cheshire regiment.
I think its the wrong number
I think it's the wrong number as well, although there were a few people with a couple of numbers and some were similar.
I was working on the name and hoping something would jump at me.....lol
Muggins in Sussex
04-09-09, 06:26
I am so sorry everyone ...and seriously embarrassed :o:o:o:o
I had added a seven to the end of the number. It should have been 25574. - I've no idea how that happened
*Crawls into hole*
Don't worry about it.....................still can't find him.....lol
I've rellies coming for the weekend, but if I get a chance I'll come back to it.......I can't stand not being able to suss it out.....
Got his medal card...................I swear it was not there a minute ago....lol
I've found a medal card too, with those initials. Didn't know that was the name you were looking for!
MargaretMarch
04-09-09, 08:54
I'm having to travel today back to the UK from Spain so won't be able to help until tomorrow at the earliest.
Margaret
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Joan as you have his reg number why dont you send for his Records might give you some ideas ??
I did try looking for pension records on Ancestry but none with his reg number unless I missed them , but according to the medal card if I read it right he was discharged the 12/1/1918 ? so plenty of time for him to be you know whos Father ?
Joan as you have his reg number why dont you send for his Records might give you some ideas ??
If they survived!
yes Merry I realise that but you never know ?
Muggins in Sussex
04-09-09, 21:18
Thanks everyone :)
I guess it must be worth sending for FW's WW1 Records - there could be a clue!!
Might I be able to look for them at Kew tomorrow? I am not used to going so far back in my research! :d - I am used to being rooted in the 1930s and
40s !:d
Uncle John
04-09-09, 21:22
Tie a piece of string to your wrist and the other end to the chair so you can find your way back.
good luck Joan hope you find something
Lynn the Forest Fan
04-09-09, 21:47
Joan, Kew would certainly be the place to look for his war records, although many have been lost. Good luck :)
Muggins in Sussex
04-09-09, 21:58
Thanks all ..I will try - and take my ball of string as per UJ's advice!!:d
Fingers crossed for you that the record is there!
Muggins in Sussex
05-09-09, 07:28
Thank you Merry:)
is she back yet ????????JOAN
Muggins in Sussex
05-09-09, 20:05
is she back yet ????????JOAN
Yes she is!!! LOL!! But no news :( - will require another visit!
oh shame does that mean his war records were destroyed
Muggins in Sussex
05-09-09, 22:15
oh shame does that mean his war records were destroyed
It's all a bit embarrassing TBH, Val - I got to Kew very late due to having to circle Gatwick airport ( in a car!!) several times in search of non-delivered new PC - it's a long story!
When I got to Kew, I found out what I needed to look for (WO363) and it was on microfiche!!
Now the really embarrassing bit :o:o:o:o - I have never used a microfiche (or is it microfilm?) reader before, and by the time I found someone to show me how it all worked, it was nearly time to go home!!!!!
So I will have to go back...if I ever emerge from my hole!
What letter are Ancestry up to?
Mary from Italy
05-09-09, 23:47
N for service records, I think, but their database doesn't include officers or men who were killed in action.
MargaretMarch
16-09-09, 11:55
The medal card shows he was a private so hopefully the records have survived and Joan will have some luck.
Margaret
Just to say that Ancestry DOES have service records for those killed in action (if their records have survived, of course)
Muggins in Sussex
17-09-09, 06:35
Thank you for all your replies.
I don't think that the person was killed in action, but have heard a rumour that he was badly injured.
Will have to go back to Kew very soon
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