Genealogy Chat

I am new to this so there is probably an easy answer to this but I was wondering if anyone could help. I have just received a copy of my granddad’s birth certificate from 1915 which has the names of both his parents on. However, the birth certificate does not show his parents age or place of birth. Searching on the 1901 census I found several names in the same city that match my great granddads so how do I know which is the right one? How can I be sure his parents were not born somewhere else and moved? I tried to look through the BMD index for a marriage between the two but could not find an exact match. I found one that was close but some things did not fit. His father’s Surname was not spelt correctly in the marriage index, his mother’s first name does not match the one on his Birth Certificate and his farther died when he was about 5 but I could not find any record of his death. I would be happy to pass on all the names and dates if anyone could help.

You wont get ages of parents on an English/Welsh birth certificate unfortunately. If you post the details I would be more than happy to see what i can find for you - and I'm sure other people will too. Alex

The next step once you have a birth cert is to look for the parents marriage certificate. Was he the oldest child do you know ? What was his name ? His Parents Names ? Post the names & i will see if i can find the marriage for you. This will give the fathers names on the marriage cert which you would need to buy, which will take you further back The free bdm isn't fully transcribed. If you aren't subscribed to ancestry(.)co(.)uk it is well worth joining.

think outside the box....... (1) if the name of the male is unusual (in full) and her first name is a bit different-well you have a chance. (2) time of birth could be significant-if born in say 1919-its very possible they were maried at the end of the war..not definite but it gives you a start....... (3) another angle-you know their names so if his is unusual look for it in a trade directory at the time-that could lead to an adress-and then you could view an electoral role and track back until they are not there-that could signify when they married or moved into the area (4) if you can get the fathers name on the 1901 census as a child or young adult that could get you a location clue....again -unusual names help... (5) if you have a rough idea where your granparent lay in sibling order then you could work out a rough age for the mother.Remember wold wars may have interrupted birth sequences.

My granddad’s name was Horace Victor Reginald Lee (DOB 08/06/1915). Father’s name on Certificate Charles Thomas Lee. Mother's name is Annie Lee formerly Bloxam. They Lived at 50 Denman Street Leicester. I'm told his dad past away when he was about 5 and his mother when he was about 15. My Granddad had one younger brother that I know and at least one older brother and sister that I don't know. I found a record of a Charles Thomas Lea who married a Sarah Jane A Bloxam in Leicester, Q4 1896. Although I can find some matches to Annie Bloxam, I can’t find any that married a Charles Lee. Thanks again

looks like he has a sister called edna Mar Qtr 1913 Edna K Lee MMN Bloxam Leicester 7a 346

Darren This is off the 1901 census and Sarah Jane also has an A so maybe the A is Annie Charles Thomas Lee Age: 25 Estimated birth year: abt 1876 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Sarah Jane A Gender: Male Where born: Leicestershire, England Civil parish: Leicester Formerly St Margaret Ecclesiastical parish: Leicester St Luke County/Island: Leicestershire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View image Registration district: Leicester Sub-registration district: North West Leicester ED, institution, or vessel: 49 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 129 Household Members: Name Age Charles A Lee 2 Charles Thomas Lee 25 Sarah Jane A Lee 25 Joseph Richardson 33 William Rudy 27 Address is 6 Alberta st William & Joseph are boarders

You might need this birth to see what the A stands for Births Jun 1876 (>99%) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bloxam Sarah Jane A Leicester 7a 269

Is the only way to find out if the A in Sarah Jane A Bloxam is for Annie, would be to order her Birth Certificate? If possible I would sooner not order a certificates to find out the person is not a relative unless I have to.

Darren Sometime thats what we have to do. My nan's maiden name was Lee, so i would imagine you would know how much money i wasted on her side of the family lol, seeing as my 2x,3x, and 4x Gt G/dads were all called William

Darren, Have you tried looking for their deaths to confirm their ages? Rose

Darren, If you apply to the local register office for the certificate you can give them checking points, in your case the forname Annie. If it doesnt match they will send your money back. Dont forget to enclose a stamped addressed envelope, that way you only lose the price of a couple of stamps rather than 7 quid.

Who registered the birth. if it was the dad then he may have called Sarah, Annie. altho that wasnt her full name. My paternal nan was Emma Ann but her 2nd hubby called her Annie. he reg both of their eldest childrens births and put Mums name as Annie cos that was what he called her. So the Sarah Bloxam may be the right Mum. Shirley

Thanks for your replies everyone. They have been very helpful but with regards to my original question is there anyway of completely proving this is the right person? As not everything is a perfect match and even if I find that the A in Sarah Jane A Bloxam is Annie, how can I be sure that she was my great grandparent? Is the only way to be sure to eliminate all other possibilities.

Well are there any relatives who might have any idea? Also any other siblings born to the same parents? To be honest I dont think there is any other way to really find out other that to order the marriage cert or her birth cert to see if the A stands for Annie. Or order a birth cert of anymore of their children to see if they use her full name or just Annie. You may have to bite the bullet and fork out for some certificates.

I don't have a problem with ordering or paying for a certificate. My only question is if it comes back saying her name was Sarah Jane Annie Bloxam, how can I be sure that this is the Annie Bloxam I am looking for? Unfortunately both my granddads parents died before he was 18 and he passed away 20 years ago. So the only information I can get is from my dad and my uncle. As they were born 20 years after my Great grandparents died this information is limited. In the 1901 Census they have a son called Charles, but my dad and uncle are not aware of them having an Uncle of that age or name. I also can't find any reference to this Charles Thomas Lee in the Death index even though I'm told he died around 1920 give or take a few years.

Well i think going from the fact that there aren't any other likely marriages that fit then if her name does turn out to have Annie in then that might be the one you are after. Its always worth checking some birth certs for his siblings too just in case. As for your family saying they didn't know of an uncle Charles but then saying that they think he died around 1920 confuses me... If you know names of any other siblings that he is definitely known to have - then it is worth checking their birth certs too.

Darren, Have you tried the CWGC site in case he died during the war? That might explain a missing death record. Rose