Genealogy Chat

GR - you are advertising the fact that your customer servies teams wish to catch up with the genuine genealogy queries of your 5 million members - so why can´t we post threads and get your help?

Hi Lynda I do sympathise. Why is it always the records that we most want to find that are always missing? Keep smiling! Lyla

Don't know if this is related at all Lyla, but I've been unsuccessful in finding a death cert for my great grandmother who apparently died in Dover in 1912. I've scanned all the records for years after 1912 and can't come up with a thing, but I've been advised that records were destroyed in bombing raids in the second world war, so maybe that's the case for both of us? I know how irritating it is though, not to be able to get the death cert!

Thanks Janet, it is certainly worth a try!

Lyla, Yes they do have a different way of organising the information . You actually know date of death and alleged place/cause of death, which will act as checking points. I believe they have to return your cheque if they can't oblige - certainly did last time I applied. (include large SAE) Jay

Thanks I have always ordered my certs from the GRO using the ref numbers on 1837online. Is it possible that the local office might have a different indexing system then? Lyla

Might be worth looking on here in case there's anything: http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/ Christine GR doesn't let you enter e-address symbols or anything which has a ''dot'' followed by ''co'' (which includes Cornwall, Coventry, Colorado, Cooperative...) Christine

Have you tried the local office? Jay

Just wanted to say a quick thankyou to Shirley. I contacted the Kent archives who suggested I contact the Sheerness Library. Sheerness were very helpful and were able to send me two newspaper reports that mentioned John Wood's funeral service in Sheerness (one says age 24 and one says age 29). The burial on 18/1/1912 at Sheerness cemetary shows his age as 29. There are of course no coroners records to explain how he received his head injuries! I'd still like to know why his death isn't registered though! Lyla

Thanks for your ideas Shirley. I will certainly give them a try. Fingers crossed. Lyla

Why not enquire at the Medway Archives .they are very helpfull may be able to point you n the right direction. Their tel no is 01634 297060 or emaii them at archivesatdotgov*.*uk Shirley Hope you understand email as this site wont let me put it in properly

Thanks Merry, I really appreciate you looking but I think it is unlikely to be him. I know he was born in 1882. In 1891 he is 8, in 1901 on board a ship (if it's him) he is 18 so I would expect the age in 1912 to be about 29. He also had a middle name of Alfred which is used on his seamans papers. The notation about his death is dated 16 Jan 1912. It's just occurred to me that perhaps it was actually 1913 and the writer had made a mistake (it usually take me all through January to realise it's a new year). Will take a look anyway (Nope, not there!) If there was an inquest do you think the records would be in the Kent archives for Sheerness? Also, presumably if he died on board there would be a report of the incident. Would those records be held at Kew?

I don't see why it should be anything other than Q1. Even if they had an inquest or whatever, it wouldn't take two months, usually. Merry

Just to save anyone else doing the same lookup (and not because I think it's the right one!!) - this is the only match anywhere in England for Q1 1910 within five years of age at death 30: Surname Forename(s) AAD District Page No Event Quarter Year Wood John D 35 Paddington.1a 66 Death 1 1912 Merry

THe only Sheeness i know of is in Kent, I live about 10miles from there. Did the record state he actually died on board, he may have been taken off the ship & died elsewhere,however if he was still in the area it should show in one of the local Kent districts. Have you found anything that could remotely be him. The kent Archives site has lots of info have you tried that site. Shirley

Well that is the date written on the service record so I assume it is correct. Is there a Sheerness in Scotland then? I had assumed it was the one in Kent. His family were all in Poplar, London. Thanks, Lyla

Hmmmmm.....very strange. It would be very rude of me to say, are you SURE of the date?!! I'm sure you are......can't see that any of the other ''overseas'' sections would be appropriate. Was the ship in dock, do you know? Merry

Thanks Derek, I have now tried Jun and Sep but he is not there either. Lyla

Thanks Merry, Hadn't thought of that. I just tried but unfortunately he is not listed there either.

I would try the Marine Deaths Indexes on 1837online (under ''Overseas'') Merry