Genealogy Chat

Don't know where to start.

Is Violet alive/dead don't know? Is Palmer her maiden name/married name/don't know when/where/how do you know of her? Provide a little more info and we can probably help. nell

Violet was my great grandmother. I don't know where she was born, but Nan used to say she came from the country. I think I have been following the wrong line for her, but I really really don't know. I think she was born in 1888, Violet May Palmer. I worked this out, because I know she was 83 when she died, and I was between 4 and 5. I was born 1/7/67, so that means she must have died between 1/7/71 and 1/7/72. I met someone online, who is the grandaughter of the brother of of the person I thought my Violet was. Making her my potential second cousin once removed. She was really nice and helpful, her mother could be my Nan's first cousin. Her mother identified the pictures of my great grandmother, but she said, she didn't know she ever had any children. My grat grandmother Violet had 5 children (incl my Nan), I think about 4 of them by father/father's unknown. I found a picture of a man at my Nan's once, she told me that this was her father (I think it was the man she considered to be her father), and I am 99% sure it had the name Henry Curd on the back. That led me to follow this line too. I was sent copies of death cert by this potential cousin, it said she died as Violet Curd, we never knew her as anything but Violet Palmer. It also said that she was cremated in Sittingbourne, Kent. That is not right I don't think. I don't know where to look next, I think I need to find out if there is a death record for Violet May Palmer between 1/7/71 and 1/7/72, this should be around the Mortlake area. Anyone want to try to help me at all????

Yes, sorry, I was busy typing that out! I should have said more to come!

Could she have married, and then separated, reverting to her maiden name? Do you know when her first child was born? Were all her children Palmers too?

I would advise caution regarding her date of birth. How old she was meant to be when she died could be wrong - my own grandfather's year of birth was incorrect on his death cert and he was registered by his own son. Have you looked for potential Violet Palmers on the 1891/1901 census? Perhaps if you find her with other family members it may help. It would also give a birthplace to help find her birth record. nell

In which county do you think she died? Will search her death certificate. Would she have died as a Plamer?

How old is your gran and where was she born?

Thanks. My Nan is Edna Palmer, still alive, but absolutely no good for information. I got my nan's birth certificate. She was born 13 May 1914 and registered in Fulham. My Nan's siblings were 1 Dorothy (b about 1911) 2. My Nan Edna b 1914 3. Richard b abt 1915 or 1916 4. Lillian b about 1917 5. Hilda - known as Betty, b about 1929 My nan and Betty are the only ones still living. I think there is a good chance they were fathered by different people. Dorothy - I found a record on free BMD that said Violet Dorothy born 1911 FULHAM. I think it's possible that it is our Dorothy, but I am really not sure. I didn't know her name was Violet Dorothy, but that doesn't mean it wasn't. If I find Violet's death certificate, will it give me the info on her date of birth and place of birth? How would I get her death cert? There are too many Violet Palmers!

What does it say for parents on your Grans birth certificate?

My Nan's birth cert?? It's a bit useless really. It says, Violet Palmer for the mother and a dash where the father's name should be.

Many many thanks for helping Brenda. This is where I trip up though. These are the details of the person I believed it to be. It's all a bit complicated. I am pretty sure she died as Violet Palmer and around the mortlake area. It's like so much of it adds up, and so much of it doesn't. I keep thinking that 'Violet Curd' can't be her, beause she didn't die in Sittingbourne, then the lady who is Violet Curd's great niece says her mum can identify the picture of her. That could be just a bad memory or hoping things fit, but she seemed quite definite. Then someone from the Curd side gave me details, this was in the form of a spreadsheet, it said that Violet and Henry Curd had had a son called Reece in 1919. That we know nothing about. I don't think it can be the same one.

I'm looking at the list of deaths of Violet Palmers again, I thought this would be our biggest clue, but the only one that ties up at all date wise is the last one, the one I have been following. There don't appear to be any around Mortlake/Hammersmith/Fulham.

No, I don't think Henry (I am not 100% sure about this, just I am pretty sure I saw that name on the pic of her 'father') was the father of the first 4, I think at some time when my Nan did talk about things very briefly (then regretted it and clammed up again), she said something about 'I think I know who Lil's father was, a bloke down the market'. I really think they had different dad's. I think my nan said something about her mum being pregnant once and 'Henry' saying 'nothing to do with me', but more in a resigned way, not angry.

I remember talking about this ages ago. It was Reece that brought it back to my mind. What makes you think that she did not die in Sittingbourne? Do you remember being told she died in such-and-such a place, or is she buried in a cemetary near Mortlake? Sittingbourne is only 50 miles away from Mortlake, and in the early 70s, this would have been nothing to get there. Maybe she was visiting someone when she died? My grandfather lived all his life in Dewsbury, but his death was registered in Huddersfield. As was my father. It's not always as clear cut as it first seams.

Thanks ever so much for thinking about this and looking around for me. I don't think I was older, no. I'm quite good at remembering that sort of thing really, and had it been 1975, I would have been about 8, there's no way she lasted that long. Yes, I think I did mention this story before, didn't get very far with it. Tracey - I think the death cert for Violet Curd suggested she lived in Sittingbourne. It's very weird, it's like half if it adds up nicely, and then a lot of it doesn't. Almost like 2 people sharing an identity or something. The thing with Reece, and the fact that someone recorded on a spreadsheet that they lived there in Kent in about 1918 - 1925, my Nan would remember that, she never lived in Kent. I don't think she was born in Fulham either, but since I don't know where she was born, it must be a possibility. Wish I had a time machine so I could go back 40 years and ask her myself.

I have got a picture of Roland Palmer - he would be Violet's brother if he was the same one. Anyone fancy having a look at them side by side and telling me what they think?

Violet and Roland do show up together in 1901... Alfred Palmer abt 1859 Eastongrey, Wiltshire, England Head Wateringbury Kent Mary Palmer abt 1860 Broadway, Somerset, England Wife Wateringbury Kent >>Violet M Palmer abt 1889 Maidstone, Kent, England Daughter Wateringbury Kent Frank S B Palmer abt 1890 Wateringbury, Kent, England Son Wateringbury Kent >>Roland Palmer abt 1892 Wateringbury, Kent, England Son Wateringbury Kent Lewin A Palmer abt 1894 Wateringbury, Kent, England Son Wateringbury Kent Agnes M Palmer abt 1896 Wateringbury, Kent, England Daughter Wateringbury Kent Ida E Palmer abt 1898 Wateringbury, Kent, England Daughter Wateringbury Kent and this family would fit with the one born in 1888, Maidstone. It doesn't help when they don't follow conformity and get married before they have children lol I'll have a go at the pictures if you want.

Tracey, this is the family I have been following. The only reason that I thought her brother was Roland was because I had found this family and had thought it was them. Since this, I have had contact from the grandaughter of Roland, her mum, Roland's daughter thinks she can remember Violet from the photo I sent. they sent me a picture of Roland, but I ave never been sure this is the right family. I know nothing of any siblings she may have had. Can I send the pic of Violet and Roland, this is where I have got my Violet and put it next to Roland to see if I think it could be possible that they are brother and sister. anyone want to have a go at telling me what they think?

Aye, go for it. Can't hurt, can it? Do you have it online, or do you want to email me?