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Name Watkins, William Frederick
Official Number: J96635
Place of Birth: Woolwich, Kent
Date 22 May 1904
Catalogue reference ADM 188/840
Dept Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies
Series Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services
Piece 96501-97000

(above Record can be downloaded £3.50, below link)


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7117656&queryType=1&resultcount=84

Chris :)

Thanks for all the speedy replies so far! My grandfather, William Frederick Watkins, was born in Woolwich on 22 May 1904. His father died when he was a year and his mother, unable to care for 5 children, placed my grandfather and 2 of his sisters in Bristol Orphan House. Two girls stayed with family in Devizes. In 1915 William was removed by his mother, after she trained as a nurse, to live in Somerset. William joined the Navy on his 16th birthday. Sometime in 1934 he joined the fire brigade and was based at Homerton fire station. In 1954 William became a lock keeper at Sheering, Essex. He died in 1962.

I found a death record for a Veronica Watkins in 1938, in Bromley, Kent. However, she was 85...My father said he was sent to live with two old ladies in Kent, after staying in Suffolk. It is a long shot (and expensive) but do I order a copy of this death certificate in the hope that the age at death was copied incorrectly?

To Jan: As a novice I don't know how I go about checking the electoral register! Do I go to Kew?

Veronica Watkins age 85 (Maybe a mistake) died J/F/M 1938 Bromley Kent
2a 1003.

Maryb

William Frederick Wat-Kins
Electoral Year: 1939
Parliamentary Division: Hackney North
County or Borough: Hackney
Alice and John Flemming also living there 22 stoke newington common....probably flats.

Regards Vera

??????? No Veronica.

William Frederick Watkins
Electoral Year: 1938
Parliamentary Division: Hackney
County or Borough: Hackney


John and Alice Flemming also living there

22 Stoke Newington Common

Regards Vera

London, England, Electoral Registers, 1847-1965
about Veronica & William FrederickWatkins
Name: Veronica Watkins
Electoral Year: 1937
Parliamentary Division: Hackney
County or Borough: Hackney

Flat 4 Homerton Hight St

Veronica Watkins
Electoral Year: 1937
Parliamentary Division: Hackney
County or Borough: Hackney

William Frederick also there 97/99 flat 4, Homerton High Street, Hackney

Regards Vera

Have you checked the electoral register for the address? Just on the off-chance there is a name variation or a middle name.
Jan

Glad its not just me...I also agree I cannot find anything...including a marriage.

Regards Vera

I agree, there doesn't seem to be a trace of her, at least not as Veronica Beddington. Can't see a marriage either, like yourself. Do you know where your grandfather was born? Just to give an idea of where we should be looking.

This is the only thing I found of any kind, doesn't seem likely does it!

Name: Veronica Boddington
Birth Date: 7 Sep 1919
Date of Registration: Apr 1986
Age at Death: 66
Registration district: Chiltern and Beaconsfield
Inferred County: Buckinghamshire
Volume: 19
Page: 971

Jan

Hi Eleanor.
You say she was 'formerly Beddington' - is this her maiden name, or a name from a previous marriage maybe?

EDIT I see it is recorded as her maiden name!

Jan

I'm a beginner who has come to a dead end (pun not intended). I've been trying to search for my Father's mother. She is listed as Veronica Watkins, formerly Beddington, on his birth certificate. His yob is 1936, Tudor House, Newington Green (Reg. Islington 1b 381). His father is William Frederick Watkins, Fireman LCC, 42 Burma Road, Stoke Newington. The only other record of her name is Erwarton (Suffolk) parish record of my Father's baptism in October 1936 (...son of William Frederick and Veronica of Fire Station Homerton). My father was told his mother had died of TB when he was a year old. The Suffolk church connection may be because my grandfather had an old Naval friend (Bertie Reid) living in the area. There are several of his family (Flemming) photos. Also it appears my father was cared for by this family for a short while after his mother's death (living member's of the Flemming family have been contacted and can provide no help).