Genealogy Chat

What a pity you were so rude on the other thread. I live only 10 minutes from the Beverley and Hull records offices and would normally do look ups for people. Looks like you shot yourself in the foot!

He was in the Merchant Navy wearing a kilt, and yes i have access to some of the photos. (but not to hand)

In my book a kilt is a pretty significant clue. Have you access to these photos? In my experience the wearers are usually in a Scottish Regiment. If you could confirm that then another possible avenue would be military records. You might also look for records of service in the Merchant Navy for both of them. Might also be worth checking for a Scottish birth. Denis.

You could be right about the mothers maiden name carried down....its a possibility to look at. The reason i mentioned Scotland is because i've seen pictures of James in a kilt, and lots of scottish items were passed down in the family from him.

Supposing that spelling was taken down correctly then it points to a Scottish influence at least. Apart from the fact that Allan is the common spelling of that forename in Scotland, Allan is also a Scottish surname. It was very common for the mother's maiden name to be used as the second forename. Just tiny possible pointers. Which brings me to ask why did you mention Scotland earlier in the threads? Denis.

Yes, i have his 1st marriage certificate in front of me...its definately spelt JAMES ALLAN WOOD

I might be stating the obvious but his second forename, Allan, is a Scottish spelling. Scotland is mentioned somewhere else in your thread. Are you certain about that spelling? Denis.

thank you all for your help, unfortunately i dont know where he was born....this is part of my task too!

Hi,..........what does the MMN part mean?..............ahhhh 'mothers maiden name' perhaps?

Hi I just looked at the suggested quarters on ancestry and only found this one for a james Woods.... James A.T.Woods MMN George. Lambeth 1921 Q1 1d-765. Nothing on 1920 4th q. I even checked 2nd q...nothing. Gerri.

You need to go onto Ancestry and find the GRO reference. You can order a cert without it, it will cost more though. Do you know where he was born? Sam x

Hi Sam thanks for your message, ...yes its the right death record.......how do i order the birth without a GRO ref though? cheers

Well if that is the correct James Allan Woods that has been found in the death record above, he was born Dec 1920 so could have been registered Q4 1920 or Q1 1921. Have you searched the indexes on Ancestry for that period? There can't be that many and you can request that they check his father's name before sending you the cert. Sam x

This one is a real toughy i know, but any help would be much appreciated.

i dont mind paying the £7 on a birth certificate, but i need to be sure its the right one.

ok, ........it turns out he might not be scottish afterall, sorry for all of this..........but surely there cant be that many James Allan Woods born about 1921?????? can anyone help? Thank you.

Thank you for your help, its much appreciated.

Just spoted this on indexed on Ancestry Name: James Allan Wood Birth Date: 25 Dec 1920 Death Registration Month/Year: Jun 1985 Age at death (estimated): 64 Registration district: Beverley Inferred County: Yorkshire Volume: 7 Page: 38 Was thinking that since you had James' dad on the marriage cert as James when ordering the birth cert you could ask for James Allan Wood b. 'date', father James Wood, it may narrow down the possable entries significantly.

Thank you for your help.....he did die but in England....and the death certificates in England have extremely limited information on them. As for uncles and aunts im afraid thats a tough one also as there is no contact. This is a tough one isnt it!

Sounds backwards but if your Granddad is nolonger with you, you could look for a death certificate as in Egland and Wales the DoB was included on the index in the 70's and from 1966 in scotland (also give parents names in scotland) Or parents and Aunts/Uncles may know when your Grandad was born and this will help get his birth certificate. When ordering a birthcertificate you can ask for them to check parents names and the DoB to limit the number of possables. The below address will give you the order forms for BMD certs from the GRO in Scotland http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/su3www.pdf