Genealogy Chat

thank u so very much for all ur help ur helped me so much and im very gratefull thank u.xxxx

Youve all done a brilliant job guys.

Louise It's probably easier to reply on here, the other people on here will be able to help as well. I've found your mum's birth record from 1837online. Janice I Donlan, mother's maiden surname Francis, Derby, 3a, 477. QE Mar 1952. From there I found Muriel's birth record Muriel E Francis, mother's maiden name Martin, Derby, 7b, 1109. QE Jun 1922. It's up to you which certificates you order. I personally like to have all I can for direct line ancestors but it can get very expensive!

Louise I've sent you a PM but just in case... Have you tried asking your mum if you can see her birth certificate? That'll tell you her mum's maiden name and could possibly help to find the marriage between your grandparents. Also, given the fact that your grandparents have died, your mum may also have other certificates (possibly their birth certificates, marriage certs, etc). She might not, but it'll save you a couple of £7s if she does! Good luck with it Rachel

Louise I've been looking for the birth registration details for your mum as the listing will give her mother's (your gandmother's) maiden name. The only problem is that I can't find it for the date of birth that you gave. You have to register a birth within 6 weeks and I looked in the quarter ends March & June in 1953 and can't find it under the surname Donlan. When was the third child born again? I can't remember his name, sorry! Rachel

Hi louise, i searched from Jan 1950-sept 1954 until my units ran out. there was a few joseph donlans but when looking up the female they didn't match, You can discount these years when searching, I will be getting more units next week so if you get no joy in the meantime i will have another look for you....good Luck...MOE!

moe thank u willam was 1st born then janice then thomas willam wasnt joseph donlan son so not sure if they married b4 or after willam was born hope this is helpfull

Hi louise, so we are looking for Joseph Donlan and wife Muriel married around???who is the oldest of your mums siblings?i have been looking on 1837online for you no luck so far maybe it can be narrowed down a bit...MOE!

To search the GRO (General Register Office) indexes (indexes of birth marriage and death registrations) you would need to either subscribe to an online pay-per-view site (like 1837online) or visit a large library that has microfilm or microfiche copies of the indexes. These are a lot slower to use, but are free!! Merry

Don't panic Louise!!!!!!!!!! To be certain about these people I think you should get the marriage cert for Joseph and Muriel........... You can order it online if you have a credit or debit card or know someone else who can get it for you!! This is the website: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate/index.asp#0 They cost £7, but you may be able to find out quite a lot more from just the one cert.............. Merry

merry no i dont no wot gro or where i can find them omg i feel really thick now

thank u so much merry ur a big help yeh i do no how to get certivicate do i need cert b4 i go back any further

To find Muriel's maiden name (as you mentioned this in a personal message) you would have to look fer the marriage of Joseph Donlan in the Derby area around the time of your mum's birth, if she was the eldest, or earlier if her brothers were older. (it's not always easy to guess when people married!!). There's no easy way to find this, except trawling through the GRO indexes......Do you know what they are and where you can find them?? Merry

a poss for Polly ~ 1901 Bill Smedley abt 1886 Long Eaton Son Derby Derbyshire Elizabeth Smedley abt 1862 Stapleford Wife Derby Derbyshire Elizabeth Smedley abt 1894 Lawley Daughter Derby Derbyshire Emma Smedley abt 1888 Long Eaton Daughter Derby Derbyshire George Smedley abt 1861 Samley Head Derby Derbyshire Polly Smedley abt 1897 Lawley Daughter Derby Derbyshire Ruth Smedley abt 1891 Long Eaton Daughter Derby Derbyshire

Right Louise, This is your Granddad's birth registration: Surname: Donlan Forename: Joseph Mother's maiden surname: Smedley Reg District: Derby Volume No: 7b Page: 1131 Quarter: 4 (Oct-Dec) Year: 1920 and this is the ref for Joseph's parent's marriage: Groom: Joseph Donlan (yes, another one!) Bride: Polly Smedley Derby District Vol: 7b Quarter:3 (Aug-Sep) Page: 1080 Year 1917 To find out more about this couple you will need to buy a copy of their marriage certificate. Do you know how to do that? Merry

thank u merry think i may b gettin the hang of this a bit now. janice dob is 15 march 1953 and my dads is james bernard davies 4 july 1945 if thats any help

Louise has messaged me to say that Janice is her mum and the deaths I found for Joseph and Muriel are her grandparents. I am going to have a look to see if I can get Joseph's birth reg....... Merry

There are a lot of real newbies on here at the mo, I think.........It's really difficult to get across how they need to respond and/or read what we have written.............. I have tried various personal messages, but don't seem to be able to help them to do it!! I shall have no hair by the time ''Who do you think you are??'' gets going!!! (that's even without burning it all off, for those of you who read that on Christmas day!) Merry

Merry I think Louise is very new to this. I explained to her how to post a reply to her thread but she must have misunderstood and posted her reply in the heading. Georgina.

Doh.....Just noticed you speak of your granddad in the present tense, so is he still alive?? Merry