Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone, I have been looking for my fathers birth cert. for 5 years. Bristol say the records were destroyed. Sent off to where they can do a check 3 years either side of the birth. no luck there either, tried mothers maiden, no luck there, any ideas where to now.He never married my mother! Thanks Mary

Have you checked the GRO index?

HI, yes I have written to GRO (with cheque) no luck, also GRO in Merseyside where they checked years 1900 to 1902 inclusive, again they returned part of my cheque. All the information I have is: Born William John Maggs in Bristol September 1901. Mothers name Mary Ann Maggs (nee King) born 1880 in Bristol. Fathers name William John Maggs born 1880 in Bristol. I have their marriage cert. I also have my fathers brothers birth cert. and his sisters birth cert, they were born after him. I was told Mary Ann Maggs died in Bristol in 1941 but, can't find that death cert. either. I have spent hours and hours looking for it. I have been in contact with my local register (who have been very helpful) but absolutely nothing. Regards Mary

When did William and Mary marry? Reg

OK.....found it Mary Ann King 1901 Apr-May-Jun Bristol Avon, Gloucestershire William Maggs 1901 Apr-May-Jun Bristol Avon, Gloucestershire Reg

Could he have been older than you thought? William John King 1899 Apr-May-Jun Bristol Avon, Gloucestershire Volume: 6a Page: 28 Or has this one been checked and discounted? Reg

Hi Reg, Yes I have the 1899 cert. in front of me, unfortunately mothers name doesn't match, neither does fathers. Michael I don't actually know if the birth details I have are correct (obviously there not) from what my mother told me. Also his parents, brother and sister were all born in Bristol so it seems unlikely he was born elsewhere. I have tried finding him with his mothers maiden name of King both at the local register office and Merseyside with no luck. So where do I go now, do you think maybe he was never registered? Regards maryt seems

Hi Do you know when he died? I picked up a death in nov 1987 which states a birth 13/12/1899. kate

hello mary have found a william maggs borm a-m-j 1902 in bristol rache

I suspect you may have to wait until you can access the 1911 census....... Do you have any info about him other than his possible birth year and the names of his parents & siblings? Reg

Hi Everyone, In answer to Catriona's question, Yes I do have his death cert. but, he was known then as John William Maggs, died 5th December 1961 age 60 years. I have noticed that all his ancesters were William John and as far as I know he was born William John but, maybe it's John William. He does have a stepbrother living who is very old and although he was brought up as a Maggs apparently his fathers name was Hodge, even more confusing, does this help anyone. Regards mary

Hi Michael, in answer to your questions re: GRO I have in front of me an e-mail from my local GRO who looked up 3 different birth dates for William saying they have no record and probaby the records were destroyed but, to try the GRO at Merseyside who would do a 3 year search. I have a letter from Merseyside saying the search from 1900 to 1902 inclusive showed no William Maggs born in Bristol with the details I provided. I have also tried William King thinking maybe she had William out of wedlock but, the reply from GRO cannot find anything, so that is why I am at a loss as to know where to go next. I have tried everything I possibly can and absolutely no luck, so where do I go from here? regards mary

hi How about this one William John Maggs Year of Registration: 1900 Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar District: Bristol County: Avon, Gloucestershire Volume: 6a Page: 170 Kate

Hi Kate, Many thanks for replying, I haven't sent off for that particular birth cert. I have about 6 birth certs. which are not my William which I have in my keep but, I will send off for he 1900 William as somewhere along the line I have made a note of the same details, so I hope I may be lucky. Many thanks Mary PS If we are wrong I will be nudging this message again, lol Kind regards mary

Hi Von, I e-mailed my local GRO yesterday as they are very good. On reflection I don't think he is on the 1901 census but, I will check again. I appreciate what you are saying about him maybe being born elsewhere, the only reason I think it may be Bristol is all his ancestors going back for many, many years are all Bristolians, plus his parents were married in Bristol. Thank you for you advice, much appreciated. regards mary

The parents didn't marry until 1901........after the date of the census. Have you located these people on 1901? Reg

Hi Reg, Yes I have them both on the 1901. Living with their respective parents at different addresses. 1901 census states William as being age 20 and Mary Ann as being 21 although on their marriage cert. which was April (after the census) it states William as age 21 and Mary Ann as age 20 both living at the same address!! I have spent years trying to sort this out. Regards Mary

nudge

Hi Mary
Just a thought, William may have given his age as 21 at the time of marriage, if he didn't get permission from his parents to marry at the age of 20. It is possible that they gave the same address if they were from different parishes within Bristol; the place of marriage was usually the parish of the bride, and the groom would sometimes take up temporary lodgings in the parish for up to 4 weeks beforehand to be allowed to marry in that parish. Or, they could just give the same address, but this doesn't mean that they were living together! I've tried to find them both on the 1901 census, and notice that William's father was from Somerset. Is it possible that they may have gone to grandparents for the birth of their child?

BW

Karen

Hi Karen, many thanks for the e-mail. I actually didn't realise Williams's father was born in Bath and I have looked at it a hundred times, must be losing my touch. As you say, maybe I will be able to find him in the Bath area.

Many thanks

Mary