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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Staffordshire Lookup Requests => Staffordshire => England => Staffordshire completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: sphilip on Saturday 29 May 10 13:31 BST (UK)
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Hi, I've left this far too late for far too long. I'm trying to research anything about
Albert Thomas Armstrong Stokes
b. August 8th 1917 or 1918, I believe in Sutton Coldfield, but the family was also based around the Birmingham & Aston area.
d. April 2nd 1993, Darlington, Co. Durham.
I believe Albert's father or grandfather was a furrier in the Sutton Coldfield or Aston area, and Albert had several brothers, one of whom was called George. The family name was at sometime double baralled as 'Armstrong-Stokes', but whether that was dropped before Albert's birth registration or not I don't know.
Albert's early life appears to have been fairly well to-do. He may have gone to a private school, (is there a way of checking school records?), he was bought a car for his 17th birthday, and took flying lessons. There is some talk of his being involved with Aston Villa football club in his youth, but my inquiry with Aston Villa draw a blank.
When WWII broke out, Albert enlisted in the RAF at age 19 or so and served as a Flight Sergeant until being injured out sometime in 1942 or earlier. I believe he flew Wellington bombers and crashed twice, one in France and one in Northumberland. The second crash ended his military service. He has the Atlantic Star, Defence Medal and War Medal (there is one more but I've forgotten it). However, I am having trouble finding out/remembering the exact squadron number he belonged to, and the only other information I have about this period of his life was that the captain of his crew was an Irishmen, possibly called Patrick Kelly, and that this man and Albert were the only two servicemen in the squadron that enlisted in 1939 who survived the war. Shortly after de-mob, Kelly (if that was his name) was apparently killed in a traffic accident.
After the war, Albert's biography is unknown, until sometime in the mid 50s he met and married Margaret Mary Officer from Hartlepool. Much of the rest of his history after that time I know, but anything about either the family (Albert's brother's names, and father and mother's names) or anything else up to the mid-50s would be brilliant.
A long shot, I know, but thanks in advance.
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to begin with -this looks like his birth and death reg's
Birth reg
Albert T A Stokes
Sept qtr 1918
mother's maiden name : Stuffins
Aston
Warwickshire
6d 893
death reg
Albert Thomas A Stokes
born 9 Aug 1918
death reg April 1993
age 74
Darlington
Durham
B46E
4361B
51
Suz
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Apologies -I omitted welcoming you to RootsChat
so a big hello
You would find Albert's parents from his birth cert
However
there is a marriage reg
Albert E Stokes
Mabel M Stuffins
Jun qtr 1918
Aston
Warwicks
6d 878
which looks likely
Suz
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If you go onto FreeBMD and in Births put Stokes -mother's maiden name Stuffins -then you should get the birth reg's of other children - (they may still be living and it is RootsChat policy to not post details of the (maybe) living
I have found 3 brothers -none called george
Suz
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Wow - that's amazing. I've been trying to find this out in varies ways through internet searches on and off for years and you did it in minutes!
Thanks so much for your help and the tips. It's a great start. :) :)
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I think this is the death reg of Mabel M Stokes
Mabel may Stokes
born 25 may 1897
death reg Mar 1980
Birmingham
32 0170
although I think the informant was a year out with her birth
Possible birth reg
Mabel May Stuffins
Sept qtr 1896
Carlisle
Cumberland
10b 513
it seems mabel's family moved around quite a lot
Her father (henry) b leicestershire
her siblings born Notts,Yorks, Gloucester, and Aston Warwicks
maybe this is the death reg of Albert (although there are more than one death reg
Albert E Stokes
Dec qtr 1967
age 78
Birmingham
9c 765
you may wish to purchase a few "key" certificates to confirm information
Birth certs give Mother's maiden name
Marriage certs very helpful -give father's name and occupation -sometimes witnesses are relatives too.
Suz
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why did you think there was a brother george??
Suz
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Personal recollection - there is an interesting family intrigue around Albert & George, but following your advice about the (maybe) living, I shouldn't post about it.
The good news is I did find a George W as well as three other brothers listed on FreeBMD for Stokes/Stuffins, so it seems to confirm that.
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Brilliant - I missed that one
It may be worth purchasing the marriage cert of Albert E and Mabel M -as if the death reg for Albert is the one I posted he may have been married previously - as I said there are a lot of Albert E Stokes deaths in Warwicks - and it doesn't mean he was born Warwicks
You can purchase online -it would be a good investment
Suz
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Thanks Suz, personal recollection suggests Albert TA's father should have passed away long before 1967, as it was over his estate that Albert and George had some falling out over ('bout as much as I should say I guess). However, the timing of that I'm not sure, but my impression was that it was sometime in the period between the end of the war and Albert T A's marriage in the 50s.
A genuine surprise if Mabel Stokes (nee Stuffins) died as recently as 1980 - will take your advice about looking into key certificates.
:)
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There is (among others) this death reg
Albert E Stokes
age 52
Dec qtr 1950
Birmingham
9c 76
there is alsoo one in 1944 age 65
???
Suz
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the 1944 death reg. would fit the jigsaw puzzle perfectly.
As I recall, Albert TA was in convalescence for some years after being injured out of the war, and the family thought he'd died (why there was no contact is a mystery I haven't even begun to address). At any rate, when Albert finally showed up he learned his father had passed away, and then disputes over the estate, which had apparently been settled, began.
I guess I really need the cert's to be sure about the mother and father names.
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Yes you do - the price went up recently but it is worth it if it saves following the wrong line
I have mabel May Stuffins in 1901 census -her p.o.b. is given as newbury berks -but she was b Carlisle -and is listed as such in 1911 (we are not allowed topost full details of 1911 -copyright issues
When you have made 3 posts -which yu have -you can use the P.M.(private message) facility for details of the living
I have to go out shortly -but will just look up a marriage for you before I go
Suz
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Can't find what I am looking for - if you put military information on armed forces section someone may be able to give you more information on that part of his life
Suz
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Thanks again for your help!
:)
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I will be back later tonight -so if you want to PM me with any info???
Off shopping now -in the rain!!!!
Suz
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I think you've got Mabel pinned - but Albert E is a bit of an engima.
d.o.b. looks like 1895, but neither the d. 1944 (age 65) nor 1950 (age 52) would fit that d.o.b (nor would the 1967 one, at age 78!).
???
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this looks like mabel
1901
Cirencester Glos
Henry Stuffins Head M 40 Malster's foreman Quordon leics
Sarah A wife 33 Neath Glamorgan
Florence daughter 14 Mother's help Newark Notts
George son 8 Newark Notts
MABEL dauhgter 5 Newbury Berks
Mary daughter 2 Newbury berks
RG13 2448 37 6
Although it states Mabel as b Newbury -I think that is an error - her birth is registered Carlisle and 1911 census gives her p.o.b. as carlisle
It looks like Sarah A was Mabel's stepmother -as henry Stuffins married Sarah A Sept qtr 1900 Bridgend dist Glamorgan
The problem with Albert E is that we do not know where he was born - marriage cert would give age and father's name and occupation -so we could narrow it down
Suz
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More great work Suz.
My own amateur searches suggest Albert E's father was Thomas Edward Stokes (b.1831) and mother Selina Guest (b.1870) , and that Albert E was born sometime 1894/5, but I don't know the place.
There doesn't seem to be anyone on the 1911 census for the Aston area that would fit his age. Of course, it is possible that he was born in London or somewhere else if, as I understand, the family were moneyed and had more than one residence.
If these 'facts' are correct they make interesting reading: Thomas was already an elderly man by the time he married young Selina...if the family were well to-do, I wonder how Albert E's marriage to a Maltster's daughter went down?! Of course, I could be barking up the wrong tree, and am getting slightly off my original purpose, but fascinating stuff!
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Albert E Stokes is living in Aston in 1901, father Thomas is an insurance agent aged 30 (b. 1871) and the whole family is shown as born in Birmingham.
The family is still in Aston by 1911 at 17 Charles Street Aston Manor. Thomas is now a tram conductor. Albert is shown as born Ladywood Birmingham and is a warehouseman. Father-in-law Mr Guest is also living with the family.
Someone has this Albert in their tree as marrying Mabel Stuffins.
Pinetree
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Thanks Pinetree.
Albert E should have been around 15/16yrs old in 1911; does the 1911 census record you have give the age of the 'warehouseman'?
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Albert E Stokes is 14 on 1911 census.
Pinetree
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sphilip
I don't know if this thread is still being watched, but I have some further info on the Stokes family that may be of interest, including the siblings of ATA Stokes that havent been metioned. :D
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Yes, I'm still following this thread and would be interested in any details you may have.
Thanks!
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Hello. I have just come across this message. I am the daughter of Duncan John Stokes,known as Jack, . My dad's mum was Madeley Stuffing. Marbella was separated from her husband Albert . My dad had four brothers. Bert George Ronnie and Ken and a sister Betty. I never met Bert or George as they were the eldest boys who left home and didn't keep in touch with the other siblings. Well that is how my dad told me. I do know that Bert who married Millie had three daughters. Sadly I have never met my cousins even though millie sent clothes for me when I was very young. Do you think this is the same family you are seeking. What other clues do you have.
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Hello. I have just come across this message. I am the daughter of Duncan John Stokes,known as Jack, . My dad's mum was Madeley Stuffing. Marbella was separated from her husband Albert . My dad had four brothers. Bert George Ronnie and Ken and a sister Betty. ...Do you think this is the same family you are seeking. What other clues do you have.
Oh yes, absolutely! My dad (Bert) always spoke fondly of Jack. I had forgotten there was a sister, Betty, but yes he mentioned her from time to time. So after splitting with Millie, Bert married again and had 4 sons (of which I'm the youngest). We never knew anything about our half sisters or that he'd been previously married. This I only discovered in recent years.