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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: leightorr25 on Thursday 27 October 11 08:09 BST (UK)
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Hi All,
I am trying to find my grandmothers' family in Kent. She has passed away and was the only child, so tracing family roots has been very challenging. Her name was Joan Chrissie MAY (b.24.07.1932 - Tonbridge).
Her Parents were Ernest William MAY (b.?) and Margaret Dorothy TURNER (b.? - Scotland? Ireland?). I have their marriage certificate that shows they were married in Tonbridge on 4 Aug 1930. It states that his father is Peter MAY, a Gardener, and her father is Richard TURNER, a Retired (something) Inspector. It unfortunately does not tell me where they came from!
At the time of their marriage, E W was staying at 13 Judd Road (?). I cannot make out from the certificate what her address was, but she is listed as a Cook/Domestic Servant at possibly Livmel Road (?).
I found a census entry in the 1911 census for a Philip and Chrissie MAY living at 33 Priory Walk, Tonbridge, with 4 children - Ernest William being one of them and 4 yrs old at the time. This would fit in with the family judging by the info on the marriage certificate, as well as the fact that my Gmother's second name was Chrissie.
I think that Maggie's family were either scottish or irish, judging by the surname. Unfortunately my Gran died before my interest in genealogy started, so I am left with vague rememberances from very distant conversations as a child.
ANY help with regard to this family would be GREATLY appreciated! I have been hitting my head against a wall for 6 months now!
Kind Regards,
Leigh Thomas (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
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This looks like Maggies death
Margaret Dorothy May
Birth Date: 18th October 1897
Date of Registration Jul 1995
Age at Death 97
Registration district: Tunbridge Wells
Inferred County Kent
Register number C8
District and Subdistrict 5761C
Entry number 216
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I wonder if this is her birth registration
December qtr 1897
Turner Margaret Dorothy Lichfield 6b 451
1901 census has her with a father Richard RG13 2654 f32 p2 - 27 Minster Court, Lichfield
Richard Turner occ Reservoir attendant (Water) age 41 bn Bradeley Staffs
Emily J age 48 bn Brocton, Staffs
Edith 16
Bertha 14
Ethel 11
Hilda 9
William 6
Margaret 4
Edward E 2
children all bn Lichfield
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Wow, that was quick!
These records look very promising! Having another look at the marriage certificate, it looks like Richard's occupation in 1930 could have been "Retired Waterworks Inspector"...very promising!
Thank you so much!
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I wonder if family stories, memories etc habve got muddled over the years and it is HIS family that comes from Scotland .... reason being I found this 1901 entry - could this be Ernest's parents, and the prescence of a visiting nurse from his homeland suggest the iminant arrival of a baby? All specualtion att his stage, but might be worth looking att his couple more closely
1901
RG13 743 41 18
West Street, West MAlling Kent
Joseph Alexander widower 75 bn Norfolk
Philip H M son in law 38 Ironmonger bn Scotland (it has been suggested the M should read MAy)
Lucy G May dtr 40 bn Warwickshire Stretton under Fosse
MArion McIntosh nurse bn Scotland
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Gosh, they do get around!
MArriage
Ap/May/JUn 1889
Chorlton Lancs rf 8c 1191
Lucy Goddard Alexander / Philip Henry May
would be worth a look in 1911 for this couple to see if they have an Ernest
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From deceased online
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0g1b/
May, Margaret Dorothy
Cremation date 3rd August 1995
Authority Kent & Sussex Crematorium
Location Kent & Sussex Crematorium (Kent)
and this could be Ernest
May, Ernest William
Cremation date 8th January 1981
Authority Kent & Sussex Crematorium
Location Kent & Sussex Crematorium (Kent)
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Great news! Look at this:
"Hi Leigh
That's right Ernest May was Joan's father - he suffered with angina and died in his sleep in December 1980 his wife Maggie (Nee Turner) died 25th July 1997 aged 97.
Joan dutifully went over to visit her for 2 weeks every year. I believe her parents lived all their married years in Tonbridge. Though I seem to recollect that Joan told me her mother was born in Staffordshire. I'm sorry I can't help you with Joan's grandparents I never met them or heard anything about them.
Love Grandpa"
Amazing how a few facts can jog a memory or two - I think he may be wrong with the death date in terms of the year, but everything else fits!
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That's really good confirmation of what we have found. ;D
Does the information you have in 1911 for Philip tie in with the Philip that Liz has found in 1901?
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The death reg for the Ernest MAy dying in Kent in Dec 1980 (age 74) gives a d-o-b of 6th Aug 1906
That ties in with the 4 year old you found in 1911 with parents Philip and Chrissie.
Not proved (yet) if that is the same Philip as the one with wife Lucy in 1901
Where does the 1911 one give as his birthplace?
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Maybe ....
MArriage
Jul/Aug/Sep 1906
Sevenoaks 2a 1647
Philip May / Christina Elizabeth Ferris
Marriage cert would confirm if he had been married before
I cant see an obvious death for Lucy.
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On the marriage certificate (dated 4 Aug 1930) it has Ernest's age as either 24 or 34 (Illegible). If he was 24, that would put his DOB around 1906, whereas if he was 34, it would be around 1896. I'm leaning towards 24 as both the record that Liz has and the one I found suggest a birth after 1900. Also, I cannot find any record for an Ernest William MAY born in 1896.
My record is:
Philip MAY Married M 23 1888 Iron Moulder-Blast Furnace Tonbridge Kent
Chrissie Elizabeth MAY Married 4 years F 22 1889 Folkstone Kent
Ernest William MAY Son M 4 1907 Sundridge Kent
Mildred Elizabeth MAY Dau F 3 1908 Tonbridge Kent
Gracie Beatrice MAY Dau F 2 1909 Tonbridge Kent
Philip MAY Son M 0 (2 months) 1911 Tonbridge Kent
Kate GILBERT Boarder Single F 22 1889 Machine Hand Tonbridge Kent
Reg Dist: Tonbridge
Address: 33 Priory Walk
County: Kent
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Does his death notice state any birth place??
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Also, this Philip May sounds very promising BUT it does state on the marriage certificate that his father's name was Peter and that he was a gardener....maybe the name is recorded incorrectly and he had retired by 1930?? At the age of 42, seems a bit young....
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The date of birth on the death registration index is all we can look at. The place of birth MAY be on the registration but it would only be where the person registering the death thinks he was born.
The death reg for the Ernest MAy dying in Kent in Dec 1980 (age 74) gives a d-o-b of 6th Aug 1906
The birth registration
Births September qtr 1906
May Ernest William Sevenoaks 2a 851
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So the Philip (with Lucy) in 1901 doesnt look as if he is the same as the Philip(with Chrissie) in 1911 as he is far too old.
If 23 in 1911, he could not have had a previous marriage before 1901.
BUT - thank you for reminding us, 'your' Ernest Wiilliam said his father was Peter, not Philip! So we may be on the wrong track with both of these Philips - though the 1911 one looks good with the "Chrissie" connection and the child Ernest May of the right age for 'your' one, as it fits perfectly with the info given at his death.
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Thanks Liz. Sometimes I wish genealogy was more simple!! ::)
I really appreciate the effort and today has definitely brought me closer to finding some more answers about my Maternal ancestry! Thank you to you both, please let me know should you need any assistance from good old RSA archives - now THOSE are entertaining to work with....not half as good as the international literature! ;)