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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: zetlander on Sunday 13 November 11 15:36 GMT (UK)

Title: Have a stab at this!
Post by: zetlander on Sunday 13 November 11 15:36 GMT (UK)
On her death certificate she has five (5) possible surnames, her address was unknown and the informant on the death certificate was from the local council health authority. She died in 1970 in Camden - her year of birth is said to be 'about 1901.'
It looks as if she was a loner and died alone.
Yet she left £3000. A notice was put in a newspaper re. the £3000 for any relatives to come forward but no one came forward and it went to the Treasury
My question is - who is likely to have found she had £3000 and who would have put a notice in the newspaper?
Title: Re: Have a stab at this!
Post by: LizzieW on Sunday 13 November 11 15:44 GMT (UK)
If her address was unknown, was she a bag lady?  If so she was probably collecting pension money etc. and not using it.  It would soon add up.  However, to do that she'd have to have a name to have a pension book.  Maybe she had been very rich at one time and took to drink (probably not drugs in 1970) and decided to live on the streets, taking her cash with her. ???
Title: Re: Have a stab at this!
Post by: IgorStrav on Sunday 13 November 11 15:58 GMT (UK)
Perhaps she fell ill in the street, or walked into a hospital, and sadly died there unidentified - and in her possessions which the nurses examined to try and identify her there was something, or money, worth £3000?
Title: Re: Have a stab at this!
Post by: zetlander on Sunday 13 November 11 16:05 GMT (UK)
Yes, she does sound like a bag lady and she may well have had a load of money on her. Would there be any records still available (she died in 1972) at the Camden Health Department who took on the responsibility for her burial.  I would like to know if the money was found on her or did it turn up later.  Might they have found someone who knew her and would they know where she was buried.
I think this lady was my aunt.
Thanks
Title: Re: Have a stab at this!
Post by: aghadowey on Sunday 13 November 11 16:23 GMT (UK)
With the correct date from the death certificate you can search the newspapers for any stories which might have appeared at the time looking for relatives or information.

... She died in 1970 in Camden - her year of birth is said to be 'about 1901.'

... (she died in 1972) ...
Title: Re: Have a stab at this!
Post by: seank on Sunday 13 November 11 17:16 GMT (UK)
£3000 sounds like a substantial amount of money for 1970! My parents bought a 4 bedroom house in 1966 for £3400!