RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: sharoncs on Monday 17 June 13 22:44 BST (UK)
-
My dad was born in 1947 and died in 2004. His parents didn't have the happiest of marriages and my nana always told my mum and dad that my dad had a half-sister called Margaret that lived in Scotland with her mum. My dad never tried to find his half sister. My granddad died in 1975 when I was only 6 so I never got the chance to ask about his daughter. My nana has now died and I'm the oldest living person now in this line. I am therefore trying to find my elusive aunty. The sum total of information I have is:
Name: Margaret (surname not known)
Born: sometime between 1947 and I'd guess 1960 at the very latest. Possibly born in Leeds as this is where my grandparents lived in this time frame.
Lived: possibly Scotland with her mum, whose name is not known.
Dad: Thomas Ronald Kemp.
Is there anything I can do to trace her? I've tried Long Lost Family and they suggested the Salvation Army who couldn't assist as I didn't have enough information. Is Margaret going to be harder to find that the proverbial needle in a haystack? Do I give up now?
Thanks for any help that anyone can give me.
Sharon
-
Probably not impossible, but very difficult. The biggest problem will be that you dont know her surname unless she happened to be registered as Kemp. There were 15 Margaret Kemps born in Yorkshire between 1947 and 1960 but none in Leeds as far as I can see. The other problem that you have is she may well have married and changed her name again.
-
Do you have your fathers birth certificate. Was the sister older or yonger than her brother. Your father's mother's name should be listed. Can you look for births registered to that lady? Sandra
-
Hi
The problem is the child could have been born anywhere as unmarried women (assuming she wasn't also married) were often sent away to give birth. I would ask around your extended family, or even family friends, as it is not uncommon for others to be aware of gossip/scandal.
Andy
-
My dad was born in 1947
The sum total of information I have is:
Name: Margaret (surname not known)
Born: sometime between 1947 and I'd guess 1960 at the very latest. Possibly born in Leeds as this is where my grandparents lived in this time frame.
Lived: possibly Scotland with her mum, whose name is not known.
Dad: Thomas Ronald Kemp.
Hi,
Regarding the dates of 1947 onwards when your dad was born , do you know that his half sister was definitely younger? Could she possibly be older than your dad? Is the marriage of your grandparents in the year of 1942 and Isabel is your nan's Christian name? (although your nan is no longer living , I haven't given the maiden as I don't know how much information you want to put on the net about your family)
Do you know if the birth of the half sister was definitely within your grandad and nans marriage? If so, wouldn't the birth possibilities be from 1942?
Kind regards
-
Do you have your fathers birth certificate. Was the sister older or yonger than her brother. Your father's mother's name should be listed. Can you look for births registered to that lady? Sandra
I'm not sure how this would help, surely if the half sister was born to another woman, she wouldn't be registered under the same name as Sharon's grandmother?
As I see it the biggest problem is that, at that time, having a child outside of a marriage was frowned upon and the facts are likely to have been kept secret. It does sound as if somethings were known, so perhaps your grandfather took some responsibility and paid towards Margaret's upbringing. As her mother moved away from the area it is also possible that she married and that Margaret was brought up thinking that man was her father.
This could be quite a delicate situation after all these years and if you do find her you need to think very carefully before contacting her as she may know nothing about another family.
-
Have you checked to see if your grandfather was married before he married your grandmother? Margaret could possibly have been legitimate.
His marriage to your grandmother was Jun 1942 Leeds 9b/984. Worth sending for the certificate if you don't already have it.
-
Worth looking to see if Grandad left a Will when he died in 1975, as he may well have made some provision for his daughter in that, so hopefully will provide a name for her.
That would be my first step.
-
There are some very helpful comments on here, things that I hadn't actually thought of before. Many thanks to everyone that's taken the time to assist.
Sharon x
-
Deleted due to misunderstanding of first post.
Malky
-
I've applied to the Probate Registry for a copy of my granddad's Will as one avenue. He wasn't married before the marriage to my grandma, which is the marriage referred to by Cell.
I always got the impression that Margaret's birth was after my dad's in 1947.
Regarding what is now known as maintenance, would there have been a record of maintenance payments paid at that time? Where would I be able to locate any records that still exist?
Sorry for so many questions, but never tried anything as difficult at this before with my tree!
Sharon x
-
If the maintenance was just by agreement between the parties concerned, it is probable the only record of it would be with the family, which it presumably isn't.
If it was as a result of a court order, there may be a record.
Is there a Family Court in UK that would know?
Though from what you say of your grand dad, it doesn't sound as if it would have been a court case ???
Dawn M
-
1947 seems late for a first child born to a couple married in 1942. (At least I can't see others on FreeBMD).
Which makes me wonder - did Thomas serve in the war? If so I wonder whether he was stationed away from home (in Scotland, perhaps?) and the child was conceived then? Obviously this would mean she was an older rather than a younger half-sibling.
-
He was in a reserved profession based in Leeds during the War so that rules that one out I'm afraid! I'm guessing this is going to be impossible :-(