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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: simsbabe on Friday 12 July 13 14:04 BST (UK)
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Hi,
My grandmothers name was Joyce Veronica Thompson. She was born 04/04/1918 in South Africa and was raised by Catholic nuns in South Africa. She then left South Africa and moved to Bristol, where she met my grandad, Dennis Michael Crockford, and they married in 1939 and had my father in 1940. I have looked all over on the net and cannot find a way of finding anything else out about my grandmother, we know her fathers surname was Thompson, and think her mothers name was Julia Moore, but apparently she married more than once. I'm really hoping someone here will be able to help me.
Many thanks
Melissa
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Hi Melissa - I don't know anything about South African research but there may well be information at the English end which helps you on the way.
Have you obtained her 1939 marriage certificate to identify the (full) name and occupation of her father? I notice she married as Joyce V.M. Thompson but died (Surrey, 1998) as Joyce Veronica Crockford. There's no sign of any previous married name in the marriage index but the 1939 certificate should tell you her marital status at that time. (Perhaps it was Julia Moore who is thought to have married more than once?).
Have you had a look at immigration records (shipping lists) to see what they yield? Do you know when Joyce came to the UK?
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Thanks avm228...yes, it was Julia that married more than once (if that was indeed her name). Joyce's father was a docker in Avonmouth when they came back over here apparently. I have found an entry on a shipping list for a Veronica Thompson traveling from South Africa in 1938 so she would of been 20...x
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So they came over as a family, did they? That could be useful.
I have found an entry on a shipping list for a Veronica Thompson traveling from South Africa in 1938 so she would of been 20...x
I can't easily see the 1938 passenger list for a Veronica Thompson- have you got more details?
Another question: did Joyce have any known siblings, and did they come too?
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The Joyce you mention was accompanied by an older Susannah & younger Shirley - final address in the UK was to be in Morecombe, Lancashire.
Name: Joyce Thompson
Birth Date: abt 1918
Arrival Date: 11 Apr 1938
Port of Arrival: Southampton, England
Ports of Voyage: Beira
[Durban]
[Port Elizabeth]
[Cape Town] - embarked here
Ship Name: Grantully Castle
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Thanks Lostris, thats the list...my uncle doesnt remember any siblings, but if that is the right joyce then it looks like there were 2 sisters x
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Thanks Lostris, thats the list...my uncle doesnt remember any siblings, but if that is the right joyce then it looks like there were 2 sisters x
Going to Lancashire - are you sure they're the right people?
Also Susannah was 35 and Shirley 15 - a broad age range for sisters.
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Thanks Lostris, thats the list...my uncle doesnt remember any siblings, but if that is the right joyce then it looks like there were 2 sisters x
Going to Lancashire - are you sure they're the right people?
Also Susannah was 35 and Shirley 15 - a broad age range for sisters.
No, not definite that its her, it was the only one that I could find of a Joyce Thompson coming to the UK from South Africa though x
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They appear likely to have been mother and daughters.
This group had earlier (October 1931) travelled Liverpool to Cape Town on the Euripides:
Susannah Thompson 50 [sic] Housewife
Joyce Thompson Scholar 11
Shirley Thompson Scholar 8
Last address in the UK: 29 Green St, Morecambe.
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I remember my father saying something about her father possibly working on the ships in different countries....this would explain why she was born in Africa I suppose.....problem is its all word of mouth, and we know that doesnt always mean its true x
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I tried her forenames and wildcarded the surname - but no luck ...
as you say, stories get mangled - have you looked for a UK Birth or a UK Consululate record of Birth ?
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Erm ....
Births Jun 1918
Thompson Joyce V B Mothers Maiden name = Moore Epsom (Surrey) 2a 13
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I wondered two things...why was she raised by the Nuns?...could she have been born Joyce Veronica Moore...then took on the Thompson surname later on.
Just a thought.
Added: Posts crossed...Good find Lostris!!!
Carol
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Ta - uncomfortable that the 2nd initial doesnt match Marriage name - and also no obvious Thompson / Moore marriage - at least with forename Julia ....
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Thats the original birth I had...then my uncle said about her being born in Africa....think the only way this is going to get solved is from the marriage certificate x
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Ta - uncomfortable that the 2nd initial doesnt match Marriage name - and also no obvious Thompson / Moore marriage - at least with forename Julia ....
Julia isn't a definite...unfortunately my fathers memory is not what it was at all....
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I'd get both certs - then you'll have all options and both parents - and they will cross-refn each other.
IE if fathers names dont match etc ..... back to drawing board. ::)
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Could it be that the story has become confused over time and that it was Julia who was born in SA and raised by the nuns...it doesn't fit if Joyce had parents who could look after her?
Just my thoughts.
Carol
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Definitely agree on that Carol...that is a massive possibility!
Will be ordering 2 certificates tonight I think ;D
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Could it be that the story has become confused over time and that it was Julia who was born in SA and raised by the nuns...it doesn't fit if Joyce had parents who could look after her?
Just my thoughts.
Carol
Thats got legs!