RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: Jemmajane on Saturday 11 February 17 11:52 GMT (UK)
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I am new to this so bear with me. My biological father passed away in 94 at 27, we never met unfortunately. I am looking for a way to find information that may help me find family members. I would like to find his grave if possible. He died on 28/4/1994 of carbon monoxide poisoning, inquest was held on 6/7/1994. His date of birth is 23/1/1967. David Mark Johnston.
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Hi, looking at the death index it looks like your father died in the Leeds area. Is that right, and if so do you know where he lived at the time? This might help work out where he was buried - there is a list of local cemeteries on the Leeds City Council website and ways to find check, if there is a location in mind.
Because he was quite young, you won't find much information on family history websites but as you know his name and date of birth, you could order his birth certificate (and marriage certificate if he was married), either from the office where it was registered or online from the General Register Office website. His birth certifcate will tell you his parents names if you don't know them.
I hope this helps - you could also have a look in local newpapers which are normally kept at the local libraries.
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Hi,
Welcome to Rootschat. :)
There is a birth matching the details you have given in GRO Births Abroad; B.A.O.R in Hanover, Germany.
You can buy a copy of the certificate from GRO using these details:
David Mark Johnston, 23/1/1967, mother Slack, volume F, page 124.
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
Cost is £9.25, posted worldwide and usually arrive in 7-10 days.
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And a possible marriage 1966 Jun quarter on freebmd.org for male Johnston & female Slack in PONTEFRACT 2C 1001
ADDED: When you have made 2 more posts Jemmajane, you will be able to make and receive personal messages [pm's] off forum where names of living people can be mentioned.
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There is also a birth of a David Mark Johnston in Leek, Staffordshire registered in 1966 with mother's maiden name Huyton. It's not impossible for the occasional mistake to creep in with registration details (i.e. birth year) so if you have reason to be sure he was born in England I wouldn't rule that out, but nanny jan has probably found the right one.
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If you have a copy of his death certificate showing his last address you might be able to narrow down a likely cemetery using this guide:
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Find-cemeteries-and-crematoria.aspx
Are you certain there was a burial and not a cremation?
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Thank you all for your time, yes he was born in Germany as it says so on my birth certificate. He lived in the greenside walk area of Leeds at the time of his death. Apparently the address no longer exists, it used to be maisonettes that were knocked down around 15 years ago. I would like to know where he's buried so I can pay my respects and also a photo would be nice considering we never got to meet! Thank you all for your input, I have a few more leads now 😊
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So far I have requested the inquest details which I am currently waiting on. I have emailed Leeds library with an inquiry to do a search of local newspapers. I know some folks might think it's a waste of time since he's dead already but there is an entire side of my heritage that I have no idea about. Probably family still alive too, maybe even siblings. I'm 33 next week its about time I knew. Thanks for everyone's input, much appreciated 😘
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It could have been a cremation I literally have no idea. My search seems to have started and finished with the death certificate.
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Which area of Leeds is/was that?
Checked my Leeds burial records (municipal) but finish before 1994.
Brian
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Leeds 12 greenside walk/close area
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So in fact Wortley, cemetery nearby!
Brian
I will e mail a friend re your burial location, back online in the morning.
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That would be most helpful, tank you 😊
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Hi, I'm the friend Brian mentioned. I have looked at what records I have and can't find a burial for your father.
My next step would be to do as you have done and contact the Local History Dept. at Leeds Central Library (0113 3785005). They have copies of the Yorkshire Evening Post where there will probably be an Obituary Notice for your father, also possibly an Inquest mentioned. They are very helpful and as you have a date of death it should be easy to find.
You said 'some people may say why bother because he's dead' but as you and I know family history is about family and tracing where you come from. If I was in your position I would do exactly what you are doing and I wish you every success.
Both Brian and myself live near to Leeds 12 so if you need any help or assistance with your research you know where to find us here on Rootschat.
Regards,
Ian
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Hi Jemmajane
If you go onto Freebmd.org.uk and do a a birth search using names Johnston/Slack you may find possible siblings of your father if he had any children in the UK.
Good luck with your search.
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Thank you all very much for your time, I am awaiting a reply from the library regarding any articles or an obituary. I have given permission for them to search (as obviously there's a charge)
Also waiting on the coroner to go through his file and send me relevant documents
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Leeds library got back to me, the sister is a different name to what I was told and married from what I can gather. My mum has informed me that my grandfather may have killed himself before I was born by throwing himself in front of a train! Where could I look up such information? I have his name but not sure without dates where to go from here. Also if I contact cottingley cream where his ceremony was held could they give me a list of mourners or is that a breach of confidentiality? Thanks in advance
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If you have the name of your grandfather you could check the death registrations on FreeBMD.org.uk; if you find one that matches name, area etc. you can then order a copy of the death certificate which will show the cause of death. Another way is to search the local newspapers but you need an idea of when and where he died.
I'm not sure a crematorium would have a list of mourners; the undertakers might have compiled a list for a newspaper report.
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Well so far we have the name of his sister and possibly my grandparents too now which is more than I had this time last week and the library sent pictures of snippets from the newspapers I'm just waiting on the coroner report but I'm not sure that'll be any help. I'm going to try the Salvation Army next I reckon and just keep looking for his sister. You've all been a massive help ☺️
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I now have a grave number but for confidentiality reasons the lady on the phone at new wortley crematorium can not give the name of whom he has been intered with, he was intered in 2002. Any ideas how I could find out who? Really wishing I was local right now! So frustrating
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So is your dad in Cottingley Hall cemetery then?
[Near Leeds United football ground]
My wife is wanting me to take her shopping nearby, could spare an hour or so to have a look!
Brian
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No, he was cremated in 1994 and his ashes were intered into another grave in new wortley cemetery plot number 10416 in 2002. I asked the woman if it was either of my grandparents names and she said no but obviously couldn't tell me who.
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That's really kind of you to offer though 😊
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As long as I know which location!
Brian
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He has a headstone! Thank you so much for all of your help. I really appreciate the effort 😊
My husband has been doing some searching too, I'm pretty confident that I might get somewhere this time.
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Hi,
Brian contacted me last night and asked me to check my map of New Wortley Cemetery so he could locate the grave when he takes his wife out shopping this morning. I have given Brian the location of the grave and will give him a copy of the map this morning.
No doubt he will take his camera and photograph the grave for you.
Regards,
Ian
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You are all fantastic!! Thank yous all ever so much. The picture on Yorkshire indexers seems he has his own headstone and everything so I can't understand why it doesn't come up on find a grave or why the woman at cottingley crematatorium told me he'd been interred with someone else?! Honestly this finding relatives business is extremely frustrating and consuming!
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Ian has given me directions to find the plot, will still visit and see what the condition is like! :)
I will report back after lunch.
Brian
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We're all waiting ... ;). Nice day here in Yorkshire for a cemetery visit :)
Look forward to hearing the coroner's report as well.
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You are all fantastic!! Thank yous all ever so much. The picture on Yorkshire indexers seems he has his own headstone and everything so I can't understand why it doesn't come up on find a grave or why the woman at cottingley crematatorium told me he'd been interred with someone else?! Honestly this finding relatives business is extremely frustrating and consuming!
Sadly not all graves are on Find A Grave.
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O'k so I found the grave.
Coming off Tong Road (turn right after passing the post office)through the gated entrance to the cemetery are 2 trees to your immediate left.
Your grave is behind the smaller of the 2 trees.
[I will send a personal message to confirm other details]
Brian
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Well all I wanted out of this search was a grave or at least a resting place and a photo. You have already ticked one of them off the list between you, I'm eternally grateful. Thank you you amazing bunch of people ☺️
I certainly will let yous know anything interesting I find in the coroners report.xx
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As Treetotal said on another thread today, that's the power of rootschat :)
I certainly will let yous know anything interesting I find in the coroners report.xx
Only if you feel you want to share it, it may well be too much to do that.
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jemmajane: I take it you have read the personal message I sent you?
Click/save the 2 Dropbox links I sent you to view the photos.
Best of luck on your search for further information on your father.
Brian
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Just read it now, thank you so much! I'm hoping that the coroner report may have his place of work listed as that could be another line for me to check! Brilliant stuff, getting there! ☺️
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If you read the information on the plaque, there is a reference to his last workplace!
Brian
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Yeah that's what I thought, maybe someone still there that remembers him as he was a production supervisor apparently.
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Not sure if any of you guys would still be interested but I felt the need to update you all after the immense amount of help you all were!
I finally got in touch with the sister of my deceased biological father, after your help finding the names and helping me on where to look in the first place. We have spoken on the phone recently and plan to meet at some point, she was amazed and sent me photos of my father which is all I ever needed. I literally have his face!! This week coming I plan to visit David’s grave for the first time. All of which would not be possible without the help from you people
I can’t thank you enough
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I'm so glad to hear you've been able to do this.
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Yes we're always interested in the outcome of searches we've contributed to!
What a lovely result! Thanks for posting it.
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Very pleased to hear you have a positive result to your search. It's been a while but worthwhile for you which proves asking for help is always an option.
Here at Rootschat the Rootschatters are always keen to help.
Regards,
Ian