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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: Jae06 on Friday 01 September 17 10:49 BST (UK)

Title: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: Jae06 on Friday 01 September 17 10:49 BST (UK)
Hi I'm looking for the death date of my grandfather William Leonard Clark. Born Feb 17 1905 in Christchurch Hampshire Eng. Married Dorothy Plumb in Dec 1930 but can't find when he died. Am thinking it was in the 1960s. Thanks 😀
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: Milliepede on Friday 01 September 17 11:39 BST (UK)
Did they stay in the same area do you know?

There's a William L Clark* born 1905 died 1967 but in Woolwich district.

Do you know when/where Dorothy died - was she a widow?

*William Leonard died 28 Feb 1967 - cremation Greenwich 7 Mar 1967
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: clairec666 on Friday 01 September 17 11:46 BST (UK)
If Milliepede is right, he might appear in electoral rolls in the Greenwich area, which are available on Ancestry. If he's at the same address as a Dorothy Clark, there's a good chance it's the right person, and it could be worth spending out on the death certificate.

Unfortunately he's not showing up on the probate calendar in 1967.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: chempat on Friday 01 September 17 11:59 BST (UK)
Think Dorothy dies in Bournemouth in 1975 - which does not rule out that death.

Dorothy and William in 1939 in Bournemouth.  With 2 other people, one open, one closed.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: Jae06 on Friday 01 September 17 12:03 BST (UK)
Hi yes my Grandmother Dorothy died in June 1975 in Bournemouth . She was a widow. I have a feeling that he did pass about 1967-1970. I vaguely being told. Chempat yes that is definitely him as the open one is my mum. So going on this where would you suggest I look? Greenwich electoral rolls?  *I should add that my grandparents did not stay together after the war so this is how we lost contact.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: clairec666 on Friday 01 September 17 12:19 BST (UK)
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1795 (http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1795)
London electoral registers on Ancestry (you need a subscription). Goes up to 1965 and covers the Greenwich area.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: Milliepede on Friday 01 September 17 14:09 BST (UK)
Could be a problem then if they didn't stay together, they aren't going to be listed together in Greenwich  :(
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: clairec666 on Friday 01 September 17 14:13 BST (UK)
Could be a problem then if they didn't stay together, they aren't going to be listed together in Greenwich  :(

True. But it might give an idea of when he moved there.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: Jae06 on Saturday 02 September 17 00:14 BST (UK)
William left the Bournemouth home in the mid to late 1940s. After that we don't have any clue as to where he went. He was according to my mum born near London so maybe this could be a clue. I no longer have a sub to ancestry so not sure where to go next. Thanks everyone
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: bearkat on Saturday 02 September 17 09:46 BST (UK)
Many libraries have free access to Ancestry or Findmypast for members.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: chempat on Sunday 03 September 17 09:44 BST (UK)
His recorded birth is for William Leonard ClarkE, do you know why he stopped using this spelling?

There is a William Leslie Clark born in Greenwich in March quarter 1905 that could be that death found.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: chempat on Monday 04 September 17 08:33 BST (UK)
William Leonard ClarkE on the GRO born Christchurch mmn Rolls.

Ancestry tree (and GRO search) gives 5 children to marriage Leonard William Clarke and Bessie Rolls.  Leonard was born Fordingbridge, Bessie in Springbourne - so no London connection there.
Also 2 more possible children born after 1911 in freebmd in Christchurch
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: Jae06 on Tuesday 05 September 17 02:30 BST (UK)
Hi Chempat. All this information is correct as I know Williams parents were Leonard and Bessie, born in Fordingbridge. I'm just not sure about where he died but is looking maybe like it was in Woolwich/Greenwich area.
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: chempat on Tuesday 05 September 17 08:31 BST (UK)
Why do you think he died in the Woolwich/Greenwich area - he was not born there, nor were his parents.

The death found in the Greenwich area (and you need the death certificate to check it out if you believe it to be him) could be this man, as stated previously:

Births March quarter 1905  William Leslie Clark Greenwich

Deaths March quarter 1967  William L Clark age 62   Woolwich

He may have died under just 'William' or just 'Leonard'.


Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: Jae06 on Tuesday 05 September 17 12:42 BST (UK)
Yes of course you are right. I guess I'm just going to have to obtain this death certificate and see if it is him. Other than that I may never know for sure. Thank you for all your help. 🙂
Title: Re: William L Clark born 1905 searching death
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 05 September 17 16:06 BST (UK)

The death found in the Greenwich area (and you need the death certificate to check it out if you believe it to be him) could be this man, as stated previously:

Births March quarter 1905  William Leslie Clark Greenwich


This chap was born 6 Dec 1904 to William Thomas Clark (Colour Sergt, Royal Marines) and his wife Nellie Maud (formerly Waghorn).  The family had moved to Birmingham by 1911.  I can't immediately see what happened to William Leslie after that, but as I say they don't seem to have stayed in Greenwich long term.

The 1967 cremation in Greenwich of William Leonard Clark found by Milliepede at reply #1 makes the 1967 death registration look promising, or at least worth investigating further.