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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: olympus593 on Thursday 22 December 22 17:14 GMT (UK)
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Hi everyone and Merry Christmas! I haven’t posted in a while but have been doing some family tree research during the Christmas break.
I am trying to find any records for my great-great-grandfather Arthur Gibson (b abt. 1883 – TBC) post 1939. I have plenty of information and documents for him pre 1939 so do not require any assistance in that area.
What I do know:
A bit of background information: Arthur Gibson (b abt. 1883 – TBC) married his second wife, Elizabeth Lucy Gibson, née Heath (b 1909 - d 1984) in 1935 at the Weybridge Registry Office, Surrey, England.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register. Arthur and Elizabeth are recorded as living at 15 Huntille Cottages, Stoke-On-Trent. Arthur’s son Arthur Frear Gibson (b 1915 – d 1975), daughter in law Violet, and granddaughter Beryl (b 1939 – d 1941) are living with them. Arthur was working as a Clerk of Works (Bldg & Public) and did this for most of his life. This is the last address I have for them. The last record I have for Arthur.
When Arthur’s father, Frear Gibson (b 1857 – d 1940), a grocer, died the will index lists ‘left to’ his step son James Alan Reekie (b 1904 – d 1974), who was a school teacher.
Elizabeth Lucy Gibson latter married William A Cartwright in Ploughley, Oxfordshire in 1969. She died in 1984 in Oxfordshire.
What I do not know:
I do not know exactly when Arthur Gibson (b abt. 1883) died, I have mentioned this in another of my posts from a few years ago and members copied me in to a possible Stoke-On-Trent death in 1946 + 1948. I know that Arthur Gibson and his second wife, Elizabeth moved arround quite a bit so I do not know if they stayed in the Stoke-On-Trent area.
A possible lead, I do not yet know if Arthur and his second wife, Elizabeth, attended Arthur’s daughter, Millicent Gertrude Gibson (b 1921 – 1984) wedding in Newton Abbot, Devon in 1944.
What I am trying to find out:
I am trying to find an address/record for either Arthur, or his second wife Elizabeth post 1939. I have access to the British Newspaper Archive and Ancestry, have spent many hours looking! Do you think its possible that I could find them in a directory? I have not had any luck so far in that area!
Any advice or infromation greatly appreciated.
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When Arthur’s father, Frear Gibson (b 1857 – d 1940), a grocer, died the will index lists ‘left to’ his step son James Alan Reekie (b 1904 – d 1974), who was a school teacher.
The will index shows the executor who is not necessarily the benefactor, do you have the actual will
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Hi Rosie. Interesting point, I do not have the actual will. Frear lived with J. A. Reekie up until he died.
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Hi Rosie. Interesting point, I do not have the actual will.
Only costs £1.50 for a copy from here:
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk
Queenie :)
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Was Arthur's 2nd wife possibly known sometimes as Bessie. There is a 1960 death of an Arthur who's probate record mentions a Bessie Gibson, widow.
John
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Hi John, I have just found the record you mention. I do not believe this to be her. Elizabeth Lucy Gibson, as far as I am aware was only known as Elizabeth. Was really hoping to pick up Arthur on a directory/address book of some kind or maybe Elizabeth in later life. As far as I know Arthur and Elizabeth did not have any children.
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In your opening post you mention you are not sure if Arthur attended his daughters marriage in 1944. Do you have her marriage certificate. It may record if he is deceased which could possibly narrow down a timeline between then and when Elizabeth Lucy remarried , and was Elizabeth a widow when she remarried.
John
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A bit of background information: Arthur Gibson (b abt. 1883 – TBC)
GRO Index
Arthur Gibson June 1/4 1883 Hartlepool vol 10a page 137. Mother's maiden name Bainbridge
So Arthur born Co Durham as recorded on the 1891 census.
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In your opening post you mention you are not sure if Arthur attended his daughters marriage in 1944. Do you have her marriage certificate. It may record if he is deceased which could possibly narrow down a timeline between then and when Elizabeth Lucy remarried , and was Elizabeth a widow when she remarried.
John
Hi John. That is very much where I am too. Trying to see if Arthur and Elizabeth Lucy Gibson attended Millicent's G wedding in 1944 at Newton Abbot. I do not have Millicent's G marriage certificate but may be something to order in the future! I know Millicent's daughter and have asked if she has a copy in her collection, fingers crossed!
I do not have the marriage certificate for Elizabeth Lucy Gibson for when she remarried. I know she remarried from the 1939 register (updated in Green, Surname Cartwright and OX 20.5.69) which corresponds to a William A Cartwright - Elizabeth Lucy Gibson marrige in Ploughley, Oxfordshire 1969.
I am tempted to order a copy of Frear Gibson's will next!
@Crisane Thank you, I do have that record. It is correct :)
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IF this is the right Elizabeth, it might help narrow the timeline:
1954 Electoral Register
Elizabeth L. GIBSON, and the only other person at the same address is Elizabeth Agnes HEATH.
10 Clanricarde Gardens, Kensington
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Following up on my above post, it would appear that Elizabeth Agnes Heath is Elizabeth Lucy Gibson's mother?
From 1947 and earlier, Mrs. Heath resided there, sometimes with other people, perhaps boarders or a servant
1948
10 Clanricarde Gardens, Kensington
Elizabeth Agnes Heath
William J. C. Gibson
(and some others of a different surname)
1949
10 Clanricarde Gardens, Kensington
Elizabeth Agnes Heath
Elizabeth L. Gibson
William J. C. Gibson
Elizabeth L. Gibson is there with her through the available registers until 1955 (at least). There doesn't seem to be any later registers for that address online that I can find.
Edit: The problem with the above, is that after some poking around, I *think* the above William J. C. Gibson could be William James Carmichael Gibson. He lived in the same area in other registers.
I cannot find ANY relationship to your Gibsons. It is possible, however, that as he was for some years living in the same area, it is just coincidence of the Gibson name that a future neighbour was staying with them. (His father was James Whitaker Gibson, son of William Charles Gibson).
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That could be a good lead Bbart.Going by the dates and the fact that Arthur and Elizabeth “moved around “ I yesterday spotted this death in 1946, mq stafford(63). He left a probate record stating died 22.2.1946, address 36, west street,leek,stafford. No mention though of Elizabeth.wonder who was at that address in 1939-1946 electoral registers
John
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Not him, appears at that address in 1939 as a single man
John
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Hi Everyone. Thank you so much for your comments, particularly the post-1939 address details for Elizabeth Lucy Gibson and her mother, Elizabeth Agnes Heath, as I did not have a record of them so thank you!
I thought I would answer a few of the above replies here and provide an update! I will do some more research into addresses etc and post my findings.
Elizabeth Agnes Heath (b abt. 1883 – TBC) is indeed Elizabeth Lucy Heath’s mother.
In the electoral register from 1935, Arthur and Elizabeth Lucy Gibson are living in ‘Halfway’, Walton Park, Chertsey, Surrey. Arthurs’s mother in law, Elizabeth Agnes Heath, is also living at the address.
In the electoral register from 1938, Elizabeth and Arthur are living at 58 Addison Gardens, Hammersmith, London.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register. Arthur and Elizabeth are recorded as living at 15 Huntille Cottages, Stoke-On-Trent. Arthur’s son Arthur Frear Gibson (b 1915 – d 1975), daughter in law Violet, and granddaughter Beryl (b 1939 – d 1941) are living with them. Arthur was working as a Clerk of Works (Bldg & Public) and did this for most of his life.
Elizabeth Agnes Heath and Elizabeth Lucy Gibson
From 1936 – 1964 Arthur’s mother in law, Elizabeth Agnes Heath, lived at No. 10, basement, Clanricarde Gardens, Kensington, London. In the 1939 Register Elizabeth is working as a caretaker. No. 10, basement, Clanricarde Gardens, Kensington is a few streets away from No. 58 Addison Gardens, Hammersmith.
It would appear the Elizabeth Lucy Gibson lived with her mother at the above address for some years, likely after Arthur passed away (maybe 1948 in Stoke-on-Trent). The earliest year I could find for her living with here mother at No. 10 was 1949 and the latest date 1964.
From my initial research I found that William James Carmichael Gibson was living with/next to them for a few years, that being said I am pretty sure he was a not relation. I know that it was common to have lodgers during this period.
I have tried again to find an address for Arthur Gibson post-1939, also tried for an earlier address with Elizabeth Lucy Gibson from say 1945. Maybe some records were destroyed, not taken during WW2. May explain why we have a gap of a few years.
Unfortunately my relative does not have Arthur's daughter, Millicent's, marriage certificate from 1944. I have ordered Arthur's father, Frear's, will from 1940 so hopefully that gets emailed to me in a week or so.
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In the electoral register from 1935, Arthur and Elizabeth Lucy Gibson are living in ‘Halfway’, Walton Park, Chertsey, Surrey.
Chertsey is the Parliamentary district, the parish (town) where they are living is Walton on Thames.
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Hi everyone. The will for Frear Gibson (d 1840), Arthur's father came through today. I had a question as I have no experience with wills.
James Alan Reekie (b 1904 – d 1974) was the sole executor and beneficiary of Frear Gibson's estate. Frear states in his will ‘ I give and bequeath all my estate..... to my son James Alan Reekie of 16 Park Road East, Ashington.’ The will was written in 1938 and Frear died in 1940. We know that his is son Arthur Gibson (b 1883 - TBC) was alive at the time, he was not mentioned in the will.
Frear married his second wife Mary Simpson Reekie, née Culley (b 1871 – d 1938) in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1915. The couple at the time of marriage were living at 56 Beaconsfield Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. 56 Beaconsfield Street, Newcastle upon Tyne was the Reekie’s family home. Mary Simpson Culley's first husband, James Reekie died in 1907.
My question. Do you think its likely that James Alan Reekie was also Frear's son due to the wording in the will? I must admit the will has taken my a bit by surprise. I knew that at the time of Frear's death he was living with James Alan Reekie and his family. I did have a quick look and in 1911 Frear and his first wife were living in the general area, at 51 Trewhitt Road, Newcastle upon tyne.
'my Son' is underlined in the will, I don't know if this has any significance.
In the 1911 census for both families, Gibson and Reekie they each only mention having 1 child born, 0 child died but I believe that is only for the most recent marriage so not sure how much use that is for children born outside of the marriage.
Any advice or information you might have on will would be greatly appreciated. Sadly no further forward with Arthur Gibson (b 1883).
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Hi everyone. Do you think in the will if Frear's son is listed as James Alan Reekie then that must be the case? I am not sure if they would list step son etc. Would be interested to here your thoughts. Cheers,
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Hi,
I think that the 1948 death might be the right one,
Arthur GIBSON Dec Q 1948 Stoke on Trent 9b 479
As you say, in 1939 the family are living at 15 Huntilee Cottages, I found this newspaper report that looks like it refers to him,
Staffordshire Sentinel 29 November 1948
Regards,
Daisy
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Thank you so much! That is them. You have done an excellent job and I would never have found it. I have been looking for years! Really appreciate yours and everyone elses help. Such a friendly forum :)
Hi,
I think that the 1948 death might be the right one,
Arthur GIBSON Dec Q 1948 Stoke on Trent 9b 479
As you say, in 1939 the family are living at 15 Huntilee Cottages, I found this newspaper report that looks like it refers to him,
Staffordshire Sentinel 29 November 1948
Regards,
Daisy