Chasing a family skeleton!

[helendha]

My great-grandmother once confided in me that my grandmother (her daughter) had a 'shotgun' wedding and that the child, a male, died soon after birth.

My mother and her sister had not known previously that they had had an older brother, but when they asked my grandmother, she vehemently denied it.

All my grandparents are now dead and I was curious to try and find out whether or not this family sleleton really exists - but I cannot find any record of the child's birth or death. I've tried FreeMBD and YorkshireMBD - can anyone advise anywhere else I can search, please?

[dinkey]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

This list is very friendly and people will try and help you. Can you post what you have already on the family. Names, years of birth, where born, occupations etc. It would also help if you can advise whether you have already searched through parish records and census records and if so, post the details.

I hope that we are able to help and happy rootschatting.

regards

dinkey

[helendha]

Thanks for the welcome, Dinkey :-)

This is what I know so far: my grandparents' names were Harold and Dorothy Frankland (nee Walton). They lived in the Bradford, West Yorkshire area and were married in mid-1940; I'm told the child was born in October 1940 though I have no idea whether he lived just hours, weeks or months. I'm sure my great-grandmother said they named the baby Roy, but I can't find anything on either a Roy Frankland or a Roy Walton.

I hadn't looked through parish records as I'm new to this - how would I access those? And is it possible to access the 1941 census? - I didn't know that was possible....

[dinkey]

You could try  http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/LogonServlet it is a pay per view site.

As you are researching in the timescale of the 1940's then the mothers maiden name will also be shown so if the child is there it should be easier to check if you have the right one.

The only other thing I can suggest is that if you know which part of Bradford they were living in when married, you could contact the records office of the area and ask if someone there will be willing to look up the parish records for you.

good luck in your research.

dinkey

[possum_pie]

Hi!  I've had a look on 1837online for you - checked qtrs from Apr 1940 to Dec 1940 for both Walton and Frankland and can find nothing at all.

Couldn't even find a child with a different name either....

Sorry!!

Possum

[helendha]

Hmmm, thanks for trying for me, folks!

I'm now beginning to wonder whether maybe the baby died late in the pregnancy but before being born (hence they felt they wanted to name it and so on).....does anyone know whether stillborn babies have to be registered, as that is my other thought?

[Rowdy Jnr]

Is it possible that the baby was born in another county or another town in West Yorks?
Or maybe a year earlier than you thought?

Often shipped them off to relatives especially if they were in disgrace.

[possum_pie]

Don't know if they have to be registered, but I know that a fair few were.  Are you absolutely definite with your dates??  Happy to check some more for you as I have credits on 1837!!

Possum

[Guy Etchells]

Hmmm, thanks for trying for me, folks!

I'm now beginning to wonder whether maybe the baby died late in the pregnancy but before being born (hence they felt they wanted to name it and so on).....does anyone know whether stillborn babies have to be registered, as that is my other thought?

From 1927 all still-born infants had to be registered (Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1926).
However they are registered in the still-birth register not in the general births register.
The access to which is controlled (generally only siblings or parents may apply for a search to be made) but this is discretionary and there is a chance that other family members would qualify if the parents and siblings were deceased.
Cheers
Guy