Death 1940s

[billy56]

Any help appreciated on this Button puzzle.
My father remembers his mother recieving a letter from a solicitor in Beverley,Yorkshire, asking her to get in touch regarding her brother. Dad thought he was a child aged about 7 - 10. She did not reply because she was worried he may owe money and they had not seen each other for years - she did not want to be liable for any debts. Obviously her brother must have died and the solicitor was getting in touch, presumably for inheritance as debts die with the person.
Dad was born 1933 so Ive been looking 1940 onwards for JOSEPH BUTTON's death, he was born 1888 - no luck. Perhaps he died in the war ? We dont know if he lived in the Beverley but Dad remembers the letter was from there
 
He is the only sibling I have left to trace on this tree and would like to know when and where he died, and whether he was trying to leave my grandmother something in his will to solve the family puzzle.

[Jane Masri]

Hi Billy,
There is a death of Joseph Kenneth Button on the war graves commission site,
http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/SearchResults.aspx?surname=button&initials=j&war=2&yearfrom=1900&yearto=2000
Gunner R.A.  4 survey regt.  service no: 979013  age 29 died 14/11/1942.  S/o Frederick Robinson & Mary Lillian Button of Scunthorpe, Lincs.  Al Amein Memorial.  But looking back at your posting I don't think it's him.

If he was born 1888 (what is your source?) by 1940s he would have been into his 50s (too old to be on active service) 
Do you have details of his sister (your grandmother) as Joseph & his family should show on the 1891 & 1901 census?

Jane

[billy56]

Hi,
thanks for info. The entry is not our Joseph Button though.

I have Joseph and my grandmother Lucy with parents and siblings on all the censuses, no problem. Its really his death which Im looking for now and cant seem to find.
My Dad thought the letter came in the 1940s, when Dad was young, but Ive looked up to 1955 and cant see a match anywhere. Any ideas ?

[Jane Masri]

Hi Billy,
Umm, sticky problem   
1.  Have you found his birth registration?  Maybe he had another first name that he used in later life, eg; if he was Joseph James he might have prefered the name James & used that.  In the first 2 censuses his parents would have given the name, later, he might have used James.

2.  What about a marriage?  Might help in determining his movements.

3.  Directories of the late 30s & 40s might give a clue as would electoral registers.  I had a look in the London Gazette online for any notices published pertaining to his death but nothing.

4.  If you go to the National Archive site & do a search for Joseph Button (1900 - 1949) there is a lot to search through!  Concentrate on the WW1 service records as it's likely he served.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results-give-this-big-long-URL

I'm sure you'll find him eventually!

Jane

[billy56]

Hi
thought I would post an update for my ancient request. The 1911 census confirmed my great grandmother had 11 children but only 4 survived. 3 of the 4, including my grandmother were listed, along with a grandchild who was from the elder daughter ( therefore accounting for all the surviving 4 children)
I have now traced the deaths of all 7 children so the Beverley letter could not have been regarding my grandmother's sibling. I have widened the search to her cousins from both sides.
Thanks for all the interest

[Jane Masri]

Thanks for the update, Billy.  Memories do get a bit clouded as the years pass but at least you're on the right track now!

jane