Looking for Ward family of Kent

[Evarney]

My great grandfather, Charles William Ward born 1873 in Dunmow, Essex, left his wife (Elizabeth Antonia Ward (Nee Burton) sometime in 1920ish (not got an exact date this is a guesstimate) and went to Kent to start a new life with a new wife.

Family rumours then place him in Canterbury, Wye and Margate. All I know for fact is that he had 2 sons that became Doctors.

My Grandmother did visit him and the 2 sons but she was not allowed to say who she was, so it is likely that the family have no knowledge of Charles "other" family

Regards
Elaine

[sillgen]

Hi
Welcome to rootschat.     I am not quite clear whether you want to make contact with his sons.  Dealing with living people is always difficult.   I should look for his death - you can search BMDs free on www.ancestry.co.uk.   Make sure you choose the full version, not the FreeBMD one though that might be a good starting point in case he is on it.    Assuming he died about 1950 ish then it should give his place and date of birth so that will help.  He will probably have left a will too.   Assuming that he stayed in Kent look for anyone of that name in Kent.   Wills are at First Avenue House, 42-9 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP   Tel 0207 936 7000 and they have a website.  You can search the index at the Family Record Centre if you can get to London.
Andrea

[Evarney]

Thanks for the reply, but I  have searched everywhere and cannot find even a likely re marriage or death for him. I would like to contact the sons but they would be old now if not already dead, so basically I want to contact anyone that knew of them.

This is a very early on brick wall for me, and my first one too. Only been doing this for about 4 months

[sillgen]

Always worth trying local newspapers.   They love a mystery!     You would have to word it carefully though so as not to upset possible relatives.
When did your grandmother die?    Assuming he was still alive then he may have died any time after her.   It is probable that he did not remarry.  Divorce was expensive and unusual and if his first wife was still living he probably just lived in sin.   If he did divorce then the records will be available somewhere and may have some clues.
Andrea

[Evarney]

Thanks Andrea
Yes his wife was still living when he went off to Kent, and I did wonder about the whole divorce thing.

And that is one thing that is worrying me, I may at some point end up speaking with someone that had no idea their father had other children, which is a bridge i'll cross if I can get to it

Thanks again!

[casalguidi]

Hi Elaine

Do you mean that you have searched the actual death indexes for England & Wales   If so, did you cover a good range of years and account for a death somewhere other than Kent

What was his occupation

Casalguidi

[Evarney]

His occupation on 1901 census was mounted infantryman. But of course I cant look further than that. Going by a photograph that he wasnt in we can guess he and his wife separated about 1920.

In about 1950 his daughter amy went looking for him with her daughter. They met up nad were not allowed to tell Charles 2 sons who they were.

I have searched Ancestry's bmd from 1945 through to 1980 and nothing probable that I can see.

[casalguidi]

Hi Evarney

This is an old request so I don't know if you are still looking for information but it would appear that there was a divorce
http://www.rootschat.com/links/02w7/

I wouldn't know if you would be likely to glean any more information from any surviving divorce papers than what you know already

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=53

Casalguidi