William DAVIES - Newton Abbott

[sonic]

Hi

Im looking for living relatives or any info on William Davies born 31.12.1904 in Birmingham and his wife/partner Kathleen (possibly known as Kay, born circa 1907/8).  They moved to Newton Abbott around 1945.

He married Marguerite Hinton 3.9.1932 in Aston/B'ham. They had 3 children born 1933, 1938 and 1940.  Around 1944/45 he left Marguerite for his sister in law Kathleen.  She was married to Reginald Hinton, not sure of her maiden name but possibly Simpson.  William and Kathleen had a daughter born around 1945.  They later seperated but don't know when.

William had 2 sisters, Ada born 1899 and Florence born circa 1902.  Ada married and stayed in Sutton Coldfield, B'ham.  Florence married Arthur Hall, I'm not sure when they moved but I can remember visiting their home in Poole when I was a child.

William was a builder by trade and I know he had a builders yard in Newton Abbott and possibly a paint/decorating shop which Kathleen ran.  He lived in the Plymouth area for a while (possibly some connection with a caravan site) but had returned to Newton Abbott before his death in October 1991.

My Mother is William's daughter born 1938, she never saw him after he left.  I would like to find out more about where my Grandfather went and what he did after he left Birmingham. My Mum and her youngest brother would also like to find out about and contact their half sister.

I think Kathleen and the daughter may have stayed in the Newton Abbott area.  Unfortunately we have no idea of the daughters name.

I have traced William's tree back and know about his family, but I would love to know more about the Grandad I never knew.

If anyone regonises any of this please get in touch.  Any info gratefully received.

Thanks Sue

[sonic]

Hi

I have found out that William was living at Meadow View, Wear Farm, Bishopsteignton in 1976.  Also the address given on his death cert in 1991 was Ashburton Road, Newton Abbot.  His occupation is given as 'metal cutter retired'. He died in Torbay Hospital and it appears that the informant on the death cert is someone from a solicitors in Newton Abbot.

Hopefully these address's might ring a bell with someone.

Thanks Sue

[Devon Maid]

Hi

Wear Farm is a camping/caravanning site on the Teignmouth Road, not far from Newton Abbot. They may well have or had some permanent residents.

Ashburton Road in Newton Abbot does have an elderly persons residence in it so maybe your relative was living there. I think it may be council owned.

Have you tried looking in any old telephone or trade directories for info on William?

Sue

[sonic]

Hi Sue

Thanks for your reply. 

I'm in North Wales so the only way I can search at the moment is via the internet.  I've been unable to locate any trade directories or phone books online for the area......other than on ancestry co uk is there anywhere else I could look for these details?

I've done a postcode search for the address he had at Wear Farm and I'm presuming it is a permenant residence as it still exists (4 Meadow View).  I've been told he had some caravans on a site at some point so I think that would tie in with the Wear Farm info.

I was also told he was in sheltered accomadation before he died so again that ties in with the Ashburton Road address (23b).

I've managed to locate his grave (in Newton Abbot) thanks to a very helpful lady at the Cemetery office.

Sue

[Devon Maid]

Hi

 On Ancestry details can be found of Kathleen's residence in 1954 and 1957 in the phone book section. She was living at a house (I assume) called "Tynygraig" in Kingsteignton . In 1952 there is a W Davies, Bldr, Contr, 27 Highweek Street, Newton Abbot, and also a W Davies at 13 Queen Street, Newton Abbot. I think Queen Street may be a mixture of houses and shops.

Sue

[sonic]

Hi Sue

Thanks for that.

One question is Kathleen listed as 'Davies'?  We weren't sure of her surname but pretty sure she never married William,  not sure if William and my Nan actually divorced....if they did it certainly wasn't until a lot later......he wrote a will in 1976 and gives my Nan's name (not Kathleen) refering to her as 'my wife'.

Cheers Sue

[Devon Maid]

Hi

The Kathleen I found in the phone books was a Davies (of course this may be a red herring). Have you found a death certificate for her? or a marriage certificate for Kathleen and William.

Sue

[sonic]

Hi Sue

No haven't found a marriage record for Kathleen and William.  We think Kathleen may have changed her name by deed poll or just used Davies after they moved from Birmingham.  Presumably by moving to a new area no-one would query whether or not they were married if they said they were?!  We can't find any records either to say that my Nan and William actually divorced. 

I can't find Kathleens original marriage to Reginald Hinton on the ancestry database, presumably the database isn't 100% yet........I'd been searching for my husbands grandparents marriage for 18 months and it only showed up online about a month ago!

I was hoping to get her maiden name from the marriage record so I could search for the daughters birth record.  Grabbing a straws as we have no definates for her date of birth, place of birth or first name and surname.

Cheers Sue

[cheshiremog]

Hi Sonic

Would the Salvation Army help you trace your mother's step sister?
See link below

http://www.look4them.org.uk/salvation-army.html

mog