Newbie needing advice

[Ann James]

I only joined here today and what a fantastic site!!! Wish I'd joined sooner.

I've been researching my family for a few years - it initially begun by wanting to help my dad find out who his father was. Meanwhile I've traced many ancestors but have never known where to begin to find my paternal grandfather (if at all possible)

My dad was one of twins, born to an unmarried mum who didn't live with the father. When my dad was about 7yrs old, around 1931, the father went to court to try and gain guardianship of my dad, his twin brother or both of them. He was unsuccessful and disappeared out of their lives again.

My father knows nothing more, as it was something never to be mentioned by his grandmother. His mum sadly, died at a young age a few years later.

I am wondering if the court records would still exist and be held somewhere for public access? I have no idea where to begin looking and hoping someone can advise me please.  Also hope I've posted this in the right place

[Jeuel]

Hi

I'm assuming there's no father on the twins' birth certificates?    This would be a custody case and I am not sure where records would be kept or if they are accessible.  Do you have any idea where the case was held?

[Ann James]

Hi Jeuel

Forgot to mention - no there's no name on the birth certificates for the father.

The location of the hearing was in Carmarthen, west Wales. My dad's memory is increasingly confused in recent years, so not sure what type of court it was - county or magistrate (maybe they were one and the same in those days (?)). My historical knowledge of various courts, etc is pitiful sorry.

[Nick29]

Ann, your only real hope at this time is to look at local newspaper reports from the time in a library close to where the court action allegedly took place, in the hope that the court procedings were documented.

[Ann James]

Never thought of looking in t'papers. Thanks Nick

[Willow 4873]

You could try writing to the court they may still have a record of the case although I doubt if they will still have the papers. It would more than likely be the County Court

Another thing is have you still got any surviving older relatives you could ask you would be surprised what family gossip can throw up

Let us know how you get on

Willow x

[jorose]

Although they might not necessarily hold copies of a court case from the 1930s themselves, the local archives might be able to suggest where to look or what other records might exist:
http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/english/education/archives/pages/home.aspx

[Jeuel]

Another thought.  If this chap wasn't on the birth cert, in those pre-DNA testing days, he would need to prove his paternity.  One way might be to show that he'd paid maintenance and there might be a record of that at the local archives, if the twins' mother had taken him to court for payment (I think it would be the Quarter Sessions stuff you'd want for that).

Again the local archives should be able to advise you where to look.

[Willow 4873]

Deleted cuz on wrong post

Willow x