Totally Stumped - Please help

[crazymasie]

Hi there,

I have really hit a wall whilst looking for my paternal grandmother.  I have searched for her everywhere, and come up with so many different names and families that I am not sure where to go, so I am hoping that some fresh eyes will help me narrow it down.

All the info I have is from her marriage certificate....

Married 23/12/50
GF  William Alfred Smith  age 26
GM         Patricia J Underwood age 24

They were both living in Hayes, Middlesex at the time of the marriage.
My gf father is William Robert Smith
My gm father is Alfred Thomas Underwood.  He is deceased at the time of the marriage.

The only other information I have is that she died sometime after 1953 (as that is when my father was born).  He was an only child.  She died when he was still quite young.

I am really interested in looking for her as no one has any idea about her, and I was named after her so I feel like there is a bit of a link.

As I say I would just be grateful for some fresh eyes.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Tricia xxx

[tedscout]

There is this birth

Patricia J Underwood
Mother's Maiden Surname: Hill
2nd qtr 1926
Kensington: Greater London
1a  177

The age is right and it is the only one with J as the 2nd initial

[tedscout]

There is this death but the date of death does not tally with your father's informatation

Patricia Joan Smith
Birth Date: 23 Feb 1926
Death Registration Month/Year: 1970
London City ,London
5d  808

So Im not sure if this helps or muddies the waters 

[Peter J]

[Apologies to Tedscout - I was typing as your post was submitted]

Hello Tricia,

From the info you have given, we know that your grandmother was born circa 1926. There is only one birth in Englad and Wales for that year in the name of Patricia J Underwood, and that was registered at Kensington (Greater London) in the June quarter, vol. 1a, page 177.

The mother's maiden name is given as Hill. A marriage search reveals only one marriage for an Alfred Thomas Underwood, and that is to an Amelia Caroline Hill, at St. Mark's Church, Poplar, on the 3rd August 1902. Alfred was aged 24 (Blacksmith) and Amelia was aged 20.

Parents' names given as:

John Henry Underwood (Blacksmith)
Leopold Hill (Shoemaker).

I can find only four deaths in the name of Patricia J Smith post-1953, only one of which is in the London area. Here are all four:

Patricia J Smith, 1952, Romsey, Hampshire (too early)

Patricia J Smith, 1960, Plymouth, Devonshire

Patricia J Smith, 1965, Tonbridge, Kent

Patricia J Smith,  1962, London, City Greater London

Hope this is of some use.

Regards,

Peter.

[Edit: In addition to Tedscout's post, there is also the death of a Patricia Joan Smith (b. circa 1926) Mar 1993 Chelmsford Essex - but is of course too late].

[perth tiger]

hi
did the family stay in the london area?
iv looked at all the patricia smith that died between 1953 and 1973 and none of them are the right age for yours. if we knew where she died we could look at the ones with the wrong middle name.
the other thing is, are you sure she died. it wouldnt be unheard of for her to have left and your grandfathers family to say she had died.
do you know any of her family at all?
there are 284 marriages for patricia j smith from 1953-1963

perth

[crazymasie]

Wow, thanks guys for all the quick replies.

I have spoken to my mum today, (my parents are divorced and I haven't spoken to him for about 30 years)  all she can remember is that my gm died before she met my father in 1973 and that she thinks he was a teenager when she passed away.  This would fit with the death record for 1970 as my father would have been 17 yo.

My gf lived in hayes, middx from at least the date of his marriage until his death in 1975.  So I would assume this would be where she died???

Goodness writing out this is quite tragic as it shows how little I know about a huge player in my life 

[perth tiger]

seems to me that makes tedscouts one look good. you will have to get the cert to make sure.

perth

[Spidermonkey]

Looking at the 1911 census index, it looks as if Amelia and Alfred have 4 children by 1911 - Florence bn 1903, Ethel bn 1905, Majorie 1908, and Alfred bn 1910.

[Spidermonkey]

On 1891 census, Amelia is with her parents at 2 Gainsborough Cottages, Gainsborough Rd, Hackney:

Leopold Hill  Head  Mar  42  Boot and shoe finisher  bn Baden, Germany
Mary A Hill  Wife  Mar  42  bn Hackney, London
William Hill  Son  S  18  bn Hackney, London, paralysed
Frederick Hill  Son  S  16  bn Hackney, London
Rose Hill  dau  13  bn Hackney, London
George Hill  son  10  bn Hackney, London
Amelia hill  dau  8  bn Hackney, London
Florence Hill  dau  6  bn Hackney, London
Albert Hill  son  3  bn Hackney, London

RG12; Piece: 207; Folio 92; Page 48