Mystery of the death of Peter Pendleton

[jinks]

Have you discounted the Peter S Pendleton that died in Prestwich aged 70 in 1921?

[polly88]

Margp - yes, in 1911 he was living with his wife Esther Jane, and his son John Wales Pendleton, and his daughter Edith.  He was still a Journeyman Joiner.  And no, Margp, I'm not offended by your suggestions!!  It is possible, people did and do live double lives.  But my dad does remember him very well and knows that he lived with his other daughter Jane who had married Henry Barton, following the death of his wife Esther Jane in 1917.  The Bartons lived in Gwyndey Moss Lane, Windle in 1935 when she died. 

Also, I have followed the other Peter Pendleton from Windle all through the censuses, and he had a son William, and was a Labourer; so my death certificate is almost certainly his.

Deb - I don't know!  I don't think it is him; there's no connection at all to Oldham, and I don't know the name Jane Elizabeth Pendleton; there are John Pendletons in previous generations.  The problem is there is a whole other lot of Pendletons from Manchester (Blackley) and they have almost exactly the same names and similar birthdates.  I think there must be a connection somewhere but I've never been able to find it.

Jinks - yes I have discounted that Peter P, as my PP was still alive in 1922 and living in Argyle St, St Helens.  Also, in each census search there are three Peter Pendletons, two from Prescot and one Peter S Pendleton from Prestwich (sort of near Manchester?!) - in 1911 he is down as Peter Smith Pendleton.

Thanks all of you for your help on this one.

[MargP]

Thank you Margp.  What a shame.  Back to the drawing board then.  I am never going to find him I am afraid.  My dad always said he went missing and no-one ever heard anything again.  It was rumoured that he'd been killed, and body never found.  Possible I suppose.

Thanks anyway.

Hi Polly have you check the Newspaper to see if there were any reports of when he went missing

[polly88]

Well Margp I have had cursory looks and not found anything.  I've looked at the British Newspaper Archive but I find it really difficult to navigate, and it seems to come up with gobbledygook on initial search, and is a bit of a long shot to pay to look at the full report. 

What do you think is the best way to search newspapers?  I suppose the best thing would be to go to Liverpool and laboriously search through.  I am in Yorkshire and don't often get to Liverpool.

[MargP]

Hi Polly

I would contact the Archives, if he was killed and nobody knew who he was, there may be Coroner's Records that you could look at

Marg

[polly88]

Hi Marg

I have looked at National Archives online but find it hard to navigate.  Can one search for coroner's reports online?  And if so, do you know the best way to do it? 

Thanks for your help.

Polly

[Pennines]

Hi Polly -- I am just poking my nose in here!

Sadly, not all Coroner's reports were retained - but there is general information about them on the National Archives site at;

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/coroners-inquests.htm

It would be a bit of a nightmare searching papers - you don't know a date. The British Library ones on line are searchable BUT -- may not yet have details for the period you are interested in. They do cover SOME early 20th century dates though - (as well as 19th century of course).

How about putting an appeal in the local newspaper for information?

Regards June

[MargP]

Hi Polly

I think that it would advisable to check at the local Archives in Liverpool they may be able to point you in the right direction on the Coroner's Records and the local newspapers

Marg

[Gibel]

Do you know where the wife was buried? If you do have you checked who else is in the grave?

I would suggest you need St Helens area newspaper copies of which would be held at St Helens Library.