William Bird (1857-1928) and Charlotte Selina Whittaker (1854-1942)

[Jellis]

Are there any descendants of this couple on here, please?  They lived in Rugby Warwickshire until the early 1900's when they divorced.  My grandfather was Herbert Bird born 1892, one of their 11 children.  I have researched this family over the last ten years but I don't know what happened to William (born 1879) or Frank (born 1898).

William worked at the Rugby Cement Works until he inherited a lot of money (and went on to spend it  ).  After this he became a 'Gentleman' and finished up as a Hairdresser.  He married again to a girl half his age in 1908.  Her name was Iva Agnes Crooks.  Just over a year after William's death in 1928, Iva remarried to a widower named Joseph West.  He died in 1932.  Iva died in 1968.  She had three children with William.

[CaroleW]

I can't be sure this is Frank so you would need more info

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/768813/BIRD,%20FRANK

He enlisted at Nuneaton and birth/residence is shown as Chilvers Coton so it's unlikely

[Manchester Rambler]

If you haven't already done so, a good way to make surname connections with other members is to enter your surname interests in the Surname Interests Table (SIT), and to check there whether others are researching these names. 

This can be found at http://surname.rootschat.com/ , there is a link to it under "Your Tools" at the bottom of each Rootschat page.

The more people who enter their surnames, the more chance there will be of making a connection!

[Jellis]

Thank you to you both for your replies.  Frank didn't die in the Great War; my grandfather was the only son to fall in that conflict.  My aunt now tells me that Frank did marry but I can't find out much more, she only knows her name was Maud.  I will ask her again some time; she is 97 and sometimes suddenly remembers something interesting!

I have tried the surnames board in the past but I will give it another try. 

Thanks again

[CaroleW]

I notice that William snr re-married in Leicester so this could be Frank's marriage

Marriages September qtr 1916
Maude Allen/Frank Bird  Leicester  7a 423 

At least 3 children born in Leicester - on freebmd

[CaroleW]

And a possible death

Frank Bird born 22.6.1898 aged 88 Death registered December 1986 Leicestershire Central
Volume 6 Page 1708

Frank's birth was registered in the September qtr 1898.  If he was only born end of June - his parents probably only registered it after 1st July

[Jellis]

Thanks for all that lovely information.  Frank's wife's surname WAS Allen so it is the right marriage.

I didn't know when he died; I wonder why my Dad never mentioned it at the time.  Perhaps he wasn't told as he didn't have much contact with his Leicester family by then.

I have also been told that Frank and Maud divorced and that he re-married but I don't know if this is true.

[CaroleW]

I have also been told that Frank and Maud divorced and that he re-married but I don't know if this is true.

There are a few Frank Bird marriages in Leicester in the 1930's/40's/50's so without a name for his spouse - I don't know which would be the right one

[Jellis]

Thank you.  I'll have a look and give Auntie a ring soon.  I mustn't leave it too long; she's 97!

It's odd, sometimes, to talk to someone who remembers very well people who were born in the 1850's.  It makes the ancestors seem a little closer, somehow!