Lost g-grandfater

[Alister]

Our family was never particularly “into” geneaology…we knew who we were and that was sufficient  The tree was professionally updated in 1932 – I’ve no idea who had it done, but 20 years later I - keeper of the flame -  added in my own generation.  A few years ago a totally unknown 5th cousin (1787) found me and he being a big time researcher I got 50+ pages of wills, deeds, sasines, etc.  A short time ago he pointed out that my GGf had NOT died in 1885 aboard ship as he did in fact appear on the 91 census – he  was simply away from home.  and that in the 01 census  my GGm is listed as widow!   This had always been a mystery.

In 1880 our landed estate (1647) was bankrupt.  My GGf (trained in the 70’s  Queens, Cork) went to sea as a marine engineer and estate was put in hands of 3 trustees – GGf’s brother John and two of GGm’s doctor bros-in-law.   John took the others to court when he found them in violation of their trusteeship… result very bad feeling indeed, which lasted into the 1930’s (there’s no feud like an old feud).    I had always understood that my GGf had died aboard his ship in 85 and his mother’s eldest bro – one of the sued trustees, and still angry from the court case -  had to go  quote - in winter – down south (Plymouth? Portsmouth? Southampton?) to bury our boy, etc.  Result, more bad feeling.

Why are the details a mystery and no surviving documents?  An unlucky family ours.  When I was born everyone who knew was gone: GGf yr? GGm 1922, Gf 1926, his sister 1931, their uncle John 1933, (his own family were all dead: wife 1912, children 1897, 1915, 1917.)  Even the angry doctor 1932.   My father was an Infantry officer (1933-44) and I was only 3 when he went away for the last time – he forgot to fill me in.   How does one find a dead marine engineer aged 37-46…?

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

Are the censuses you refer to English/Welsh or Scottish?

Basically - you appear to be trying to trace when and where your G/grandfather died but haven't given us any details of his name/birthyear/birthplace or the names of his wife and children

Where were the family living on each of the censuses mentioned

[iluleah]

Not very easy after 1911, you need to be  looking at electoral rolls after that date.

First though I would look at your own birth cert and your fathers details including  occupation at the time of your birth. Then purchase a copy of his miltary record, try looking in the freebmd index to see if he was registered/transcribed there all basic research from yourself back.