Author Topic: The mysterious William Douthwaite  (Read 32417 times)

Offline chr1st1an

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The mysterious William Douthwaite
« on: Saturday 13 June 15 12:36 BST (UK) »
Hi everyone!

I had given up my search to find William Douthwaite's place of birth...
But today I thought I would give you all the chance to do some research and maybe someone will be lucky and finally solve the mystery.

All I know is this:
William Douthwaite married Mary Alice Lawton (nee Redfern) in SEP qtr. 1947 at Hemsworth district (2b 1728).

William died in DEC qtr. 1952 at Hemsworth district (2b 656), aged 82.

Supossing his age was correct then he would have been born in 1870...

More facts:
- For all I know, he had never married previously to 1947.
- My uncle thinks he was from Neston (near Liverpool).
- I was also told he had a house near Liverpool which Mary Alice inherited.
- Both Mary Alice and William Douthwaite were Jehovah's Witnesses.

Good luck and thank you all!!!

Offline Pheno

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 13 June 15 13:02 BST (UK) »
There are these?

Douthwaite William Edward Jun 1868 W Derby (which is a Liverpool District) Vol 8b Pg 412 actually born 28 April 1868 to Henry & Ruth Douthwaite 

or this

Dowthwaite William Noble bapt April 1868 at St. John the Baptist, Toxteth Park, Liverpool to Joseph & Elizabeth Dowthwaite.

Pheno
Austin/Austen - Sussex & London
Bond - Berkshire & London
Bishop - Sussex & Kent
Holland - Essex
Nevitt - Cheshire & Staffordshire
Wray - Yorkshire

Offline chr1st1an

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 13 June 15 13:50 BST (UK) »
Hi Pheno!

Please bear in mind that I don't know if he was actually from the Liverpool area...
As you see, the dates of birth you've provided don't quite fit with the rest of information (I had the same problem too).  ???

Maybe if we knew William's father name from the marriage registry it would help.
Thanks anyway!
 :)

Offline rosie99

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 13 June 15 13:55 BST (UK) »

Maybe if we knew William's father name from the marriage registry it would help.


For a 1947 marriage you will need to buy the certificate  ;)
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Offline dobfarm

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 13 June 15 19:35 BST (UK) »
Rosie is correct, if you want to find positive information on William, obtaining his marriage 1947 certificate for his fathers name, it is an important first step and his age at marriage gained from himself. Death age, can be wrong  (out a few years) on death certificates because the age information comes from an informant ! who may not know or have access to exact records of his age or just guess from limited knowledge they know of the deceased. (Word of mouth info gained from William as an old man with a poor memory before death  or not exactly so sure relative)

Likely a register office wedding by 1947

Once you have William's dads name you can start refining your search of the censuses for the family of William 1871c to 1911c

There is the faint possibility that the marriage 1947 of a William, may be another much younger William  (hence need the 1947 marriage certificate for his age) being a different William to the death William age 82 in 1952 considering that William would be aged 77 at marriage 1947

Its all to vague, without census info post 1911 to 1952 like we have  pre 1911 .

Most parish registers are held at the church by 1947/1952 just a few held in archives

There could be service forces records, medical or tax records or newspapers of William or electoral registers in libraries being that late in archives 1940/50's or if you can find his national insurance, tax or medical numbers, pension OAP number or post WW2  ration book numbers
In my opinion the marriage residence is not always the place of birth. Never forget Workhouse and overseers accounts records of birth

Offline rosie99

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 14 June 15 06:56 BST (UK) »
Administration for William in 1953

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fh0/

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Offline chr1st1an

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 14 June 15 12:52 BST (UK) »
Thank you Rosie! That was a great link!!!  :)

I would like to ask 2 questions related to it, because I am not familiar with wills:

1. I searched for Mary Alice Douthwaite's will and found it (and dates and place of death match the ones I knew). But what does "Probate Liverpool" mean?

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fh0/
If you introduce the surname "Douthwaite" and the year 1967 you can also find Mary Alice's will.

2. Would a person who has died without making a testament appear on that web-page?

Thanks!

Offline ..claire..

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 14 June 15 13:16 BST (UK) »
Hi

He was buried, would there be a gravestone with any additional info ?

William Douthwaite aged 82 of 28 Engine Lane, Shafton was buried 29 October 1952 at Felkirk, St Peter with Brierley, St Paul.
Other info: Jehovahs Witness ~ not known who performed the ceremony.

claire
Luce, Tippett , Thomson, Dolling ~ Devon & Cornwall
Mocquard ~ London, France
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Offline rosie99

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Re: The mysterious William
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 14 June 15 13:18 BST (UK) »
Probate means there was a will - Liverpool was the Probate Office that dealt with it. 

The person who has been granted probate is not necessarily a benefactor in the will.  Only apply for a copy if you see the words Probate or Administration with will (the admin/grant will only show what is on the probate calendar.)

If no will has been left then an application for administration can be made which is probably what happened with William.
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