Finding family to young for census?

[Brian_P6]

My Great Uncle was born in  1904 in Madeley, Shropshire. By 1924ish he is believed to have moved to Aldershot to joing the army. NOTHING more is known about him.

 ???Question: When family are too young to be on a census return, and too old to be alive, what is the best way to find out if/when they married/died, and if they left any family behind.

My usual approach is to be very cheeky and use the phone book, but that demands knowing what their name is, roughly where they live, and that they are still alive 

Many thanks,
Brian.

[casalguidi]

Hi Brian

If you have no idea where he lived post 1924 ...................... a couple of ideas:

a) check WW2 deaths http://www.cwgc.org

b) the death indexes post 1969 give date of birth with date and place of birth on the actual certificate (as supplied by the person who registered the death)

c) if it's not too common a name, then it may be worthwhile to check the marriage indexes too - these give surname of spouse post 1912 and then you can look for any births for children as they will be indexed with the mother's maiden name after 1912.

Best wishes

Casalguidi

 

[Brian_P6]

Many thanks, some good ideas there.

I have checked the CWGC website and it doesn't look like he was killed in the war.

I have started the laborious process of checking marriage indexes from 1925 onwards on 1837online.com and printing out those that bear his name - Albert Edward Humphreys - not too common. I guess I'll have to fill up the meter on 1837online and spend the tokens looking. I like your idea on the death indexes - lets hope he died after age 65! I did check 1984 onwards as those indexes are on a database and search easily, but no luck there.

Any one else have any other bright ideas?

many thanks,
Brian.

[casalguidi]

Hi Brian

Have you checked the National Probate Indexes at First Avenue House, High Holborn, London?  If not and you can't get to London, there are also some copies scattered around some local probate registrys and possibly even county record offices around the country.

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[Brian_P6]

Interesting. I do sometimes go to London.

I think I'll continue with the BMD search for the moment (I can do that from home!), but I will remember your advice.

You've been very kind,

Regards,
Brian.