COLLETTE - ideas for C20th record sets to search

[bibliotaphist]

I'm trying to trace an individual relative for whom I can't find a death record, or many other records at all. Everything I know so far is in London hence posting on this board. 

This person was born in 1923, so possibly (though most probably not) still living. As I haven't identified a death record I won't fully name the person here. Surname is COLLETTE and m.m.n. JOHNSON.

Does anyone have suggestions for possible London-specific record sets or archives (maybe not digitised) that I could look at?

Here's what I have so far in terms of confirmed records:

• GRO birth cert. in Wandsworth Reg. Dist., Dec Qtr 1923, giving all the expected information. N.B. there is a mistranscription of the person's middle initial on FreeBMD;
• Registration at school in 1927 (age 4), confirming parents' names, from the "London, England, Poor Law School District Registers, 1852-1918" image set on Ancestry;
• London electoral registers 1946-1950 inclusive (aged about 23-27), for this individual at his mother's address.

Additional possible records, but not confirmed to be this individual:

• A single index entry for an individual with the same name (correct spelling) showing his appointment as a postman in 1949 in the London Postal Region ("UK, Postal Service Appointment Books, 1737-1969" image set on Ancestry). No other details.
• More electoral registers, for an individual with the same name (correct spelling), in the Fulham and Barons Court areas in the 1950s - early 1960s. Interestingly the most recent electoral register match I've found is from 1964, for the Rowton House on Hammersmith Road. This was an institution which provided basic accommodation for down-and-out or low-paid working men.
• A number of possible marriage entries in England/Wales, though none have the correct spelling of this person's forename or surname, and some are certainly different individuals.

I can't find a death index entry in England/Wales, Scotland, Ireland or Northern Ireland.

I also can't spot this individual in the 1939 register when he would have been aged 15; it's possible his entry is still redacted of course. He's definitely not with either his father or [the entry for the person I believe to be] his mother.

Any pointers would be very greatly appreciated. I can provide more identifying info via DM if anyone fancies the challenge!

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
In theory he should be recieving a PO pension
Have you tried contacting the Post Office to see if he is recieving his Post Office pension ?
They may not be very helpful but could perhaps agree to pass a letter on?

Ciderdrinker

[bibliotaphist]

Many thanks for the suggestion. If this person is still alive they've 98 and counting, but might be worth a shot. I'll certainly follow up the Post Office connection and see if there are any other staff records available.

Hi
In theory he should be recieving a PO pension
Have you tried contacting the Post Office to see if he is recieving his Post Office pension ?
They may not be very helpful but could perhaps agree to pass a letter on?

Ciderdrinker

[bibliotaphist]

The Postal Museum has a useful guide to family history research, here, which explains how to take the minute number (in the case of this record, A17831/50) and use it to locate the relevant appointment minutes in the Royal Mail archive. I think I'll be making a trip to visit the Postal Museum reading room.

Many thanks for the suggestion. If this person is still alive they've 98 and counting, but might be worth a shot. I'll certainly follow up the Post Office connection and see if there are any other staff records available.

Hi
In theory he should be recieving a PO pension
Have you tried contacting the Post Office to see if he is recieving his Post Office pension ?
They may not be very helpful but could perhaps agree to pass a letter on?

Ciderdrinker

[bibliotaphist]

I've found one more record for this individual - he was the informant on his mother's death certificate in 1963, with his address given - the same address where he was on the electoral register 1946-1950.

So, I now know he was certainly still alive in November/December 1963 (aged 39-40).

I haven't yet had a chance to go to the Postal Museum to investigate their Appointment records.

[jonwarrn]

• Registration at school in 1927 (age 4), confirming parents' names, from the "London, England, Poor Law School District Registers, 1852-1918" image set on Ancestry;

Hi
Creed register for the Swaffield Road School has Kathleen, Patrick, and ... Collett admitted 21 Dec 1927.
Youngest born 11.12.23
Admitted from Shed behind 425 Garratt Lane
Roman Catholic, parish Wandsworth.
Mother Ada in SRI (Swaffield Road Institution), I haven't found a record of her
All went to St James Hospital, youngest on 2.2.28
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-P3N2-TJGS

You can follow them through the creed register a bit more
i.e. Kathleen came back from St James Hospital, 16 March 1928, later sent to The Convent, Norwood.

... Collett admitted 11 April 1929 from 33 Algarve Road, and there is an address for Ada.
... and Patrick were sent to Orpington 14.9.29.

Wandsworth Union Register of Children
St Joseph's Orphanage Orpington
Entries for Patrick and ..., two images
Mother Ada Jessett (?)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-P3NG-DN2S

Register of Children at the Swaffield Road Intermediate Schools
Kathleen and Patrick
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-P3N2-RSCS-9

Two images, changed their minds about them being legitimate!

... as well on folio 42 (two images again). Illegitimate
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-P3N2-RS74-3

So look for Ada Jessett in the Swaffield Road Institution?

Also A+D registers for SRS are on FamilySearch
Here they are again admitted 21 Dec 1927
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-P3NG-CTVB

The 11 April 1929 admission for ... again
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-P3NG-C5B8

14 Sep 1929, discharge of Patrick and ... to Orpington
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-L3NG-C5VY

Phew!

[jonwarrn]

Edited to remove name, as you don't want him named.

[bibliotaphist]

Hi
Creed register for the Swaffield Road School has Kathleen, Patrick, and ... Collett admitted 21 Dec 1927.
Youngest born 11.12.23
.....................................

This is amazing. I didn't know about this record series at all ("Creed registers" is a new one on me, and I had no idea this record set was on FamilySearch). This is definitely the right family. This is largely new information, and it's going to take me a while to piece through it - but I can already spot that it confirms a couple of things. Thank you.

Edited to remove name, as you don't want him named.

I might be being over-cautious about that, but thanks!!

[bibliotaphist]

Hi
Creed register for the Swaffield Road School has Kathleen, Patrick, and ... Collett admitted 21 Dec 1927.
Youngest born 11.12.23
Admitted from Shed behind 425 Garratt Lane
.....................................

I have found the whole family admitted to the Wandsworth Union Workshouse (=Swaffield Road Institution???) on 7 December 1927.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-P3NG-48G5?i=270&cat=1390391