Looking for my family

[danielsmith1984]

Hi all I’m really hoping someone can help me. My dad passed away when I was around 21 years of age and my mother also passed away about 5-6 years ago. I have memory issues so struggle with the exact dates. My mum was an orphan so I have no family (nor any siblings) and my dad is estranged from his family. I’m now 40 years old and I’ve decided I’ve had enough of being on my own and so I’m keen to try and track down my dads sisters as I know I have several cousins. My Dad (Lawrence Michael Smith) passed away around 2008 I think (maybe a bit later) and I think he was late 50’s / early 60’s. He grew up around Lowestoft and that’s where his parents (my grandparents) lived. One of my aunties (name removed) but may have lost her maiden name now) also lived with in Lowestoft / Great Yarmouth area and was broadly a similar age. I had another auntie too (name removed) who lived in Harlow). I wasn’t close to my parents or family and I also don’t have my grandparents names so I’m really struggling to use any of the people finder websites given I have limited info. I’d really appreciate any help to figure out how to track down my auntie as I would like to reconnect with my cousins that would be a similar age to me now and I’ve not seen them since I was very young. Thank you for your help!! Dan

[sarah]

Hi Dan,

I am sorry but I have had to remove the names of living folk as it against our rules not to post about living folk, information posted such as maiden names dates of birth etc should not be posted online as it puts that person at risk.

Good Luck with your research.

Regards

Sarah

[mckha489]

You were correct about 2008

SMITH, LAWRENCE  MICHAEL     1948 
GRO Reference:  DOR  Q2/2008 in SHEFFIELD  (0481I)  Reg 1I004  Entry Number 169
 
You can search https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/menu.asp. (The site is free to register, but then you have to pay if you need to buy certificates. Earlier ones have PDF and digital image options at lower fees.

Although you can order any cert from the GRO,  not all are on the index.
Check freebmd.org.uk for others.

So this  is perhaps his birth in the June quarter of 1948

Smith    Lawrence M    Madden    Barrow S.    3a   793   

Madden is the surname of the mother of this child. 

But there is also a Laurence Michael Smith born at a similar time, on a ship coming back from Uganda.
He has an older sister M*** only a year older.   (Different spelling of Laurence, but not to be ruled out although presumably you would know if there were any Uganda stories??)

Smith is such a tricky surname to research!

You might have to buy that birth certificate I have posted and hope that is the right path to follow. If you know the day & month of his birthday you will know if it is correct.
Anyway, That will give you the names of that set of  parents.

Do you have your own parents marriage certificate, that should give at least your grandfather’s name and occupation and would then confirm if that birth is correct. I am sorry, there is no way to do this without spending money. Marriage certificates can only be purchased in their full form which come by post.

Once you have grandparents names you can start looking for their deaths. If you are lucky one may have left a will which may have full names and addresses of the aunts.

 you will be able to post the names from birth certificate as they will be deceased and then ask for more help.  If you do that, don’t start a new thread. Come back to this one.

[amondg]

You mention your mother died 5 or 6 years ago

What was her name?

[gingernut1]

Hi
There's a Lawrence Michael Smith with the right dates buried in City Road, Cemetery, Sheffield Section P6, Grave 34093- (found on Find a Grave).  There is no photo of a gravestone but that doesn't mean there isn't one.    It may be that if there is an Friends group there they may be able to help.   Grave inscriptions can be useful.