Tracing grandparents

[CharlieFarley]

I would like to trace information about my Irish born grandparents but have no living relatives to assist me in my search. My mother was born in England in 1909 and I have her birth certificate which does not contain her parents names. I only know that my grandparents were born in the 1870s and their family names.

Could anyone tell me where to start? TIA.

[Jimmy]

Hi,

If you have your mom's full name you could start with the GRO, ( general registry office), you need to register to use it, its free to use, this is the link to use.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

You could also search the 1911 census if you know the area.

[Jimmy]

Or you could post what you have and we could have a look.

[CharlieFarley]

I’d usually hesitate before posting this but I suppose it’s a matter of public record.

My mother, Annie Swift, born 2nd June 1909. Entry no. 415, register book no. 1, dated 12th July 1909, Bradford Central. Father's name per her marriage certificate is Patrick Swift.

[Northern Lass]

SWIFT, ANNIE CONWELL
GRO Reference: 1909 S Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 35
SWIFT, ANNIE WILDS
GRO Reference: 1909 S Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 41

Marriages Sep 1897
Conwell Mary Ann Bradford 9b 251 Scan available - click to view
FOSTER John Thomas Bradford 9b 251 Scan available - click to view
Swift Patrick Bradford Y 9b 251 Scan available - click to view
UTTLEY Frances Bradford, Y. 9b 251


If you have the birth certificate it should have parents names on. Do you have the actual certif?
Because if it is one of the ones above then parents are possibly Patrick swift and Mary Ann Conwell.

[CharlieFarley]

That’s amazing. Thank you so much. I have the original birth certificate and it does not include the parents names which I found very surprising. It was a very long time ago and perhaps it wasn’t a requirement at that time. I can now search in earnest

[Jimmy]

1911. 38 Exeter St Bradford Yorks.
Patrick Swift 40. Gas Stoker. Ballyhaunis, Mayo, Ireland.
Mary Ann Swift 37. Married 13 years, 5 children born. Tralee, Kerry, Ireland.
James Swift 12. Son.
Adeline Swift 10. Daughter.
Mary Swift 6. Daughter.
Hilda Swift 4. Daughter..
Annie Swift 1. Daughter.
All others born Bradford.

[Jimmy]

1939. 36/38 Exeter St Bradford Yorks.
Patrick Swift. 23 Aug 1869. Married. Gas Works, Retired.
Mary Ann Swift. 27 Jun 1893. must be wrong date.
Adeline Swift. 5 Oct 1900. Shop Assistant, Sweets & ??.
Mary Swift. 23 Dec 1904. Shopkeeper, Sweet Etc.
Annie Swift. 2 Jun 1909. Machinist, Ladies Coat. (O'brien.)
John Swift. 5 Oct 1911. Salesman, Boot & Shoe.
Florence Swift. 22 Feb 1917. Shorthand Typist, General.

[CharlieFarley]

Thank you once again. My grandmother was 90 or 91 when she died in 1963 or 1964 which puts her date of birth at about 1873.

[gardener]

I’d usually hesitate before posting this but I suppose it’s a matter of public record.

My mother, Annie Swift, born 2nd June 1909. Entry no. 415, register book no. 1, dated 12th July 1909, Bradford Central. Father's name per her marriage certificate is Patrick Swift.

How odd not to have the names of the parents on the certificate!
The entry and register book numbers will refer to the locally held register. The GRO entry will have different ones. I think it would be worthwhile purchasing the GRO certificate https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/cert ... search.asp to see if it has the names on it.

[BC Wench]

The birth certificate you have for your Mom is classed as a Short Birth Certificate. My Dad's birth certificate is a short one as well, written in the same format as your Mom's, where my grandparents names aren't written on either. These short birth certificates were cheaper.

As gardener says, you will be able to get a different copy from the GRO which will be a "proper" copy and have your grandparents names on. I did that to get my Dad's "proper" certificate.