Where to begin. revised Mar.7/11

[ashburn]

At the grand old age of 69 i have decided to investigate my ancestory for the first time and have no idea where to begin. I will start here. I have a pretty good understanding of my Mother's side of the family but none of my Father's side. My dad left Glasgow, Scotland at the age of 14 and, to my knowledge, never went back for any reason whatsoever. He never talked about it and would simply shrug his shoulders when asked. I do know he had three sisters and only kept in touch with the one that moved down to London sometime later. Her name was Jessie and had a daughter Christine. The other sisters, May and Elizabeth, were rarely talked about except when my Mother would try and convince Dad to try and contact them. He never did. My father James Blue died in Canada in 1976 at the age of 59 from cancer. He was a good man. It's probably to late to track down his sisters but not too late to contact their families and hopefully find out about my Dad's parents. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Alan Blue, Ont. Canada

Some more info. re: my Dad......

Sister: Bessie Kelly,
2 Rosyth St,
Oatlands, Glasgow

Sister: May Watt
1 kerry Croy St
Toryglen, Glasgow.

Chances are that these addresses are no longer good as much of Glasgow has been re-developed................Thanks

[Northern Lass]

Hi there going to move this to General discussion ashburn
welcome

[snoopysue]

Do you know when your father left for Canada? I could find two James Blues, but both were children, and I get the impression that he was older.
Do you have his parents? If not your parents wedding certificate could help.

[Jimmy]

Did James marry before he went to Canada, if so what was his wifes maiden name.

[Maths girl]

Do you know when your father left for Canada? I could find two James Blues, but both were children, and I get the impression that he was older.
Do you have his parents? If not your parents wedding certificate could help.

Hi Alan and welcome to the forum

Scotland is not a strong point for me but as snoopysue says getting to his parents would help

Way back if you don't have their marriage certificate would be
1) your birth certificate -- this will give your mother's maiden name if you don't know it
2) their marriage reference can be looked up and you can send for a certificate which will give both their father's names and with luck that will bring us into the realms of the 1911 census and it could get easier from there!!! fingers crossed

[grangers14]

Hi Alan,
I hope you enjoy the forum and our company.

Theres plenty of people who will try and help you.

Any living possible relatives can we please PM Alan though.
Good luck!
Jo

[ashburn]

Do you know when your father left for Canada? I could find two James Blues, but both were children, and I get the impression that he was older.
Do you have his parents? If not your parents wedding certificate could help.

He left for Canada in 1961. No wedding certificates available for either couple...Thanks

[ashburn]

Did James marry before he went to Canada, if so what was his wifes maiden name.

Yes, he was married to Ivy Vera Elsie in the U.K.. Maiden name of Steckham. Ivy's parents George and Ethel..Thanks

[snoopysue]

This looks like the marriage!

Name: Ivy V E Steckham
Spouse Surname: Blue
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1953
Registration district: Ealing
Registration county (inferred): Middlesex
Volume Number: 5e
Page Number: 272

That date of departure is probably why I couldn't see them!

[snoopysue]

Do you know if Ivy had been married before? I've found another marriage:

Name: Ivy V E Steckham
Spouse Surname: Walbeoff
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1935
Registration district: Hendon
Registration county (inferred): Middlesex
Volume Number: 3a
Page Number: 728

[snoopysue]

This is a possible birth for IVY:

Name: Ivy V E Steckham
Mother's Maiden Surname: Camp
Date of Registration: Jan Feb Mar 1919
Registration district: Willesden
Registration county: Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex
Volume Number: 3a
Page Number: 317

[grangers14]

I would have thought if Ivy married again it would be under her first marriage surname?
Jo

[Maths girl]

Do you know if Ivy had been married before? I've found another marriage:

Name: Ivy V E Steckham
Spouse Surname: Aneurin Walbeoff
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1935
Registration district: Hendon
Registration county (inferred): Middlesex
Volume Number: 3a
Page Number: 728

[snoopysue]

If the birth for Ivy's correct, then this could be the marriage:
Name: Ethel Camp
Spouse Surname: Stockhahn
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1916
Registration district: Paddington
Registration county (inferred): London
Volume Number: 1a
Page Number: 130

Can't find George on the 1911 census, there are quite a few Edith Camp's in the London area, without knowing who here family was it's impossible to know which one's correct.
It's possible that George is an imigrant and anglocised his name at some point, but looking at the image it could also read Steckham!

[Maths girl]

I would have thought if Ivy married again it would be under her first marriage surname?
Jo

One marriage pre war and one after -- different places and with a surname like Walbeoff she could well hav reverted back to maiden name if it seemed to foreign to some -- not that Steckham sounds that English!

Also --divorce/gone there separate ways

He seems to have had two marriages too!
Aneurin Walbeoff Stockham Jan-Feb-Mar 1935 Hendon Middlesex
Aneurin Walbyoff Evans Apr-May-Jun 1947 Bedwellty Monmouthshire