by marcus40822 » Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:02 pm
Hmm, a high brick wall for this newbie... I'm trying to trace Kathleen Lilian, born 2nd July 1899 in London (I think) - but there's no trace of her birth with the surname Carroll for that year (through the GRO) or for that matter in 1898 or 1900. There's no mention of a Kathleen Lilian Carroll in either the 1901 or 1911 census. Perhaps her biological father died and her mother remarried John Carroll (whom Kathleen Lilian cites as her father on her two marriage certificates, the first dated 1925 and the second 1934). I remember her saying that her father was the Fire Superintendent at Finchley (possibly), and sure enough both marriage certificates list her father as a "retired brigade officer". She also said that she had a sister, Dorothy, with whom she fell out and lost contact.
Question - is it possible to find all the Kathleen Lilians born on July 2nd 1899 (supposing that the date is correct) without having to order birth certificates for the handful of K.L.s born in the third quarter of that year as listed in the official index)?
Are there other avenues to explore? I've already contacted the City of London Records Dept. for information about fire service personnel, but with no luck so far. And I've done a census/directory search of the address she gives at the time of her first marriage (9, Ockendon Road, Islington), but have drawn a blank.
Happily, from 1925 there's much more information - two marriages and an exciting life in Brazil, and records galore of their voyages back and forth up to 1960. But the early years are frustratingly hidden... am I missing something obvious?
Any tips and pointers would be much appreciated - thank you!