Genealogy Forum UK

Hi All

I'm trying to find out as much info as I can about my Dad's parents. They were called Bert Robert Brown and Sarah Ann Brown (nee Cooper).

They married 4th Qtr 1923 in Brentford. Sarah had a daughter called Violet Ivy Irene Cooper in 1922 (now deceased). No father was specified on her birth certificate. My Dad was born on 15th March 1928 (I have the birth cert with all the details)

I believe that Bert Robert Brown was born as Bertie Robert Brown in Mar qtr 1900 in Brentford.

I know that Sarah Ann Brown died on 29/11/1940 at 3 Gravel Road, Twickenham when their home was bombed during WW2. My dad and his sister both maintain that BOTH Sarah and Bertie both died in the house. However, I can find no evidence of this.

I really want to find out what happened to my Grandfather Bertie and also to trace back Sarah's side. I have a 1911 census that I believe could be her, but on it her father is listed as a widower and I can't seem to trace her mother's name.

My Dad and his sister Violet both also believe that they had a brother, but I have been unable to find out more about him. As I don't know if he would still be alive, I won't post his name.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

blueangel

who are the witness on marriage cert poss family ?

peterd wrote:who are the witness on marriage cert poss family ?

Hi peterd

I don't have a copy of the marriage cert. I am assuming the marriage I mentioned above is the right one as it is between Bert Robert Brown and Sarah Ann Cooper and those are the names on my Dad's birth certificate (which I do have).

My problem is that my Dad has nothing at all from that time as nearly everything was destroyed when the house collapsed during the bombing. His recollection is very patchy (I don't think he really wants to remember - and I can't blame him). He spent lots of time in and out of hospital having skin grafts as he was seriously injured in the bombing.

I have a 1911 census for Sarah Ann Cooper which I believe is the right family, but it really is a complete stab in the dark as the names match.

Father Alfred Cooper aged 40 widow farm labourer born Hounslow approx dob 1871
Alfred Cooper aged 3 son born Hounslow approx dob 1908
Sarah Ann Cooper aged 9 born Twickenham approx dob 1901/2

4 children - 2 living - 2 deceased

address 29 Bell Lane, Twickenham

I can give you my dad's full name if that is allowed in the forum.

Thanks for your interest.

blueangel

??
1911. 64 Gould Road Twikenham
William Robert Brown, head, 42, Married 20 years, 8 children all living, Tram Driver, Wymondham, Norfolk
Alice Elizabeth Brown, wife, 40, Beccles Suffolk
Willie Victor Brown, son, 18, general labourer, Pondas End Middlesex
Ivy Alice Brown, daur, 16, genral servant Pondas End Suffolk
Charles Arthur Brown, son, 14, errand boy, Twikenham, Surrey
Bertie Robert Brown, son, 11, Acton Green
Violet Irene Brown, daur, 9, South Acton,
Ernest Arnold Brown, son, 6, South Acton
John Fredrick Brown, son, 3 Twikenham, Surrey
Percy Stanley Brown, son, 1, Twikenham, Surrey
Mary Ann Eliza Moore, 50, W, married 30 years 3 children all living (crossed out) Private means, Beccles Suffolk (In same household)

if you live near to brenford might be worth going in to the archive and looking up the marriage or might be worth sending for cert as it might give you the extra info ?


Marriages Dec 1923

Brown Bert R Cooper Brentford 3a 363
Cooper Sarah A Brown Brentford 3a 363


that 1911 looks good as brenford registration distict covers Twickenham Middlesex 1837-1947 See Table 2, note (l).


the marriage cert will give you fathers to prove census are correct

peterd wrote:if you live near to brenford might be worth going in to the archive and looking up the marriage or might be worth sending for cert as it might give you the extra info ?


Marriages Dec 1923

Brown Bert R Cooper Brentford 3a 363
Cooper Sarah A Brown Brentford 3a 363


that 1911 looks good as brenford registration distict covers Twickenham Middlesex 1837-1947 See Table 2, note (l).


the marriage cert will give you fathers to prove census are correct

Hello peterd

I don't live near Twickenham. I used to, but now I live in Spain.

I may be being really thick, but I cannot understand how buying the marriage certificate will help me find out what happened to my grandfather. I understand that I will know his fathers name (which I believe to be William Robert) and Sarah father's name (which I believe to be Alfred), but how will that tell me what happened to my grandfather?

I don't really want to buy any more certificates at the moment because the last (and only) one that my mum (who lives in the UK) bought for me was an absolute nightmare. It took over six weeks and involved my mum visiting her bank to obtain copies of her original (cashed) cheque and numerous letters to get resolved. I don't think she really wants to go down that route again, and I can hardly blame her.

All I really want to know is if my father had a brother and what may have happened to him and when my grandfather Bertie died.

My dad is now 84 and not in the best of health. I am planning to visit next year and would love to have some more info to tell him.

Anything you can find out would be most appreciated.

Thanks

blueangel

Hi
I noticed that you have been asking about this on various sites and some of the replies are quite thorough so to save folk on this site some time here are a couple of links to what has been worked out so far

http://www.family-tree.co.uk/Family-Tre ... 9b862c077b
http://www.ancestorstree.co.uk/viewtopi ... =26&t=1041

If your father was 12 at the time then I would imagine that he knew if his father was around or not at the time of the bombing. Although I suppose he could have lost the memory or changed it.

The bombing must have been terrible http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/det ... tentID=305 it says 130 bombs and thousands of incendiary devices, 74 people killed in November, most in that night's attack.

Have you contacted the Twickenham Museum? or the local history society? The latter lists a book which has two pages concerning Gravel Road http://botlhs.co.uk/publications/index/

A report on the bombing should give details of all survivors and all recovered bodies, and perhaps say if anyone else was believed to be in the building at the time.

I understand that your father is not in good health. Have you tried showing him old photograhs from that time and just asking about his childhood?