Genealogy Forum UK

Hi

My dad was one of 14 children [5 boys; 9 girls]. His eldest brother died aged 16; 2 of his sisters as children; and twin girls who died a day after they were born. My dad, three of his brothers and four of his sisters did the whole marriage and kids thing.

Now here's the problem - the information above details 13 people - so what happened to number 14 - I don't know!

Time to sort out a bit of fact and fiction:

We were led to believe that my grandmother died after giving birth to twins, who were given away by my grandfather to the midwife. One of my uncles reckons he saw this woman in the street years later and went up to ask her about the twins but she fled before he had chance to talk to her. Unfortunately this now appears to be total fiction as I have been able to ascertain that my grandmother did indeed give birth to twins in 1935, but as mentioned I've been able to confirm their deaths and burials.

Now here are the facts: my grandmother died in 1936 shortly after giving birth - her death certificate confirms this. My grandfather registered the birth of an Eva Smith [born 15th March 1936] - birth certificate sighted. None of the family were aware of the existence of Eva! She simply disappears - can't reaadily find any deaths that fit around that period.

So my question is what would you do next to try and track down Eva?

Doug

I assume this is in the UK? Her is my list of things I do when I knwo they existed but I have no idea dof their name.

a) If I have their date of birth from the birth certificate, use a death index like the one on TheGeneologist that allows you to search for death entries based entirely on the birth date. Of course this is not useful for entries, depending on year of birth and death.

b) Visually look at the index form. Sometimes there will be a notation pointing you to another page in another index that may be years later than their birth. These are alway forward referrals, never backward. So if I didn't know my mother was born in 1935 I would assume she was born in 1940 when a new certificate was issued naming the father.

c) Check the local orphanages. They can tell you if a child was in the orphanage and when they left but nothing about those who took them away.

The UK has far more restrictions on obtaining adoption information than Australia.

Unless you are the adoptee, you can't get identifying information on the birth parent(s) or the adoptive parents.

So if you have found out Grandma was adopted and she is already dead...too bad.

They will confirm if she was adopted but that is it.

There are similar restrictions on obtaining information on people who have been granted permanent guardianship or long term fostering of a child.

In Australia, any blood relation can get the identifying information on the adoptive and relinquishing parents.

In Austalia we can also apply, via the Freedom Of Information Act, identifying information in relation to permanent guadianships.

Hi Doug,

Which area was Eva born in?

Hi

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately I don't subscribe to The Genealogist. I had a look at the index form but there is no notation.
I'll have to investigate orphanages in the Leeds area at that time.

Eva was born at the Maternity Hospital Hyde Terrace Leeds.

I was thinking about writing a letter to one of the local papers in Leeds and see if that stirs up any memories - just have to work out which paper as I don't think a notice in the Burrum River News will help.

Doug

Most places have a genealogy group on the internet where you can post surname interests. Found a 1st cousin the other day using one of those....

I think one of the hardest problems for you is going to be the name Smith!

Is there any living members of the family you could ask?

No deaths showing on Ancestry for Eva Smith but there is one for an Eva Coffey born the same day. Death in Feb 1987 in Lancashire.

I havent seen a marriage for a Smith to Coffey but they could be

If you do a search for local newspapers in Leeds it lists a few, also could look here,
http://www.wrx.zen.co.uk/norpress.htm

Our local paper often has family history things and people looking for members of the family.

Good luck in it!
Jo

Hi

I've posted on the notice boards on the Yorkshire Indexers And Calverley sites - my try curious fox.

Unfortunately no living member of the family had knowledge of Eva until she came up in our research - and from what I know none of my dad's deceased siblings knew anything about her either!

Doug

Hi

Can finally put this one to bed as I've found the death of Eva in 1936.

Doug

Thanks Doug,
I will archive this but if you want it back just PM a moderator and it will come back.
Jo