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Hello. I've reached a stop on my family tree and it's so early on, on my most important thread. I am trying to find any details of my paternal grandfathers family. He was Joseph Mitchell b. 1904 Manchester. He had two sisters Mary and Ann (Annie?) and a brother we believe may have been called Jack. Their fathers name was John Mitchell b. 1870 and their mother could possibly have been a Charlotte Lyons. I know that my grandad and his brother spent some time in a poor house (?) as their father died and the mother was alone. The mother possibly died in the 1930's as did Jack Mitchell. I am trying to trace any family of Jacks ( He moved out of the area ), he had two or three children. I also would like to find further ancestors and get my tree sprouting up this thread. Any help would be gratefully accepted. Thank you

There's only one showing for Manchester around that time:

Births Sep 1902 (>99%)
Mitchell Joseph Manchester 8d 259 Scan available - click to view

This may or may not be him.

Jill

Just had a thought. Have you checked the 1911 census?

Jill

Hello. Wow that was quick :-) Thank you.
I have not got a copy of my grandads birth certificate but his death certificate lists his year of birth as 1904. Pardon my being thick but it says click to view but there is nowhere to click (?) I don't have access to the 1911 census, I wish I did because i would find half my tree! How have you managed to get the census, i only ask because i didnt think it was available yet.
And thank you also Jonesey. I will def. have a look into Johns etc and see if I can find anything.
Thank you again.

Hi Catherine

I found that birth on FreeBMD. This is the website address:

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/

It's free to use and very easy.

Bear in mind that the age given on death is given by the person reporting the death so may well be a year or two out.

What age is he on his marriage cert as that will help narrow it down a bit?

The 1911 is available to search. This is the website:

http://www.1911census.co.uk/

You can view for free but need to pay to view transcription or original. Transcriptions work out at about £1 per view, originals are about £3 - but it is lovely seeing their handwriting. You can buy units on the site - don't go mad as it will cost you a fortune and the search engine is not brilliant so take your time with it.

Good luck

Jill

Catharine, I see the marriage you mean on freebmd between John and Charlotte. They are on 1901 census with daughter Mary A. There are quite a few possible mitchells on 1911 census, well worth a check. The names you need seem to revolve around Chorlton - would this make any sense? There is only 1 Jack, his name being jack leach Mitchell born 1904.
There are just 3 possible Joseph Mitchells born in Manchester - 1900, 1901 and 1902.
Jan

Yes it would make sense. They lived in the Cholton area of Manchester.
This is all great stuff and given me something to go on. Thanks again.

there is also this Joseph 1905 - 1 of the only 2 reg Chorlton

Births Mar 1905 (>99%)
Mitchell Joseph Chorlton 8c 810

Good! Please let us know how you get on. Also, please be sure to check out freebmd again - there is a Joseph Mitchell born 1905 in Chorlton (it was not part of Manchester at this time>)
Jan

Hi
Just to say everyone has access to the 1911 census which is free to search but costs to view the results.Not cheap BUT well worth it if it breaks a brick wall!!

I have tried the 1911 website and still keep coming up with blanks. I've spent a fortune on the credits but they never turn out to be the same family. It's as if they didn't exist. My dad remembers the family address as Beyer street , Gorton. He said that Ann/Annie lived there until she died a spinster in the 70's. Does anyone know if I could trace the history of the address by any chance?
My grandad Joseph Mitchell was definately born in 1904 in December (18th, same day as mine) so thats ruled out further lines I was following.
I'm at my wits end with these Mitchells :-) I'd love to know what happened to my great grandparents and find other family.
Has anyone else got any ideas I could follow? Thanks a lot.

I wouldn't rule out the 1905 Joseph I gave you. I think the period for registering a birth was 6 weeks. If Joseph was born 18 Dec he could well not have been registered until Jan 1905 ie Mar qtr.

Catharine, it would be easy enough to find who was living in Geyer Street by searching through the electoral register, albeit a bit time-consuming as you do not have a house number. Where do you live? Someone might be able to look for you if they are going there anyway, or there may be a service for a small charge. I assume records would be kept centrally in Manchester.
I think Lancashireann may be right about that 1905 registration. As your grandfather was born just a week before christmas it is a real possibility that the birth would have been registered in January. I know this all gets expensive, but it would be really worth getting this birth certificate I think.
Jan

Thanks very much I did check that out but it was a Joseph with different siblings. Thanks anyway.

How do you know?? Feeling confused.
Jan

'I did check that out but it was a Joseph with different siblings'

not sure what you checked out here. Please could you explain

Hi Sorry for the delay. I checked on the 1911 census and paid for the credits. The siblings were all different. Not one matched my grandad and I tried quite a few within a few years range.

Just wanted to add -- the Q1 1905 registration for an 18 Dec 1904 birth is entirely reasonable and would not be at all uncommon.

But. My grandfather believed definitely all his life he was born 15 Dec 1901. Then he had to get his birth certificate when he retired. Turned out he was born 17 Dec 1900. Definite sometimes isn't definite. ;)

Hi Catherine.
Sorry to be banging on about this, but I still don't see how you know the 1904 Joseph is the same as the one in 1911 which is not yours. How have you made this link without the birth certificate? You may be right, he might not be yours, but for what it will cost I would want to make sure.
Jan

Hi. Still searching almost a year later and no further on.
I have just noticed that I didn't answer Janets question properly. I have the birth certificate of my grandad plus my father is still alive and knows exactly my grandads siblings, so i know which Joseph Mitchell i'm looking for, just cant seem to find his parents before 1901 so can't trace my tree further back. I know his father was called John Mitchell 1870 born Manchester but that is all. I don't know his siblings, parents or even what happened to him and when.
I'm also still trying to find any information on my grandads brother Jack Mitchell who died in 1930's falling from a train. I'd appreciate any help. Thank you