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Bessie's death cert came today. confirms her birth as being in Llanfyllin on 22 May 1914. Says she was the widow of William Henry Thomas. Her daughter in law Marian registered the death.

Just found a probate notice for Gladys May Thomas who died on 26 June 1976.

Someone on the Facebook Whixall Community page says Gladys was an Aunt of some description.

i couldnt locate a death record for her though).

Nicki

Hi AustinQ

It is the right address found a village newsletter where his address is listed next to an advert for his book

No idea who Gladys is either so wanted to find a marriage for Geoffrey

Bessie's parents are on the 1911 census living at 15 Brook St lLlanfyllin too.

Thanks for the link I had found that last weekend - and was able to find him on Facebook too.

The confirmation of Bessie is good news! At least you are now on the right track.

I did a quick search for Gladys- nothing obvious coming up (if I get time later in the week I'll have another look), but then she could be William's mother, sister, sister-in-law, daughter, OR, she may be Geoffrey's wife (marriage abroad?)?

I think the ordering of the 1993 Bessie Thomas death certificate is a good move- It should confirm address, informant and at least whether she's married/ widowed/ divorced. Small bits of information are often the key to moving forward.

Finally, are you certain you have written to the correct W G Thomas? There are quite a few! :)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B006I1082A/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=William+Thomas&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=William+Thomas&sort=relevancerank

Austin Q - They have just got back to me - This is what they say ...


I have checked the Register of Electors for 3 Hollinwood, Whixall. I can confirm that your entry on the register and poll numbers during that period were as follows:-

Date: 1978
Entry for: Thomas, Bessie
Address on Register: 3 Hollinwood
Poll No.: 569

In an effort to locate when Mr and Mrs Thomas moved into the house I did a quick check at previous electoral roles. I was not able to find a maiden name for Betty, nor when they first moved in, however I was able to find that in 1975 William and Bessie lived with a Geoffrey Thomas and a Gladys. M. Thomas. Whether this is their children or Williams parents I am unsure but hopefully these names might be recognisable to yourself. In 1976 Geoffrey Thomas is no longer living with William, Bessie and Gladys and a year after that in 1977 Gladys is no longer living with William and Bessie.


The book came and W G Thomas wife is thanked in the foreware - i have been able to trace and address in Powys for them and we will write to them.

Geoffrey remains elusive though.

No idea who Gladys M Thomas is.

Have ordered Bessie's death certificate to see who registered the death.

Nicki :)

Hi AustinQ

Thanks for your help and advice.

Far too impatient for my own good :)

Will keep you updated.

Nicki

Don't get too excited, lets just wait and see what comes back from the electoral register first :-) I'm not sure the book will give you any further clues. Other than the 'about the author' part, I understand it is military fiction.

The Administration for Bessie that you found (of Chapman Street, Llanelli) is NOT the same lady that died in North Shropshire.

I found the1943 birth record for Geoffrey Morgan and the Oct 1938 record for William Gerald Morgan of Llanfyllin.

I have ordered the book That's Life in a Blue Suit by William G Thomas to see if there are any other clues.

The only probate notice for a Bessie Thomas in 1993 is listed as 24 Chapman Street Llanelli died 19 Nov 1993 . I know a letter was returned from 3 Hollinwood Whixall in 1986 as 'not known at this address' but then the death of Bessie Thomas was registered in Shropshire?? Thoughts please = possibly same person?.

Is the author still alive?

I will keep you updated.

OMG you are amazing!! I think you are right ... so want them to get back to me tomorrow. :-)

Not sure if this is connected in anyway, but it has me intrigued!

There is an Author, William Gerald Thomas. On his book it freely gives information about his birth.

"The author was born Gerald Morgan at 15 Brook Street, Llanfyllin, on 17 October 1938. In 1946 his father was released from captivity in a Japanese POW camp, and in the June of that year, at the age of 7 years and 8 months he attended the wedding of his parents at Whixall, Shropshire C of E house of our Lord and suddenly he became William Gerald Thomas. "

Just out of interest I searched the address on the 1939 register (the actual image is Bessie Morgan -not Cissie):

Flaming Household (3 People) 15 Brook Street , Llanfyllin M.B., Montgomeryshire, Wales
Clarissa E Fleming 06 Oct 1907 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Cissie Morgan 22 May 1914 Female House Parlour Maid Single
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
-----------------------------------------

So looking for Morgan/ Thomas marriages in June 1946 at Whixall- nothing comes up- BUT, there is a Bessie Morgan/ William H Hickson marriage for the correct time and place. (Not sure where the Hickson surname comes from?)...

as this is Bessie's death, which matches the DOB on the 1939 register:
First name(s) BESSIE
Last name THOMAS
Gender Female
Birth 22 May 1914
Death quarter 4
Death year 1993
District NORTH SHROPSHIRE
District number 7132
Register number 16C
Entry number 087
Date of registration mm/yy 1193
County Shropshire
-------------------------------------------

Wondered if Bessie and William could also be the parents of a Geoffrey? - possibly yes- as there is a 1943 Birth under Morgan- same place as William Gerald was born. I'm unable to post as this person may still be living. (If you can't find it please PM me).

Will be interesting to see if electoral register reply comes back as Bessie (as opposed to Betty or Elizabeth). If it's Bessie then I suspect this is the correct family.

Thank you for your help :)

Let's hope they can help.

Brilliant.

Have just paid £10 for Shropshire to do a search on the electoral roll for me for info on his wife - fingers crossed they will get back to me soon.

Nicki

He's still listed there in the 1984 directory:

Name: W H Thomas
Address: 3 Hollinswood
Exchange: Whixall
Directory Title: Chester / North East Wales / North West Wales
Publication Year: 1984
Directory County: Cheshire, Wales
Page Number: 410

i do have service number for Geoffrey - not sure if there is anywhere i can input that into?

23867440 Pte Geofrey Thomas 4th Royal Anglian Regiment was in Malta in 1965-1966.

you could try freebmd for a birth for either boys and then to see if you can match them to the same mmn

Thought if i could find a probate notice showing that address life would be easy.

I have just emailed Shropshire Family Research to ask them to look on the electoral roll for 1978 to see how Betty is listed on there - will have to wait up to five days for their response.

Gerald and Geoffrey remain elusive until i find Betty's maiden name.

N

Just going by the W H Thomas in the phonebook doesn't really give us much.

The H could stand for anything. Without an approximate year of birth it's going to be difficult.