Genealogy Chat

My father was born in 1901. His elder brother born 1900 and along with 3 other brothers inbetween and the yourgest a sister born 1910. I have just been told there was another brother who no-one seems to know anything about just that he had something wrong with him and spent most of his time in some sort of 'home'. I don't have any dates just the name Norman Watts. All the family were Handsworth Birmingham based. Has anyone any ideas where to start looking?
Thanks
Di.

Do you have the name and occupation of your grandfather?

If not you need to look at your fathers marriage cert which should have his fathers name and occupation.

Or your fathers birth cert which will give his parents names

There are these births
. Norman Watts born 1908 dec qt West Bromwich district gro ref 6b 860.
Or.
William Norman Watts 1909 sept qt West Bromwich gro ref 6b 908

What was the name of the elder brother?

Rose

Births Dec 1908
Watts Norman W.Bromwich 6b 860

Rose

I have my grandfathers details from the 1901 census - name, age, occupation (James Watts, 28yrs, Iron Turner). So it hasn't stopped me tracing the family but it would be nice to find out about the 'unknown brother'. D.o.b and death and what was wrong with him & where he lived. Do I take it this information has been lost & buried with that generation now?

Di.

OMG. Many Thanks Margaret & Rose.

This is wonderful. How did you find out that information?

Eldest brother was Percy and my dad was Ernest (who was the second son I think).
Di.

Could this be be your father's birth registration?

Births Dec 1901 (>99%)

WATTS Ernest Allen W. Bromwich 6b 806

You can search on the site below

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com

Christine

That's it Christine. Thanks for the site. Have just tried to look up death details for 'Norman Watts' but none are for West Bromwich so I will have to join Ancestry to check them all as I assume he was probably registered to the 'home' he was in (which could have been anywhere.
Thanks for your help.
Di.

Hi Di,

That site only has the BMD's transcribed up to about 1925 but it is work in progress, after then it means searching every year qtr by qtr on Ancestry which is very time consuming if you don't have a rough idea of the event.

Christine

Unfortunately the sister & all the brothers are now long gone. I will definately have a search through.

Thanks for everyones help as I thought the trail had gone cold. It seems a shame that I am only one generation down and already no-one is aware he ever existed.
Di.

So heres Percys parents marriage.
James Watts 1899 june qt West Bromwich to Mary Elizabeth W Allen gro ref 6b 1401


and heres the marriage of Elizabeths sister who is living with them in 1901.

Frances Matilda Allen 1897 june qt West Bromwich. gro ref 6b 1339 Spouse John Smith.
Also incase hes family.

On the same ref no. is.
George Smith and Annie Lucilla Innis

Are you still living in the West Bromwich area? If so you can always enquire at the cemeteries to see if a Norman Watts is buried there.

Frances Matilda Allen 1869 june qt West Bromwich gro ref 6b 654.


Mary Elizabeth W Allen 1873 mar qt West Bromwich gro ref 6b 762.

You can of course find them on the 1881 census free at www.familysearch.org

To help you here is the
1871 census.
Jonah Allen 1840 Atherstone Staffordshire occ baker & provision dealer
Elizabeth wife 1837 Birmingham.
Frances M dau 1870 Handsworth
Frederick T son 1 month Handsworth
Mary A Coulson servant 1857 Swansea Wales

address Booth St .

the 1881 census is messed up.
Johash Allen 1841 Hartshill Warwickshire. occ baker
Elizabeth wife 1837 Bgham Warwickshire
Fran....Allen 1870 Handsworth( inkblotch over her name)
Frederick T son 1871 Handsworth.
Mary E W Allen dau 1873 Handsworth.
Martha A Butler servant Moxley Staffs.

address 147 Booth St Handsworth Staffs.

Thank you Margaret for all the time you have spent helping me.
You have astounded me at the amount of information you have found in such a short space of time. This will keep me going for a while.
Thanks you again for all the help.
Di.

Di,

You should get the birth cert to make sure he is the correct Norman. His age will give you something to go on when you look for deaths.

Rose

Di,
I haven't used them yet but have you checked out the records held at Birmingham Central Library. I think there are various registers from now defunct homes, Check out details on Birmingham.gov.uk Sorry if I've got my facts wrong, I'm still new to all this!
Di W