Genealogy Chat

I've got a person I want to find, Johanna Connelly born about 1922, and an address 38 Parkgate avenue, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England in 1945. But the usual BMD searches turn up nothing.

I was wondering if there are any sites with the electoral roll data going back to the 40's / 50s. If you Google it there are a few sites with the current electoral roll none with historical data I could find. Many look a bit dodgy and I don't want to hand over hard earned cash to a website with no data!

Can any one help please with info on any good Electoral Roll sites. Many thanks. Simon

You can't access electoral register online for these years unfortunately. You would have to view the records in person or ask the staff for assistance, for which they may charge. Usually at nearest main library. Did a google search and these seem to be the contact details:

Remember no register 1939-45, but I imagine you know that already!.

WYAS, Wakefield office
Registry of Deeds
Newstead Road
Wakefield
WF1 2DE

Tel: +44 (0)1924 305980
Fax: +44 (0)1924 305983

Email: [email protected]

Found on:

http://www.archives.wyjs.org.uk/wyjs-archives-wakefield.asp

Jan

And, also be aware that there were no Electoral Rolls taken during the war years 1940-1944, when no elections were held.

Is Connelly definitely her birth name?
Thanks

Not quite sure what you are hoping to find.

Ancestry shows a marriage for someone of that name, later than that year and also another for someone with an middle initial in their name.

Neither are in Wakefield, but after the war people could easily have moved.

Gwyn

Thanks so much for all your advice, I'm pretty sure that Connelly is her maiden name at she was a Miss Connelly in the newspaper's I got here details from in 1945 aged about 22 so it's unlikely she'd be married and divorced by that age.

I'm actually looking for my grandmother Joyce Margaret Baker (Abrams), I've spent years looking and come to a dead end. The only new lead is that both her and Johanna Connelly were involved in a theft in 1945 and got into the local papers. The theory is that if I can find Johanna then I might know a bit more about my Grandmother. It's a long shot at best I know, but at the moment it's all I've got (and I've hired professional genologists who haven't got any further than me!)

Professionals eh? Have you tried the amateurs?? Worth a shot if not - put everything you have onto here and let people have a go.
Jan

Jan - good idea, I'll post in the Trying to Find and see if the people here can help. I've already picked up the tip about contacting http://www.norcap.org.uk/ about adoption (my mother) from the community. To be honest all of the breakthroughs I had that led me to me grandfather were done by me after spending £100s on 'professionals'. I think they have their uses if you are just starting out or really have no time, but after doing this for 5 years I'm getting quite good. Obviously not good enough to find my grandmother! I'm sure there's going to be people with more experience than me out that could suggest other avenues of research.

PigletsPal, we're talking about the 1940's!

Anyone eligible and registered to vote appears on the ER.........i.e. anyone aged over 21 who has filled in the relevant form, or has been included by the person who filled in the form

'Johanna Connelly' is very probably an Irish name.........

One thing that wasn't really answered was is there a online source for electoral roll data in the 1900s generally? Or is it a case of contacting the relevant records office in the area in all cases?

Thanks
Simon

Thought i did answer it really in the first reply! There is no online electoral register info online until 2003 I think. The one exception that I am aware of is the Midlands Historical Data site, which obviously doesn't cover Yorkshire.
Don't forget they will have old newspapers at the archives centre so you could search for reports of the theft.
Jan

You'd be better off asking GR members to help you to try to trace your grandmother..........

What facts do you have about her?

Simon, let me get to the point.

You are looking for information re Johanna Connelly (definitely Irish-sounding to me, oh dear!) born c 1922.

She is a friend of your grandmother, Joyce Margaret Abrams nee Baker, or is it Joyce Margaret Baker nee Abrams?

She married your grandfather? When? Where? What is his name? What was the name of her father on that marriage? Who were the witnesses on marriage?

You spent HOW MUCH on "professionals"?

Are you sure they got the right grandfather? Maybe we'd better start with your parents. Who were they? When married? Have you got their marriage certificate? Who are their fathers?

Back to basics, I think.

Meg

Thanks for all your advice, I'm taking the hint and posting all I know to the Trying to Find board! I have all the basics but the hard bit is going beyond that which I hope the community can help me with.

Does that mean you have put up a separate post?

yes this post was about searching for Johanna Connelly and Electoral Roll the new post is about about my Grandmother Joyce Margaret Abrams, post is up now