Genealogy Chat

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can find the christian name of my grandmothers brother? The only information I have is that my grandmother (Elizabeth Margaret Hall) was born c1911 (place unknown) and married in Knaesbrough 1937. The marriage certificate names her father as Albert Hall (deceased), he was a Railway Signalman. I have no information on her mother. The brother is believed to have emigrated to Australia sometime in the 1930s.

John in 1911 there were 7 Elizabeth M Halls born all over the country. Can you narrow it down by location? Georgina.

On the 1901 census there are 1232 Albert Halls. Georgina.

Someone else may have a better idea. But without a birth cert for your Grandmother it will be difficult. Especially without knowing where she was born. What I would suggest is look for her birth if you can get that cert it would give you her mothers maiden name and then you could go from there. I had a quick look on the partial BMD on ancestry and there was only one Elizabeth Margaret Hall listed about that time. It would mean checking if this is her. Has Brentford ever been mentioned? Margaret Elizabeth Hall 1910 Apr-May-Jun Brentford Middlesex You could also check the full index for free on ancestry and see if there are any more. remove brackets http://www.ancestry(.)co9.)uk/search/rectype/vital/freebmd/bmd(.)aspx If he was born after 1911 the mothers maiden name would be listed so easier to find so it looks like you would need your grandmothers cert to help you get there. Hope yu can understand this. Good Luck Germaine x

Hi Georgina, Sorry, I wish I could. It's rather difficult without knowing her mother's maiden name. My grandmother was married in Knaresbrough and lived most of her life in Harrogate but there are no births I can find for E M Hall in that area. I could get copies of all the E M Hall birth certificates to try and find her fathers name (Albert Hall) but that may be a lot of wasted money. John

Albert Hall is a popular name which doesn't really help me!

No don't do that. What perhpas though will still be a long shot is to try one or two from the Yorkshire area. Ask for a check on the fathers name stipulate it has to be Albert. they charge I think it is £3 if it isn't the one you want. Germaine x

Do you know where/when she died? If after 1969, the death cert (and even the index entry) should give her exact date of birth, which would at least narrow down the search for her birth cert to one or two quarters. You could also then use the birthdate and fathers name as checking points if there are several possibles on the births index. Richard

Hi Germaine, It looks like it will be difficult without having to spend some money on birth certificates. Brentford has never been mentioned and as it is in a different area of the country from where she lived most of her life I am reluctant to go for that certificate. I am definately sure that she is an Elizabeth Margaret Hall and not a Margaret Elizabeth however I will not discount anything. I wish that some of the other names had been written in full instead of just Elizabeth M Hall then I may have been able to omitt any Elizabeth Marys, etc... I've been on ancestry but it hasn't really helped apart from to provide a list of possibilities. More possibilities means forking out more money and I haven't got to that state of despair quite yet, although I am getting closer. John

Yes John I had missed the Knaesbrough bit when I found the one in Brentford. I doubt that would be her. Just a thought Richard said about finding her death and going from there . That is a good idea. Was she buried is there a grave stone that could help. Have you any idea when she died. Germaine x Hope she isn't like my Grandfather can't find his birth anywhere nor where he is buried. The man was a mystery alright. Got him married and his death cert apart form that nothing.

Do you know whether there were any more siblings, or was it just Elizabeth & her brother? Also, what was her married surname?

Hi John, I assume this is her death? Name Birth Date Death Registration Month/Year Death Age (est) District Inferred County Elizabeth Margaret Umpleby 1 Sep 1911 Sep 1990 78 Hull Yorkshire Do you think the informant gave the correct date of birth? That would help. Rose

If the date of birth is correct, that narrows it down to one born in Woolwich and one in Liverpool. Rose

Allowing for the 6 week registration period, it could also be quarter 4, Rose: Q4, 1911: Hall, Elizabeth M, Gregory, Burton, 6b 740 Hall, Elizabeth M, Moffat, Berwick, 10b 924 Richard

Hi Richard, She died in 19/09/1990 in Hornsea or Hull, East Yorkshire. I haven't got a death certificate so will try to obtain one. Death cert's aren't always reliable with regard to birth dates as it can be a case of the birth date is 'believed to be' sometimes. I think I will do as Germaine suggests to start with and ask for birth certificates for Elizaberth M or Margaret Halls in the Yorkshire area, also stipulating the farther as Albert and see what that turns up. John

Good Luck John. True what you say about birth dates. This is the trouble I am having with finding my grandfather. Would help but I don't think he got his fathers name right either lol Germaine x

Richard, I was sort of counting on the fact they got their act together and managed to register the birth before the end of September. John, What about your dad/aunts and uncles? Don't they remember their mum's birthday? Even if they can't remember the year perhaps they can remember the date? That might help narrow down a quarter. Rose

Here's a list of the Albert Hall's who where signalmen in 1901. Not that it appears to help much: Name Age Where Born Administrative County Civil Parish Occupation Albert Hall 29 Notts Newark Lincolnshire St Botolphs Railway Signalman Albert J Hall 24 Somerset East Houghton Stafford Horninglow Railway Signalman Albert John Hall 17 London Poplar Kent Signalman Boy Albert E Hall 37 Lancs Great Harwood Lancashire Great Harwood Signalman Railway Rose

I'm not aware of any more siblings. Her married surname was Umpleby. Hi Portland Rose, Yes, that definately looks like it. I will start with the Liverpool and Woolwich first and if no luck there will continue wth Richards Q4 suggestions. Hopefully I will get something and will then be able to obtain her mothers maiden name and then with some more grind will be able to get my grandmothers brothers name. Thanks for all your help. John

Rose I have a stange family, there are lots of missing pieces. My dad tells me that birthday's weren't really celebrated in his family when he was young. Don't know why! Thanks for the list of Albert Hall Railway Signalmen. John