Genealogy Chat

1911? She may have squeezed one of the many in that year! Thanks Merry great source of help you are!

Yes, the only Armstrongs in that village in 1901, but defo NOT the only Armstrongs in Sedgefield reg district..... So it's not going to be easy working out who are the children of this couple, with no mother's maiden names on the index until 1911 Q3 :o(( Merry

Going to check those sons as mum agrees to their names been known! She remembers a Hilda, Olive, Lance loads of them! If I find one on Ancestry it would show the maiden name of Kate as Wilson again - I PRAY! The only Armstrongs in town - well would you believe it! Great! The only good set of odds we had so far! Thanks Merry

They were the only family called Armstrong in that town!! Bet you a £1,000,000 it's them!! She must have packed in the kids though! Almost one a year......(or maybe he wasn't the last??)! Merry

Thanks Merry. When granda had said he lived at Chilton the row he described to mum was known as Dene Bridge Row! Just could well be them!

The 1901 address is 72 Dene Bridge, Chilton, County Durham. William is a Colliery Joiner. Merry

Merry the second marriage looks good! Mum remembers her as Kate but presumed she had shortened it from Catherine. Fred and Albert she can recall as being uncles? Do you have the address that family were living at I presume it is the 1901 census? Your a star Merry thanks. Will get in touch with Derby records office first thing monday with regards the elec roll so fingers crossed! As for the bigamy??? well mum was told she was only weeks old when Joyce left.

This is it, maybe????? Marriages Dec 1895 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Armstrong William Auckland 10a 405 Kirkby Benjamin Auckland 10a 405 PROUDFOOT Elizabeth Auckland 10a 405 Wilson Kate Auckland 10a 405 I would wait and see if the electoral roll or army stuff throws up anything about your grandmother...........Not sure what else you can try? (local papers for bigamy case, but is it true and when was it??) Merry

On the other hand, this couple, are living in the right place... Albert R Armstrong abt 1900 Spennymoor, Durham, England Son Chilton Durham Fred Armstrong abt 1898 Spennymoor, Durham, England Son Chilton Durham Kabe Armstrong abt 1879 Spennymoor, Durham, England Wife Chilton Durham Percival W Armstrong abt 1899 Darlington, Durham, England Son Chilton Durham Wm Armstrong abt 1873 W Cornforth, Durham, England Head Chilton Durham Maybe yours married as Kate, not Catherine? Merry

My gran's last child was born after 27 years of marriage, so it could be the one..... Merry

As soon as you said he was youngest of so many, I realised I wouldn't have looked back far enogh for the parents marriage!! Marriages Sep 1888 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARMSTRONG William Lanchester 10a 407 BROWN Robert Lanchester 10a 407 Simpson Bridget Lanchester 10a 407 WILSON Catherine Lanchester 10a 407 This may not be the right one, but something to consider!! Merry

Many thanks to everyone whom has pointed me in the right direction! All your advice is greatly appreciated THANK YOU EVERYONE. As always any more tips greatly appreciated.

No further forward! Ordered Stanley's birth certificate and will proceed with his line. Will try the elec roll BUT what more can be done with regards to Joyce?

Thanks everyone! I will give Derby Records Office a call and see if they can help! I believe Stanley was in the army but will check with mum today. Should of said I live in Tyne & Wear hence not being able to get to Derby in nearest future! As for Peter he was probably gossip also! Found a Kate Wilson married Dec 1895 at Auckland searched for William Armstrong in the same period and yes he is there. Will try and get the gro number for stanley's birth and confirm his parents. Comp running slow today! Wonder if 1901 census shows the family in Chilton area as mum thinks her father was youngest of about 13! Thanks again Judith

Hi Thought this may help Derbyshire Record Office County Hall Matlock Derbyshire DE43AG Tel 01629 580000 ext 35202/35207 It is the records office you want on right half way up the hill the one further up on left is local studies I have visited both many times . I should try giving them a call and if you have address and year they may be able to look for you very friendly and helpfull when I was there . Madeline

Debyshire Archives are held in Matlock. There are 2 offices one of them further up the hill than the other one. I remember they hold different types of record but can't remember which one is which. I went there with my mum in 1994 on a very snowy day and it was freezing. There isn't any online access for that period but perhaps you could post on the record boards if anyone is going to Matlock and could do a look-up for you or contact Derbyshire family history society or find out if your local LDS centre can order it for you for a small charge. Or e-mail them to ask if they can look it up for you at the archives.

You could try phoning the nearest central library to your mum's birth address to see if they have the electoral rolls (they are in books, issued each year, but not during WW2 - I think they resumed in 1947????)). As long as you don't ask them anything too onerous (and plead pregnancy!!) they may help you..... Merry

I have checked 1943-46 inc for Amrstrong/Reid births for a Peter. Nothing. I'm not saying it couldn't be before this though....... Another idea (more straws).....Was Stanley in the army in WW2?? If he was, you never know what little snippet of info might be in his army record. We got my f-i-l's army record and it gave all sorts of addresses where he was living in this country diuring his service, which he had forgotten about.....also he wasn't actually demobbed until 1947 so there was some post-war stuff there too............ If you google Army Personnel Archives you will find a few websites telling you who to write to. It's not cheap (about £30) but might be interesting for your mum in any case? Merry

I won't be able to travel to Ripley for a while! 2 young children and another due the end of April! Is there no access via the internet?

If you are wating past electoral rolls you would have to go to the county archives for the area you are wanting.