Genealogy Chat

Hi I was wondering if i could ask for some advice. My Nan was born in 1920 Doe Lea,Ault Hucknall,Mansfield,Shirebrook,Derby. She was brought up by another family from a very young age ( only 2-5 years old). However information from her birth cert shows her parents & checking the 1837 shows her parents getting married in 1915. Therefore her parents were married & for some time so my questions are; How can i find out why she was given up? Did she have any siblings? What happened to her parents? My main thought is checking deaths/births etc on 1837 online but as the surname is not unusual how can i be sure? Obviously i am happy to order any certs that i need but with such comman names what should i do next? I have ordered the marriage cert for parents but although i suspect that will just clarify who i think they were,that will not help for events after 1920. Any thoughts would be great. I haven't put names as not sure that if Nan does have siblings wether it would be appropriate to do so,another question i guess!

Which surname is not unusual? Your Grandmother's Mother or her Father or both. If both then the only way to confirm if your Grandmother had siblings is to order Birth Certificates that match the details of the surnames and see if they match the parents you have for your Grandmother. Joy

If by common you mean SMITH/JONES common, then it will cost you a fortune to trace any siblings on 1837 online. If I were you though I would concentrate on the period between your nan's birth and her parents marriage, it is quite possible there are another one or two chiildren in there. www.familyrelatives.org would be a much better bet for 1915 - 1920. It's still pay per view but has the advantage of being able to enter the surname & mother's maiden name to search births up until 1920, that will narrow it down greatly I hope Sam

Sorry just to clarify i mean my Nan was given up- not that i have given up ! Sam- i havent come across that web site before so will have a look now-thank you. Joy- My Nans name was Platts,so not as bad as Smith/Jones. Maybe i should count my blessings for that but still bad enough that i dont know where to look for her parents after Nans birth,unless they died.

Once you know the parents ages from the marriage cert it might be worth checking the death registerations for the time frame you think she went to the other family (maybe one or both her parents died?) Might also be an idea to check the electoral rolls for the address from the birth cert, to see when the couple were there (might only have him on them though). Merry

So one surname was Platts.....what was the mother's maiden surname? I'll do the 1915-1920 bit for you..... Merry

Sophia Do you know what her Mother's Maiden Name was? That should give us some idea for matching up. Joy

Sophia/Merry I'll do 1920-1925 if needs be. Joy

Just a thought.......You ought just to check that her father wasn't killed in WW1. I know this is ages before she was born, and his name is on her birth cert, but it wouldn't be the first time someone has named a long dec'd father (would be a reason for giving her up and would be easy to check and probably eliminate) http://www.cwgc.org/ Merry

Soooooppppphhhhiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Where are you?? lol Merry

48 Platts killed in WW1. Just need a first name to match.

Do I detect not many requests for help tonight?? Merry

No, I meant everyone hanging around this thread like a pack of hyenas waiting for Sophia! Merry (PS - Joy, did you look at the canal boat thing?)

Sorry Daft i know but thought that my two year old was fast asleep for the night not playing with her dollys! I didn't know if i shoud have put too many details to begin with as family (siblings could still be alive, wasn't sure about etiquette) Mother was Henshaw Father was Platts Married 1915. Have got christian names if required & probable dates of births. I appreciate your help. Sophia

Merry Yes I did. See end of my thread I can't get anything up on 1837online tonight, think it's overloaded. Joy

Right, only two birth reg's 1915-1920 inc. for the surnames you gave in the whole country! Surname Forename(s) Mothers maiden name District Page No Event Quarter Year Platts Peggy Henshaw Mansfield.7b 217 Birth 1 1920 Platts Robert W Henshaw Mansfield.7b 201 Birth 2 1915 Merry

Now come on Giz....I was doing that one!! LOL I just checked that Robert, the son, didn't die as a child. No deaths in Mansfield for his name up to 1920. Merry

Was Robert the father's name too? This person was also called Robert. (I checked his WW1 medal card on Nat Archives website) Name: PLATTS Initials: R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment: Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) Unit Text: 12th Bn. Date of Death: 14/02/1916 Service No: 12/19512 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 9. Cemetery: MENIN ROAD SOUTH MILITARY CEMETERY It doesn't HAVE to be yours though. Merry

Hi Yes Peggy is my Nan Am i being thick? How on earth did you find that info so quickly? I assumed it would be a case of trawling through 1837 online for all of the Platts born in the time frame & finding any that had Henshaw as a maiden name. I must be missing something here,but i must say thank you so much. Sophia.

LOL Giz.....I wasn't quick enough! Am using up units because I'm hoping I won't need them tomorrow!!!!! What a laugh if it's an April Fool! Oops, sorry Sophia......(off topic) Merry