Genealogy Chat

OK sorry if this is a bit of a newbie question, but is there anyway of finding my Grandadparents parents, without having to purchase a copy of thier birth/marriage certificates (because I am poor!), he was born in the early 30's and I also know the exact date of his marriage: Lesley George Fursman married Murial Jane Hobbs on 27/05/1950 at Broadwindsor - Dorset

Hi Richard the only chance you have is if you know when he was born and where search the 1837 online births £ 5 for 55 credits. this will give you his mums maiden name, then search for a marriage between his surname and his mums maiden name in same area. Also if he had siblings that were older take that into account when looking for the parents marriage go back two years before the first child was born. Answer to question either way you will have to pay something for your info sorry... Colette xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A lot depends on the names and their rarity (or otherwise lol!). You may be able to search the GRO indexes at your nearest large library or certainly at your nearest County Record Office, making that part free, if more time consuming and the cost of getting there etc. Once at the library, you can search the birth indexes for your grandparents birth registrations. If they are John Smith and Mary Jones you would have a problem, but if they are a bit more obscure you may be able to pin them down. The maiden surname of the mother will appear in the indexes alongside the childs name in the 1930's, so that will give you two surnames to try and trace a marriage between the great-grandparents. Again an impossible task with common names. You will probably find the cost of getting a certificate or two is much less than spending time researching the wrong family, so think before you decide to take a chance. I can only afford to buy a cert occasionally, but it's really exciting when you hear the plop on the mat and wonder if it's arrived!! (well, as a sad person, i think it's exciting lol) Good Luck Sarah

Hi again Richard are they still alive ??? why not ask them if they are. if thats possible i mean. I just searched deaths 1983 -2002 and they are not listed this gives birth dates too you see which would have made the 1837 search easier to find them narrowing down the exact years of birth. Colette xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Richard I have the reference for the marriage. It is Quarter: - Jun 1950 District: - Bridport Volume: - 6A Page: - 1153. There is also an Ernest RLG Fursman who married a Hobbs listed under the same reference, but I cannot find a Hobbs to match up. Do you know of this couple. Victor

Thanks maybe the ERLG Fursman is Lesley George, I dont know, unfortunately he died last year and Murial (my grandma) is away at the moment. Do you mean there are two marriages in bridport for Fursman-Hobbs for that quarter?

Richard No, there is a reference for Lesley and Muriel, that is the one a gave ealier, but there is also the other one, both with the same reference details. There are only three Fursman listed on that quater, but two are listed as marrying a Hobbs in Bridport. Strange. Victor

That is strange, looks like I will have to speak to Gran when I can, to get to the bottom of that one....... thanks anyway

Richard I know you said you are poor,but, to take this any further you will need to send for the marriage certificate with the reference I gave you. It will only cost £7.00 from the GRO. Victor

Thanks Victor, I am not that poor :-) Plus I think I am addicted!!!

Sometimes one person will appear in the index more than once. If their given name for the marriage varies from what they have signed (for instance) an efficient GRO clerk will index the person twice. In the case of this surname you see both entries easily as it's an uncommon name, but if your groom had been called Andrew Smith but had signed William Andrew Smith, then it might be very useful to have two entries in the index! Addicted are you?? I'm afraid that is the rest of your life taken care of then lol Sarah

The two entries for Fursman & Hobbs will be the same record but with a variation of spelling. Possibly somebody queried MuriAl so it has been double entered for MuriEl or some such Beth :)

If you have any idea which church they were married in (assuming they were married in church), and you can find out where that church's historical registers are now, or if they've been filmed, you may be able to get a copy of the register page for the price of a photo-copy instead of shelling out for a cert. Since the register contains the source-data for the cert, it will have at least as much info, and you get to see the handriting (signature or X) of the bride & groom. Christine

Whatever else you do, it will be worth your while to be VERY nice to your Granny. She may have photographs, certificates, medals, prizes won at school, all sorts of things, besides what she can remember about the family. It will be much cheaper to ask her questions and scan or photocopy as many documents as you can. The most insignificant scraps of paper can hold all sorts of clues and those little bits and pieces will help to bring the past alive. If you pass up on the chance, you will live to regret it.

Sarah I can see what you are saying about the two entries being the same. One entry is for Lesley George Fursman, the other is for Ernest RLG Fursman. Could it be that the LG on the second stands for Lesley George?? Quite some difference between the two but they could well be the same person. Victor

I agree, Victor, I wonder what is on his death and birth certs? Sarah

Thanks Brenda I know exactly where you are coming from, as I didnt get around to putting grandad through the inquisition before he passed away last year. Gran had a hip replacement just today, so might be worth a visit (which I was going to do anyway!) with a notepad and pen, maybe help keep her occupied whist she is in hospital for a week.