Genealogy Chat

I have a fairly unusual name.. Whybrew...But because I have no record of my Ma and Pa ever getting married I am stumped. All I have been able to gather is that Dad had an elder brother who was killed in the first war and that his family came from South East London, (Bermondsey area).He had a few sisters who are all now dead! I looked up the war graves commision site and found that a Whybrew from that area died in the war. It's amazing and frustrating that I have found dozens of Whybrews back to middle 1700's and can't make any connections to my own family. Any ideas on how to get a kick start? Roger Whybrew

Have you looked the cwgc site which gives the details of all who died in the wars. There are five Whybrews listed. George

Roger I expect that you have probably thought of this already but what you need is your fathers and you mothers birth certificates. If you have not got them you need to find out what area they were born in and look them up on 1837online. I know this may be a problem if you do not know your mothers maiden name but you may strike luck with your father. Anyway put some information on this site, as much as you can and everyone will pitch in to help. Gary

Just looked on 1901 and found 27 Whybrews from age 2 to 20

Thanks for replies. I have looked on cwgc site and that is where I found an AJ whybrew who was born 1899 and he fits the picture of the Uncle who died in the first world war especially as his parents came from Bermondsey. But that is only a weak thread. I tried the 1901 census and all it did was take my money. I couldn't find AJ's parents on it. Incidently Aj's father wa swil;liam charles which was my dad's names. Am i clutching at straws? Roger

Terence, thanks. I hope that the two year old happens to be my Arthur James. I' go have another look Roger

I think your best bet would be to search the 1837online site, but if you don't know the exact years it would be expensive I'm afraid

Roger, I am sure we can all understand you position, I certainly know how frustrating it can be. The best advice I can give you is - Work backwards. It is really tempting to try and "match" people from the 1901 census to ourselves. So first work from your parents' birth and marriage certificates. If you know when they died this will help your search with their age at death. If they died after 1969 it should also give each of their place and date of births on the death certificate which should get you started.

Sound advice Angela, I know. Unfortunately I couldn't swear that mum and dad were ever married to one and other!! Also Dad died in the 1960's. But I have just seen that there were 112 Whybrews in the 1901 census but none of them owns up to being an ancestor. I'll have to try and get hold of mum's death certificate and start from there. Thanks Roger

Not sure how your mum's will help. Have you got a closer fix on when your dad died?

Yes Robin That's an easy one. He died on leap years day 1960. Just had a look at gro site and may give them a go. Roger

Roger got the following on cwgc G/14423 Private A J Whybrew Royal Sussex Regiment died 11 January 1917 Terry

You have to put 5 quid in the slot to get started on 1837online, and use it in a few weeks or lose it. But here's 9p worth 1960, Jan-Mar, WHYBREW, William C., 50, Croydon, 5g, 166 If that age is accurate he was born 1909 or early 1910

got it in one Births, 1909, Apr-Jun, WHYBREW, William Charles, Southwark, 1d, 79 We'll be surprised if the parents aren't the same as AJ's. Then take the father's age/birthplace from the 1901 census and try to match them in the 1881 census, and so on

Hi Roger There are also alot of Whybrews on FreeBMD from 1838 to 1906 which may help Regards Maxine

I,ve just logged on and am having problems with my eyes watering. You lot have just told me 100 times as much as I knew this time yesterday. I,ll probably have a stiff drink and then get looking again. I feel really lazy now having come here looking for hints and tips and you lot have made the breakthrough. I'll pick through and look up the sites you recommend and promise to let you know the outcome in due course. Thanks again,Roger

Don't worry Roger, it takes a while to get used to some of these sites and how they work. I know that I spend hours and hours looking at them , and every time I come on here someone tells me something I had never even thought of. You never stop learning here!!! Regards Maxine

hiya someone probly already said this but the way i started was i found the person i wanted to start wiv marriage certificate, that told me their dads name, then i worked out when they were born n looked for a bap certificate which told me their mothers name. if that makes sense!

Roger, really chuffed that you have something to go on now. I have found that the members of this site go out of their way to help. Hope you find all the links you need She

Hello everyone who has offered help. I have just ordered a copy of my fathers' birth certificate! There will be no stopping me after I get it so watch this space. Once again THANKYOU for the help. Roger