Genealogy Chat

Oh Piffle - just came back to tell you about that William in Newton/a Maybe we should say what we are looking for so that we don't duplicate?

There was also one who died in S Shields but his birth was 5/5/1910

Where is Newton Aycliffe Alfie? Anyone know where Dunedin is please?

Think it's in Co. Durham, near Darlington. Alfie. PS. Is Dunedin in New Zealand?

It's Newton Abbott on the Ancestry index.

Oh, thats a pity. Durham would maybe have been more likely!!

Margaret, Previous Marriage Disolved is a term used on registers when the marriage ended but not by death. Divorces were less common in those days though. The church couldn't do a second marriage for a divorcee then and the Catholics wouldn't entertain it anyway. Mumsy.

Could be Alfie - I can't find it on the map.

I have to go soon. Can anyone think of anything useful I could look for before I go?

Have we already said this? I wonder if this is his birth reg - June 1910 Alnwick 10b 501 William Armstrong I mean - oops

Grace Fisher Armstrong must be William's sister with that middle name. I wonder if she is still alive - she's Patricia's auntie. Janice

There is a Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand but I doubt if you would find a birth there in the English BDM. It was named after Edinburgh. Newton A would probably be Newton Abbot in Devon.

Has anybody considered the possibility that William had a mental breakdown, either because of his daughters death or because of the bombing in London (when did that start?) The Catholics might consider that good grounds for granting a dissolution.

Nudge to keep this opne going I have not finished readind it all yet

Are you getting that birth date from his enlistment though Margaret? His marriage age would point to 1910 and there is no birth listed in 1909 but there is in 1910.

Margaret, I did not read your earlier reply as suggesting a mental breakdown. Perhaps you do not like to use that term.

What a wonderful caring group of researchers you people are, you have given you time and effort in restoring a little girls past long gone. Paul I thank you for being the kind hearted person you are for restoring our faith in life, heres hoping that all you lovely human beings can make a day of getting together and have a tiny memorial for little Patricia xx Shaz in Oz

I agree Margaret - I wondered if he had lied to seem a bit older. The death in Newton Abbot certainly had the right birthdate, if it was 30/5/1910 but obviously we can't possibly know if it was him.

The reference is Newton Abbott - March 1988 - Vol 21 - Page 1638 - Reg 388. Just had an idea. I will go and have a look to see if there is another William Armstrong, born at the same time, possibly in Devon or nearby. Loads of William Armstrongs in that quarter and the following one but most seem to come from the North East. No Devon ones.

The Newton Abbott thing might end up being a distraction. A death is registered where it happens, so if he had died on holiday or visiting friends, that won't be very helpful. Janice