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Independent Islands => Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, Sark => Topic started by: mattfrombann on Wednesday 11 October 17 14:15 BST (UK)
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My aunt Ellen Weir Bankhead (known to the family as Helen) married Thomas Patrick Buchanan in Belfast 20/7/1940. The groom had been discharged from the merchant navy in July 1939. He was an "electrician" on his discharge certificate from the Arundel Castle. Thomas was born 17/3/1916 so is almost certainly deceased. They had two children Brian and Tony. The latter died young in a car accident in USA and had connections with Holywood producer Silvio Narazzano. Aunt Ellen died in Belfast 1982 and the family know nothing about Thomas who vanishes from record after 1948 when a notice of petition for dissolution of marriage was published in a Belfast newspaper . it reads "to Thomas Patrick Buchanan, late of St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, late merchant seaman and whose whereabouts is presently unknown.....In the matter of Ellen Buchanan in the matter of dissolution of her marriage......" I have drawn a complete blank in online sources (he is not the man of same name who lived and died in Liverpool) and nobody has any idea why he would be in Jersey. Can anybody help or point me in the direction of a source that might be able to help without high expenditure - I am not in a position to visit Jersey
Many thanks in advance
Matt
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Could this be your man?
From Jersey Archive -
Grant of Probate of Edna Mumby, widow of Thomas Patrick Buchanan-Holmes, of 58, Berkeley Court, Don Road, St Helier. Dated 23/07/1974.
Stewart
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There is a record for a Registrars marriage of Thomas Patrick Buchanan July 1948 to October 1950, volume 36 page 87.
There is a Ena (not Edna) Constance Mumby on the same page.
Stewart
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Hi Stewart
Thanks for the quick response. I had spotted the reference to the probate record but the "Buchanan- Holmes" surname made me think that it was probably not my man. On the other hand there seems to be no hypenated addition to the surname in the marriage index, hmm.
The only way to be sure is if the marriage certificate gives details of groom's birthplace and/or parentage. His father was John Buchanan an "engineer" and mother, Lizzie McCarrol. The birthplace could be variously described as Belfast/Antrim/Ireland. There was also a brother John born 15/8/1913 so conceivably he might be mentioned in the probate. The family rumour is of a second family but nobody has any proof that I know of
Regards
Matt
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HI Matt
I can probably look at the certificate tomorrow.
Stewart
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Hi Stewart
Many thanks. If it is my man then the big mystery is what on earth he was doing in Jersey. My wild guess is that this sailor had a woman in more than one port....
Matt
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Hi Matt
For the record, Mrs Edna Holmes nee Mumby died 18th July 1974. She is the widow of Thomas Patrick Buchanan-Holmes and is buried in St Saviours Church graveyard, row 27 plot 10. The account for the funeral from Pitcher and Le Quesne was sent to Mr Michael Holmes at the address previously mentioned.
Stewart
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Stewart
The mystery thickens. I am theorising that Edna/Ena may have had a previous marriage to a Mr Holmes, but this may just be wishful thinking, as all ancestor hunters fall victim to now and then. I hope you do manage to view the marriage details, and IF it is my Thomas then the next mystery will be whatever happened to him - did he die in Jersey between 1948 and 1974 ?
Waiting with bated breath
Matt
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Hi Matt
He's your man!!
On 5th Sep 1950 at the Registrars, Thomas Patrick Buchanan, ages 35 and a bachelor(!!), married Ena Constance Mumby, the divorced wife Harry Holmes.
TPB was living in St. Helier but was born in Belfast. He was the son of John Buchanan, an engineer.
ECM was aged 38 and also living in St. Helier but was from Cleethorpes. Her father was Callis Mundy, a fish merchant.
Witnesses were S. Holmes and I (or possibly V) Webb.
I've done a quick scan of the St Helier deaths from 1948 to 1974 until I found Edna(sic) Buchanan-Holmes death in v76, p75, Mar 1973 to Dec 1974. It could well be I've missed his death or it's in another Parish but it will have to wait until next week.
Stewart
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Stewart
Great ! And very many thanks. Of course this now leads to, did they have a family ? And if he didn't die in Jersey, did he abandon this second wife as well? I have a cousin near Belfast who has/had a very old lady living near her who claims to be Thomas's half sister, but whether she is of clear memory is uncertain. What would it cost to examine the probate record do you think, as that would reveal (you would surmise) any surviving children ?
Happy Matt
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For me, nothing as I'm a member. I will look next week.
Stewart
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Hi Matt
Progress!!
I looked through all the deaths (12 Parishes) twice to try and find a death for Thomas Patrick Buchanan-Holmes without success. The only entry in the Archive Catalogue is a mention in the probate record of Edna Buchanan-Holmes.
Then it was suggested I look at the funeral directors records as sometimes a person dies off island and the body comes back to Jersey for burial. Again, nothing.
Then a moment of inspiration(?) I looked at the records for with a surname of Holmes and there he was!
Thomas Patrick Buchanan Holmes died at 15, Bagot Manor Court, St. Saviour on 4th Aug 1973 aged 54 years. He died from a number of heart problems. Ref: St. Saviour deaths Feb 1971 to Dec 1977, page 174.
He is buried in the same plot as his wife.
I then looked at the probate record of Edna. She died intestate and letters of Administration were granted to Michael John Holmes, her only son.
The question is was MJH the son of her first or second marriage? I will look for this later.
Stewart
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Stewart
Many thanks . I am only reading this message now as I didn't seem to get auto notification of your reply. I had been scouring other records for his death (obviously without success). There is a suggestion within the family that a son of the first marriage, who was also a mariner, met (whether intentionally or not is unknown) his father at some point in later life and acrimony ensued.
Once again profuse thanks for all your diligent searching which must have been rather time consuming. If at any point you want anything looked at in the National Records of Scotland that can't be viewed on Scotland's People I will be happy to oblige if I can
Matt
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And finally....... TPB was serving on HMS Ready, a minesweeper, on 5/10/1944 when he wrote a letter to his half sister .
Matt