We have been searching for more than 10 years without success for a death certificate for my mother’s grandfather William Parry. He apparently died before she was born and was never mentioned by her parent’s.
William was born on the 27th July 1868 in Nantmawr near Mold in Flintshire but moved with his parents to Staffordshire when he was less than 2 years old where he then grew up and worked.
He is recorded on the 1911 Census living at 10 Stubbs Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme and is living with his wife Florence and daughter Alice May. His age is given as 43 and his occupation is described as a bricklayers labourer working in the Railway industry. The Brampton Museum in Newcastle under Lyme has a Rate Book for the Newcastle under Lyme Poor Law Union for 1914 where a “William Perry”, living at 12 Stubbs Street, is assessed under section 4 of the Poor Rate Assessment and Collection Act 1869.
There is then a gap of 16 years before his daughter Alice May Parry marries Henry Pepper on the 2nd August 1930. On their marriage certificate Alice May’s residence is still 12 Stubbs Street and in the place where her Father’s name should be recorded it just says “deceased”.
We have speculated that as he was a miner in his early working life he may have been a tunneller in the First World War but none of the deaths during this period seem to match his details. Could his name have been mis-transcribed he is referred to as both Parry and Perry? Was he living away when he died as we can’t locate a death in Staffordshire in the period 1914-1930 which matches his details. Did he end up in the workhouse?
Whatever the reason it’s a mystery to us and we would love some help to solve it.
Judy Gaunt