Cannot find any record of my Grandfather

[bluegeranium]

I have been very successful with tracing
my family history except for one problem - my grandfather.

I have my father's birth certificate from 1921 which says father's name James Wright Thomas-  Occupation bricklayer (deceased)
Mother's name Maggie Elizabeth Thomas formerly Thomas???

I can find no record of a James Wright Thomas either birth marriage or death which I assume was 1920/21.

I am also confused by the 'formerly Thomas'

The registration district was Kings Norton. Can anyone give me any help please?

[Annie65115]

It's possible that "formerly Thomas" could imply that her maiden name was in this case the same as her married name; but it's possible too that that Maggie wasn't married and fabricated a husband.

what's the address on the birth certificate - is it a private address or a nursing home? Was Maggie the informant and if not, who was?

Do you know if your father had any siblings?

(ps - hello and welcome to Rootschat!)

[Dundee]

  Hi and welcome to RootsChat 

I would guess that he was illegitimate and his father was actually named James WRIGHT.  You need to look for your grandfather on the 1939 register (use his full name) to see who he is living with.  I think his mother married in 1943.

http://www.findmypast.com.au/1939register

Debra 

[jusnoneed]

Family Search has a James W Thomas born 1899. Birmingham.
1901 census, aged 2, he is with  Albert and Mary Thomas.

[Annie65115]

 I think his mother married in 1943.

You mean this one? Certainly looks potentially interesting:

Marriages Sep 1943   
Thomas    Maggie E    Wright    Birmingham    6d   740    
Wright    James A    Thomas    Birmingham    6d   740    

[bluegeranium]

Wow thanks for the speedy replies! OK Maggie was the informant she lived at the same address as the father but it says he was deceased and I can find no record of a death?

I know she was married in 1943 to a James A Wright who I always thought was my Grandad (always known as Arthur) so how can this be right if he was deceased as it says on the certificate?
However this would have been 22 years after my father was born.

Also still confused by all the Thomas names!

[doddsie4]

There is a James Wright, died Kings Norton, 1st qu 1921.       It says he was born 1861 though.      It is on the ordinary death indexes.

[bluegeranium]

Seems unlikely as he would have been 60. Also very odd that she married a James A Wright 22 years later??

[Dundee]

You need to look for your grandfather on the 1939 register (use his full name) to see who he is living with.

http://www.findmypast.com.au/1939register

Debra 

Maggie in 1881:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q276-XHMW

Mable F HUNT, Niece, 3, Wellington, Somerset, England
Maggy E THOMAS, Daughter, 1,  Steeple Ashton Bristol, England

The rest of the family in 1881 on the previous page:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q276-X43G

Maggie in 1891:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W2DS-5MM

Mabel F HUNT, Niece, 13,    England (original states Wellington)
Maggie E THOMAS,  Daughter, 11, England (original states Bristol)

Maggie in 1901:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS39-T1Z

Maggie and Mabel continued to share a residence with Maggie's father.

When Maggie had your father in 1921 rather than register him as illegitimate she made up the details on the birth certificate.  If the man she married in 1943 was the biological father then perhaps he was not free to marry until then.  Do you have the marriage certificate?  If not then I suggest that you get it as it will show information about both of them including whether single or widowed/divorced.

What is the date of registration on the birth certificate.  Are there no other notations?  Do you know anything about James/Arthur WRIGHT?  His year and place of birth and death?

Debra