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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Warwickshire => Topic started by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 06:13 GMT (UK)

Title: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 06:13 GMT (UK)
Hello,

I am looking to find any more information about a relative of mine - she was born Mary M Lees circa May 1918 in West Ham, Essex, daughter of Charles Alfred Lees & Margaret Drake,  I know for certain that she married in Birmingham, I have searched the records on family search org and found a match in August 1939 for a marriage to a man called Whitehouse in Birmingham, Warwickshire - his surname was Whitehouse, first name is quite possibly William. Any other information would be greatly appreciated!
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: Kay99 on Sunday 13 March 16 07:00 GMT (UK)
I have sent you a pm
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 07:16 GMT (UK)
There is a Mary M Whitehouse living with a William A and Amy E Whitehouse in Cherry Orchard Road in Birmingham in 1945, living in West Drive by 1955.

There is a death for a Mary Margaret Whitehouse in February 2005 in Birmingham, born 28th March 1918.
Grant and will on the probate registry.
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 13 March 16 07:27 GMT (UK)
FreeBMD is showing this marriage:

September qtr 1939
Birmingham Registration District     vol 6d, page 696

Lees, Mary M
Whitehouse, William A
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 07:53 GMT (UK)
Thanks for all your help - this is great information. Is there any chance a 1939 British marriage cert would give information on the Bride's father - Charles Albert Lees? I would love to learn what happened to him. It's a pretty tragic story that I have found, Mary Lees mother was my Great Aunt Margaret Drake from Co. Cork, Ireland. Margaret was introduced to her husband Charles by her brother Denis Drake who was his best friend and served with him in the Royal Garrison Artillery in World War 1. In June 1917 Denis Drake was killed at the Battle of Messines in Flanders, in November 1918 Margaret Lees (nee Drake) died of Spanish Flu in Westham 4 months after her daughter was born. Charles was released from the Army 1 week after his wife died, so he returned to Britain after losing his best friend and his wife, I only found out about the existence of their daughter Mary Lees today, I would love to know if she had any children!
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 07:56 GMT (UK)
Use this free site to look for Whitehouse/Lees births:

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Some information on bride's father (occupation) on marriage certificate.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/most_customers_want_to_know.asp#CertificateInformation
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 08:07 GMT (UK)
There are other Whitehouse/Lees marriages in the Midlands, but 2 Whitehouse/Lees births in Birmingham showing.

Apply for the will for more information?

Do you know how old Charles was (from his marriage certificate?) - same age as Denis?
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 08:16 GMT (UK)
I have a found a lot on Charles early life but nothing past 1918, he was born in 1885 in Aston, Birmingham. His mother was Julia Lees (present at Margaret's death), Charles was a Sergeant in Royal Garrison Artillery in WW1. He is on the 1901 census as Age 15 -Working as General Warehouse Boy. Recorded as at Uncle & Aunt's house with mother Julia Lees and Aunt Clara
LOZELLS ST SILAS, ASTON MANOR , Aston, Warwickshire. His grandparents were Benjamin Lees (born 1814) & Jane Lees (maiden name unknown), his mother's siblings were Jane Lees (1855) married John Grove, Ann Lees (1858), Clara (1864) & Amy Lees.

Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 08:18 GMT (UK)
There is this death:

Charles A Lees
died June quarter 1958  aged 67  (so born about 1891)
at Birmingham  Warwickshire
Volume  9c   Page   102

Added:
OK, will look for 1885 birth/death.
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 08:24 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the link http://www.freebmd.org.uk/ - found the child with a mother surname Lees born in June 1948 Bilston District, wherever that is?
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 13 March 16 08:28 GMT (UK)
Click on the District name to get more information! ;D
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: jaybelnz on Sunday 13 March 16 08:29 GMT (UK)
Wikipedia link

  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilston
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 08:30 GMT (UK)
As anyone born in 1948 is probably alive, you are not allowed to post their names on here, sorry.

Click on Bilston from free bmd and there will be a link and more information, or use google maps.

However, as there are 2 births in Birmingham in 1944 and 1947, those are slightly more likely.

Where did you find Charles Albert's birth year, as not on free bmd as such?
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 08:34 GMT (UK)
I have Charles military records and his age on his marriage cert to Margaret Drake in 1916. I have amended the post and taken the man's name out from 1948.
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 08:39 GMT (UK)
Showing as Bertie in 1891 census - just wondering what his official birth name was, as cannot see an obvious death for him.

Added:
This one
Births September quarter 1885 
Albert Charles Lees         Aston    6d   374
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 13 March 16 08:41 GMT (UK)
The 1911 census has Charles as Albert Charles, in the RGA but situated in India.

Birth, September qtr 1885
Aston Registration District     vol 6d, page 374
Lees, Albert Charles
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 08:57 GMT (UK)
There is a Charles Albert Lees showing on the ER for Aston in 1935 (with Doris Lees) and 1939 ( on own) at 6 Court 5.  Also with an Annie Lees in 1927.

Think you need the marriage certificate of daughter for address.
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: chempat on Sunday 13 March 16 09:04 GMT (UK)
You put Charles Alfred Lees in your first post - presumably this is an error?
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 15:36 GMT (UK)
No his military records have him as Charles Albert Lees but other records have him as Albert Charles Lees, I am not 100% which one is correct - either way it is the same person
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 13 March 16 16:11 GMT (UK)
No his military records have him as Charles Albert Lees but other records have him as Albert Charles Lees, I am not 100% which one is correct - either way it is the same person

You put Charles Alfred Lees in your first post - presumably this is an error?

So, is he Albert or Alfred?
Title: Re: Mary M Lees (Whitehouse) born 1918
Post by: AlanR83 on Sunday 13 March 16 16:24 GMT (UK)
error on my previous post his Military records have him as Charles Alfred Lees, but other records have him as Charles Albert & Albert Charles & Alfred Charles - so I am not certain on his correct name. I know for certain his mother was Julia Lees, his wife was Margaret Drake & he was is the RGA as a Sergeant with Denis Drake.