RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: Mehrtsgirl on Sunday 19 August 18 08:44 BST (UK)
-
I am researching a fellow from a Gillingham family who lived in one address but died in another (I am imagining all sorts of interesting scenarios!) As I can't yet access his death certificate to get any clues (GRO death certificates only available to 1957!) I was wondering if there was a way of finding out the occupants? I can't find electoral records for this area online which is where I thought I might hit pay dirt. TIA for suggestions.
JR
-
Ancestry's British Phone Book collection covers Gillingham for 1958 so you can do a name lookup which will give you an address, if they had a telephone.
HTH
Peter
-
Thanks Peter. Never thought of the phone book. Unfortunately, I don't know who lived at the address but how big could the listings for Gillingham be (gulp)?
JR
-
Medway Archives or Gillingham Library might have a street directory which would tell you the head of the household.
-
I am researching a fellow from a Gillingham family who lived in one address but died in another (I am imagining all sorts of interesting scenarios!) As I can't yet access his death certificate to get any clues (GRO death certificates only available to 1957!) I was wondering if there was a way of finding out the occupants? I can't find electoral records for this area online which is where I thought I might hit pay dirt. TIA for suggestions.
JR
Free bmd has death registrations for 1958, then you could order standard death cert from GRO at £9.25 through this link
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/app_select.asp
but if you already know where the person died, the death cert may not give any extra information. The informant may not be any of the family who normally resided at that address.
-
Medway parish burial records are online although they don't have as many details as a death certificate
https://cityark.medway.gov.uk/results
-
Did your person leave a will,older ones from the 1950's give the date of death and an address.
-
The local library should have an Electoral Register.
-
Thanks everyone for the suggestions - much appreciated. Working backwards...unfortunately I'm not a local so I can't get to the library at Gillingham for either electoral rolls or street directories - more's the pity :(
Yes I have some probate information which is how I came to see that this person didn't die at their home address but at an address round the corner. Of course, it could be as simple as he nipped round for a cuppa and had a heart attack. I'm interested to see though if he was with his wife (whom I believe he may have been estranged from for some years) or had a much slower decline and was with a family member being cared for.
I'll have a look at cityark even though I find the site difficult to navigate and tend to avoid it.
I hadn't thought about going through freebmd and getting the record details. That's an idea! I prefer not to go snail mail as I have had a number of certificates go missing in the post and have had to wait months to get some information. But needs must! You're right that I might not get additional information about who else was at the address (although the certificates, certainly older ones, do tend to include who was present at death). But I have my fingers crossed that it was family as he had many relatives living not only in Gillingham but also in the street in which he died. In some ways I would just like to rule out the wife being present.
I did try the phone book approach but of course you must have a name.
Thanks for all the ideas - I have some work to do.
JR
-
Thanks everyone for the suggestions - much appreciated. Working backwards...unfortunately I'm not a local so I can't get to the library at Gillingham for either electoral rolls or street directories - more's the pity :(
It helps us to suggest alternatives if you have your location in your profile. No point in us suggesting you visit archives in Kent when you live the other side of the country / world
-
Fair point Rosie99 - now amended.
JR
-
I suspect that if you ask in the Kent section someone will volunteer to do a look up for you. I often do that for those wanting it in Portsmouth.
-
As you have an address maybe it is worth emailing the archives / library and explain where you are located and see if they will look it up for you.
-
As you have an address maybe it is worth emailing the archives / library and explain where you are located and see if they will look it up for you.
I was about to suggest the same thing Rosie ;D
Nothing ventured nothing gained!
-
Yes you're right - they can only say no! And yes I could go and ask for a look up by a helpful member as well :) Good thoughts and thanks for your help. I'm very motivated to solve this puzzle so will be following through.
JR
-
Hi, hopefully I've sent you a PM with a lookup offer. rgds
-
Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions. I have found the information I was looking for ;D
JR