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I have the Death Certificate and it is for my father's sister.  I have been in contact with the family who find the news very interesting but in total conflict to the information they have lived with all their lives.

The Death Certificate reads:

Name and surname: Kathleen May SMITH formerly known as Kathleen May ANDREWS.

Maiden name: KNIGHT.

Her Birth Certificate clearly shows her registered as Kathleen May ANDREWS.

During her life Kathleen believed she was born Knight as her mother used that name.  However her mother left my grandfather and three other children (presumably when Kathleen was very young) to live with Knight.  They brought up Kathleen with other children (five of) fathered by Knight.

As a result my remaining full cousin and her husband are now trying to piece together the 'new' family history and advise the remainder of the family members (full and now half cousins, nephews, nieces and others) of the facts.

I also have another problem in that I can find a marriage between Knight and Kathleen's mother, but no divorce from my grandfather.  Routes to confirm the existence of a divorce are not easy to find and records even more so.  As a result any advice would be appreciated.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!"

Good afternoon.

For some time I have been searching for my father's siblings all of whom were born in Worcestershire but all but one appear to have moved elsewhere.  My father never disclosed that he had any siblings or that his parents were alive up to the early 1960s and as a result I have had very little to work on.  I have been fortunate in tracing his brothers but his sister has remained a mystery and living a long way (East Anglia) from my father's origins it has not been easy to visit any location which may be relevant.

Kathleen May Andrews was born 28 September 1918 (I have a copy of her birth certificate) but thereafter I have been unable to find any details for her at all.  Recently I found a death in St. Austell where the name and dob match exactly but still I have been unable to confirm if they are one and the same.  If they are it is almost certain that she never married (unless to a person with the same paternal surname) but how she ended her days in Cornwall is not apparent.  Details of the entry I found are given below.

I feel it unlikely that two people would share exactly the same name and date of birth but wondered if there is any way of being more certain from any records or data available locally.  Is there anyone who could suggest a method of confirming one way or the other the identity of the individual concerned, please?

With thanks in anticipation.



Kathleen May Andrews b 28 Sep 1918 death registered Jan 2003 age 84
St Austell Cornwall ref 5D District and Subdistrict:    367/1A entry 39

Hello Phil,

My PC hard drive failed just before Christmas and I've been having fun fitting a new drive, recovering my data and backing everything up again for the past week or so.  PCs are such a joy!!!

That marriage may well be interesting.  As I know you have gathered the Andrews clan in that area is numerous to say the least and it is far from impossible there is a link.  Most of those I have found in Pershore are Holy Cross, but others do show up in the St. Andrew records as well as some outlying parishes.  As yet I've not found a link to Severn Stoke, but I am still working my way out from there mainly toward Wyre Piddle, Pinvin and Drakes Broughton at the minute.  I know there are some strong links in that direction as my father was born in Worcester but his grandfather in Wyre Piddle. If I find anything I'll certainly post.

Let me know if you find anything interesting.

Best wishes.

John

Many thanks to all for your very quick replies.  I would never have made the words "Messuage" and "Appertenances" out.  But I do understand what they refer to.

Unfortunately I now have found two more parts that I need a little help with. 

Can anyone confirm the first attachment is an archaic way of defining the date by using the reign of a monarch?

Is the second attachment a confirmation the Will has passed Probate?

Many thanks in anticipation.