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Hello everyone.

I am trying to help my uncle solve a family mystery... just wondered if anyone could help, or at least point me in the right direction.

The mystery concerns my uncles grandmother, Charlotte Ann King. We have found her in the 1911 census aged 23, living with her husband William Henry (25) and daughter Jessie (1) in Birmingham. Charlotte was born in Smethwick, West Midlands (her husband born in Bicester, Oxfordshire). We know that in 1915 they had another child (Charlotte Ann King, my uncles mother), and that William Henry died around 1925.

The mystery involves Charlotte Ann King. Family gossip suggests that she went to work one day (possibly around 1935/36) and did not return... nobody seems to know what happened to her, although there was a family rumour of suicide (not confirmed). Did she die? Did she simply walk out on the family and move elsewhere? More importantly, how can I investigate this?!

I have searched the death indexes from 1932 through to about 1940 but I found no Charlotte King with an appropriate age.  What should I try next? Any ideas gratefully received!

Many Thanks

Craig 

Hi Paulene

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to reply. I have been to the Sandwell Archives before, many years ago... it looks like another trip is in order. I must admit, I had not thought of looking in the directories, but now you mention it this would of course be an excellent place to start. I will send off a few emails initially, see if they believe they might be able to help.

We found the following while searching the other night..

http://www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/articles/sundayafternoon.htm

I believe the John Blackham mentioned would have been Thomas William Oliver Blackhams great uncle, so it looks as though the "Adult School" had been popular within the family for a number of generations.

Once again, many thanks for the info you have provided. I will let you know if it leads to anything!

Kind Regards

Craig 

Thanks! 

Hi Gazza

I had one printed here just before Christmas:

http://www.genealogyprinters.com/

The service was good, and you had the chance to preview the chart online before committing to the order.

Craig 

Hi Genni

Thanks very much for taking the trouble to look that up for me. I now have partners names to add to some of the children of Clifford and Florence, which I did not know before. 

I would be really interested to see copies of the inquests if you are able to get hold of them? I assume this would involve some expense on your behalf, and obviously I would sort that out with you. I wonder if Clifford drowned while celebrating? 

I am continually being amazed by the information you are all able to provide me with, especially as this was an avenue of my tree which I thought would remain a dead end - let's face it, a JONES moving to an unknown part of Australia is not the most specific of starting points, is it?! Many thanks (once again) to everyone who has helped me so far.

Craig