Missing Death Record

[plays54]

I'm unable to find a death record for my great grandfather George Smith. A search on Scotland's People produces no results.

The info I have -

George Smith b. 12 Jun 1880, Balmullo, FIF.

George Smith m. 26 Feb 1904, Glasgow, LKS
Bridget Lavin

George Smith (son) b. Apr 1904, Glasgow, LKS

George Smith (son) m. 18 Jan 1930, Clydebank.
Marriage record indicates that both parents were still living.

Bridget Smith (m.s. Lavin) d. 22 Nov 1947, Hillhead, Glasgow, LKS
Age 64 years.
Death record states - "Widow of George Smith, motorlorry driver".

Thus we can assume that husband George Smith died between 1930 and 1947.

From his birth year of 1880 he would have been 59 years old at the breakout of WWII - so that rules out military service - right???

An ALL COUNTIES search of Scotland's People produces no results.

As a motorlorry driver his job may have taken him south to England. If he had died there how would I find his death record?

Can anyone help?

[Tees]

Hi plays54

Well, the key word here is: deceased. Clearly, he was still alive at the time of the death of his wife.

It means he died much later (after 1950)--I am sorry that means you would have to send for the actual certificate from the Scottish GRO with the details you have on him.

They will be able to locate him for you or ask for someone who could go in the GRO and view the register books (scanned images on microfilms, I think) for you.

It happened to me when I am helping my uncle with his grandfather--it turned he died of advanced old age than we thought! Beyond 1950! We have to order the certificate directly...at the tune of 11 pounds.

Wish you the best luck and every success in finding the death record on him.

Kind regards

Tees

[Gadget]

Sorry Tees -it says 'widow of.....' He was obviously dead when his wife died.

English records can be searched online at www.ancestry.co.uk or www.1837online.com

These are indexes but only by year,quarter, surname, first name and come up as page images.  If you find a poss record you will have to order it from the GRO to check the details. Each certificate costs £7.

With a name like George Smith, that is quite a search, particularly since you don't know where in England he might have died. Do you know anything about his Long Distance driving work - who he worked for etc. This might give you some leads.

Gadget

[Tees]

Hi Gadget

Indeed, you are correct. I did not think with my head being not fully screwed on yet!!

Need a cuppa. 

That means he did die before his wife. Perhaps it would be most helpful if she/he knows where she was buried--possibly, it will lead to his being buried in the same grave? It will give her/him a date of death.

Kind regards

Tees

[Gadget]

Tees

I've modified my message to add more search criteria. I think this is probably a bit of a 'no hoper'. In such a case, I would record as 'died between 1930 and 1947' and move on - in the hope that I might pick up some info later.

The only thing I can think of is finding out his possible employers and the routes he drived. Searches in local newspapers might bring up something but I would not be optimistic.

Gadget

[plays54]

Tees, Gadget,

Thanks for your input.

As there do not appear to be any results from Scotland's People MUST I assume that it is elsewhere in UK or could there be some other reason for no record in Scotland?

Also, are husband and wives (and other family members) necessarily buried in the same grave or even graveyard? I doubt that could be used as a yardstick.

[Tees]

Hi Plays54

Yes, you are correct about it is not always a yardstick when it comes down to the graves and all.

I am just giving you some ideas so you can try and follow up to see if you get lucky, you never know.

I got lucky with my ancestors being buried in one grave and I noticed the names on other headstone next to it. I wondered if they are related to the deceased persons in the grave I visited. My Dad dismissed the headstone saying they are just other people buried in this cemetery.

After doing some researches, it turned out I was right about the people buried under the headstone--they were related to us and the people in the grave next to it.

You never know what it took you to next stage in your research.

Try and see if there are any employer's records left--perhaps it will give you some clues as to where he was and when he "left" the firm. I do not know if there is a good chance the records survived--obits probably is the best bet--the problem is where he died...

Once again, I sincerely wish you the best of luck in tracing your ancestor.

Best wishes

Tees

[Gadget]

Tees, Gadget,

Thanks for your input.

As there do not appear to be any results from Scotland's People MUST I assume that it is elsewhere in UK or could there be some other reason for no record in Scotland?

Also, are husband and wives (and other family members) necessarily buried in the same grave or even graveyard? I doubt that could be used as a yardstick.

There are various reasons why his death might not be found in a search - very badly transcribed and indexed, etc. He could have been 'missing - presumed dead' during the war (the area was heavily bombarded during the war). BUT in such a case, I'm sure it would be recorded as such. Check out the SP site to see what it says about such cases.

There is no easy answer - it is not necessarily the case that they would have been buried together.

Sorry not to be more hopeful but I think you've got a very difficult one here. His name is not a great help either.

The only thing you can do is to try to narrow down the range of possible death years - occupational records was one idea, local newspapers,any family snippets, did he belong to any organisations, clubs, etc............

Gadget

[plays54]

Tees & Gadget,

Again thanks for your help and input.

Will let you know if I have any success.

Thanks