John Williams-Ramsgate

[kentishman]

Does anyone have any info. regarding my Grandfather, John Williams, in particular where he was born. He married my Grandmother, Gertrude Bacon, in 1924 at St. George's Church, Ramsgate and was buried in Ramsgate cemetary in 1953 but have no knowledge of where he was born. Can anyone help?

[casalguidi]

Hi

I see there is a bit more info here http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,467596.0.html

Do you have details of his death and/or burial?  I was just wondering if there would be any more information on his headstone if there is one and/or any obituary in the local newspaper that might be worth checking out?

Did he serve in WW1 would you know?

Casalguidi

[panda40]

Do you know how old he was when he died? This will give us a time frame to narrow down his birth
regards panda

[kentishman]

Hi casalguidi and panda40,
My Granfather was born in 1884, possibly in Wales, so you can imagine what a task it has been trying to find such a common name even with his father having the same name. I think he would have been too old to have served in WW1 (30) and as he indicates on his marriage cert. that he was a miner he would probably stayed in that profession. I have viewed his gravestone but no other info. is given other than his death date and his age. I will be making an appointment with Ramsgate and Margate libraries to view poss. obituries and marriage announcements alongwith St. George's Parish Church records.

Would an undertaker have details of his birthplace?

Regards,

kentishman

[casalguidi]

He wouldn't have been too old to serve in the 1914-1918 war (up to age 35 were conscripted I think)  but, as you say, his profession may well have kept him out.

The undertaker wouldn't necessarily know date and place of birth but it's always worth trying to see if you can locate them and whether they hold any records that far back.  As well as the newspapers, I would check anything and everything just in case there is any little clue somewhere ..............

Burial register
Grave register to see who else, if anyone, is buried in the same plot
Grave purchase register to see who owned the deeds to the grave

Death certificate to perhaps confirm occupation if it can't be found from other sources.

Electoral registers to see if there is anybody else living with them at any time.

Have you checked out the marriage witnesses and any address he gives on the certificate?

Casalguidi

[kentishman]

Hi casalguidi,

Thanks for your help. The Grave regeister was registered in my Grandmother's name and as she died first he was then buried with her later.

Records of my Grandfather's occupation is given on his Marriage and Death Certs. but when the mines were nationalized most of them were destroyed apparently. I have checked all other avenues as you have suggested but to no avail. The real problems are with his common name(and of his Father's) and the fact that census that might help(1911 and more importantly, 1921 are not published yet). The information contained the 1921 census would probably clinch it. It seems that he was born either too late or too early!

My only hope now are Parish Records and newspaper announcements.

Thanks for your help, at least i know i'm covering all possibilities.

Kind Regards.
kentishman.