Bideford

[pamsmum]

Does anyone know if there is a Ridgeway Terrace in Bideford? That is apparently where my paternal grandmother was a domestic servant when she had my father back in 1916.

[suzard]

there is -the post code is EX39 2QX

Try Google Earth

Suz

[pamsmum]

TY.
My brother and I are having problems finding out anything about her.  My father was adopted or fostered when a baby and so we know very little. All we have is a copy of his birth certificate that was needed when he got married. We don't even know if she was married or not.  I believe he had information but he left our mum when we were very small and and eventually remarried. Actually we didn't know if he was dead or alive until mum passed away last year and we found a letter to her posted in 1980. There is someone searching on ancestry who could possibly be a half sibling but he/she has not replied to e-mails :O(

[DOB7]

If no father's name is given on the birth certificate - it is likely that she was unmarried. Do you have a short or long certificate? The long will give more information. You don't mention the year, but if there is a chance that anyone is still alive, please don't mention names here.

[pamsmum]

I'm waiting for my brother to let me have a copy of the certificate. I believe it is only a short one. My father was born in 1916 though on his army papers it says 1914. As far as I know no one is alive except  the half sibling and possibly our stepmother. Don't worry I wouldn't dream of mentioning names.

[DOB7]

Go to FREEBMD http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl . Enter your father's name, select births, 1916 as year and Bideford as district. The result should give his mother's maiden name. If it is the same as his surname, she probably wasn't married. If it is different, you can then search for her marriage using your father's surname and her maiden name. If you need help, PM me off-list.