Trying to find death of William Thomas Gwilliam, Salford

[janjim]

Hi,
I have been struggling to find the whereabouts and subsequent death of my Mother's Uncle, William Thomas Gwilliam b. 1875 Salford, Lancashire.     The family always believed that he left his family during the War, nothing further was heard of him.

William Thomas Gwilliam married Margaret Fielding, they lived at 2 Granville Street, Salford by 1911 census, childen up till then were William b. 1899 (killed in action at Flanders, buried Belgium) Annie b. 1903, Walter b. 1907, Millicent b. 1909.   Appears there were two more children Thomas b. 1914 and Alfred 1918.      If the story is correct that he left his wife during the War, these last 2 children could have been fathered by someone else.

For closure purposes, my Mother at 100 years of age would really love to know what happened to him.   I wonder if anyone could assist me with this search please.

I do apologise if I've already made a posting similar to this before, I think I must have deleted it at some time, just cannot find it, or my memory is failing me !!

janjim

[madeira066]

Hi janjim.
Your relations birth was registered in Salford in 2nd quarter 1875 as Thomas William Gwilliam, there were only two persons of that name registered between 1872 and 1880 in UK the other one being in Essex. The only deaths I could find that fit were one in Essex age given as 64 in 1940 and one in Birmingham age given as 73 in1949. The one in Birmingham looks a strong possibility of being your relation. Hope this helps.
Regards Dave.

[Gibel]

On the Commonwealth War Graves Commision website WT Gwilliam died 1918 of the Lancashire Fusiliers is listed as son of Margaret Gwilliam 92 Derwent St Salford. This information would have been given by the next of kin around 1920 so the father seems to have gone by then.

Gibel

[madeira066]

Hi janjim.
Just noticed that on his marriage registration on FreeBMD to Margaret Fielding in 1897 at Salford he states his name as William Thomas Gwilliam and on his birth registration in 1875 Salford it states his name as Thomas William Gwilliam, either a transcription error on one of them or he just changed it around.
Dave.

[janjim]

Hi,
Didn't realize that his birth was shown as Thomas William Gwilliam, that is strange as he had another brother named Thomas Edward Gwilliam.  Certainly our man we are looking for was called Uncle Will anyway.   So yes that is a possibility of his death at Birmingham, will look into this, thanks so much.

jan

[madeira066]

Hi janjim.
The birth for Edward was registered in Salford 3rd quarter 1877, as Edward Thomas Gwilliam.
Dave.

[janjim]

Yes, I noticed that, so both sons reversed their names, no wonder there was so much confusion on finding William's death etc.

jan

[janjim]

Hi,
Well got death certificate today of Thomas William Gwillim (note change of spelling from Gwilliam to Gwillim) died 19/9/1949 at Southam Road. N.D. (not sure where that is), formerly a Divisional Superintendent Staff Clerk (Railways), son H. Gwillim informant.   I don't have record of a H. Gwillim as being his son from his first marriage anyway, so not sure whether I've got the right person or not.

So not sure if we've got the right man or not, unless in the meantime, after he left his wife at the end of the 1st World War, he set up another relationship, and had another son "H. Gwillim".
Am aware that there has been various spellings for the name of Gwilliam, and in fact he may have decided to change it to Gwillim, to hide his whereabouts.

I think I've come to the end of my journey really, will never really know what happened to our Great Uncle.

Cheers
Jan

[madeira066]

Hi janjim.
I dont think that Thomas William Gwillin is your Great Uncle.
On the 1901 census for Aston in Birmingham there is a Thomas William Gwillim  who was born 1876 in Wales living with his wife and children,one of which is called Herbert, this could well be the family on the death certificate you got.
I reckon that your relations death could possibly be registered under just one of his Christian names either Thomas or William.
Do you have his occupation on any certificate or census? it might help to locate him.
Regards Dave