Even when the British gov't statistics and records couldn't find my grandfather, Percival Powning Trestrail in their records, I started to image that he was born in a barn and hidden from the world until he showed up in the 1891 census as a 5 yr. old living with his grandparents.
There were 2 Percival Powning Trestrails born in a close time frame and one died by 1886.
But after I got a refund from the birth certificate search from the British govt records people, I persisted and wrote back with more detail.
I found him. Just as I suspected. And I am most certain who his mother is but the British Records Office said there is NO listing for a father. And he was listed as Percy Powning Trestrail not Percival, and the date of his birth is Feb. 26, 1886, not Feb. 26, 1885.
I'm being offered to re-submit the 10 pounds to get this birth certificate, but it will not tell me who his father is. I feel sad, I'll probably never know and tracing my lineage will end at this mystery on my grandfather's paternal side, but I'll continue with his grandparents, William and Elizabeth Powning Trestrail.
Taking a long shot, I replied to the response from the British Records, and asked them if they would agree to confirm my intuition on who my grandfather's mother was & if I was wrong, then I'd apply for the birth certificate. I wasn't asking them to give it away, but if I am right, it would be kindly of the supervisor who wrote to me to verify the name I gave her. Do I need his birth certificate for any official business? No.
I have vague memories of Percy's naturalization papers stating that Albert Trestrail was his father, but he did have an Albert Trestrail for an uncle.
Where can I get his naturalization records? Thank you for any help there.
I'll have an answer or not on the name of my great grandmother very soon.
:-)))
Linda
