Thomas Procter, Trafalgar Hotel, Scarborough

[Tepe]

On the free site, it gives Hannah Wilkinson, Scarborough, a marriage date of September 1926 (864) which fits in with my dob 21.12.28. No other information apart from the date.

[Spidermonkey]

You wont get much more info from the index, except that if you click on the 864 (which should be blue and underlined), you will see the other people who are on the same page in the marriage register.  You should see your father's name..........

It can be useful to check these things, even if you think you know them, because sometimes you find extra names or names in a different order to what you expect.

Basically, the rule of the thumb is to start with what you think you know, prove it, and then move backwards.

[Tepe]

 

[Spidermonkey]

Do you have any subscriptions to sites such as Ancestry or Find My Past?  If not, I believe that Ancestry might be having a free access weekend at the moment. 

ETA:  they are  - I believe this is the link http://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access

[Tepe]

No memberships. I'll look at the link you sent. TP

[Spidermonkey]

Looking at the 1939 register, I think I can see your parents - was your dad a plumber?

If so, your mum gives a birth date of 29 June 1896, does that sound about right?

[Spidermonkey]

Do you know the names of your maternal grandparents, or the names of any siblings that your mother had?

[Tepe]

That is exactly right about the dates and my dad being a plumber. My mother came from Seaham Harbour. Her father was a miner.  I don't think we knew them. There was a Rebecca married to a Spanish publican named Cance. I have photographs of a cycling champion on my mother's side, who sailed on the Ajax. He died young and no name is on the photograph.  My mother used to say we were related to Stevenson of steam engine fame, but I don't know if that is fact or fiction. TP

[Spidermonkey]

In which case, I think this is a likely family on the 1901 census:

55 Doctor St, Seaham
Joseph Wilkinson  Head  Mar   42  Coal hewer  bn Durham, Seaham
Isabella Wilkinson  wife  mar  32  bn Durham Sheriff hill
Margaret wilkinson  dau  14  bn Durham, Silksworth
Annie Wilkinson  dau  12  bn Durham, Seaham
William Wilkinson  son  10  bn Durham, Seaham
Violet wilkinson  dau  8  bn Durham, Seaham
Alice Wilkinson  dau  6  bn Durham, Seaham
Hannah Isabella Wilkinson  dau  4  bn Durham, Seaham
Florence Wilkinson  dau  2  bn Durham, Seaham
William Cummings  uncle  single 60  Coal Miner - Shifter  bn Durham, Kelloe