Why can't I find Francis James Hughes death? Tips appreciated

[LDaw]

I discovered recently that my great grandfather was Francis James Hughes.  Using various sites (including newspaper records and a military site) I've not been able to track his death down.  In fact, all I seem to find is details relating to people connected to him rather than about him himself.  No hints ever flagged up on ancestry.co.uk either.  When he was 17 he was an iron turner.  Family history suggests he was known as Frank.

What I know - he was born Apr-Jun 1892 in Lincoln.
He had a son in 1909 but didn't marry the mother (Margaret Rossington).

I believe he married Mildred Violet Barnes Jan-Mar 1913 in Leeds.  She was born Oct-Dec 1892 and died in St Albans Oct-Dec 1960.

They had a son, Walter James Hughes in Leeds (Holbeck) 1915 and he died in Italy in 1944 (an obituary from his aunt and uncle confirmed this connection).  Walter was married to Eva Alice Course.

There also appears to be another son, Norman Hughes who was born and died Apr-Jun 1918 registered in Holbeck.

Any suggestions for me?

Thanks

[josey]

Have you looked in the 1939 register - now on findmypast and ancestry? That would give a clue as to whether he was alive then & where he lived.

ADDED: Looks like there may be another son reg Jun quarter 1920.

ADDED 2: The CWGC site has Walter 'son of Frances [sic] James & Mildred Dorothy Violet Hughes', not the LATE Frances James - so Francis was probably alive then.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2077815/hughes,-walter-james/

[carol8353]

Do you have Mildred's 1960 death cert,was he alive then?

A tree on Ancestry has his death as St Pancras in Sept 1/4 of 1972.

That may be incorrect as that one has a DOB as 19 Oct 1894.

Deaths Sep 1972   

Hughes    Francis James    19 Oc1894    St.Pancras    5d   2012   

[LDaw]

I've not got her death certificate, I take it they include marital status on them then.

I didn't realise the CWGC site would describe his father as late.  Is it generally accurate in that respect?

Thanks both

[Ayashi]

A woman usually would have "wife of..." or "widow of..." Bonus points if he was the one who registered her death.

[isobelw]

Still alive in 1939 living with Mildred in Middlesex. Also listed a Francis E Hughes born 1920 ( Freebmd have a match born Sheffield 1920 mmn Barnes).
Isobel

[philipsearching]

According to the finds he certainly moved around a bit!
1892 born Lincoln
1913 married Mildred in Leeds
1920 son born in Sheffield
1939 in Middlesex
1960 Mildred died in St Albans

So, how about these possibilities on FreeBMD (only if Mildred was a widow in 1960)?:
Death Jun qtr 1947 vol 4b p769 Lothingland HUGHES Francis J, age 54
Death Sep qtr 1958 Coventry vol 9c p591 HUGHES Francis J, age 65

(Lothingland RD is in East Suffolk)


Philip

[iolaus]

It may be worth looking with alternative names - Frances or Frank if that was what he was known as

One of my ancestors was Joel, but his death was registered as Joseph, because the person registering the birth wasn't an immediate family member I assume he was known as Joe and the full name was assumed

[LDaw]

1939 register had him as a train driver.  He had an engineering related background so anywhere he moved to would have to have an appropriate industry.

I’ve renewed my ancestry subscription today and he was alive in 1939.  Still can’t find a death.

I have checked under Frank.  Hadn’t tried under Frances as that the female form.  It might be worth a try though.

St Albans and Southgate are very close to each other.

I suspect he left Lincoln as he denied parentage of his first born. 

Thanks for the input so far.