Author Topic: Help me find my grandfather! H S  (Read 1917 times)

Offline Sensibility

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Help me find my grandfather! H S
« on: Monday 07 January 19 14:20 GMT (UK) »
Hi all, this is a massive long shot as I know next to nothing about this man, only that he's my grandfather, his name H S and that he fathered my mother in 1950's. He met my grandmother, Jean Sweet (who died early via hit and run in London) and she got pregnant by him, but around the same time he got another woman pregnant and because the other woman told him first, he married her. I'm not even sure if he ever knew about my mum at all. Obviously his other child is very likely to still be alive and have kids of his/her own.

So the only info I have is that he would have been married around 1950's and his name is H S. Apparently he was a red arrow, but not sure if that was true.

Thank you in advance for any info you're able to provide - I know this is a long shot!

Offline TerriG

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Re: Help me find my grandfather!
« Reply #1 on: Monday 07 January 19 14:36 GMT (UK) »
I cannot see a marriage for a H S in the London area during those 3 given years, but there is a marriage for a H L F  in Hendon in March quarter 1954.  There are 2 entries - one to Vera E McCoskery, and the other to Vera E Goll.

There's a death for Jean Iris Sweet in Lambeth in March quarter 1973.  This lady was born on 18th March 1922.  Could this be your grandmother?
McLeod, McKean, Hepburn (Fife)
McGowan, Gowan (Dumfriesshire, Ireland)
Nelson, McKean (Lanarkshire)
McKean, Mulgrew (Lethbridge, Alberta)
Boswell, Plumb, Lyon, Stokes, Pemberton, Crawford, Threadgold (Cheshire)
Tierney (Scotland/Ireland)

Offline IgorStrav

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Re: Help me find my grandfather!
« Reply #2 on: Monday 07 January 19 14:38 GMT (UK) »
Hi there

Firstly there is a possibility he could still be alive?  In which case we are restricted in searching for him.

However, do you have an area where he is supposed to have lived?
Have you looked for possible marriages around the time of your mother's birth (when he's supposed to have married the other woman)?
I can see a few possible H S in the 2 year range around 1953, but an area would help to pin down.

If you can find a geographically likely one (or few), you can get the marriage certificate(s) which will of course give you further details.

You could then try and research the possibles going backwards to see if there are any military records which would confirm your 'Red Arrow' pilot (or at least National Service in the RAF  ;)) rumour?

ADDED - do you have an idea of whether he was the same age as your grandmother or not?  That might help
Pay, Kent. 
Barham, Kent. 
Cork(e), Kent. 
Cooley, Kent.
Barwell, Rutland/Northants/Greenwich.
Cotterill, Derbys.
Van Steenhoven/Steenhoven/Hoven, Nord Brabant/Belgium/East London.
Kesneer Belgium/East London
Burton, East London.
Barlow, East London
Wayling, East London
Wade, Greenwich/Brightlingsea, Essex.
Thorpe, Brightlingsea, Essex

Offline avm228

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Re: Help me find my grandfather!
« Reply #3 on: Monday 07 January 19 14:44 GMT (UK) »


Ha Leonard Frederick Sh was born in Hendon in 1893 (mmn Millard).  He seems to have had a first marriage in Camberwell in 1937.  He would have been too old to have been part of the Red Arrows (formed in 1964) though the RAF had display teams before that.
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)


Offline rosie99

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Re: Help me find my grandfather!
« Reply #4 on: Monday 07 January 19 14:53 GMT (UK) »
There is another H L F S bn 1916  :)
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Offline IgorStrav

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Re: Help me find my grandfather! Harold Sheldon
« Reply #5 on: Monday 07 January 19 14:55 GMT (UK) »
If H L F S is the correct one, there's a probate record for his death in Barnstaple in 1992.
Pay, Kent. 
Barham, Kent. 
Cork(e), Kent. 
Cooley, Kent.
Barwell, Rutland/Northants/Greenwich.
Cotterill, Derbys.
Van Steenhoven/Steenhoven/Hoven, Nord Brabant/Belgium/East London.
Kesneer Belgium/East London
Burton, East London.
Barlow, East London
Wayling, East London
Wade, Greenwich/Brightlingsea, Essex.
Thorpe, Brightlingsea, Essex

Offline IgorStrav

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Re: Help me find my grandfather! Harold Sheldon
« Reply #6 on: Monday 07 January 19 14:57 GMT (UK) »
There is another H L F S bn 1916  :)

Sorry, Rosie, yes you are quite right - so not clear which is the one who died 1992.  The 1916 one is also H L F son of Millard Sheldon
Pay, Kent. 
Barham, Kent. 
Cork(e), Kent. 
Cooley, Kent.
Barwell, Rutland/Northants/Greenwich.
Cotterill, Derbys.
Van Steenhoven/Steenhoven/Hoven, Nord Brabant/Belgium/East London.
Kesneer Belgium/East London
Burton, East London.
Barlow, East London
Wayling, East London
Wade, Greenwich/Brightlingsea, Essex.
Thorpe, Brightlingsea, Essex

Offline avm228

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Re: Help me find my grandfather! Harold Sheldon
« Reply #7 on: Monday 07 January 19 14:57 GMT (UK) »
There is another H L F S bn 1916  :)

Ah OK.  So I may have my wires crossed, sorry. 

I think the one born in 1916 died in Barnstaple in 1992, and he is the one married to Vera (nee Usherwood) b 1923 who died in Barnstaple in 2010.
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)

Offline avm228

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Re: Help me find my grandfather! Harold Sheldon
« Reply #8 on: Monday 07 January 19 15:00 GMT (UK) »
Vera Eileen Usherwood born 1923 Bromley - mother Florrie Usherwood married William J McCoskery in Hendon in 1949 (perhaps together for some years before that).

As Vera Eileen McCoskery she married Melvin Garfield Goll in Hendon in 1944.  He was a US serviceman, and died in the US in 1975.
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)