Ancestors in Brockmoor and Brierly Hill

[Michmoor]

Hello All,

Put this in the beginners forum first, then it was suggested I try here:

Been a while since I've been on here so hello to everyone.
Am going down to Birmingham for a couple of days to do some research on the family history, am on Ancestry.com, have traced them back to the 18th century, know their addresses, church where they are buried and occupations.
Am particularly interested in trying to solve a family mystery involving my great grandfather who worked in the railway industry and may have had an accident.  Some were in Stourbridge Workhouse for a while in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Can anyone suggest libraries with a local history unit, family history research societies that could be worth visiting.  Any suggestion at all really.
Thanks in advance.

[Milliepede]

Am particularly interested in trying to solve a family mystery involving my great grandfather who worked in the railway industry and may have had an accident. 

Do you mean he may have died as a result of a railway accident or had one during his lifetime - do you have his death certificate?  That may clarify if the former is correct. 

Newspapers may have reported it if you haven't already looked online for any mention.

[Michmoor]

He did not die as a result of the accident, in the 1901 census he is listed as a lodger, occupation Railway Labourer, married to my Great Grandmother.

In the 1911 census he is in the Stourbridge Union Workhouse.  Anecdotal family history says he suffered an accident on the railway, I'm trying to find out what happened to him.  My Great Grandmother relocated to Manchester with my Grandmother around this time, where we descend from.

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
If you posted a name we could have a good rummage for you but without it,it's difficult.
The accident on the railway should be found here.
http://www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/

We got up to 1907 indexing on Who do you think you are Transciption Tuesday.
There are also newspaper articles if you have FindMyPast or British Library of newspapers subscriptions

Sorry just realized he was alive 1911 .Stupid me

Ciderdrinker

[Michmoor]

Thanks for the information;

His birth name was John Thomas Stevens born 1876, later just called John Stevens, listed as a "Railway Labourer" in the 1901 census and in 1911 he is in Stourbridge Workhouse.  I have a confusing death certificate which says he may have died at the workhouse in 1917.

[Michmoor]

Thanks for the link, but whatever happened it occured between 1901 and 1911, probably around Stourbridge, it appears the link only helps from 1911 onwards.

Ta anyway.

[Milliepede]

I have a confusing death certificate which says he may have died at the workhouse in 1917.

What's the confusing bit?  That he died somewhere you weren't expecting?

I can only see 1 John Stevens death in Stourbridge district in 1917 and he was John H age 86.

His wife and daughter relocating happened before his death?

[Michmoor]

The death certificate is confusing because it is registered in March 1927, however in the column where it says "When and where died", it appears to say March 1917, at Stream Road Kingswinford, where the workhouse was situated.

If he did die in 1917, but for some reason wasn't actually registered until 1927, then it would answer a number of questions.  But I do not know if this actually happened.

His wife, my great grandmother remarried in Manchester in April 1917, have the marriage certificate.

[Milliepede]

Oh I see yes that is confusing.  What was the cause of death if you don't mind me asking?

If his wife remarried in 1917 then presume she said she was a widow. 

There must be a reason it wasn't registered for another 10 years.