Arthur Patrick Riley

[avm228]

Thank you so much for your speedy replies.

It sounds as if the Holland birth in 1949 with mother’s maiden name as Riley would be my friend’s father (who sadly passed away in February).

She used to visit her grandfather (Frank Holland) in Chesterfield. He married Annie and they had my friend’s father, Kenneth Mervin. Then, Frank remarried Margaret Slater in 1928 and had six more children.

I would expect to find a divorce record for Annie and Frank but I haven’t found one.

The witnesses at the wedding were Beryl Lodge and Eric Wilson.

I think there was talk of an Irish connection, are there some good sites to search that might cover this? I have not been able to find any more about Annie. I use Ancestry perhaps other sites might have additional data?


Apologies for all the questions. I am a novice but love helping friends discover their ancestors. Arthur Riley is proving elusive!

Thank you for your help!

The remarriage of Frank Holland aka Higginson to Margaret Slater was Jun qtr 1959 Scunthorpe.

These dates are too modern to find divorce records listed online.  Is the family’s recollection that there was a divorce?  If Annie’s death could be found that might assist with her birthdate.

[avm228]

I see that the Holland/Slater children were born 1953-1965 (so the earlier ones before the remarriage), the first two in Chesterfield and the rest in Scunthorpe.

NB you will see that we are careful on Rootschat not to name living people, in line with the rules here.

[avm228]

How old was Frank when he first married in 1949?

[heywood]

Is there an address for Annie on her marriage certificate?

[sachaB]

Yes, I found the war record of APR too but dismissed it as I couldn’t find any sign of Annie. If she was born in Ireland should it show up on Ancestry if ‘All Collections’ are turned?

Would his job as a train driver be worth looking in to? It might help with home address if on a trade union register?

My friend’s father lived with his dad (Frank Holland) and stepmother and step-siblings. He didn’t know his mum, Annie, although she did try to get him back at one point but she wasn’t allowed to see him. It just struck me that she could still be alive. She was born in 1929 so she would be 90 or more likely remarried so her surname would have changed.

Yes, thank you, I appreciate that this is for tracing ancestors and not living relatives. Its Arthur and his ancestors my friend really wants to find.

[sachaB]

Yes, the address for Annie and Frank are the same on the marriage certificate; 66 Emmett Cau, Renishaw

[sachaB]

Frank was 21 when he married Annie in 1949.

[avm228]

Yes, the address for Annie and Frank are the same on the marriage certificate; 66 Emmett Cau, Renishaw

Should be 66 Emmett Car(r), Renishaw.

I suggest you look at Frank Holland b 23 Jan 1927 in the 1939 Register - you may find him at a familiar address!

[avm228]

Frank’s birth: registered as Frank Higginson, mother’s maiden name Percival, Mar qtr 1927 Manchester N.

Parents were Frank Higginson and Harriet Percival, married (just in time) Dec qtr 1926 Manchester N.

It looks as though he died as Frank Holland in Birmingham in 2006.