Arthur Patrick Riley

[sachaB]

I am helping a friend research her family history but have hit a brick wall with regard to her father’s side of the family. I would really appreciate some help.

So far I have found her great-grandfather named on his daughter’s marriage certificate;

Arthur Patrick Riley (deceased), profession - railway locomotive driver. I assume he may have been killed in the war but have searched through many war records of Arthur Rileys, to no avail.

Marriage date - 15th January 1949 of his daughter, Annie Riley aged 20 years/spinster married Frank Holland otherwise Higginson - does this mean he went by two names?

I have not been able to find Annie at all apart from this certificate.

I am new to Rootschat so hopefully I’ve posted the right question in the right place!

Thank you!

[heywood]

Hello and welcome

The marriage took place in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Do you know if Annie was from Derbyshire?
Who were the witnesses to the marriage?

Heywood

[avm228]

Welcome from me too

I can see a male Holland birth registration in Chesterfield, mother’s maiden name Riley, in Jun qtr 1949 which if relevant to this couple suggests that Holland was the favoured surname. (Also that Annie was pregnant at marriage).

[avm228]

An Arthur Patrick Riley might well have been Irish.  Are there family recollections of Irish heritage?  Is the family Catholic?

[avm228]

Frank may be the Francis John Holland, mother’s maiden name Higginson, whose birth was registered Sep qtr 1929 Manchester South.  If so, he had a twin sister named Veronica.

Parents were Francis J Holland and Elizabeth A Higginson, who married Sep qtr 1926 Manchester South.

Actually no - this Francis and his twin Veronica died soon after their 1929 birth.

[avm228]

Does your friend know where and when her paternal grandparents died (even roughly)?

[avm228]

There’s a death registration for an Arthur Patrick Riley aged 51, Jun qtr 1945 Newcastle 10b 121.

None other in England & Wales in the relevant timeframe.

[heywood]

There’s a death registration for an Arthur Patrick Riley aged 51, Jun qtr 1945 Newcastle 10b 121.

None other in England & Wales in the relevant timeframe.

I think this is that Arthur.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2810468/riley,-arthur-patrick/

Likely marriage
1921 to Elizabeth A Hornsby.

I can’t see a daughter Annie though 

[sachaB]

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!