Hi all,
You might remember me on here a while back trying to trace my grandmother Gertrude Ross (Nee Stephen) who gave my dad away at birth in Edinburgh in 1930.
I managed to uncover that Gertrude's Aunt Isabella Stephen died in Jersey on 5th February 1947. This piqued my interest in the island and I wondered what she was doing there so far from home (Isabella lived in Aberdeen all her life) after the war.
Since then, I also uncovered that Gertrude had another daughter before my dad called Joan Isabel Ross. Born 28th January 1926. I started looking at the re-entry cards for Jersey after WW2 and found application records for a Harold Arthur Goldsmith, a Gertrude Goldsmith and a Joan Isabel Ross. Bingo! It seems that Gertrude had re-married Harold Goldsmith. However, although the record states they were married in GB, I can't find any marriage certificates for them and Michele in the Jersey Archives (who has been ever so helpful) says she doesn't see any evidence of them moving to Jersey after the war. I checked the electoral register for the Charles Street address in Milford Haven and Gertrude and Harold are both there in 1945, but Gertrude is not there after that. Harold continues at that address in 1946 and 1947 but has left by 1948. So I've lost Gertrude again!
Michele in the archives found the will and testament of Harold Arthur Goldsmith who died in Jersey in 1975. I have ordered the document but not seen it yet. Michele tells me there is mention in the will of Harold's stepdaughter Joan Isabel, but no mention of Gertrude at all.
I wonder if any of you loved people based over there might be able to help me and see if there is anything you can dig up relating to Gertrude/Harold/Joan living in Jersey? This has been a family mystery for years and I would love to find out what happened to my grandmother and try and find answers as to why she gave my dad away at birth.
I would love to come over to the island to search the archives myself but unfortunately I have a young child and have neither the time or the funds to do so.
I'm really hoping someone on here might be able to help me. 🤞 Many thanks for your time. 😘
