Finding more about a granddad with common names

[Maeva]

I'm hoping to find some tips on finding records of someone I know the name of but little more about their past - I've been struggling to confirm when it could be the right person, and I'd like to find out who his parents were.

My dad passed away, and I never knew his parents. He had no idea what happened to his dad since his own childhood. His name is on my dad's birth certificate from the 1950s, when he was a bus inspector. I suspect he might've been married to somebody else when he had a child in the early 1950s. He was living in London in the 50s and early 60s and I think he continued the same work for some years afterwards. I heard he'd said he was as old as the century, so I think he was born in or around 1900.

He had three middle names, but of course middle names don't appear in a lot of records, especially more than the first (which again is a very common name). I found him on the electoral register from the 1950s until the 1960s under his first name and initial, William J., but since he moved from that address I wouldn't know where to find him. I think he stayed in London though. I can only assume he was born there or nearby, but I know nothing about his early life. I've looked at other birth records across the UK and couldn't find any sign of him.

Unfortunately him and my dad's mother never seem to have married, so I can't find his parents' names the easy way. I've found birth records that could be him, but I'm hoping to avoid ordering many more if possible because they feel a bit like blind shots in the dark. I found some William Js doing the same work in the 1939 Register who could be him, but again to confirm any would mean ordering more birth or marriage certificates. A couple of people on my mum's side of the family (with Irish roots) mentioned that one of his middles would've been a traditionally Protestant name and one Catholic, and they wondered if one could've been a Christening name or Communion name, in which case they might not all appear on his birth certificate. We don't know anything about his family's religious background.

Please let me know if you have any other ideas, records I might not have thought of, etc.

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

Welcome to RootsChat

I'm not sure if you've tried these sources, they might be helpful.


The GRO index for births gives three forenames for births,

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp

Unfortunately the deaths have a gap between 1957 and 1984 and they only show two forenames and an initial, but you might be lucky.

It's free to register and search there.


If you could also search the probate records to see if he left a will,

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/


I hope these help.
Regards,
Daisy

[CaroleW]

Welcome from me too

Have you tried looking for him on the 1939 register?  That would give you his full birthdate & if he was married at that time it would give his wife's name

[heywood]

In addition to Carole’s good suggestion, I was going to ask if he was with a wife/partner in those electoral records to perhaps search for a marriage.

Re 1939, he might have had an occupation related to the buses and worked his way to an inspector later.

[Girl Guide]

Well for what it's worth there are 17 William's born 1900 +/- 2 years with an occupation of bus driver in the 1939 Register living in London and married.

Of those 17 only one has three christian names mentioned and was born in 1900.  This looks to be his birth registration.

MURPHY, WILLIAM  JOHN EDWARD    JACKSON 
GRO Reference: 1900  M Quarter in PANCRAS  Volume 01B  Page 125

This is pure speculation, you give no indication as to whether you know all his christian names.  He could have appeared on the 1939 with only his first name given.

[CaroleW]

If Girl Guide has the right person here is his death reg

William John E Murphy b 4.2.199 died March 1977 Barnet London. 11 0318

[sandiep]

Have you looked on Freebmd to see if he was married
your dad isnt alive so can you give his name or would that upset anyone.

you mentioned family with Irish roots is it possible he came from Ireland

[softly softly]

Interesting find Girl Guide. This gentleman died

William John E Murphy
4 Feb 1900   Jan 1977   Jan-Feb-Mar   Barnet   Greater London

If you look up this death on "view record" on Ancestry it gives quite a few pointers. One of which is the 1939 register with an occupation bus driver road transport.

John

[Girl Guide]

That birth date matches the one I found on the 1939 Register so has to be the same man.  As I said earlier Maeva hasn't said if all the christian names of this man are known.