• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
  • HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
    Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
    im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
    we are now using a backup solution

Aid/Advice for Beginners

Hi bren How would i find out when my grandfather who came to england from Rathdrum County Wicklow Arklow who decided to settle in birmingham and lived at 64 Cradock Road Alum Rock Birmingham 8 is name was William Henry Allen his date birth was 21 January 1914
 
karen ryan said:
Hi bren How would i find out when my grandfather who came to england from Rathdrum County Wicklow Arklow who decided to settle in birmingham and lived at 64 Cradock Road Alum Rock Birmingham 8 is name was William Henry Allen his date birth was 21 January 1914
Click to expand...

Hi Karen, the online electoral roll for Birmingham (https://www.midlandshistoricaldata.org) gives William & Gladys Allen at 64 Cradock Rd in 1945/50/52/55/57, William only in 1960, William & Maureen Allen in 1962 then William only in 1965. Not all years are in the archive, but the real thing is available to see in the central library in town if you want all years.
 
Hi bren just to say thank you for the information you gave me I i have been trying to find out what ship he traveled on to come to england is it true that a lot of the Irish landed in liverpool docks first just to let you know my grandmother gladys allen died on 23/7/1959 only 42 years old i lost my own mother on the 23/7/2013 she was 66 years old she died of cancer and suffered really bad i think this was a calling from her own mom
 
William was in England in 1939.
1939 register 21 Treaford Lane
James W Lees b 1889
Alice Lees b 1882
William H Allen b 21st jan 1914 Public works labourer.
He married Gladys Whyman in 1940
1939 Register 52 Whitacre Road
William Whyman
Annie Whyman
Gladys Whyman 22nd August 1917.
Appears they always stayed in the Saltley /Alum Rock area.

Allen/Whyman children
Maureen 1941
Terence 1943
Paul 1945 (may have died as a infant)
Patricia A and Sheila M 1946 (twins)

There would be no 'ship' records from Ireland to England as there has been a ferry service from as early as the 1830s(in those days steam) it would have been a matter of turning up and paying your fare.
 
Last edited:
Hello all. I'm fairly experienced in grannyology as I like to call it and if anyone needs any pointers, I'm happy to help. Personally, I start from a position of disbelief and work towards closure as any and all records that involve people can be erroneous. I often use the rather cracking but not unusual example of my CousinHusband's* great grandmother. Her birth certificate has no father listed, however, when she comes round to getting married, one William Jefferis, a butcher, deceased is listed as her father. He's not her father at all, he's her grandfather. We don't know why she did this, she may have not wanted to admit she was illegitimate, she may have been told that William was her father, they are all dead and we can't ask them. What is important to note though is that 'official' record or not, her marriage certificate is incorrect - and this is why I start out with the question in my head of 'convince me this is right'.

*Nothing like grannyology when you find out your husband, who you didn't even meet until you were 39, and yourself have the same set of 8th great grandparents.......
 
NelliB I like the name "grannyology"!! and yes my family tree does merge with my (2nd) husbands's tree a few genereations back!! Unfortunately one lady died in childbirth, 2x great grandfather remarried otherwise I wouldn't be here.
rosie.
 
rosie said:
NelliB I like the name "grannyology"!! and yes my family tree does merge with my (2nd) husbands's tree a few genereations back!! Unfortunately one lady died in childbirth, 2x great grandfather remarried otherwise I wouldn't be here.
rosie.
Click to expand...
It's a fascinating rabbit hole, isn't it? I've been at it several years now.
 
My late Brother died early 70`s & i believe his two kids were put into Birmingham fostering service. I`m trying to find info about them but there are so many fostering services in Brum & it`s very confusing. Can anyone tell me the best way to get this info or will it be confidential. ? Thanks.
 
That's a good guide. I only used the familyrecords before. I guess a couple of weeks of digging are ahead for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top