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Donald Albert Saunders was born in 1932, and died in the 1990s (Feb 19th). He was cremated at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium in Kent.

He was married to a Doris Kathleen Marqueite, marriage year is unknown due to her throwing the marriage certificate away and family fueds meaning the only source I have is my mothers' memories of the story about him.

His perants lived in Ireland, one day they returned to Kent to visit a sister in Iden Green/Benenden and left Donald there in her care before returning to Ireland. They never came back for him and the Aunt never formally adopted him.
The father of Donald was believed to be from the Tunbridge Wells area working as a rag and bone man. I have no info on Donalds mother. There was talk of him being the youngest child of the family, he did have brothers and sisters but how many I do not know.

I cannot find the marriage certifcate, death or birth certificate for him or even my own mother. I am at a loss of what to do.

I have family history on the White side dating back to the 1700s but cannot even go back to my grandperants details on the Saunders side.

At this rate I'm going to have to pay for a professional to find Donalds family, and if I have any living relatives in Ireland.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Name: Doris K M Reed
Spouse Surname: Saunders
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1961
Registration district: Maidstone
Registration county (inferred): Kent
Volume Number: 5b
Page Number: 1266
Find Spouse: DONALD A

Name: Donald Albert Saunders
Birth Date: 8 Feb 1932
Death Registration Month/Year: Aug 1992
Age at death (estimated): 60
Registration district: Tunbridge Wells
Inferred County: Kent
Volume: 16
Page: 1978

Is your mother alive?

Do you have any idea of when and where she was born?

Did she marry a Mr Knight?

You mention the surname WHITE - where does it fit in with your request?

Thank you Flick, this maybe what I am looking for. The Maidstone registraion looks about right although my mum Christine Marian Saunders was born March 16th in 1961, so that would be a very quick marriage and birth.

The only thing that stops me from jumping out of my seat is the date of death, mum was sure it was 19th Feb that he died in the early 1990's, but this is the closest I've come to getting something solid about this Grandfather from Ireland.

Thank you again Flick, this may bring me a step closer to getting to the Ireland connection...

My fathers side is White, of which I have the tree going back to the 1700s. That side is not an issue. I mentioned it as a show of the dicotomy of family knowledge of each side of my family.

My mother is alive, yes. However she does not know where her birth certificate is. Over the years there have been many falling out in the Saunders side of the family, resulting in photos, certificates and other such vital paperwork being thrown out torn up and burnt by Doris, my granmother.

The Knights come into the fray by a remarriage by Doris, of which 3 children were born under that name, Dawn, Andrew and Karen. And later it was found an older fourth child, Sharon was indeed a Knight too rather than a Saunders as she always thought she was.

did doris remarry??
Name: Doris K M Saunders
Spouse Surname: Knight
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1971
Registration district: Maidstone
Registration county (inferred): Kent
Volume Number: 5f
Page Number: 1115
Find Spouse: Arthur W Knight

crossed with your posting!

looks like Donald was born in Kent . Cranbrook isnt that far from Tunbridge Wells
Name: Donald A Saunders
Mother's Maiden Surname: Edwards
Date of Registration: Jan Feb Mar 1932
Registration district: Cranbrook
Registration county: Surrey,Kent
Volume Number: 2a
Page Number: 1518

Doris K M was born as a Wares
Then in order of marriage she then became:
Reed
Saunders
Knight

So yes that could tie in too.

The Saunders side of the family has always been a can of worms, with all sorts of marriages, remarriages, going into care, running off to other men etc
It wasn't until her early 20s that Sharon found out she was not a Saunders but a Knight, and that wasn't from her mother Doris telling her, it was from those that told her what really happened all those years ago. Doris in no uncertain terms has lied and kept secret a lot of things, which is the source of many feuds in that family.

maybe
Name: William G A Saunders
Spouse Surname: Edwards
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1918
Registration district: Dartford
Registration county (inferred): Kent
Volume Number: 2a
Page Number: 1514
Josephine E Edwards

you can check this against Donald marriage cer for the dads name

Yes my hometown was Cranbrook in Kent, I was born in Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, and the Wares/Saunders/Knights all live in the Cranbrook and Benenden area.

There was always specualtion as to whether Donald's birth was registered here or in Ireland.

This is a big breakthrough if this is the Donald I am after. ^_^

Emma

Look again.........the date on the death reg'n is that of the man's BIRTH

Births Mar 1934 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wares Doris K M Payne Cranbrook 2a 1524

Have PM'd your mother's birth details........as it is less than 50 years ago, the exact DOB will be required when ordering it

Possible birth?

Donald A Saunders
Mother's Maiden Surname: Edwards
Date of Registration: Jan Feb Mar 1932
Registration district: Cranbrook
Registration county: Surrey,Kent
Volume Number: 2a
Page Number: 1518

Thank you Flick, she would appreciate that.
Unlike Doris, my mother keeps all the important bits and if it has indeed been lost then she can finally add it to her black box.

Chris, yes that could be another possibilty, however that would mean the older siblings of donalds would have been born out of wedlock.

Thank you all the same it is another lead for me to follow.

Two leads in one day, big improvement against no leads for 5 years...! LOL