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Hi, I’m trying to find more information about my grandmother from my dads side.
The only concrete info I have are from my dads birth cert and her marriage cert. I thought this would be enough info to trace back but keep hitting a brick wall!!! She has 3 surnames!!
Information from my dads birth cert (dated 1951)says her name is Nellie Enid Newcombe formerly Matthews
I’m assuming she was previously married? But cant find any info on this!
She was married to Peter Thomas 1951 and her name on cert was Nellie Enid Matthews and she was 35 and unusually it says she was a spinster???
Her fathers name was William Matthews, he was still alive in 1951 (I think, it doesn’t say deceased) and he was a night watchman (ret.)
I have looked extensively with all 3 surnames and cant find anything concrete, especially Newcombe surname.
It’s like she has no history at all before or after 1951
Can anyone help me???
I am extremely confused and frustrated
Thanks

maybe she was married before but divorced so she reverted to her maiden name

For INFO

The 1951 marriage was in Liverpool

Your father was registered under 2 surnames

were there any other children from the marriage

so she was born c1916

the only one that comes up is this

Births Dec 1915
Matthews Nellie E Hughes Birmingham 6d 290

,maybe

Marriages Jun 1908
HUGHES Elizabeth Ellen Birkenhead 8a 996
MATTHEWS William John Birkenhead 8a 996


edit no this one married a Margaret Dougherty

as that birth was Birmingham this could also be a possible

Marriages Sep 1903
HUGHES Annie Maria Aston 6d 492
Matthews William Aston 6d 492

1911 census
Name: William Matthews
Age in 1911: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1876
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: West Bromwich
Civil Parish: Aston
Search Photos: Search for 'Aston' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England
Street address: 63 C 1 House Cromwell St Bham
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Rubber Worker
Registration district: Aston
Registration District Number: 385
Sub-registration district: Duddeston
ED, institution, or vessel: 19
Piece: 18249
Household Members:
Name Age
William Matthews 35
Annie Maria Matthews 32
Martha Matthews 4
Emily Matthews 2

@ Erika H, yes marriage was in Liverpool. I have my dads birth cert and his name is Kenneth P C Thomas. His mothers name on the birth cert says: Nellie Enid Newcombe (formerly) Matthews

another child

Births Sep 1911
MATTHEWS May Hughes Aston 6d 520

what happened to her did they part?

is peter thomas still alive to ask

You say "unusually it says she was a spinster???"

That's not unusual at all - it just means she hadn't been married before.

???
date of birth would fit the birth reg

Deaths Mar 1972
THOMAS Nellie Enid 10Oc1915 Poplar 5d 1556

Re the 1915 birth in Birmingham:

With William Matthews and Annie Maria Matthews, at 8 Alfred Terrace.
There's also a Minnie Matthews at 9 Alfred Terrace. That might be meant to be 9 Alfred Terrace).

Nellie Enid Matthews
in the Midlands, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1955
Name: Nellie Enid Matthews
Residence Year: 1939
Ward or Division/Constituency: Ladywood
Residence Place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

@ Shirley, I found that info from the 1911 census, obviously she isn’t on it as she was born 1915
But I have found a 1939 electoral reg.
District: Olser st
Address: 8 Alfred Terrace
William Matthews
Annie Marie
Nellie Enid

I also have found 1939 England & Wales register

Name: William Matthews
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Birth Date: 13 Dec 1874
Residence Year: 1939
Address: 8
Residence Place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Occupation: Labourer Water Works Heavy Worker
Schedule Number: 95
Sub Schedule Number: 1
Enumeration District: QAPC
Registration district: 384/4
Inferred Spouse: Annie M Matthews
Household Members:
Name
William Matthews
Annie M Matthews
This record is officially closed.
George Matthews

@ Shirley, my dads mum left my dad and his 2 brothers, they ended up in care homes. Peter Thomas died before I was born.

Thanks for this help guys, it looks as though I am on right track :)
Any further help anyone can give would be amazing

@ Shirley, regarding your info:

as that birth was Birmingham this could also be a possible

Marriages Sep 1903
HUGHES Annie Maria Aston 6d 492
Matthews William Aston 6d 492

This is new info, great thanks :)

I would guess that she had been living, unmarried, with a Newcombe before marrying Peter Thomas, and had been using Mr Newcombe's name, but was still officially Matthews.

I think you’re right Argyll/Gran. This makes it even more difficult to trace :(

The other strange thing is I have found 2 separate registers from 1939.
One from electoral reg,
other from England & Wales Reg.

Both have same address 8 Alfred Terrace

1939 England & Wales reg has:
William Matthews
Annie M Matthews
RECORD OFFICIALLY CLOSED
George Matthews

1939 Electoral Register has:
William Matthews
Annie M Matthews
Nellie Enid Matthews

Can anyone explain this?