Find Ancestors

Iam trying to find my granddad married to Violet Parker, information from my dads birth certificate. My dad Peter Henry Birch 18/04/1932 was one of 3 boys born in Lambeth London and living in Greenwich in 1938. I cant find a birth death or marriage for Walter or Violet. Walter believed to have died in the Blackwall Tunnel around 1947 but not sure if this was just a story. We do know that Violet re married as a widow in 1950 at 43 years old to George Russell. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks for read

What was Walters occupation on the birth certificate ,Cheryl......?

Does the birth certificate state,,,,nee or formally.for Violets status.

on Peters my dad birth certificate 1932 it says Walter was a journeyman house painter, and on Peters marriage certificate it says Walter (deceased) was a master painter. Violets status it says formaly Parker but it says her father was called George Parker on her second marriage after Walter died

In 1939 Violet Birch is in Deptford ad states she is a Widow.also there is Peter H,as
birthday 17/4/32/
Violet DOB as 5/4/1906.----penciled in above,,,5/4/1903.

Ther doesnt seem to be a marriage for Walter and Violet.


This may be Violet in 1911,,,,,,,,her father George is a House Painter,

me: Violet Parker
Age in 1911: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1902
Relation to Head: Daughter
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Tottenham, Middlesex, England
Civil Parish: Tottenham
Search Photos: Search for 'Tottenham' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Street Address: 15 Scales Road, Bruce Grove, Tottenham
Occupation: School
Registration District: Edmonton
Registration District Number: 132
Sub-registration District: East Tottenham
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Piece: 7333
Household Members:
Name Age
George Parker 43
Mary Parker 42
Elizabeth Parker 18
Mable Parker 16
Mary Parker 14
George Parker 11
Violet Parker 9
Alice Parker 5

We also have a birth certificate of Walter Oliver Birch, Peter Henry's brother born feb 1931 father Walter Charles Birch mother Violet Birch formerly Parker of the church army home Belverdere cresent North Lambeth. occupation of father, hous
e painters labourer of the church army 33 Great Peter Street London. In the box where it says signnature and residence of informant it says V birch 13 Viceroy Road Wandsworth . Then at the side of all the boxes it says Adopted and a signature of the superintendent. This is driving us mad that we cant find a marriage we seem to be stumped

On Violets second marriage her father George Parkers occupation is a coal face miner retired which makes me think that they could have come from the midlands or up north

Perhaps they simply weren’t married.

Incidentally, please check the wording re Violet

Formally and formerly have totally different meanings, and could be crucial

There is a birth in 1893 for Walter Charles Birch in Leighton Buzzard

On 1901 census he is with a father whose occupation is Estate Carpenter and PAINTER

It seems that a child was adopted into another family ,,,,,,,,although a fathers name appears on a birth certificate it doesnt mean the parents were married,


In the 1939 register she def states a widow,and is then aged 33,,,,,,,not unusual to be widowed that young and the Walter below was 7 years younger than Violet,

In 1939 there is a Walter C Birch in London,says married


Walter C Birch
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Birth Date: 16 Jul 1914
Residence Year: 1939
Address: 58 Zealand Road
Residence Place: Bethnal Green, London, England
Occupation: General Labourer
Line Number: 1
Schedule Number: 58
Sub Schedule Number: 1
Enumeration District: ADCL
Borough: Bethnal Green
Registration District: 17-1
Household Members:
Name
Walter C Birch.

seems lodgings as alone,

Great Peter Street hostel was the Salvation Army.

That one almost certainly married in 1936 - see freebmd

This is Violet taken from the 1939 register.

View1939 England and Wales Register
Add or update information
Report a problem
Name: Violet Birch
[Violet Russell]
Gender: Female
Marital status: Widowed
Birth Date: 5 Apr 1906
Residence Year: 1939
Residence Place: Deptford, London, England
Occupation: Unpaid Domestic Duties
Line Number: 29
Schedule Number: 319
Sub Schedule Number: 1
Enumeration District: AFKE
Borough: Deptford
Registration District: 26-1
Household Members:
Name
Violet Birch
Peter H M Birch

there is one blocked out record below Peters name,possibly Walter Oliver,? or another later born child.?

the wording on on Peter Henry Birch and his brother Walter Oliver Birch of their mother Violet says formerly Parker. This is very confusing as I cant move forward unless i can find Walter Charles Birch. I have a lot of info that I have found but I cant put any of it together, oh and I have a few certificates that I have purchased that are not the right family, this man I think is not wanting to be found

Any thoughts re the 1893 birth to which I referred? And the father’s occupation in 1901?

Not sure about that i have looked at it a few times Im gonna take another look thank you

The Leighton Buzzard one in 1911:

Walter Charles Burch
in the 1911 England Census
Name: Walter Charles Burch
Age in 1911: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1894
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England
Civil Parish: Leighton Buzzard
County/Island: Bedfordshire
Country: England
Street Address: 33 Dudley Street, Leighton Buzzard
Marital status: Single
Occupation: Errand Boy
Registration District: Leighton Buzzard
Registration District Number: 177
Sub-registration District: Leighton Buzzard
ED, institution, or vessel: 09
Piece: 8966
Household Members:
Name Age
James Burch 49 - carpenter and painter
Harriet Ruth Burch 49
William John Burch 20
Walter Charles Burch 17
Frederick Thomas Burch 10
Edward Frank Burch 8
Sidney James Eelioth 49


He emigrated to Canada - or at least married there:

Walter Charles Birch
in the Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1938
Name: Walter Charles Birch
Age: 22
Birth Year: abt 1894
Birth Place: England
Marriage Date: 17 Feb 1916
Marriage Place: Wellington, Ontario, Canada
[Guelph, Wellington, Ontario, Canada]
Father: James Birch
Mother: Harriet Luth Green Birch [ Ruth, not Luth, on image ]
Spouse: Louisa Mabel French

His occupation is "soldier" on the marriage cert.

BIRCH, WALTER CHARLES mms GREEN
GRO Reference: 1893 D Quarter in LEIGHTON BUZZARD Volume 03B Page 386

I think you might have something there. I have looked at it several times over the years and never thought it matched because of the area but I am now thinking you may have something, finally I feel a little progress. Thank you so much

I suppose it's possible that the Leighton Buzzard man returned to the UK, but couldn't marry Violet as he was already married to Louisa!

But no way to prove it.

His brother William John also went to Canada:

William John Birch
in the Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1938
Name: William John Birch
[William John Burch]
Age: 24
Birth Year: abt 1891
Birth Place: Leighton Buzzard England
Marriage Date: 8 Jun 1915
Marriage Place: Wellington, Ontario, Canada
[Guelph, Wellington, Ontario, Canada]
Father: James Birch
Mother: Harriet Green
Spouse: Mary Ann Mulhall


William John travelled to Canada alone, in May 1911.

He and Mary, and children, were still living in Guelph at 1921 census.

Wow thank you so much to you all. Im going to pick this up again tomorrow night after work. Im buzzing thank you

I don't see Walter and Louisa in Canada in 1921 - but no travel records, either.