Find Ancestors

I'm going to the archive at Colindale on Wednesday morning. Can deal with a small number of lookup requests while there. First come first served (unless bribed!). Jim

Um where 's Collindale ????...Lynn

hi jim, where is this place? gwen

It's in North London close to the end of the M1 and the North Circular Road and almost next to Colindale Station on the dreaded Northen Line. It's part of the British Library. You can visit and get a day ticket. They have newspaper archives going way back and they are supposed to receive a copy of every UK paper published. There is no charge for looking but charges if you want copies made. Website is www(.)bl(.)uk/collections/newspapers(.)html -- remove brackets. Jim

Hi Jim, Do you need an exact date to search the archives, or can you search by a name of a person? Tks Phil

Hi Jim - thanky ou for your kind offer. I have looked at the site and note that they hold the Stornoway Gazette from 1920 onwards. On 23 Sep 1939 the Rawalpindi was sunk whilst on patrol. Many men from the Isle of Lewis died - including my Granny's brother Norman Macleod of Swordale, Point District. I wonder if you would be able to locate the issues from the following days? It would have been the only event worthy of discussion at the time - I certainly don't expect you to find every article. I would really like to see the initial main (i.e. front page) articles. I know this involves expense...but I don't know how much...I can't find that info on their website. Please pm if you're willing to give me your address so that I can send a cheque to you to cover any expense. If not then I understand - but don't worry about the lookup...I know a reasonable amount about the sinking but am interested in seeing the actual news of the time. Kind regards, William

Thanks a lot for the offer. According to their website they have the Islington Daily Gazette 1901 to 1918. Could you possibly have a look at the 8th August 1908 to see if there was a report of an inquest held 7th August into the death of Jessie Bristow age 45, please? She died 4th August 1908 at 14 Queensland Road. The reason I want to know if there was a report is that according to her death certificate she was the wife of Robert Salter Bristow a Captain in the Merchant Service, but he was actually married to my great-grandmother Queenie at the time, and I'm wondering if there is more about it in the report. Or if there is any mention of any of her relatives, as there is something of a mystery about her. She died on 'Coma Haemorrhage into lateral Ventricles of Brain' and the coroner was G. D. Thomas. Thanks a million. Kate.

Hi Jim Many thanks for the offer. Hope I'm early enough. :) Could you tell me how many columns per average page and their width for these 2 newspapers, on any date in 1908. I'll take 1 title, if time is a factor. Could you also keep an eye out if either paper ran any photos on their pages, other than ads? The Wigan Observer and District Advertiser Numbers no. 37-13333 Dates 7 July 1855-21 Jan. 1966 The Wigan Examiner Numbers no.1-832,1024-12698 Dates 25 Nov.1853-6 Nov.1869; 27 June 1873-9 June 1961 Many thanks Samantha Perth Australia

Oh oh oh, any chance of you looking in the South London Press (I think thats the right one) for an inquest on my Grandfather PLEASE who committed suicide in 1912 at 33 Coopers Road, Old Kent Road, Camberwell Details as follows: HANSON James Robert, suicide 23.10.1912 whilst of unsound mind. Death Certificate held, James Robert Hanson Age 52 Camberwell 1d 943 4th Qtr 1912 Death Cert shows Inquest held 28 October 1912 by George Percival Wyatt, Coroner of London, death registered 28.10.12 in the Sub district of St George, Camberwell. Id be very pleased if you can find any reference to this death. The inquest notes have disappeared. Heres hoping!

Hi Jim I think I'm after the South London Press too. My gr grandfather committed suicide on 29 Sep 1897 - the inquest was a couple of days later but I'm at work and don't have the date with me. He was Edmund Titus WHITE. He took spirits of salts because he found out his wife was 'playing around' - she gave birth one year later (5 Oct 1898) to Rosetta MONCAR - father was Joseph MONCAR so assume it was him she was playing around with! All very scandalous so may have been reported! He died in Guys Hospital by the way and they do not have the inquest records. He would have been at work when he took the stuff as his workplace shows on the death certificate - he worked at a brass foundry in Scovell Street, Southwark - no idea of the name of the company as never managed to find out anything about it. I;ve looked on the Times Archives and he's not there but may be in the local paper. He was born in Luton in 1862 so would have been 35 at death. Widow was Alice Mary WHITE - he left five children. Many thanks Fingers crossed Jill

Hi Jim, Could you look for the elusive Francis Griffin that we were looking for the other day? Ive had a look at the site and come up with a few papers were his birth might be recorded. They are... The Royal Leamington,Warwick and County Chronicle. no.793-1233 4Oct 1878-12March 1887 Looking for the birth of Francis William Griffin,(1886)father William Henry Griffin. Or The Midland Times and Rugby Gazzette no.947-2464 20May1876-9June1906 Also could you look in the following paper for the birth of Dorothy Alice Joan Griffin born 12 of either oct,nov,dec,1917,and just see if it mentions any other siblings. Her parents are Francis William Griffin and Evelyn Sybil Griffin9nee Wood) The paper is The Rugby Advertiser 1868-to date. many thanks sue

Hi Jim If you have not had too many reqests may I make one please. My G Grandfather died on the 9th March 1911 he drowned, but they did not know how he came to be in the water. There was an inquest on the 11th March 1911. He was a Lighterman and lived in Poplar his name was John Cope Gould. He died in Poplar Hospital. The local paper at the time was Boroughs of Stepney and Poplar and East London Advertiser. I would love to know if there was a newspaper report about him and what it said. I would pay for any photocopying. If this is possible that would be great. Thank you Regards Jill

Hi Jim my ancestor CHRISTIANA WILKES age 67 made the Times newspaper with an attempt on her life 21st January 1848 by George Mason. George's first court appearance was 11.02.1848. The attempted murder took place in East London, Norman Buildings. Cannon Street. St. George in the East. He appreared again in court on the 18.02.1848 when he was committed for trail. It would be great to have the details of the trail as I am sure I would learn a lot about the family. Christiana's daughter was being seen by George Mason, 2 grandchildren were with Christiana when she was attacked and she was found by her son Andrew and a doctor and the police were called. As you can see a lot of my family members are mentioned. I do not know when the trail took place and I cannot find anymore in the Times archives. Any help would be much appreciated. Regards Irene

Hi, 21st September 1895 marriage between Edward FREED amd Hannah FREEMAN at St Johns MAIDSTONE KENT. In the same quarter Harry FREED (brother) married Eliza FREEMAN (sister) I am curious to know if they had a double wedding or if there were any photos of this event. 2 of my older cousins had a double wedding and wondered if they were following on the tradition. Would it have been a big issue then and made the news? If you have time to find anything on that please. Thanks If there is a picture I will reimburse gladly. GLoria Kent messenger 1871 -1931 Maidstone and Kentish journal 1853 - 1911

Apologies to others but I need to close this list. I hope to deal with all previous messages, and will do my best. Will be back in touch. All the best Jim

No pressure Jim, but I wonder when the Ferret will return???? I mustnt get excited, Im pretty sure you will have not found this man Jim but ....................

Give him a chance! Anyway, the later he is back, the more time he must have spent there doing our lookups, don't you think? Kate.

True,. trouble is, its pitch black here in rural Norfolk so I tend to think it must be a lot later. Plus the lights upstairs have tripped off for some reason and Im typing blind here.

Ive already mailed Jim but just to say on the boards, thank you so much Jim. The information you got was beyond anything I had expected. I am so very grateful to you and to those who help me in these sort of look ups. I am hopeless at anything like that, Im sure I would have spent an hour trying to find where to hang my coat and have a cup of coffee and then the rest of the time either getting sidetracked or finding nothing at all. Bless all those who have helped me so very much in this hobby which to be honest is now my main interest and keeps me sane - which is more than can be said for poor Great Grandad whose suicide Jim found for me.

I would also like to thank Jim who spent his day yesterday doing look ups for other people. It is people like Jim and many others on this board that make the world a nicer place to live in. Many thanks Irene