I am interested in finding out more about my Grandfather Herbert Robert Cowley?

Question

I am a member of Genes Reunited but have hit brick walls in relation to my Grandfather who died sometime after1961, probably in Suffolk. Born 1898 he did a runner from his family and settled with a woman who i met when i was a child who had two children by him. Ursula and Gerald. I cannot find any record of his death nor any records other than his military service in WW1 as a driver or possibly a gunner. I know my Half Aunt had a son by the name of Mark and that Gerald (possibly using the name Cowley) had been in the RAF. Any suggestions as to where i go from here as it is possible my Grandfather had been living under a false name. I am also hitting stone walls with his wife (my grandmother) Mabel Mason 1899 as i know she died around 1954/55 and is buried in London but i am unsure in Which cemetary. Ps I dont have lots of money to trawl through records that have proved to be false leads at £5.00 a pop.

Answer 1

Is this possibly your grandad.

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983

about Herbert Robert Cowley

Name: Herbert Robert Cowley

Year of Registration: 1898  

Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun  

District: Holborn  

County: London, Middlesex  

Volume: 1b  

Page: 730

After doing a search using www.ancestry.co.uk, I found the details for Herberts marriage to Mabel. They married in the A/M/J quarter of 1921 in Kensington, the volume number is 1a and the page number is 437, this certificate can be obtained either from the Kensington reigister office or the GRO. http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

Hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything else you need.

Answer 2

Go to your local libary they have their own verson of Ancestry all you pay for is any print offs you might do(10p each)

Also ask if there doing any taster sessions there free & last for 2hours iit's a great way.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Hi, could this be your grandfather?:  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi...

Or this?:  England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983

about Herbert Crowley

Name: Herbert Crowley

Year of Registration: 1899  

Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep  

District: Bradford  

County: Yorkshire - West Riding, West Yorkshire  

Volume: 9b  

Or this?:

1901 England Census

Name: Herbert Crowley

Age: 1  

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1900

Relation: Son  

Father's Name: Charles Hy

Mother's Name: Frances

Gender: Male

Where born: Bradford, Yorkshire, England

Civil Parish: Bradford  

Ecclesiastical parish: Bradford St Chrysostom  

County/Island: Yorkshire  

Country: England  

Registration district: Bradford  

Sub registration district: Bradford East  

ED, institution, or vessel: 62    

Household schedule number: 156

Household Members: Name Age

Ada Crowley 5  

Annie Maria Crowley 15  

Charles Hy Crowley 37  

Ethel Crowley 4  

Frances Crowley 36  

Herbert Crowley 1  

Nellie Crowley 8  

William Crowley 13  

Were Herbert and Mabel from the UK, I am guessing?  or New Zealand, or the USA...?  There are many Suffolk locations, including in those 3 countries (several in the USA).

Answer 4

If you haven't already check with EVERY living family member... have em for dinner and catch up and talk about every family member they recall. I know it sounds simple, but when I did this, I had distant cousins that told me so much... I was stunned!!! ... and almost every family has a member hiding out, with an unknown family tree record that is very thorough. One of the first people to check with are those in charge of planning family reunions, if your family does that. (or did) There are also great Genealogy centers available for public use in every Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Don't worry, no one will bug you there !!! Consult your telephone book for the closest one. There are people assigned to be there several days a week if not every night...I guess it depends on the individual ward size and the specialist in charge of operating it. They will have many records of their own, microphish machines and also tons of information and charts for locating and recording all you learn. They also answer questions for you and have ordering set ups for a very small fee and knowledge of many ways to search. This is vastly superior to any library geneological set up I have ever seen. Good luck to you !!!