Thread: Where do I start?

Can someone either help or point me in the right direction please. Mother born Elsie Alice Phillips Dec. 1918 @ 369 Fulham Rd., Kensington,London. That seems to be the only time she was known by that name, after it was Mary Phillips. Fathers name Charles William Phillips, Head porter, 114, Ifield Rd., Kensington. Later,on mums marriage cert., registered as Frederick ( deceased). Her mothers name was Florence at her birth & Florence Ann at marriage, surname Phillips formally Chandler. At sometime a surname of Young also crops up, could this be a previous marriage of my grandmother? Where do I start? Any ideas please.

Thank you in advance, Tony.

do you have any family stories that might shed light on things? any family members who might know about grandparnts / aunts.. anyone with old certificates? any names that can help? did she have any siblings?

Is the occupation of your mother's father the same on the marriage cert and the birth cert? I'm a bit concerned that the first names are completely different. Are you sure its the same person? Phillips is a relatively common surname.



And where exactly does the surname Young crop up?

Hi Tony,



The best starting point is with certificates. Do you have your mother's birth cert? If so, does it say her father's name was Charles William Phillips? And her mother's name Florence, formerly Chandler? Do you have Charles William and Florence's marriage cert, and if so, what were their fathers' names and occupations? Do you know what year, and place Charles William and Florence were born? This is all info which would help you to go back. With their year and place of birth, fathers' names, and occupations we should be able to find them on the 1901 census, and then be able to go back from there.

Tony, if you don't have your mother's birth cert, below are the details needed to send for a copy. The cost will be £7, and can be ordered from here.



http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/



Elsie A Phillips

Jan-Mar qrt 1919

Chelsea

Vol 1a, page 406

Thanks for your replies. Here goes with some answers I hope.

Mother only had short birth cert. at first but sometime in 70's got copy of full cert.. Father died before she was born, so she was told, & because of short cert thought she was illegitimate. Full copy states- mother -Florence Phillips, formerlly Chandler, father-Charles William Phillips-Head porter. Her father was supposedly a drunkard who beat up her mother when she was pregnant. Two older sisters had mental & physical problems & spent their lives in hospitals. One was killed in bombing raid when hosp. hit, Silver St., Edmonton. I've written to them, no records survive. Other one died 1964, St. Lawrence Hosp. Caterham, have death cert.. Because of 'shame'? or whatever grandmother wouldn't tell of family history & destroyed any paperwork before she died. Mums marriage cert. states- father- Frederick Phillips ( deceased). Grandmothers death cert. states name Florence Ann. Other papers give surname of Young. Apart from sister I have no other relatives that I know of. Hope you can now see why I'm confused & don't know how to unravel the info..

Tony

Hi Tony,



You really need to find a marriage between Florence Chandler and Charles W Phillips, as the info on the cert would give us a starting point for finding them and their families on the census returns.



The births below all had a mother with maiden name Chandler, do any of the names ring a bell? If we can establish approx when the first child was born it will narrow the search for a marriage record.







Ada A Phillips 1924 Apr-May-Jun Southwark(1901 Onw) Greater London, London



Alfred Phillips 1920 Oct-Nov-Dec Southwark(1901 Onw) Greater London, London



Benjamin Phillips 1911 Jul-Aug-Sep Southwark(1901 Onw) Greater London, London



Elizabeth W Phillips 1915 Jan-Feb-Mar Southwark(1901 Onw) Greater London, London



Rebecca J S Phillips 1913 Jul-Aug-Sep Southwark(1901 Onw) Greater London, London

Hi again Tony,



I have been unable to find a marriage between Charles W Phillips and Florence Chandler.



I have however found this marriage entry, which seems to be the nearest. You mentioned earlier on the thread that your mum's marriage cert stated father Frederick Phillips, how certain are you that her mum's name was Florence, could it have been Frances?



Marriages Sep 1903



Chandler Frances Alice Islington 1b691

CLARK Emma Jane Islington 1b691

Cooper John Henry Islington 1b691

PHILLIPS Frederick Islington 1b691

[quote name='tonyk'].

Grandmothers death cert. states name Florence Ann. Other papers give surname of Young.

Tony[/quote]



Tony, from what you say above, it sounds like you have your grandmother's death cert. When did she die, and how old was she?



What are 'the other papers' giving the name Young?

Hi Slizzy

none of the names ring a bell. Mum was youngest born 11-12-1918 Kensington, District of Chelsea so anyone after that can be discounted I think. Phoned sister to check on grandmothers name, definately known as Florence born 6-4-1876 died 14-4-1967 (Wokingham, Berks.). The other papers are not official documents but parts of letters & notes found in mums case after her death. As I said she thought she was illegitimate at first because of short cert.. Seems as though she tried to find out, and this is where the name Florence Ann Young came up. On mums birth cert. her fathers name & occupation is stated in full. She told me her father had died before she was born, would this have not been stated on the cert? I always took it that he'd died sometime between March/April & Dec. 1918, if it doesn't say deceased could that mean he was still alive? Mums sisters were, Florence Louise Phillips, born , we think, 21-12-1912?, died - - 194-, North? Middlesex Hospital, Silver St., Edmonton ( bombing raid) and Louisa May Phillips, born, again we think, 5-9-1914/15, died 21-8-1967, Caterham, Surrey. We think they were born around the same area, Kensington. Another point on mums birth cert. when it states Phillips formally Chandler would that not have said nee if a maiden name possibly pointing to being married before ( maiden name being Young?)

Regards Tony