Grandfather William Major complete dead end

[Phil Major]

I'm trying to trace any history on my grandfather who died when I was young...my sister and I are his last living relatives so we have no-one to ask questions.

His name was William Major born in Blackburn 07 Feb 1916 and died 31 Oct 1988 in Telford.

The only records I have found are his birth, living in Manchester 1939 and his death!

I have his WW2 medals but can find no record anywhere of his Service, he once told me he served in Burma and I do have the Burma Star among his medals.

Army Records in Glasgow haven't been able to find him yet either.

Any tips where to look next?



Regards

Phil Major

[christanel]

Welcome to the British-Genealogy forums Phil
Regarding your grandfather's WW11 service record it will still be with the MoD. Did you actually use the forms - here - to apply for them and send in his death certificate and 30 pounds?

I'll take a look at the other information you have given us and see what is available. Do you just want information on your grandfather or do you want to widen the search and go further back?
Christina

[almach]

Hi Phil,

It isn't certain what info you are looking for, but here goes.

Mar 1916, Blackburn 8e 496
William Major, Mother's maiden name Hodgson.

A possible brother.
Dec 1913 Blackburn 8e 591
George Major, MMN Hodgson.

Marriage Mar 1894, Blackburn 8e 543
George Major/Maggie Hodgson.

Blackburn, St Paul, 25 Jan 1894
George Major 22, bachelor, weaver, 40, Dock St, father George Major, cotton spinner
Maggie Hodgson 20, spinster, weaver, 43, Snig Brook, father James Hodgson, plasterer
witnesses James Thomas Hacking, Jane Ann Major.

[almach]

1911 census, 22 Harcourt St, Blackburn. RG14; Piece: 25030
George Major 39, cotton weaver
Maggie Major 36, cotton wever, married 16yrs, children born alive 4, children still living 3.
Mary Major 15, cotton weaver
Alice Major 12, school part time cotton weaver.
Maggie Major 4
All born Blackburn

1901, 54 Lu??? St Lucas maybe. RG13; Piece: 3907; Folio: 7; Page: 5
George Major 29, cotton weaver
Maggie Major 26, shopkeeper, bread baker.
May Major 5
Alice Major 2
Mary A Ward 44, lodger,

1881, 14 Smalley Street, Livesey, Blackburn. RG11; Piece: 4210; Folio: 133; Page: 47
George Major 34, spinner, Preston
Alice Major 37, weaver, Blackburn
Charlotte Major 11, born America
Jane A Major 7, Blackburn
George Major 9, Blackburn

I had wondered if America for Charlotte's place of birth was a mistake but the 1871 census where she's age 1 says United States of America.

[christanel]

Charlotte Major
Birth Date 5 Nov 1869
Baptised 25 Sep 1870 Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Father - George Major
Mother - Alice
FHL Film Number 1595672

There is a tree on ancestry that has her birth place as Fall River Bristol Massachusetts but date of 1870 and no source given for the information. Ah! She gives Fall River as her place of birth in the 1891 UK census.

If she was born November 1869 and baptised Sept 1870 it narrows down the time period in which George and Alice travelled.
Charlotte married an Alfred Hodkinson in 1892 and there were two children to the marriage, Beatrice c1894 and George c1895. Charlotte and Alfred are together in the 1939 register at 29 Brook Road, Morecambe and Heysham, Lancashire.
Christina

[Phil Major]

Welcome to the British-Genealogy forums Phil
Regarding your grandfather's WW11 service record it will still be with the MoD. Did you actually use the forms - here - to apply for them and send in his death certificate and 30 pounds?

I'll take a look at the other information you have given us and see what is available. Do you just want information on your grandfather or do you want to widen the search and go further back?
Christina

Hi,

yes I used the forms and provided a death certificate, but nothing since Oct 19 has been received. It's as if he was born and died with nothing in the middle (other than lodging in Manchester 1939 working as a musician).

Thank you all for the information going further back too.


Phil

[Megan Roberts]

C

There is a tree on ancestry that has her birth place as Fall River Bristol Massachusetts but date of 1870 and no source given for the information. Ah! She gives Fall River as her place of birth in the 1891 UK census.

In the 19th Century Falls River Mass, was the centre for American textile manufacturing, so it would make sense for Blackburn cotton weavers to emigrate there. But they must have decided that it wasn't for them.

[Phil Major]

Hi Phil,

It isn't certain what info you are looking for, but here goes.

Mar 1916, Blackburn 8e 496
William Major, Mother's maiden name Hodgson.

A possible brother.
Dec 1913 Blackburn 8e 591
George Major, MMN Hodgson.

Marriage Mar 1894, Blackburn 8e 543
George Major/Maggie Hodgson.

Blackburn, St Paul, 25 Jan 1894
George Major 22, bachelor, weaver, 40, Dock St, father George Major, cotton spinner
Maggie Hodgson 20, spinster, weaver, 43, Snig Brook, father James Hodgson, plasterer
witnesses James Thomas Hacking, Jane Ann Major.

Thank you, that has filled some holes. I can't understand why my grandad is so elusive when there is so much about his ancestors.

[Lesley Robertson]

Have you contacted the Burma Star Association? Their site is burmastar.org.uk.

[Phil Major]

Have you contacted the Burma Star Association? Their site is burmastar.org.uk.

Hi,

yes I tried them. They only have records for people who joined, not everyone who received one joined.


Phil