advice on finding living relatives

[maufleury]

Hi. Does anyone have any ideas on HOW a person from Canada could go about finding living relatives in the UK? My maternal grandmother was named Nellie Earle and she was born in Uckfield, Sussex. How could I go about finding out about her relatives in the UK? She came to Canada in 1907, married my grandfather, and died here in Canada in 1938. I have NEVER even seen a photo of her so I thought if I could contact her relatives that would be great. I don't even know yet if she had brothers or sisters that she left behind in the UK. Any ideas of what I could do?

[Geoffers]

You don't mention an age - is that her born Lewis, aged 1 in the 1891 census living with an uncle and aunt, John and Mary ALCORN? That's a start in that you have another set of names to follow.

You know when and where she was born - so you should have her birth certificate and know her dad's name. Start with him and look to see if he left a will. Wills are great in that they often mention both children and grandchildren - and sometimes where they lived - useful if family migrated around the country, or the world.

If she was illegitimate, go back a generation and see if her grandfather left will, looking for similar family information.

What about the 1901 census, where and with whom was she living then?

Who was the informant for her dad's death? This is usually a relative and may have ben a son/daughter - an address should be given.

Directories don't mention everyone - but try checking a couple to see if there is any reference to the name in or near Uckfield - can any references to the name be traced to your family?

Did any famly members emigrate with her? Try the passenger lists.

Those are the basic starting points, once you have names of siblings/other family members, it is a case of following them in the GRO indexes. Once you get past 1911, spouses' surnames are included in the marriage index, mother's maiden names are mentioned in the birth index, making it easier to locate definite matches.

Finally is anyone in the Susses FHS researching the same name?

If any of the above is unclear, please ask.

[SBSFamilyhistory]

Hi Geoff/maufleury

From other threads we think we have found Nellies birth 1890 in Uckfield.
maufleury I think you should get the birth certificate to see what that throws into the mixing pot.

I know that you has already sent for two birth certificates and if this isn't one of them you should go again, as apart from the spelling of Earle, being Earl everything else matches.

I have not found her on the 1901 Census.

Also the alcorns have gone awol on the 1901 too, but they were John 79 and Mary 60 on the 1891 Census.

PS sorry maufleury but I think we should try combining these threads to prevent duplication of effort.

Sue

[SBSFamilyhistory]

okay from what Geoff said about John having married more than once..

having a looking at the 1891 census for them I am unhappy about John's year of birth on either this census(?)

I have found a John and Mary Alcorn living as lodgers on the 1881 Census. Alcorn is not a common name I think they are the same people. also Mary's age is right.

Name: John Alcorn
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Relation: Lodger
Gender: Male
Where born: Isfield, Sussex, England

Civil Parish: Isfield
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England

Street address: Isfield
Condition as to marriage: Married

Occupation: Carpenter (Journeyman)

Registration district: Uckfield
Sub-registration district: Isfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John Alcorn 49
Mary Alcorn 50
John Gurr 10
Joseph Gurr 51
Joseph Gurr 14
Martha Gurr 53
Moses Gurr 19

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 1053; Folio: 58; Page: 1;

also looking at the 1891 Census the Gurr/Gull's are their neighbours!

having said that you go back to the 1871 Census and you will find John Alcorn born 1812 married to Elizabeth so perhaps the 1881 Census is incorrect

1871 England Census
about John Allcorn
Name: John Allcorn
Age: 59
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1812
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Male
Where born: Isfield, Sussex, England

Civil Parish: Isfield
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England



Registration district: Uckfield
Sub-registration district: Isfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 110
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Allcorn 56
John Allcorn 59
John Burston 19 lodger
Robert Burston 19 lodger

John is a carpenter so this fits with the 1881 census.

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 1053; Folio: 63; Page: 21;


John's marriage to a Mary Waller

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983
about John Alcorn
Name: John Alcorn
Year of Registration: 1872
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Lewes
County: Sussex, East Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 248


now this is odd in 1854 a John Alcorn possibly married an Emily Gurr. Sorry if I am including red herrings.

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983
about John Alcorn
Name: John Alcorn
Year of Registration: 1854
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Uckfield
County: Sussex, East Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 129


I hope this helps


Sue

[SBSFamilyhistory]

could this be Mary

1901 England Census
about Mary Allcorn
Name: Mary Allcorn
Age: 70
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Relation: Wid (Widow)
Gender: Female
Where born: Lewes, Sussex, England

Civil Parish: Maresfield
Ecclesiastical parish: Ashdown Forest Christchurch and St Bartholomew
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England

Registration district: Uckfield
Sub-registration district: Maresfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 17
Household Members: Name Age
Mary Allcorn 70

Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 902; Folio: 54; Page: 3.


this could be her death

England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1983
about Mary Allcorn
Name: Mary Allcorn
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1830
Year of Registration: 1908
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
Age at Death: 78
District: Uckfield
County: Sussex, East Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 83

and what about this for John's death

England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1983
about John Allcorn
Name: John Allcorn
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1812
Year of Registration: 1895
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 83
District: Uckfield
County: Sussex, East Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 79



Sue

[Geoffers]

To keep things simple and save on duplication of effort in trying to help maufleury - I'm going to link the other threads connected with this enquiry through to this thread and just leave this thread as the 'current' one to be updated with new information.

The closed threads are:
https://www.british-genealogy.com/for...ad.php?t=26221

https://www.british-genealogy.com/for...ad.php?t=26218

For maufleury: In case you are worried about the above, you haven't done anything wrong - it's just that from experience it causes confusion having several similar threads open at the same time; it often ends up with more than one person looking up the same record and makes it difficult for you to locate who gave you what information. This is why the other threads have been closed and we'll just update this thread. If you have any concerns, or this causes you any problems, please feel free to click on my name and send me a private message.