Death in Scotland

[lindarhead]

Hello all, I'm new to Talking Scot, so I hope you'll bear with me if I've posted this in the wrong place.

I'm currently researching a Charles Edwin Wood who it is believed was born in London in 1863, but it is known died in Glasgow, Scotland in 1950. On his death record found on Scotlands People he is recorded as being a retired Commercial Traveller and he was found dead in bed on 25 March 1950. He is recorded as the widower of Ann Archibald.She died in February of the same year, and was 20 years younger than he. They had two sons, a Charles Albert born 1910, and a William Robert born 1916. Ann Archibald was the daughter of Robert Archibald and Robina English. Nothing else is known about her at present.

What we do know of Charles Edwin was that he was previously 'married ' to Maud Baker of London and they had five children , four of them born in Glasgow between 1900-04. In 1905 Maud went back to London with the children leaving Charles behind, she subsequently married again. However it is doubtful that she and Charles were ever legally married as on the record of her second marriage she gives her details as spinster and uses her maiden name of Baker. On the 1901 Scotland census however when she is still with Charles she is listed as his wife. No marriage record has been found either in London, Liverpool [where their first son was born], or Scotland.

To date I have been unable to find a marriage record of Charles Edwin Wood to Ann Archibald either, if indeed they ever married at all.

I was wondering if there would be anyway I could find out if any Glasgow paper carried details of his death or an obituary at all, or if he left a Will...or if there is anywhere else to look for a marriage record other than on Scotlands People?

I'd appreciate any help or advice anyone could give with this.

Kind Regards,

Linda Rhead

[nelmit]

Hello and welcome to Talking Scot Linda,

Did Charles's death entry show his parents names or is that what you are trying to find out?

There is this Charles E Wood in 1891 -

Mary Gilbert 50
Eliza O L Gilbert 25
Mary Ann Draper 79
Charles E Wood 23 -Shipbroker - boarder - born Holloway, London.

His job makes me wonder if this could be your Charles as yours is shown as a Mercantile Clerk in 1901 and St Pancras is not too far from Holloway.

The IGI shows a Charles Edwin Wood -

CHARLES EDWIN WOOD

23 NOV 1868 Old Church, Saint Pancras, London, England

Parents:
Father: WALTER JONATHAN WOOD Family
Mother: CLARA

Perhaps I'm away on the wrong track if you already know about his parents - if that's the case just ignore me!

There is also somebody at Ancestry researching the family or is that you?

Regards,
Annette

[lindarhead]

Hi Annette,

Many thanks for that. His death record doesn't have his parents and yes that's what I'm trying to find out, well that and anything else I can find about him.

I am on Ancestry so it could be me!..

But actually I'm doing the research for a friend who now lives in Canada, Charles Edwin was her grandfather but they know little about him, other than his name and when about he was born which is thought to be 1863/4. He was her father's father and her dad recalled before he died that the last time he remebered seeing his father was about 1911. His parents had split up and his mother had taken him and his siblings back to London, whereas Charles made Scotland his home and later of course started a new family, although I still haven't found a marriage record for him and Ann Archibald.

I was wondering whether or not I could find an obit or a will for him, but don't really know where to start looking in Scotland. Could you advise on that one at all?

Thanks again,

Linda

[SarahND]

I was wondering whether or not I could find an obit or a will for him, but don't really know where to start looking in Scotland.

Hi Linda,
Have you tried searching for him in the National Archives of Scotland catalogue?

http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/

That is where the will would be, if he wrote a will. I don't see anything under his full name, but there are a number of records for Charles Wood, so maybe worth a browse?

All the best,
Sarah

[LesleyB]

I don't think any of the wills or testaments are online after 1901 (on Scotlands People).

The extracts after that date are in books at NAS and you'd have to order up a will from the info given in the extract. Given that he died in 1950, that is considered quite recent in the great scheme of things. Not sure where you are based, but a trip to NAS in Edinburgh would establish if there was a will - I suspect though that if there is, it would need to be ordered up a couple of days in advance, so perhaps better to contact them before you plan a visit!

Might be worth contacting the Mitchell Library (Glasgow) about an obit, if you are not able to visit yourself. They may be able to help.

Best wishes
Lesley

[nelmit]

I had a look for anything in the newspaper at the time when I was at The Mitchell Library today. I looked at Monday 27th - Wednesday 29th but I'm afraid there was nothing in the news or death notices. I didn't have time to look at The Herald but will keep it in mind for the next time I'm there.

Regards,
Annette

[lindarhead]

Thanks very much to all of you....I'll try the NAS online but I'm not able to visit personally I'm afraid as I live in Staffordshire.I did look on Scotlands People but you're quite right they only cover up to 1901.

I think I may have found him on the 1881 census in England though, but still no clue to parentage as he appears to be living/working in some sort of large emporium in London. The address is 8-16 Lowndes St, and is made up of drapers assistants and other shop workers, it covers 5 pages of the census.I know that back then some of the large dept stores did provide accomodation for their workers, so I think that's what this is. He was definitely born 1862-63 beause on his death record his age is given as 87 and that was 1950, but can't find him yet on the 1871. The 81 gives his place of birth as Waltham Green, which I think is around the Fulham area of London, although I could be wrong about that.

Thanks again,

Linda

[trish1]

If you send an email to NAS with the name and date of death, they will check for a will (I don't know if all the wills are indexed by name in the catalogue) - I have always asked via email as I am somewhat catalogue deficient when it comes to finding things. They will provide a quote for sending you a copy of same if there is a will.

Trish

[LesleyB]

Hi Trish

The volumes are arranged by year in most cases (sometime a year may be split over two volums if it was a busy year), and then alphabetical entires of persons by surname within each year. The entries in the volumes just give a brief summary along with the info needed to order up a copy of the original document. The volumes on the shelves go up to the mid 1950s as far as I remember.

Best wishes
Lesley

[lindarhead]

Thanks Trish, and Lesley too,

I'll do that Trish, I have to confess I'm a bit like you when it comes to searching archive websites ...

Thanks,

Linda