I have identified Annette's son and we are communicating by email. He confirms that his mother is definately the lady I am looking for. He also tells me he has an older sister. I hope to find out more about their lives, and that of Annette, in the coming weeks and months.
What an amazing search this has been. I have discovered that I have two half-sisters (one of whom I have met - and she's lovely) a half brother, and now a nephew and niece. It will be a problem to get to know any of them well because of the distances involved, but it is very satisfying to find a family you didn't know you had. All this is tinged with sadness of course, that Annette and I never met, but it was not to be.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Sunday, 12 June 2011
All is not lost
All is not lost, thanks to two wonderful poeple who have read this blog and done some additional research of their own on my behalf. It appears that Annette may have had one or two children and I now have some names to research further. Watch this space.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Good News and Sad News
Well some good news and some sad news.
The Marriage Certificate for Annette Mary Allebon arrived and showed that she married in Birmingham and was 20 years old at the time of her marriage to Barry William Walker in 1955 which would make her birth date about 1935, the same as that of my sister Annette.
I searched Tracesmart and found that all reference to Annette Mary Walker appeared to cease in about 2003. So I searched the GRO Death Records and discovered that she sadly died in January 2003. It shows her date of birth as 21 February 1935, the same date of birth as my sister, so I think we can safely assume it is one and the same person.
It's very sad that I never met her but it's good to know that I did all I could to find her and I have at least discovered what became of her.
The Marriage Certificate for Annette Mary Allebon arrived and showed that she married in Birmingham and was 20 years old at the time of her marriage to Barry William Walker in 1955 which would make her birth date about 1935, the same as that of my sister Annette.
I searched Tracesmart and found that all reference to Annette Mary Walker appeared to cease in about 2003. So I searched the GRO Death Records and discovered that she sadly died in January 2003. It shows her date of birth as 21 February 1935, the same date of birth as my sister, so I think we can safely assume it is one and the same person.
It's very sad that I never met her but it's good to know that I did all I could to find her and I have at least discovered what became of her.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
A Possible Lead
A very nice lady has contacted me. She used to be a professional researcher and has been having a go at trying to progress my search. She contacted me yesterday and revealed her findings to date. I don't want to go into too much detail here because it might reveal some personal identifying facts of someone living. The gist of it is however that up to at least 2003 a lady with very similar identifying features to my sister Annette was alive and living in the midlands with her husband. It appeared that they married in 1955, so I have ordered a copy of their marriage certificate to see if it shows her age at the time of their marriage. If she was about 20 it could be that we are on the right track. Fingers crossed.
Monday, 22 February 2010
Monday, 21 September 2009
Exciting News
Well the really unexpected has happened. I have not yet found Annette but I have found (or rather, they found me) two half sisters and a half brother I did not know existed. Because of this blog and the wonders of Google, they were researching their family and discovered that we all shared the same father. We are now in contact and I am really looking forward to learning much more about the family I didn't know I had. Because this blog is in the public arena I won't be publishing their details.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
"Jack" Walker
I have now located our father's birth record. His birth certificate shows he was born on 28 August 1901 at Wem, Shropshire, UK and was named Charles John Walker. His father is shown as Charles Walker of Worralls Yard, Wem, a Malster (Journeyman). His mother is identified as Mary Ellen Walker, formerly Edwards. The 1901 census lists the following living at Worralls Yard, High Street, Wem in that year: Charles Walker (malster at brewery), aged 31 born at Brignorth, Shropshire; Mary Walker, aged 30 born at Welshpool, Montgomeryshire; Frank Walker, aged 11 born at Shrewsbury, Shropshire; Stanley Walker, aged 10 born at Wem, Shropshire; Elsie Walker, aged 2 born at Wem, Shropshire.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Happy Birthday
Today is the anniversary of Annette's birth. If she is still alive Annette is 73 today and yet this is the first time in my life that I have been able to observe my sister's birthday. If you are still with us Annette, have a great birthday.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
A Plea
If you are viewing this blog for the first time I would ask that you spare just a minute or two in thinking of how I might progress in my search for Annette.
With the rules as they are, about gaining access to adoption records, I feel as if I have got as far as I can with the search. What I need is a bit of latteral thinking by some clever or imaginative individuals who can come up with some suggestions as to new avenues to follow. Please don't be shy, any ideas, no matter how obscure, would be most welcome. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment with your thoughts and ideas.
With the rules as they are, about gaining access to adoption records, I feel as if I have got as far as I can with the search. What I need is a bit of latteral thinking by some clever or imaginative individuals who can come up with some suggestions as to new avenues to follow. Please don't be shy, any ideas, no matter how obscure, would be most welcome. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment with your thoughts and ideas.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Annette's First Home
As mentioned earlier, Annette was born at Cleveland House, Sutherland Place, Wolverhampton in 1935. There is a reference to Cleveland House, in the "Wolverhampton Red Book for 1942-3", where it is described as "A hostel and maternity home for women and girls suffering from venereal Disease. Applications to be made to the Lady Superintendent."
Source: http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/news/2007/news27.htm
I don't quite know what this tells us, but it does suggest that Annette did not have one of the best starts in life.
Source: http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/news/2007/news27.htm
I don't quite know what this tells us, but it does suggest that Annette did not have one of the best starts in life.
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Thoughts
Because I was never told about my sister, by my mother, a number of people have asked me if I feel that I have been deprived of something all these years. The simple answer is, no. It is said you cannot miss what you have never had, and that is how I view the situation.
Some have asked me if I "blame" my mother for never telling me about Annette. No I don't. I can't imagine what she went through all those years ago, an unmarried mother in the 1930's and having to give up her first child. She had her reasons for not divulging her secret to me and I must accept that.
Now I do know about Annette however, I would love to know what happened to her. If she is still alive it would be wonderful to meet her.
Some have asked me if I "blame" my mother for never telling me about Annette. No I don't. I can't imagine what she went through all those years ago, an unmarried mother in the 1930's and having to give up her first child. She had her reasons for not divulging her secret to me and I must accept that.
Now I do know about Annette however, I would love to know what happened to her. If she is still alive it would be wonderful to meet her.
Friday, 11 January 2008
Our Dad
Throughout my Mum's life she always insisted that my father died when I was very young. As I got older however it became more obvious to me that this was not the case. I never challenged her on the issue because clearly it was not something she wished to discuss.
During my research, in attempting to trace my sister Annette, I discovered a number of things about our father:
My Dad, and presumably also Annette's, was Charles John Anthony Walker (known as Jack). He was born about 1922 at Wem, Shropshire. Jack married Margaret Olive Lane (my mother's sister) on 10 January 1929 at Shrewsbury, Shropshire. At the time of his marriage his occupation was recorded as "Boots in Hotel" and his address was 85, High Street, Wem.
During my research, in attempting to trace my sister Annette, I discovered a number of things about our father:
My Dad, and presumably also Annette's, was Charles John Anthony Walker (known as Jack). He was born about 1922 at Wem, Shropshire. Jack married Margaret Olive Lane (my mother's sister) on 10 January 1929 at Shrewsbury, Shropshire. At the time of his marriage his occupation was recorded as "Boots in Hotel" and his address was 85, High Street, Wem.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Surprises
As a consequence of my research a couple of really nice things have happened. A first cousin of mine, who I had heard of but never met, contacted me. We are now in contact and hope to meet up soon.
A distant cousin of mine, who lives in Canada, also noticed my research on-line. We are now in contact by email. Sadly there is not much chance of us ever meeting.
A distant cousin of mine, who lives in Canada, also noticed my research on-line. We are now in contact by email. Sadly there is not much chance of us ever meeting.
Monday, 7 January 2008
Research
Fascinated by the revelation, and with the encouragement of my family, I carried out a considerable amount of research to see if I could find out what happened to my sister.
In brief:
Examination of an old family photograph album revealed the name "Annette Mary" on the inside cover. An attempt had been made to erase that name. Searches, over many months, of the Birth Index at the General Register Office revealed that an "Annette M Lane" was born in 1935 at Wolverhampton. This information facilitated the obtaining of a copy of the birth certificate which revealed that "Annette Mary" was born on 21 February 1935 at Cleveland House, Southerland Place, Wolverhampton. The child's mother (also my mother) was registered as a "General Domestic Servant" of 40 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. There was no entry naming the father indicating that Annette was illegitimate. The copy of the birth certificate also notes that Annette was subsequently adopted.
Searches, at the Birmingham Central Library, of the Electoral Register for 1935 revealed the occupants of 40 Bristol Road at the time as: Solomon Wand and Clara Wand. Further ersearch identified Dr Solomon Wand as the somewhat famous Chairman of the GMSC who, in 1948, championed the cause of GPs working within the new NHS. I have traced who I believe to be a decendant of Dr Wand and have written to them seeking any information they may have in respect of what happened to Annette. Sadly, depite the passage of several months, I have received no reply to that enquiry.
In brief:
Examination of an old family photograph album revealed the name "Annette Mary" on the inside cover. An attempt had been made to erase that name. Searches, over many months, of the Birth Index at the General Register Office revealed that an "Annette M Lane" was born in 1935 at Wolverhampton. This information facilitated the obtaining of a copy of the birth certificate which revealed that "Annette Mary" was born on 21 February 1935 at Cleveland House, Southerland Place, Wolverhampton. The child's mother (also my mother) was registered as a "General Domestic Servant" of 40 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. There was no entry naming the father indicating that Annette was illegitimate. The copy of the birth certificate also notes that Annette was subsequently adopted.
Searches, at the Birmingham Central Library, of the Electoral Register for 1935 revealed the occupants of 40 Bristol Road at the time as: Solomon Wand and Clara Wand. Further ersearch identified Dr Solomon Wand as the somewhat famous Chairman of the GMSC who, in 1948, championed the cause of GPs working within the new NHS. I have traced who I believe to be a decendant of Dr Wand and have written to them seeking any information they may have in respect of what happened to Annette. Sadly, depite the passage of several months, I have received no reply to that enquiry.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
The Revelation
My unmarried mother died in 2005 at the age of 93. It was some time after this that a younger sister of hers (my aunt) wrote to me and told me that I had an elder sister. This had been a family secret for many years and my aunt had promised my mother never to divulge this to me during her lifetime.
The only information that my aunt had was that my sister was called Annette and that her father was the same as mine. She was adopted very young by a family with a name that sounds like Allibon. My aunt also had a photograph of Annette as a young child (see top of page 1).
The only information that my aunt had was that my sister was called Annette and that her father was the same as mine. She was adopted very young by a family with a name that sounds like Allibon. My aunt also had a photograph of Annette as a young child (see top of page 1).
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Background
I have a sister who, until 2006, I did not know existed. She was born on 21 February 1935 at Cleveland House, Sutherland Place, Wolverhampton, England. Her name then was Annette Mary Lane but shortly after her birth she was adopted. We do not know her adopted name, who she was adopted by or what became of her.
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