Researching William Wray b. 17 Nov 1916 Preston Workhouse

+3 votes
198 views
Already have copies of William's birth/baptism in the Workhouse, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs and Birth Certificate. His mother Rebecca Wray b 1886-1820 Liverpool had two other illegitimate children - Annie 1909-2002 and Lota 1914-2015 (my mother). Both girls kept their first names but changed their surnames so I'm guessing William did too.

Needles in haystacks?! Any help gratefully received.
WikiTree profile: William Wray
in Genealogy Help by Joan Hollings G2G Rookie (220 points)
edited by Joyce Rivette
Joan, I added a link to his profile and some tags. Hopefully that will help get the attention of some people who can help you. Good luck in your search!
Thank you. I've been a member on here for some time but still feel quite a novice as I don't use the site often enough.
As you have a date of birth have you tried the 1939 Register - accessible via Ancestry and findmypast. Search for a William with the date of birth the same as William Wray.
Hi Steve

Thank you yes I've tried that and the deaths of those with his exact birth details. I then try to work through each one on the list in case they come up with clues and have sent for some birth certificates when they look likely.

As my Mum was placed with a family in Preston where she was born, I'm guessing that maybe William did the same.

Also his mother, Rebecca's step mother became a Midwife in 1909 (when Rebecca's first illegitimate child was born) so I wonder if she had a hand in placing the children with families who had lost children in childbirth or illness as in my mother's case.

My mother (in her nineties) and I have done DNA tests - this so far has not helped with possible Links.

I suppose one positive to come out of the current world crisis is the extra time it's giving me for my research.

Thanks for your help.

Joan x
There is of course a possibility that after WWI he may have been migrated to one of the Dominions.
Thank you -  I'll keep that in mind

Joan x

2 Answers

+3 votes
I will highlight to the England Project if you don't get a reply soon.

Hilary

Help Desk coordinator England Project
by Hilary Gadsby G2G6 Pilot (313k points)
+3 votes

Mother’s LNAB Wray

First name(s) WILLIAM

Last name WRAY

Birth year 1916

Birth quarter 4

Registration month -

Mother's maiden name Wray

District Preston

County Lancashire

Country England

Volume 8E

Page 817

Record set England & Wales Births 1837-2006

Category Life Events (BDMs)

Subcategory Civil Births

Collections from Great Britain, England

© brightsolid online publishing ltd

by Living Poole G2G Astronaut (1.3m points)

Possible?

First name(s) William

Last name Rae

Death year 1939

Death date 16 Feb 1939

Probate year 1939

Probate date 21 Apr 1939

Residence town Preston

Registry Lancaster

County Lancashire

Linked persons Emily Rae

Country England

Record set England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019

Category Life Events (BDMs)

Subcategory Civil Deaths & Burials

Collections from Great Britain, England

© Findmypast

Thank you. I'll look into this Joan x
Thank you Marion for your interest in my 'brick wall'

Your first information is indeed 'my' William, however I already have copies of the Workhouse logs showing his birth and baptism as well as a copy of his birth certificate.

William Rae mentioned in your second possible William appears not to be him. That William Rae who died 16 feb 1939 married Emily Ainsworth in 1914, two years before he was born, therefore not 'my' William.

However, I am extremely grateful for your help.

My search continues - thank you - Joan
I added the records as they do not appear on the profile
Hi Marion

Please accept my apologies.

I share a family tree with my husband on Ancestry.co.uk (JoanandTonyHollings) and it is on that site that I have the records I mentioned and many more.

I have therefore put very little information on my family tree on here. I guess I should remedy that - after all my time is endless at the moment!

If you would beg interested to view our Tree on Ancestry please let me know, although it is public so I guess you could see most of the information easily.

Thank you once again for your offers of help

Joan xx

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