Q&A

KATHERINE COBB is a member of AGRA based in Somerset

EMMA JOLLY is a writer, historical researcher and member of AGRA

JAYNE SHRIMPTON is a professional dress historian and portrait specialist

ALAN STEWART is a family history writer, and author of Grow Your Own Family Tree

RUTH SYMES is the author of Tracing Your Ancestors Through Letters & Personal Writings

PHIL TOMASELLI is a military family history expert, and wrote Tracing Your Air Force Ancestors

SIMON WILLS is the author of Tracing Your Seafaring Ancestors

Can you find a record of my great great grandfather’s death?

Q My great great grandfather James Hind (born 1828, Castle Carrock, Cumbria), married Sophia Baker in June 1855 and they moved to India, where he worked as a merchant. They had five children including Madeline (born 1864, Calcutta) and Rose (born January 1866, Lambeth). I’ve found a death certificate for a Sophia Hinds – wife of James Hinds, formerly a merchant – who died in 1869 in the Camberwell Workhouse. What happened to James?

Claire Dodd

Since James’ wife, Sophia, gave birth in January 1866, it is assumed that James was the baby’s father and that he was alive nine months before, in April 1865. When Sophia died, she was described as the “wife” of James, rather than the widow. However, it is not unknown for women whose husbands have died to be described as “wife” on a death certificate. The note that James was “formerly a merchant”