Advice on looking for someone.....

katherinekent · Post by **katherinekent** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:52 am

Hiya all, I'm a newbie to the scottish sites. I have spent the last year looking for my grandad called JOHN MOUNTFORD VAN DER VELDE. I found out he was married in Birmingham aged 22years, and he died in London aged 30 in 1935. I couldn't find a 1905 birth in England or Wales, I found a Joannis V D V born 1905 in Lieth so it could be him how can I check he is the right one. Also I read that tradionally a married woman kept her maiden name as well as married name this has made me think that prehaps Mountford is a female family name. I've found lots of Mountfords but again how can I find out if this is the case? any ideas would be gratefully accepted.
Thanks in advance
Kate.

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:08 pm

Welcome Katherine,

Firstly, if you know he married, do you have the marriage certificate, which should name his father? Also the death certificate may give his parent's names. Then you will have more of an idea if any of these two are in fact your grandfather (from Scotland's People website http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ ):

1905 VAN DER VELDE JOHANNIS M LEITH NORTH EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 692/01 0699

1901 VAN DER VELDE KORNELIS JOHANN M LEITH SOUTH EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 692/02 1134

Registering at Scotland's People and then searching for and viewing these two certificates might give you an idea. It is six pounds for thirty credits and very reasonable in my opinion.

Bear in mind that you may not have the correct age, as marriage certificates and death certificates are not reliable.

Nina

Post by **AnneM** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:13 pm

Hi Kate

Also welcome from me. I was just going to post to say that you need his father's name from the English marriage certificate. Unfortunately you will not get his mother's name on that nor will you get any parents on an English death certificate.

Good luck

Anne

katherinekent · Post by **katherinekent** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:27 pm

Hi Nina, thanks for responding. His marriage cert gives his fathers name as JOHN FREDERICk Van DER Velde(deceased), his death cert only has his wife as the informent. On his death cert his occupation was Stewards storekeeper Merchant Service. The occupation of the father on the birth cert is stated Seaman, Merchant Service there might be a connection.
Hmm very frustrating
Kate

katherinekent · Post by **katherinekent** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:32 pm

hello Anne thanks for your reply I've got copies of his marriage and death certs. His name may have been anglicised for the benefit of the vicar.
Kate.