13 Mar 2023

I received a PDF of Aunt Nel’s birth certificate from the GRO today:

Birth in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, subdistrict of Elswick in the County of Newcastle upon Tyne[sic], no. 189. Born 29th April 1909, 61 Darnell Street U.D., Helen Mary; Girl; father George Henry Chambers; mother Louisa Chambers formerly Hemmigh[sic]; father occ. Wheel Wright; informant G.H. Chambers, Father, 61 Darnell Street, Newcastle; registered 7th June 1909

Once again Hemmings is misspelt! It’s also interesting that George gave his profession as wheelwright. This is, of course, what a wheeler in the artillery was, but at the time he was likely a caretaker. Also he could have put “Sergeant RFA (retired)” or something to that effect, but he chose to call himself a wheelwright. Perhaps he was actually working in that profession at that time or aiming to.
Previously I had Nel’s birthday as 26th April and it is shown as the 26th in the 1939 census but here it is recorded as 29th. The registration was six weeks later and perhaps George got the date wrong?
I also received the death certificate of Mary Deneen who I thought could be Mary Nighan – I was right:

Death in the district of Newport Mon, subdistrict of Rogerstone in the County of Monmouth, no. 41. Died 12th October 1896, Pontymister, Risca, U.D., Mary Deneen; Female; Age 81 years; Widow of Daniel Denneen, a General Labourer; Cause of death Senile Decay; informant The mark of Johanna Ford, daughter, present at the death, Pontymister, Risca; registered 15th October 1896.