Looking for friend of English WWII War Bride and Need Guidance

[kboudreault]

My grandmother was an English citizen who married an American WWII soldier and moved to the US in 1946. I'm currently in the U.S. and trying to locate my grandmother's best friend before she left England, Margaret (Peggy) Gilbert nee Hawthorn.

My grandmother visited with this friend in the '70s but fell out of touch with her. It may be that the woman is deceased by now - I do not know her exact age, but she would be close to my grandmother's age of 87. I tried to look at the death records on Genes Reunited but couldn't find anything. (I don't know if I was looking correctly.) If she is not deceased, I think my grandmother would enjoy writing to her or speaking to her on the phone.

I have an old address for this Peggy, which I was able to use to find her listed on 192.com. However, the record was from the 2003 electoral roll and it didn't seem to have any other current address listed or information of use other than her husband's name (after spending 20 pounds, I might add!). It also seemed to indicate that there were new residents at that address starting in 2004, if I was reading it correctly.

I have never done any genealogical research or tried to find someone, let alone someone from a different country, so any guidance on how to find my grandmother's friend is appreciated. My grandmother talks about her constantly, reliving her own war stories - and I'd like to locate Peggy for her, if I can, before my grandmother is no longer with us.

 

[ptjw7]

Can you give any more information as I cannot find the friends marriage.
No Hawthorn marriage to a Gilbert!

Peter

 

[gortonboy]

hi,,,welcome to the forum,,,,can you tell us the old address ?

 

[davelambert271]

Hi - welcome

to the forum

A difficult one with the limited info provided

I cannot find a marriage either, but did find one for a Joan M Hawthorn nee Gilbert sep 1939 Barnet and a birth of a Joan M Gilbert in 1916 in Barnet. Could it be you have got the surnames the wrong way round

You say grandmother visited with her friend. Does this mean visited England, and if so did the friend emigrate as well

dave

 

[kboudreault]

Thanks for everyone's help.

It may be that I'm spelling her birth name wrong. (I spelled it phonetically.)

Here is the information I have:

Last known address was 26 Chilwell Gardens South Oxey Waterford, Herts. I did find a Margaret Gilbert at this address (on 192.com) via the electoral roll for 2003. Different residents starting in 2004. Also indicated was the husband Leonard F Gilbert.

My grandmother was born in 1926. Both she and Peggy worked at the Spirella Building in Letchworth making parachutes around 1944 (maybe before and after).

I can try to get more information from my grandmother if I know what questions to ask her.

 

[juliejtp]

Hi,

I've been unable to find a marriage for this couple. I did come across a Margaret Hoffman marrying a Leonard Gilbert in 1948 Hitchin Hertfordshire Leonard's middle inital is J. There is a death for a Leonard Frederick Gilbert born 2 May 1925 district Watford county Hertfordshire 2004 born 1925 and a death for a Margaret Gilbert 2004 same place born 1 January 1925.

 

[kboudreault]

Ah, that actually sounds very much like it could be the right couple. My grandmother did say that Peggy's father was German, so Hoffman would make more sense than Hawthorn. And the dates are correct, so I'm going to go ahead and assume both husband and wife have passed.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[davelambert271]

if that is correct, there is a birth of Leonard R Gilbert o/d 1950 Westminster and Raymod G Gilbert o/d 1951 Watford, both with a mother maiden Hoffman

It looks as if Raymond may still live in Watford
www.192.com
Raymond G Gilbert
Age Guide: 60-64
Watford, Hertfordshire
Full Address - credits needed

other residents
Caroline Gilbert, Natalie Jamieson, Hayley Bower, Victoria Gilbert, Ian W Smith, Valerie A Gilbert

 

[juliejtp]

Hi,

Do you know if mentioned that Margaret may have come from the North of England Durham.

 

[juliejtp]

Margare'ts father was a Richard Hoffmann born Sunderland, his father Charles was born Germany.

 

[kboudreault]

Sorry, I do not know if Margaret was from the north. I will ask my grandmother to see if she knows if Peggy had two boys to see if those whose address you provide may be hers. My grandmother may like to reach out to them if so-- although I'm debating on whether I tell her Peggy is deceased or not. Not sure how she'll take the reality of it.

Thanks again for everyone's help...I'm completely amazed by what you all are able to find out!

 

[oaklandraider]

Sorry, I do not know if Margaret was from the north. I will ask my grandmother to see if she knows if Peggy had two boys to see if those whose address you provide may be hers. My grandmother may like to reach out to them if so-- although I'm debating on whether I tell her Peggy is deceased or not. Not sure how she'll take the reality of it.

Thanks again for everyone's help...I'm completely amazed by what you all are able to find out!

Hi, the address should you wish to write is R Gilbert, Lemonfield Drive, Watford, WD25 9TU. or phone 01925 440382. Ben.

 

[kboudreault]

Super!!! Thank you for the address and phone number - this is great!

 

[davelambert271]

good luck

please let us know how you get on