Thank you for sending your latest questions to Nick Barratt, our resident genealogy expert, and star of BBC2's hit series 'Who Do You Think You Are?' . 

If you wish to submit a question to Nick, please email expert@findmypast.com .

Nick is only able to answer a modest number of questions every two weeks. If your question is not chosen, we do hope that you will still read the useful advice that Nick gives to others, as it may relate to your own research.

Question 1 - Sandra Parker, Darwin, Australia
My maternal grandfather, Frederick Alex Chilvers died in December 1924 and his death certificate states that he was knocked down by a vehicle and an inquest was held. Have you any idea where records of such an inquest would be held? I suppose that there would have been a report in the local newspaper - do you have any idea what paper that could be? My grandfather lived in Putney, London.

Answer - Nick
Records of coroners inquests are usually held at the relevant County Record Office, so in this case the best archives are likely to be the Corporation of London Record Office or the London Metropolitan Archives. However, by the 20th century many records no longer survive so you would indeed have to rely upon newspaper records. Given that this was London, there are going to be a large number of newspapers to choose from, so you might want to start by contacting the British Newspaper Library , Colindale.

Question 2 - Jean Soutar, Sutherland
My mother was adopted by her stepfather after my grandmother remarried in the 1930's. All I know about her father is his surname and christian name. I wrote to the GRO and received a letter to say only the adopted person has the right to see this information. As my mother died in 1987, will this remain a brick wall forever?

Answer - Nick
I'd need a bit more information to answer this question fully, however you can obtain a duplicate adoption certificate and use this to track down the actual birth certificate. This may then provide information on the father's name, if it was included at registration.

Question 3 - Bev Drewitt, Worcestershire
I believe my great grandparents were married in Ireland in the 1840s, probably in Cork. How can I track down the marriage record?

Answer - Nick
You would have to check local parish registers, so a great deal will depend on where they were living and what their names were. A trip to Ireland is necessary, though you could always try contacting the Irish Genealogical Research Society for further advice.

Question 4 - June Linnell, Suffolk
Can you advise me where to look for my great great Aunt. Her name is Isabella Booth, born c.1860 in Tranmere, Birkenhead. She appears aged 5 on the 1871 census, living with her father, mother and two brothers. However, both her and her mother are missing from the 1881 census. Where do I go from here please?

Answer - Nick
It sounds as though they were absent from the house at the time the census was taken. It is possible they were visiting friends out of the area, and therefore not listed with their family when the enumerator collected the information from the household.

Question 5 - John Lister, Birmingham
How do I find deaths and/or burials in the Westminster area between 1791 and 1806, other than St. Martin in the Fields? There does not seem to be an index in London, as in Birmingham, and I cannot get to London to do the research. The same applies to marriages for the same period. The IGI does not supply the answers.

Answer - Nick
The Harleian Society has published transcriptions of certain parish registers for parts of London, so this area might be included. You could also visit your nearest LDS Family History Centre and request microfilms for this and all neighbouring parishes.

Question 6 - Robert Robert-Smith, Leicestershire
One of my family branches is 'Courtice' and I have traced them back to Devon in 1775. We believe the 'Courtice' side were Hugenots. Is it possible to trace Hugenot ancestry?

Answer - Nick
There are a number of sources for Hugenot ancestry. The Hugenot Library is the best place to start your research, though you can always see if there was a local French Protestant church established in the area where they may have worshipped or registered baptisms and marriages.

Question 7 - Tricia Busvine, Bedfordshire
My grandmother was born in 1867 as Ada Jane Tapp. She married a George Grim in 1885. She was supposed to have married three times and had many children. The third marriage was to my grandfather, Stephen Harrigan. However I have never found a marriage to Stephen and on her death certificate in 1950 she was registered as 'Ada Grim, otherwise Harrigan', so she obviously never married again. I cannot trace her marriage to George Grim and she was not with George on the 1881 census. Any ideas how I can go about finding her between George and Stephen? I would like to trace the 10 or 12 children she was supposed to have had.

Answer - Nick
There are several ways you can follow this up. I would imagine that the 1891 or even 1901 census returns would be the best way to track her whereabouts, and indeed her children born after 1885. This should help to narrow down the chronology between marriages and allow you to investigate the reason why the first marriage ended - the death of George, a divorce, or perhaps the possibility that there was no legal separation. This could also explain why you did not find a second marriage certificate, although the wedding could have taken place without registration.

Question 8 - Roy Ingram, Lanarkshire
My ancestor, John Ingram, married Maria Earl in Wiltshire in 1802. From his childrens' death certificates I have established that he was an Armourer Seargeant in the Scots Greys (Royal Scots Dragoon Guards), and his children were all born in places where the regiment was stationed. When he left the army he set up a gunmaking business in Glasgow, but he must have died before death registration became compulsory in Scotland in 1885, as I can find no trace of his death. How do I find out where and when he was born? Am I of Scottish or English descent?

Answer - Nick
There may be information if his military records survive. Even if the place of birth is not listed, the area in which they were recruited can provide clues to residency. The most useful records are the attestation papers normally filed with discharge to pension forms, now housed at The National Archives . However, muster and playlists (also at The National Archives), can be used to track where the regiment was when he first enlisted.

Question 9 - Linda Harrison, North Yorkshire
I have recently traced my family tree back to 1841 and have a copy of a marriage certificate from that year. From previous research I know the place of birth of this ancestor and have found a christening for him in that parish in the IGI. His surname is 'White' which is fairly common. I have found a marriage in the same parish shortly before he was born, so here is my question. Is there any way of knowing that these are his parents or could it just be a coincidence? If none of the family moved away I can go back another couple of generations, but at present I am unable to determine if I have been led up the wrong alley. I realise that not everything is black and white in genealogy but would appreciate some pointers.

Answer - Nick
You might be able to cross-reference using census returns, local wills and other material, both to confirm your suspected parents and also to rule out other candidates. Otherwise this is one of the common problems when researching fairly common surnames - the level of probability decreases the further back you work, I'm afraid.

Question 10 - Evelyn Andrews, Cornwall
My father died in 1940 when his ship was mined during WW2, whilst serving in the Merchant Navy. I have tried to obtain a death certificate, but there is no entry for him, even in later years. Why can't I find an entry for him?

Answer - Nick
So many people died at sea during WW2, that not everyone was officially registered. There are some indexes to deaths at sea during this period, housed with the civil registration indexes at the Family Records Centre, and also on findmypast.com within the Overseas Records section. There are also other materials at The National Archives (such as record series BT334 which combine records of passengers and merchant seamen who died at sea, and records of inquiries of deaths at sea - BT341). However, you are most likely to find a note in the Rolls of Honour in BT339 or via the Commonwealth War Graves Commission .