Missing Twin

[dothawkes31]

Hi
My Dad's cousin is apparently unwell, he is born 1921, this is the person who's daughter -in-law got in touch with me the other day knowing nothing about the family history. I have invited her to view my tree on ancestry and now she is amazed that I have listed a twin to her father-in-law, as her husband knows nothing about his Dad having a twin! (I've sent them the GRO index reference trhat shows the exact same vol and page and mother's maiden name and so they agree I am correct)
However, my Dad's cousin has never told his son he has or had a twin, to be honest I can't remember whether my dad ever mentioned it, he did have twin cousins with another of his Aunts.
Anyway, I have looked for this twin dying young, nothing on the GRO index, I have checked up to 2005 no luck, no marriage either.
I think he died as an infant, especially as this cousin has never mentioned the twin to his son who is in his late 50s.
So, can anyone spot a James S. Shephard born 1921 registered Brentford (twin to Noel S Shepard) in the GRO death /marriage anywhere? I have checked 1921 - 1923 each quarter in all the 6 or so vataint spellings of Shephard.

Dot

[Rose Maybud]

Could James have died in WWII? Can't face the GRO Index tonight as have been in deepest Somerset 1841-1911 all evening, so now goggle-eyed; but have had a quick look in the Military Records. Several James Shepherds
1 - Army, age 21, Station Quetta, died 1940
2 - RAF P/O 146166 149 Sqdn 1943 vol 13 p 143
3 - Naval Ratings - AB ship Vindex, 1944 vol 9 p 3492
4 - Army - James S Shepherd, Pte 2766358, Black Watch, 1944 vol 8 373
and this from CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/s...aspx?casualty=2178532

[dothawkes31]

cheers Rose, it is one possibility but I would think that his twin brother would have mentioned it to his son, the CWG one is not him though, his father was James Latimer Shephard.

[Rose Maybud]

Just checked deaths from 1924 - 1926, using James Shep* which I hope includes all known variations. Two candidates:
Mar 1924 James Shepherd age 2 Leigh ref 8c 359
Mar 1926 James Shepherd age 4 West Ham ref 4a 196

Any idea as to what the S stands for? Not mother's maiden name in this case.
And, yes, you would have thought any war casualty would have been mentioned, but I have found my relatives unwilling to talk about those lost. Attitudes have changed, particularly towards those with less than sparkling military records, or shot for cowardice, desertion and towards conscientious objectors.

More later - better do SOME housework today!

[dothawkes31]

Hi Rose

Yes I believe the twins had the same middle name as my Dad, Spencer, which was their paternal grandmothers maiden name. The twins were regstered in Brentford Middlesex and their 2 younger brothers born late in the 1920s were also born there.

[dothawkes31]

Sorry that was their maternal grandmothers maiden name.

[Barmaid]

Dot I am not sure as I have understood properly. Are you saying Noel S Shepherd is the cousin who is still alive and unwell? Because I have found a Noel Spencer Shepherd who was born on 25 December 1920. He died in the Mar 95 quarter in Bishops Stortford. Register No 31C, District and Subdistrict: 5281, Entry number: 5.

Do you think James might have used Noel's name?

[Barmaid]

Or vice versa?

Ignore me, I've clearly not had enough wine yet and am terribly befuddled now!!!!

[dothawkes31]

I don't actually know which cousin this father-in-law is,m except I know which it isn;t now, the messages I have had from his daughter-in-law have not answered that question, though I have asked twice which one her father-in-law is, narrowing it down I am assuming it is the other none-twin, John K. born 1922, as the other none twin Hugh I knew had died. I hadn't looked for Noel's death at all actually.
It's messing with my head now too as she is not answering my qestions just copying my photos and info !!! (25 years of work for free and she's not cooperating grrrrrr)

[Barmaid]

Oh that's just damn annoying. I get really riled with people like that to the extent that I am considering making my tree private cos I am sick of people just "taking" my work without acknowledgement.

There is a tree on Ancestry which lists a few details (although that's probably yours lol).

I've also found

Noel S Shepherd m Agnes K Dennett JFM 1948 Bromley 5b 418
There is a James S Shepherd who married a Pratt in JFM 1948 in Doncaster 2b 961. Wrong area, but could be your man!

Is it possible that the twin was given up for adoption and the birth entry has just not been edited?

[dothawkes31]

I doubt it, the father was very wealthy and had his own (inherited) business. They moved to Brentford soon after marrying. My tree is private and is only available to those invited, what details can you find as I can't find Noel just doing a search.

[Barmaid]

Noel S Shepherd, son of John Latimer Shepherd and Lily Broady. B 25/12/1920 D 5/3/1995. M Agnes Dennet (still living). 2 Shepherd children (still living).

Siblings:-

John Keith Shepherd born 7 May 1922 Bromley. Died 24 June 1988. Married **** Avis (still living) - 1 Shepherd child (still living).

Living Shepherd M Living Woods 3 Living Shepherd children.

Tree owner is someone called Jayne Sherrif (dshep10) if that helps.

So out of the 4 brothers, we now that John and Noel died. Now you just need to find the other two (which is precisely where you started!!!!)

[dothawkes31]

that is who is in touch with me but i couldn't find any info for her on ancestry!

[Barmaid]

So that probably came from you anyway!!!! If you do a public member tree search on "John Latimer Shepherd" and his birth date, its about 5ft hit in (for some reason I've been booted off ancestry.co.uk today so am using ancestry.com).

[Barmaid]

May we worth following up the James S Shepherd though. By 1948 (demobbing and all that) people were all over the place. I've got people popping up in the weirdest locations.

[dothawkes31]

This is driving me nuts, why can't I find that entry you have found for this womans tree?

[dothawkes31]

It's ok I have found her now, on my ancestry home page it says what she has copied from me but it is not included in the tree i can see.