How to find a missing person?

Mrs_Ryan

Hi everyone, massive apologies if this is the worng place - mods pls feel free to move.

I just wondered if anyone out there knew what the best way to find a missing person was? Problem is, it isnt exactly straightforward.

Story is, OH's dad has just turned 60, and OH wants to try and find his brother - really for his dad. Brother disappeared off the scene in - OH thinks about 1986 - and hasnt been seen or heard of since 1996 when he turned up unexpectedly for OH's stepbrother's 16th birthday.

All we have is a name, OH doesnt know his date of birth and cant really remember him much, but I've managed to find his birth record so we have a year of birth and have narrowed down the month of birth to July, August, or September.

OH doesnt exactly speak glowingly of him, but knows his dad would at least like to know if he is alive or dead and a vague whereabouts - of course, after that, its up to him. Now here's the problem. OH says he thinks there is a strong chance his brother may be either a) in Ireland where his family orignally came from and if so may have changed the spelling of his name (form the English version he was named originally to the Irish version) b) in prison, or c) dead.

I've made a few tentative internet enquiries and so far apart from what I've come up with, I've drawn a bit of a blank. Now my question is - what next? All the websites we've looked at that hold death records seem to want a year, and obviously we dont know if he is, but we need to try and rule it out. Also, is there any way of finding out if he is in prison? OH could provide copies of birth certificates etc if necessary.

Finally, are there any websites where we could try to find out if he was in Ireland or would it be a case of going over there and seeing what we could find? Im quite happy to put in time and money on it but I havent got the faintest on where to start - have tried the usual suspects like 192.com, Genes Reunited etc but like I say the results have been a bit inconclusive.

If anyone could help we would be most grateful!!! Like i said if this is the wrong place please move.

Mrs_R xx

lizziem_2

Hi

I don't know the details but a few years ago my stepdad was looking for some family members and found them through the Salvation Army. I have done a quick google and this looks like the website: http://www2.salvationarmy.org.uk/familytracing May be worth a try. Good luck in your search, hope you find your OH's brother.

Janey3

I was going to suggest the Salvation Army too, and there's this link too. Good luck, I do hope you find him.
http://www.missing-you.net/

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Sally army is great - as long as everyone was married. As soon as there is any sign that someone along the way was not married, they refuse point blank to continue. And won't give you any advice as to where you could go next.

belfastgirl23

If you suspect he is in Ireland it might also be worth advertising in local papers in the area(s) you think he might be in. Ireland is small and people are gossipy and you might well track him down, especially if you say it's his dad tracing him.

But I've heard good things about the Sally Army as well, would deffo start there.

RAS

Start by tracking down any other living relatives and finding out if anyone else knows about any contact after 1986. You never know, there may be a cousin or an auntie who has contact since then.

Do the same with any Irish relatives.

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Problem is, it isnt exactly straightforward.

All we have is a name, OH doesnt know his date of birth and cant really remember him much, but I've managed to find his birth record so we have a year of birth and have narrowed down the month of birth to July, August, or September.

Is this birth in England and Wales? if so write to the Registar at the office where he was born and get the certificate. It cost half what you would pay to get it from the main Registry office.

This will allow you to confirm both parents names (dad may turn out to be Michael Patrick NOT Patrick) and the DOB. That may well make the situation with the Sally Army easier to sort out, if you go down that route.

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

OH says he thinks there is a strong chance his brother may be either a) in Ireland where his family orignally came from and if so may have changed the spelling of his name (form the English version he was named originally to the Irish version) b) in prison, or c) dead.

For someone likely to still be living, the family history records are not so useful but some local main libaries have copies of the St Catherine's Index or BDM index for England and Wales, at least until the last 10 years or so. Ring your main library and ask what they have available.

Then start with the last known contact date and check the deaths for anything after that date, as far as you can go. They are in alpha order in each quarter. They list the Mother's maiden name and date of birth.

If nothing turns up, that excludes deaths in England and Wales for those years.

If you get some message like "think he got married/died about 5 years ago", you can ask the Registrar to do a check for several years either side of a specified year.

custardy

tried facebook/bebo
may get him or if he has them his kids on there?

Pee

There is also traceline. It can trace anyone in the UK who is claiming benefits or registered with a doctor - would include state pension - and will send a letter to them. It can trace people in prison. there is a fee, it might have been about £17.

jenhug

also twitter and friends reunited.

Mrs_Ryan

thank you so much everyone.

I have tried Facebook and drawn a blank there. I know OH's dads full name - have seen his passport and know that the Christian name he uses is his correct name (albeit a shortened version)
We have the place of birth - as confirmed via his birth record but both OH and brother were born in Leicester.
Thank you for that RAS - none of the libraries down here do (already checked) but I know Newcastle Central Library does so I will check that out when I go back home. I will definitely try the Sally Army, OH's parents were married when OH's brother was born (and OH) but are now divorced and remarried to other people - dont know if that will make a difference?
thanks belfastgirl - we dont know where he might be but may think of trying that in the area OH's family came form to see if he's gone back there.
Thanks again everyone for your help - will give these things a try.

belfastgirl23

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

thanks belfastgirl - we dont know where he might be but may think of trying that in the area OH's family came form to see if he's gone back there.

If you don't really have an area in Ireland, you would go for Belfast Telegraph or Irish news in the North (Irish News if he's Catholic though Belfast Tele is prob the biggest seller overall) and Irish times or Irish Independent in the south, just in case that helps lots of luck