Help with finding my father

terryw

For what it is worth, about 20 years ago a chum of mine wished to regain contact with his father, and basically the last information we had was that he had been a taxi-driver in a certain part of the city. If we went for a drink we tended to use pubs in that area and just asked around. After about a year we really did manage to locate him. (Long involved story which I won't bore you with) and the old father was really pleased that his son had gone to this bother.

Keep at it. Something will break.

pookienoodle

have you tried putting an advert in the paper local to his last address,maybe even offer a small reward for any useful info.

djdido2

Hi there

Have you tried Facebook? My OH has just found his sister after 15 years and she has even changed her name. Look for known associates ie Children etc.

Good luck x

Morglin

As someone else said, the Salvation Army are brilliant at tracing people:

http://www.look4them.org.uk/salvation-army.html

Lin

belfastgirl23

I'm wondering whether you should sit your mum down and tell her that one way or another you won't stop till you trace your dad and could she please give you any extra info she has cos otherwise you'll have to use a private detective and that will cost you a fortune. Not that I think she'll be able to magic him up out of somewhere but the more info you have in your search the better.

Annie_Other

Have you tried contacting the libraries in Halifax, they hold a lot of information including census materials and old newspapers/documents/electoral registers ect.
Do you know what work your father did? Was he ever in the armed forces etc?

I'm sure they could help you with your search.

RAS

weenickieS wrote: »

Thing is though, i live in Scotland and his last known address was in Halifax. I tried writing but he no longer lived there.

He has a middle name which i thought would make it a bit easier but its just as hard.

All his family live down in England so i dont even know anyone from that side of the family. I have asked my gran but she cant remember much.

Smith is not easy but there are a number of things that you can do. Go back to first principles.

1. Were you and bro born in England or Scotland? Which ever, get your birth certificates. If it was Scotland, speak to New Register House and ask where you can get the Certs. If it was England, tell me which town and I can post you up the address for the registrar. Cost £15 for two certificates.

This will tell you if your parents were married. If they were it give you a clue on their ages. Do not rely on this but it is a start.

2. Try to find his birth. If you have a full name and his age, then it is St Cat's index for you. Even with Smith if you have a middle name there are a limited number of options. This is widely available in public libraries in England.

Also look in both countries for marriages of a man with his name in the decade before and after you were born.

miamoo

I am in a similar position, I havent seen my dad since I was around 5, there was never any other contact but I know from my mum that he lives in Cheshire.
My sister mentioned a few years ago that she would like to find him, and my mum wasnt happy, so I cant really ask her for any infomation.

I know his name, date of birth (but not the year) and he was married to my mum a few years before I was born.
I think I will contact the salvation army to see if they can help

ellies_angel

I live in Aberdeen and traced my birth father my contacting Edinburgh, registers/birth/deaths and marriages and he was traced through his NHS number. I'm sorry I don't have the details. All I had was an aprox age, although he did have 2 middle names which made it easier. Good luck x

weenickieS

Thank you to you all for the help. I will give most suggestions a go. Although, i wish i could check pubs etc out but with living so far away it would be really difficult to do this.

miamoo wrote: »

I am in a similar position, I havent seen my dad since I was around 5, there was never any other contact but I know from my mum that he lives in Cheshire.
My sister mentioned a few years ago that she would like to find him, and my mum wasnt happy, so I cant really ask her for any infomation.

I know his name, date of birth (but not the year) and he was married to my mum a few years before I was born.
I think I will contact the salvation army to see if they can help

I hope you find your dad. Fingers crossed and good luck.