The Unknown Family: Reunited after six decades

As international probate researchers, the team at Fraser and Fraser will at times find themselves working collaboratively with other departments to execute and finalise a case. This was the circumstance in a recent case we managed, whereby we went above and beyond to locate missing heirs and resulted in reuniting a family after six decades of not knowing one another existed.

Originally we were instructed by a Local Authority to trace the next-of-kin of the late Stuart Turner, born 23 February 1941 in Cambridge. His parents were Ian Turner and Susan Watkins. Stuart Turner died a bachelor without issue. His parents married on 2 October 1939 in Cambridge. The deceased was the only child of both parents and the only child born into the marriage.

It was quickly established that the deceased’s mother was born in Ripon, North Yorkshire. We found that her parents married in 1902 and we began to locate the family on the census return 1911; searching for births after this date. Susan Watkins was one of seven children. Subsequently, we successfully traced nine maternal first cousins, or first cousins once removed, entitled to benefit under intestacy rules. It was a little challenging searching for the family of the deceased’s father.

No trace of births was found in England and Wales, we broadened our search to Ireland and Scotland. With no confirmation of trace in Scotland, we moved our focus to Ireland and Northern Ireland, a birth for Ian Turner was later confirmed by the paternal family that Ian Turner had moved to Cambridge in WWII, working as a Capstan Operator, never returning to Northern Ireland and having very limited contact with his family.    

The deceased’s paternal line indicated that there were four brothers. Initially, the paternal first cousins were contacted as it was believed they were the only living heirs. Aware that one of their uncles died as a minor in 1930 and another died in 1982, surprisingly a third uncle was mentioned but no further information was given. This individual was Richard Turner and he sadly passed away before the line of family had any memories or recollections of him. Having searched extensively for Richard, we confirmed that he was born in 1918 and that he died in 1955. There was no obvious marriage for Mr Gilmour but once we identified that correct death certificate, it transpired that his father-in-law provided information that Richard Turner had married on 17 March 1942 in Northern Ireland.

From this marriage two children were born, Sonny and Julie, who later moved to England and had no further contact with the Turner family. Once we made contact with Sonny and Julie, there were naturally shocked and overwhelmed to learn that they had family in Scotland, and their Irish cousins were equally shocked that they had first cousins residing in England. Reuniting the family was a highlight of this case, in which all members were desperate to meet one another. Since this came to light, the Turner family now keeps in regular contact.

All heirs said that they never expected to find extended family at their age of 60+ but are very happy that we worked on growing their family tree and in the end, reuniting the family once more.

Names, dates and places have been changed to preserve client confidentiality.