Alfred John Brown

My father Alfred John Brown (1907/1910 - 1950), 'Jack', greengrocer at Rosiers in Far Gosford St & the Blue Chain on the Holyhead Rd. He was outlived by 2 sisters, Grace (1899) married Hector Norris & Ethel who married Frank Harris, but a younger sister Olive died earlier. I believe they lived at 9 or 19 Paynes Lane. His father was Alfred Brown but I have no idea if he ever served his country or what his occupation was. His mother was Annie Florence Kirkby. There seems to be mention of Frank as either uncle or brother who went to America. Any idea where to start?

Welcome to the forum francesb and good luck in your search into your family tree. A quick look shows that Alfred Brown was a watch toolmaker living in Paynes Lane in 1901 aged 26. He is not with Annie Florence in 1911 but she says she is married so you would have to do further research into that. If you are serious about researching your family it is well worth subscribing to a site like Ancestry. You would also find on there information about people travelling to America.

Before spending money at Ancestry, it's a good idea to see what can be found for free. from freebmd: Alfred Brown married Annie Florence Kirkby at Coventry in 2nd quarter 1894; from freecen: Alfred was a printers apprentice, age 16 in the 1891 census, he was the grandson of Charles & Caroline Shenstone with their married daughter Emma Brown, age 36, a woollen weaver, all born in Coventry and living at 10 Ct 5 Bond St; from familysearch: the same family appear in the 1881 census at 18 Bond St, but the surname is Browne and he is Alfred Thos also from familysearch: Alfred Thomas Brown was born 4 May 1874 and christened 26 June at St Michael, father John, mother Emma. freebmd again: an Emma Shenstone married at Coventry in 1874 but not apparently to a Brown; plus another Emma Shenstone marriage in Coventry in 1875, also not to a Brown. However there's a John Brown who married Emma Charley at Coventry in 1870.

Access to Ancestry.co.uk is free at many libraries and record offices, including Coventry History Centre.