People   (Re-unions, trace old friends and relatives.)

Hello Linda.

Thank you for your detective work, it is very much appreciated.

Rumours of Clara using a Deed Poll to change her name have popped up in the family from time to time. It was a common, affordable legal means of making such changes, but sadly, virtually impossible to trace records for, by nature. If Clara did change her name, our assumption has been she kept her given name and only switched Surnames. We also are assuming she kept her true birthdate and location. If not, that may have created problems for her post 1939 Registry when various social services were introduced.

At the moment, my cousin in Wigan is looking into asylum records at the Lancashire Records Office under Clara Ryan for Summer, early Fall of 1929. It would be a huge break in the case for us if something turns up. We would think a medical/mental exam would have been done on admission wherever she was placed. Those may confirm her pregnancy and how advanced it might have been. From that a possible birthdate and perhaps even if a birth took place once Clara was discharged. We have been able to determine that if Clara recovered from a beating while in an asylum, they would likely keep her a month or two at best to confirm her lucid behaviour and cognitive skills were stable, before releasing her, and they would not have needed her husbands approval to do so.

When released, she likely headed to her Mum’s place in Aston-in-Makersfield. She was very likely broke and it would have been much too risky to go to either sister in Wigan. Possible she met someone while at her Mum’s, but for now that is pure speculation, until we find more factual evidence to chase. Its a fun frustration, trust me. And the clock is ticking for answers for my surviving aunt and uncle.

Cheers for now,

David