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Looking for information for William John Spence who was born in Belfast, 29th April,1880. Father was Samuel Spence and mother was Sarah Herridge. William John married Mary Ann Watson 1st April 1907. He was a butcher. I cannot get him in 1911 census in Belfast. The next time I get him is 13th May 1936 72 Dee Street Belfast. That was his death cert. Mary Ann was still alive or his wife was.
I can't find any children for him. I have a death cert for Mary Ann Spence12th Feb 1940 12 Legane Street, but not sure if this is the widow of William John Spence.
Any help will be appreciated.

https://mediasvc.ancestry.co.uk/v2/image/namespaces/1093/media/a7bcc808-8f0a-475e-879e-d5109d7a5656.jpg?client=trees-mediaservice&imageQuality=hq&maxWidth=2048&maxHeight=1330

Shirley
That is William John Spence's birth certificate. I have his marriage cert 1907 and I have nothing between 1907 to 1936.

The 1940 death cert should say if she was the widow or wife of someone.

She's not at 12 Legane Street in 1939 - an H Matthews, cloth finisher, is there - and he's also there in 1943..
There's a Robert Spence at no 8 in 1939 - but maybe no connection.

Oh! Isabella Matthews was the one that registered Mary Ann Spence's death. It does not say who her husband was on the death cert. Just says that she is a widow.

I just found a funeral notice for Mary Ann Spence. She died at her sister's residence 12 Legane St. Mary Ann Spence was the widow of the late Robert Spence.
Also, Isabella Matthews died 7th February 1970 12 Legane St. wife of the late Hugh Matthews.
I am clear that this is not the wife of William John Spence. He died 1936 and was still married. I wonder who was loving in 72 Dee Street in 1939?

At 72 Dee Street in 1939 and 1943 was A Beckett, draper.
In 1932 it was David Hall, grocer.

(per Belfast Street Directory)



Don't know if relevant -
in 1932 there's a Mrs Spence at 44 Dee Street.

No Spences in Dee Street in 1939.

Thank you for that. Possibly Mary Ann Spence may have moved to her family of Watson. As I cannot find any children for them, it is possible she went to a sister or brother. She could have died between 1936 and 1939

Can you check to see if there was a William John Spence, a butcher, living in 44 Dee Street in 1932 please. :-D

As mentioned before, there was a Mrs Spence at 44 Dee Street in 1932.

There's only ever one name per house on the street directory, presumably the official tenant's name, so no way of knowing who else was living there.

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/dcomplete1932.htm

Thank you for all the information. What I do know is, William John. Spence died 1936 in 72 Dee Street and on the death cert, he was married and his brother in law was present at death. At this stage, I don't know if Mary Ann was still his wife, but assume so as no death for her. So we know she died after 1936.

When was Mary Ann born?

These two people died at 117 Dee Street - don't know if they're related to your Spences or not. It's not an uncommon name:

Name of deceased William Spence
Last place of residence 117 Dee St
Age 17 Years
Sex
Date of death 20 June 1936
Date of burial 22 June 1936


Name of deceased Samuel Scott
Last place of residence 117 Dee St
Age 2 9/12 Years
Sex
Date of death 30 January 1933
Date of burial 1 February 1933
Cemetery Dundonald Cemetery


In the same grave at Dundonald Cemetery are these people:

Name of deceased William Robert Spence
Last place of residence 139 Park Avenue
Age 71 Years
Sex
Date of death 13 January 1945
Date of burial 16 January 1945


Name of deceased Margaret Spence
Last place of residence 27 Medway Street
Age 58 Years
Sex
Date of death 31 January 1936
Date of burial 3 February 1936


On the street directory, there's a Mrs Black at 27 Medway Street in 1932, and a Mrs Milligen in 1939.

There's a William spence at 139 Park Avenue in 1939 (presumably the one who died in 1945), and a William Proudfoot, plater, in 1932.

Mary Ann Spence nee Watson was born approx 1878