RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Worcestershire => Topic started by: Graye on Sunday 10 January 21 12:57 GMT (UK)
-
You have given me help before in researching this part of my family but I think I need someone to give me ideas on where to go next. My great grandmother (born Caroline (or Carrie) Batson 25 Nov 1883) had three much older brothers, William Henry (b.1865), George Alfred (b.1867) and Charles (b 1869), all in Redditch.
Unfortunately she could be a fantasist so we have learned to take some family stories with a large pinch of salt, although very often some of her more outlandish tales turn out to be true so I'm trying to prove what went on from definite records.
From what I can see, William was in Croydon in 1891 and died there in 1941. I can't see any other census entries, marriage or 1939 Register entries. She suggested he worked as a companion/translator for people travelling to the Far East (she did have a lot of porcelain she said he brought back for her) but I can see nothing to really suggest that was true. Also that he went on to be an antique dealer. Any idea where I might look?
George Alfred was registered at birth as Alfred, called himself George Alfred when he married and just George on the 1911 census. I'm reasonably happy with his info although I'm not sure why I can't find him on the 1939 Register. His wife was Ellen Andrews, a relative of Caroline Batson's husband.
Charles seems to disappear after the 1881 census, although he may have travelled to Canada in 1908 with a wife and five year old son. I can find no definite UK records for him after 1881 and nothing in Canada either.
She had other brothers and sisters who have been easy to trace but these three eldest have turned into an enigma. Any pointers would be very gratefully received!
-
1939 index shows William H Batson b April 1865 living in Croydon.
We can’t give any details, unfortunately.
-
Thank you heywood. Not sure how I missed that one! Isn't it strange that people living in Almshouses are described as inmates. Has odd connotations really and yet looking online the Whitgift Almshouses look beautiful...
-
I think Alfred is also shown in 1939. The year of birth is 1867.
There is a marriage in Birmingham in 1939
Alfred Batson and Frances L Thompson.
-
There is a death for Charles Ernest Batson b abt 1869 in Bromsgrove 1895.
Could that be him?
-
Thank you very much for the George Alfred information. I'm almost certain this is the right one too! I appreciate that. Frances Thompson seems to have been his second wife, his first wife died in 1934. Unfortunately Frances only seems to have lived until 1942 so it was a short marriage. It seems his birth was registered as Alfred but his baptism (which was a few years later) shows him as George. He seems to use either name.
I'll now follow up the clue for Charles. Ernest is as a second name is a first so I might get the death certificate to double check on the father's name.
As I said, I really appreciate that help. People on here are much more tenacious than I am apparently!
-
Actually that Charles Ernest Batson (born 1869 in Scotland) is a distant cousin of Charles born in Redditch in 1869. So MY Charles may still be a candidate for the trip to Canada (that person was also born in 1869). I think I need to research the marriage and child born 1903...
-
Do you have wife and son’s name?
-
No I'm afraid I don't. I picked the info up from shipping records arriving December 1908 in Halifax Nova Scotia heading to Montreal but his wife is just referred to as Mrs Batson and the child as Master Batson born 1903.
-
I can't see that group, but in 1906 the following are travelling to Halifax on the Sicilian
Chas Batson aged 43, contractor
Mrs Batson aged 43
Nellie Batson aged 6 b Kent
INfant female
Marked as returning canadians - heading for Strathcona
-
Thank you for that. I'm thinking this just might be a coincidence as the date of birth is slightly out (probably 6 years older than the one I'm looking for) and the fact they're apparently Canadians. The family sailing on 4 December 1908 were on the Empress of Ireland. They will have disembarked in Nova Scotia and travelled by train onwards to Montreal (given as their final destination) as steamships couldn't navigate the ice in the St Lawrence during the winter months. On that basis I woud think that 1906 sailing was in the winter too. From a quick look, Strathcona is all the way over in British Columbia so still a very long journey for them!