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Derry (Londonderry) / Re: Adairs of Derry 1901 census?
« on: Monday 29 March 10 10:36 BST (UK) »
Please can I clarify. Firstly apologies for my lack of geographical understanding. Private John Adair (14849 d 1.7.1916) was remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. My grandfather died at Ypres about the same time and I had mistakenly thought that John was in the same area when he died. However, William, John's brother, survived the war and so could not be the one mentioned on the memorial in Londonderry. William firstly joined the RIF as an army reservist at age 17 for six years then managed to join the Royal Field Artillery in 1905 at age 18 (declaring his sign up to reserves); I have the copies of the join up papers. The RFA was for a short service which I took to be 10 years - meaning that he would have been in the army during 1912 when the covernant was signed. I have assumed that brother John also would have joined the army at an early age. Both came from a very poor household and I have surmised that the army would have been preferable to being a general labourer.
I think we established before, that there were two very similar families in Londonderry during the WW1 period, both with a William and John, and it would seem that there might be some confusion between the two. Sorry if I am giving you headaches here!
I think that my family, headed by John Adair snr who was a general labourer and born in Londonderry, moved around a lot. I am guessing that he moved out into Tyrone somewhere and met his wife. I doubt they were literate despite the census stating they were, as my grandmother was sent to work at seven and never learned to read or write. Certainly around the 1885 time they were working on a farm (my grandmother's early years) and as both sons gave different birth places that would seem to bear out the theory.
I am still hopeful that more will be found - eventually! So thank you again everyone for your help.
CB
I think we established before, that there were two very similar families in Londonderry during the WW1 period, both with a William and John, and it would seem that there might be some confusion between the two. Sorry if I am giving you headaches here!
I think that my family, headed by John Adair snr who was a general labourer and born in Londonderry, moved around a lot. I am guessing that he moved out into Tyrone somewhere and met his wife. I doubt they were literate despite the census stating they were, as my grandmother was sent to work at seven and never learned to read or write. Certainly around the 1885 time they were working on a farm (my grandmother's early years) and as both sons gave different birth places that would seem to bear out the theory.
I am still hopeful that more will be found - eventually! So thank you again everyone for your help.
CB