WILLIAM PERCY ALLEN - MY BIGGEST BRICKWALL!

[HistoryFan]

William Percy Allen was my Great Grandfather and as far as searching for information about him I have hit the biggest brick wall.

From the information I have gathered (below) he was born between 1876-1880 in Leicestershire.

I have been unable to trace him on the 1881 Census or the 1891 Census so far.

I found him on the 1901 Census at the barracks of the Leicestershire Regiment - "Glen Parva"

William Allen aged 24 (B1876/77) birth born St Margarets, Leicestershire (this is East Leicester)

He moved to Guernsey CI where he married my Great Grandmother Beatrice Mitchell at Holy Trinity Church St Peter Port on 11 September 1904

The Wedding Certificate did not provide his place of birth, but stated that he was a Private in the 2nd. Battalion of the Leicester Regiment and was now stationed at Fort George (Military) Guernsey.

His age is given as 24 here which would make his birth (1879-1880)

His Father's name is provided as Charles Allen as Watchmaker.

On the 1911 Census he is living at The Cottage, St John Street, St Peter Port Guernsey

William Allen (30) 1880/81 birth - birthplace Nottingham? **
Beatrice Allen (27) Born St Peter Port Guernsey
Florence Beatrice Allen (6) As above
Winnifred Ellen (3) As Above

Note William's occupation - Labourer/Plasterer.  Did he do this inbetween War Service? 

**His birthplace on the 1911 Census is stated as Nottingham - which could well be a red herring, as his birth place is given as Leicester in the 1901 Census and he was confirmed to be in the Leicestershire Regiment on his Wedding Certificate in 1904, and the Death Certificate states he was born in Leicestershire.

His Death Certificate states that he died on 1st February 1916 at Netley Military Hospital Southampton of War Wounds (six weeks before my Grandmother was born) aged 39 which would confirm an 1876/1877 birth year.

William Percy Allen - Private 05398 (Royal Army Ordinance Corp)
Born:  Leicestershire

My Grandmother who died 8 weeks ago had been very keen to find out more about the Father she never knew, so I have been searching for information on him for a number of years - I am still keen to find out more about him.

Any tips, leads or advice very welcome

[cath151]

Hi,
There are details of a William Allens service records on Ancestry, they are definately his as they mention correct wife, father and mother and Leicester and Nottingham.
Using the details I think he can be found on the CWGC site as a casualty who died 01/02/1916 and is buried in Netley Military Cemetary, Hampshire.
 I can t find him on the censuses but will check an address in Nottingham.
 Best wishes
 Cathy

[HistoryFan]

Hi,
There are details of a William Allens service records on Ancestry, they are definately his as they mention correct wife, father and mother and Leicester and Nottingham.
Using the details I think he can be found on the CWGC site as a casualty who died 01/02/1916 and is buried in Netley Military Cemetary, Hampshire.
 I can t find him on the censuses but will check an address in Nottingham.
 Best wishes
 Cathy

Thanks Cathy.

Yes I have seen his record on the CWGC site and have the Burial details at Netley Military Cemetery.  I also have a copy of his Medal Card which I found on the National Archives site.

I am not registered with Ancestry at this point so not able to check those details.  You mentioned that it shows the name of his mother on there.

Would you kindly let me know what it is?  That would be a great help with my search as I only have the name of his father Charles Allen at this stage.

Many thanks.

[cath151]

Hi,
sorry. i guessed you might have seen the records. Mother is Sarah, I was looking for them at an address in Nottingham. 22, Garden Street but have had no luck.He appears to have been born St. Marys, Leicester.
 I can t find them on the census, they do seem to have disappeared and no obvious births either tho there are a couple of possibles on freebmd.
Could William Percy have possibly been born before parents married and had his mothers surname?
Addresses in Guernsey include Veauvert? Street and 64,Victoria road. St Peter Port.
Hope this may help
Best wishes
Cathy

[HistoryFan]

Hi,
sorry. i guessed you might have seen the records. Mother is Sarah, I was looking for them at an address in Nottingham. 22, Garden Street but have had no luck.He appears to have been born St. Marys, Leicester.
 I can t find them on the census, they do seem to have disappeared and no obvious births either tho there are a couple of possibles on freebmd.
Could William Percy have possibly been born before parents married and had his mothers surname?
Addresses in Guernsey include Veauvert? Street and 64,Victoria road. St Peter Port.
Hope this may help
Best wishes
Cathy

Thanks so much once again.  Those Guernsey addresses all tie up perfectly.

It could well be that his parents were never married.  Unfortunately very little information has been passed down the family line.

My Grandmother said there were relatives with the surname Holmes, but this could be just cousins or beyond.  She also said that William had a sister named Nellie (could be Ellen), but I do not know if she was older or younger than William.

Apparently Nellie married a Mr Stone, but having checked out the Stone surname that becomes a whole new needle in the haystack.

Is Sarah's surname showing as Allen? 

Many Many thanks.

[cath151]

Hi,
Father   Charles
Mother  Sarah
Unfortunately no surname, but address in Nottingham as above.
The only marriage I can find is
Sep1906 Leicester
Ellen Susannah P(hyllis) Kemp
Valentine Bray Stone ( same page but correct in later records)

Ellens family seem to have a connection to Leicester and her mother is a Sarah, a widow in 1901
Rg13/3004  88/12
But then absolutely no obvious connections to William Percy it is a puzzle!

Cathy

[HistoryFan]

Thank you so much Cathy, it means a lot that you have hunted for me.

Happy New Year to you.

[Annette7]

Hi HistoryFan

Have you come across the following - could this be the potential father of William Percy - right name, right time, right place, right occupation (if so, would suggest WP was born illegimate and we have no idea of his mothers surname).
Cannot find any other trace of this person in census before/after 1881.

1881 Census - 6 Charles Street, Leicester St. Margaret

Charles B. Allen    45    Unm.     Watch & Clock Maker      b. Toronto Upper, Canada

(1 of 4 boarders at the address)

Ref. RG11 - 3157 - 82 - 29

Happy New Year.

Annette
 

[HistoryFan]

Hi HistoryFan

Have you come across the following - could this be the potential father of William Percy - right name, right time, right place, right occupation (if so, would suggest WP was born illegimate and we have no idea of his mothers surname).
Cannot find any other trace of this person in census before/after 1881.

1881 Census - 6 Charles Street, Leicester St. Margaret

Charles B. Allen    45    Unm.     Watch & Clock Maker      b. Toronto Upper, Canada

(1 of 4 boarders at the address)

Ref. RG11 - 3157 - 82 - 29

Happy New Year.

Annette
 

Thanks Annette.  Yes this Charles Allen really raises suspicions!  I will have to look into this.  Thank you.

I have been looking at William Percy Allen's Military Records and from those forms he was born in St Marks Leicester between 1876-1880.  The 1901 Census had stated St Margarets Leicester so not sure how far apart these two "St's" are.

From the enlistment to the Militia it appears that he enlisted 21 November 1894 aged either 18 years 6months or 18 years 1 month,which would make his birth 1876.

The 1911 discharge from the Regiment papers confirm that his parents names were Charles and Sarah who were living at 22 Garden Street, Nottingham.

I looked at Findmypast on the address section and boo hoo - lots of other numbers in Garden Street but nothing for 22.

At this stage I am close, but still not quite there!