Northamptonshire Regiment 1898

[forester]

Hello Steve,

Sandy pointed me in your direction.

Do you have the marriage certificate?
If so, what address, etc is given for Alice? She does not appear to have been born in the area. She may be the one born in Mere Reg District, March Qu. 1875

To my knowledge, there was no barracks in the East Grinstead area at the time. The nearest camp was Crowborough (Uckfield Reg District).

As he was still serving in the 1920's, his service record will still be with the MoD.
Hopefully, I have attached what I think is his entry in WO 338, which some-one may be able to interpret. He appears to have been in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps as a Captain.

Phil

[stevetewk65]

wow Forester - my chap's name was Thomas Percival Hutchinson Pearsall (TPH Pearsall as in your image) so yes that must be him! As you say, now to interpret it!

Alice was indeed from Mere, her address on the marriage certificate is New Buckhurst, Withyham, Sussex. There is a Buckhurst Estate at Withyham, my presumption has always been that she was a servant there and he/his regiment must have somehow briefly visited!

[forester]

I was just going to say that I looked at the 1891 census and saw that Emma was born in Withyham.

Buckhurst is the seat of Earl De La Warr.

http://www.buckhurstpark.co.uk/

I wonder if there is a connection between the family  and the regiment.

Phil

[stevetewk65]

Thanks for the link Phil.

Emma? Emma Hewitt was a witness at the marriage - do you mean her?

steve

[forester]

In the 1891 census, there is a sister Emma M(arie), age 7, born Withyham. (March Qu. 1884, East Grinstead)

RG12/2442; Folio 63; Page 1.

The family are at Bramcote, Polesworth, Warwickshire.
Father, Joseph, is a gamekeeper and it looks like they move around a bit.

Emma married 1907, if I've got the right one, so it can't be her.

Emma Hewitt was from Surrey and in 1891 a servant in Groombridge (Withyham Parish)

Phil

[stevetewk65]

I think we've gone wrong there somewhere - Emma must be a red herring, she cant be of the same family as dates and names don't fit.

Emma Hewitt fits tho - and is VERY amusing. I have a close friend I've known 25 years who lives in Groombridge! Tiny world!

[forester]

Steve,

In case I've gone off on the wrong track, can you confirm both Thomas and Alice's birth dates and place of birth and their parents if possible, plus any known siblings.

I thought I had the Humber family cracked, but I'm beginning to doubt it now.
I'm also having trouble picking up Thomas's family.

Phil

[stevetewk65]

I sure can, thanks Phil!

Thomas was born in April 1871 in Malta (his father was also called Thomas Pearsall and was also in the Northants Regiment). Alice Humber was born January 75 (I believe in Payhembury Devon altho Census calls it Paykembury) Her father was John Humber, but yes he was a gamekeeper and (unless I have the wrong one) certainly wandered about a bit. He was born in Kingston Russell, Dorset, about 1844.

You are very kind taking the time for this, thanks.

Steve

[forester]

Good evening Steve,

That would explain why I couldn't find Thomas's birth registration.

Do you know when Thomas Senior stopped globe-trotting, or where they settled?

I do have the right Alice Humber then. If you want any census info on the family, John's re-marriage etc, let me know.

Alice had a sister Emma according to the 1891 census, who was born at Withyham (as my earlier post). Originally I thought she may have been the witness, but turned out not to be.

I could only find one London Gazette entry for Thomas, which contains info you already have:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32103/supplements/10399

My thinking is that Thomas and Alice met during the Humber family travels. If you know where and when Thomas was in the UK, the Humbers are fairly traceable (up to 1911 certainly).

Phil