Did Thomas William OXFORD die in Milford Haven?

[WOxGenes]

Grandfather Thomas William OXFORD (born 1880 in Wolverhampton) married Minnie Jessica SIMMONDS in Milford Haven in Dec.1917. Their only son George William was born there in Nov.1918.
Thomas William supposedly died before or soon after his son was born. However there is evidence to suggest he was still alive in 1921 in Neath/Port Talbot.
We are trying to find out when and where he died. Current evidence suggests it was probably in South Wales, Pembrokeshire or Glamorgan.
Thank you.

[CaroleW]

Hi

There is the following birth entry on freebmd.  However - Wolverhampton is in Staffordshire and this birth is in Warwickshire.  There is an 1880 Wolverhampton birth reg but he was just Thomas - not Thomas William

Births Dec 1875
 
Thomas William Oxford    Birmingham  6d 110

What was his fathers name on his marriage cert and how old was Thomas at that time

Per freebmd

Marriages December qtr 1917 
Minnie J Simmonds/Thomas W  Oxford  Haverfordwest  11a 2349

[WOxGenes]

Hi CaroleW

There are several Oxfords in Birmingham Warwickshire but I don’t think they are related; at least not this side of 1800.

It is kind of you to look up birth and marriage information, but don’t worry about that. I have everything I need in that regard including birth and marriage certificates.

What I am really after is when and where did he die? I have drawn a blank in FreeBMD and Ancestry.co.uk. I figure local church records and cemeteries* in South Wales are the best bet. But we live the other side of the UK so for the time being that is not an option.

(* P.S. He was Roman Catholic)

Thanks again

[CaroleW]

Hi

I have everything I need in that regard including birth and marriage certificates.

See the WWI details below - do those parents appear on his birth cert?

If he died in either Wales or England, it would be on freebmd.  His religion would not be an issue with a death reg - only his final resting place.   

The reason I looked up his birth reg was because there is a Thomas W Oxford death in 1929 in Warwickshire aged 53 so b 1875.  However, if you are certain he was b 1880 it can't be the same one

What was his occupation?  Could he possibly have died at sea?

I have a feeling that the Thomas Oxford b 1880 is the one who died in 1919 WWI

Thomas OXFORD Rank: Private
Regiment/Service North Staffordshire Regiment
Age 39
Date of Death 22/02/1919
Service No 39980
Additional information Son of George and Mary Ann Oxford, of Walsall and husband of Betsy Oxford, of 11, North St., Stoke-on-Trent.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference 2233.
Cemetery STOKE-ON-TRENT (HARTSHILL) CEMETERY


 

[WOxGenes]

Hi CaroleW

Wow, that was quick work. It took me a couple of months, including getting hold of the death certificate of Thomas Oxford b 1880 (in Walsall) who died in 1919 (in Newcastle hospital from gas related injuries), to confirm that was definitely not our man.

I have gone through every Thomas, William and Thomas William Oxford (and variations e.g. Axford) in FreeBMD and the transcriptions on Ancestry.co.uk. No luck; just a possible for his older brother but nothing close for our man.

Thomas William was definitely born in 1880, on 13 April in North Street, Wolverhampton; parents Thomas William aka William Oxford and Mary Ann Brannan (Irish descent hence the RC we think).

He was a cinema operator in Fleur de Lis (nr.Blackwood) in Feb.1916; his brother William at that time was cinema operator in Milford Haven. Before that they worked on the fairgrounds mainly in South Wales and West Midlands we believe. Not famous enough it seems to appear on any of the fairground/traveller related websites or archives unfortunately.

In WW1 he was in the army (Labour Corps mainly), discharged 31 March 1919 with no major injuries. He gave his address at that time as 32 Jersey Street, Velindra, Aberavon. His war records which luckily surfaced last November include a medal receipt card he appears to have signed and returned in Sept 1921 postmarked Porthcawl.

The reason I thought his being Roman Catholic might be relevant is that if there was a major transcription or omission error on FreeBMD or even the original quarterly listings, looking in the RC church registers or cemeteries might be the only way to track him down.

I was hoping that someone in Pembrokeshire and/or Glamorgan might have some ideas about that.

Thanks again for your efforts. If I had asked some months ago you would have saved me a lot of time!

[Orielbenfro]

There are no Roman Catholic registers deposited at the Pembs Record Office.
As I understand it Rome forbade the deposit of registers, due to the practise of post death mass baptisms by the C of LDS into their faith collected from P.R.'s ~ but I would willingly stand corrected and would never wish to upset either faith for what ever reason.
With reference to your PM to me, in the light of earlier postings to this thread do you still wish me to search on your behalf, if so can I presume you wish me to search Milford/Steyton/Hubberston post 1919 for any burial of an "Oxford".
I note the burial of an Annie Wills Oxford at Llanion Cemetery in 1927. If you believe she is related and would like a jpeg of the headstone if it survives, I can willingly get one for you.
Please PM me again with your requirements.
Rgds
Orielbenfro

ORIEL a welsh window on a surname

[CaroleW]

Thomas William was definitely born in 1880, on 13 April in North Street, Wolverhampton; parents Thomas William aka William Oxford and Mary Ann Brannan (Irish descent hence the RC we think).

Freebmd only shows one birth in Wolverhampton between 1878-1881 that fits which is presumably the one you have the birth cert for - but he was just Thomas

Births June qtr 1880  Thomas Oxford     Wolverhampton  6b 601

1891 census for Wolverhampton - all b Wolverhampton.  Address is Caravan Chalf... St - cannot decipher full address

Thomas W Oxford 38 travelling shooting saloon
Sarah  35
William  15
Thomas 12
Annie 9
Fred   4
RG12 Piece 2232 Folio 42 Page 32

Deaths September qtr 1888   
 
Mary Annie Oxford aged  30  Wolverhampton  6b 287

Marriages December qtr 1888 
 
Thomas William Oxford/Sarah Jones    Wolverhampton  6b 930

[WOxGenes]

Yep, that's them.

In 1891 they were in a caravan in Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton.

No sign of them in the 1881 Census.

In 1901 Census father plus wife no.3, daughter Annie and youngest son James are in Stourbridge in a show van, one among many, presumably for the fair. Still in the travelling shooting gallery business.

No sign of older sons William or Thomas William in the 1901 Census.

 

[Orielbenfro]

The reason I thought his being Roman Catholic might be relevant is that if there was a major transcription or omission error on FreeBMD or even the original quarterly listings, looking in the RC church registers or cemeteries might be the only way to track him down.

If I understand you correctly, it appears you are confusing Baptism with Birth. Religon had nothing to do with registration of birth. Registration was by law and required within 6 weeks of birth(in theory), Baptism in whatever faith one chose was just that ~ by choice and could be at any point (or not at all) after ones birth. I have baptisms ranging from aged 22 yrs to 80 yrs.
So it did not matter if you are christened an R.C. C of E. Baptist, et al, your birth still had to be registered in 6 weeks. Unlike Mrge Certs there is no reference to church or chapel on Birth or Death certificates.
Any gap in Free BMD has nothing to do with one's personal religion in which your parents choose to have you baptised, but that the period of your interest has not yet been transcribed by a volunteer, see Free BMD homepage to find what areas and period have been transcribed.
Have sent you a couple of PM's on other subjects.
Rgeds
Orielbenfro
ORIEL a welhs window on a surname