Tracing an illusive Railway employee, London, 1930s

[Ashtone]

2. We only have Alf's death certificate. Occupation says 'Engineers Labourer' (Waiter)...

Given the "dual" occupation on his death certificate, there's an Albert Spiers (age 22) in the 1921 census. Occupation: Waiter - Queen Hotel, Birmingham (out of work). Birthplace: Birmingham.

He's probably just a red herring. He'll need to be traced forwards to be ruled out.

Also in 1921 - I note that Madge's father is a Locomotive Driver with the Earl of Dudley, General Railway.

[Girl Guide]

Going by Ashtone's information there is this birth:-

SPIERS, ALBERT  SYDNEY     TAYLOR 
GRO Reference: 1900  S Quarter in BIRMINGHAM  Volume 06D  Page 100

As you can see has a second name of Sydney, so may not be the correct Albert.
 

[mazi]

2. We only have Alf's death certificate. Occupation says 'Engineers Labourer' (Waiter)...

Given the "dual" occupation on his death certificate, there's an Albert Spiers (age 22) in the 1921 census. Occupation: Waiter - Queen Hotel, Birmingham (out of work). Birthplace: Birmingham.

He's probably just a red herring. He'll need to be traced forwards to be ruled out.

Also in 1921 - I note that Madge's father is a Locomotive Driver with the Earl of Dudley, General Railway.

Just in case it’s gone unnoticed the Queens hotel birmingham became an LMS Railway hotel at the grouping in 1922, prior to that it was part of the LNWR.

Mike

[Ashtone]

Given the Queen's Hotel info which Mike provided maybe this Albert Spiers is a strong candidate? I saw the record yesterday and disregarded, but decided to mention it today. The occupation of waiter and the surname made me think twice.

[Sc00p]

There is an interesting Navy record for J/51973 Albert Spiers b 24 May 1900 Birmingham.  It seems he had a liking for jumping ship.  24 May 1900 is a corruption of both birthdays given for the Albert Wilson at Camden 1939.

[mazi]

I was a bit worried by the ‘out of work’ and also there was a queens hotel in Aston, not sure if it wasn’t a just a big pub.

The earl of Dudley’s railways was in the midlands, Birmingham is looking possible.

 Mike

[Ashtone]

I forgot to mention that his age in the 1921 census (taken on 19 June) is recorded as "22 years, 1 month". So that's a May birthday, but one year out. The address he's living at also has many other people of various trades and employed/unemployed status.

[softly softly]

Going by Ashtone's information there is this birth:-

SPIERS, ALBERT  SYDNEY     TAYLOR 
GRO Reference: 1900  S Quarter in BIRMINGHAM  Volume 06D  Page 100

As you can see has a second name of Sydney, so may not be the correct Albert.

This Albert appears with parents Edward & Agnes in 1901 census. Baptism does not record sadly a dob. Cannot find parents after 1901.

SS

Added

Edward is back in 1911 as a married man in his mother's home with siblings (married 10 y, 1 child alive) but no Agnes or Albert,

[Jool]

Posting this in the hope that we are following the right family.

Albert Sydney Spiers' father, Edward, is with his mother, Jane Spiers,  and siblings in 1911.  He is noted as a Jeweller Ring Mounter, as he was in 1901. His wife, Agnes, is not with him but it states he has been married 10 years and has 1 child.  Bob said in his reply #39 that his mother mentioned Albert came from a "well to do" family - I wonder if his father's occupation of Jeweller is what gave this impression.

Edward Spiers was accused and found not guilty of murder in 1912

UK, Calendar of Prisoners, 1868-1929
Name Edward Spiers
Trial Age 30
Birth Date abt 1882
Trial Date 5 Jul 1912
Trial Place Stafford, Staffordshire, England
Occupation Jeweller
Charge Killing and Slaying
Sentence Not Guilty

There are reports of this in the newspapers in 1912 on Findmypast, but I cannot read the full articles as my sub has expired.  I can see that the address matches the 1911 census for Edward.  Anyone searching the newspapers may get more results searching the victim's name - Samuel Hatchcroft. I wonder if this may be the reason Albert changed his surname, he would have been about 12 years old at the time.