Another look at OH's grandad........... pretty please

[Margaret in Burton]

I have asked for help on this problem quite a while ago on FTF but nothing sorted so thought I'd try again.

OH's grandad was supposedly a Yorkshireman. He left home to join the army in 1903 and never returned home. He was in the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Married a girl from Ashby de la Zouch in 1908.

1911 census says he was from Rotherham, Yorkshire. When asked about his early life he refused to talk about it, saying he wasn't wanted. Unsure about his real date of birth even. His daughter had 22nd July as his birthday but no year. They think he was the same age as his wife, she was born in 1886.

No birth reg can be found. The army record has very little info and gives his next of kin as his wife when he was recalled for WW1.

OH is more than a little miffed that we are stuck on his grandad on his main line.

What I do have is:

Peter HARRISON married Lily COX on 25th Dec 1908 in Ashby. Ages at marriage are 23 for him and 22 for her. Lily was born 19 Jan 1886. That should put his year of birth at 1885.

He joined the army in Castleford, Yorkshire in 1903 Reg number 8003.
He was taken POW in Russia in 1915 and was there for the rest of the war.

His name of his sons marriage cert is Peter Henry Harrison and also on his own death cert he is listed as Peter Henry Harrison.

No mention of a middle name on his own marriage cert though.

[Merry]

Do you have all his children's birth certs? I wondered what name he was given on those (doubtful it would help though!).

I know we have been here before, but did he give a name for his father on the marriage cert? (racks brains! lol)

[Margaret in Burton]

Hi Merry

Only full birth cert I have for the children is fil's. That says Peter Henry Harrison.
I have 3 of his childrens marriage certs and they all say Peter Henry.

He is the informant on his mil's death cert. That says P H Harrison and the same on his wife's death cert.

On his own marriage cert it says father is Thomas Harrison (deceased). This put us on a wild goose chase for many years as we have the birth cert of a Peter Harrison born 11 June 1886 in York. Father Thomas Harrison a glassblower. We followed this line with many certs(grrrrrrrrrrrrr) for years.

It was only when the 1911 census was released that I realised that the York Peter Harrison was still in York and ours was in Ashby.

Fil has told me that his mates down the pit used to call his dad Harry. He thinks that was because of his middle name Henry. I think it's more likely to be short for Harrison.

[Margaret in Burton]

Army pension record says Peter Henry.

It's here:

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=0&f7=peter&f8=harrison&sx=&rg_81004011__date=&rs_81004011__date=0&f14=&f15=&f5=8003&gskw=&prox=1&db=britisharmy&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gl=&gss=mp-BritishArmy&gst=&so=3

[Stella]

When was Thomas Harrison born Margaret. I have one in my tree born 1868 in Methley, Castleford, Yorkshire.

[Merry]

Hmmmm....well, as I'm sure you know, all the Peters b in Rotherham around 1885 seem to be accounted for, either marrying or dying, or both.

Peter was an unusual name for the date, which might account for him being called Harry (as you say, more likely to be from his surname than middle name). When was he down the pits?

[Merry]

F-i-L wasn't aware of any aunts or uncles on that side?

[Margaret in Burton]

When was Thomas Harrison born Margaret. I have one in my tree born 1868 in Methley, Castleford, Yorkshire.

I have no idea Stella

I think he may have made the name up for his marriage cert.

[Margaret in Burton]

Hmmmm....well, as I'm sure you know, all the Peters b in Rotherham around 1885 seem to be accounted for, either marrying or dying, or both.

Peter was an unusual name for the date, which might account for him being called Harry (as you say, more likely to be from his surname than middle name). When was he down the pits?

F-i-L wasn't aware of any aunts or uncles on that side?

Merry

He was a miner on his marriage cert in 1908. He obviously went to that straight away after leaving the army.
He was called up again in 1913 and went back down the pit after he was discharged after the war. He remained a miner all of his life. He died in 1965 still refusing to tell any of his family anything about his early life.

No aunts and uncles, cousins at all. They just didn't exist. The family say he was a Yorkshireman and the 1911 census seems to back that up.

[tinkerbe]

some may i have have found with thomas as dad

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsb2pl=1%2c+&gsdy=&gsd2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsd2pl=1%2c+&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=11735859&recoff=1+2&db=uki1891&indiv=1


http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsb2pl=1%2c+&gsdy=&gsd2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsd2pl=1%2c+&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=23259643&recoff=1+2&db=uki1891&indiv=1

or no dad
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsb2pl=1%2c+&gsdy=&gsd2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsd2pl=1%2c+&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=17967114&recoff=1+2&db=uki1891&indiv=1


http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co


this one might be it
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsb
different name to father? and father was a coal miner

you might have to follow a few or do some guessing

[Margaret in Burton]

some may i have have found with thomas as dad

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsb2pl=1%2c+&gsdy=&gsd2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsd2pl=1%2c+&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=11735859&recoff=1+2&db=uki1891&indiv=1


http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsb2pl=1%2c+&gsdy=&gsd2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsd2pl=1%2c+&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=23259643&recoff=1+2&db=uki1891&indiv=1

or no dad
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsb2pl=1%2c+&gsdy=&gsd2co=1%2cAll+Countries&gsd2pl=1%2c+&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=5538&ti.si=0&gss=angs-b&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=17967114&recoff=1+2&db=uki1891&indiv=1


http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsby=1885&gsb2co


this one might be it
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=peter&gsln=harrison&gsb
different name to father? and father was a coal miner

you might have to follow a few or do some guessing

Sorry to take so long to get back to you. I have been busy elsewhere.

First 2. No. Family are certain he was from Yorkshire, as does the 1911 census which he filled in.

3rd one:
This is the one who I thought he was was for many many years. You wont believe how much in certs and trips to York to the archives we have spent. this isn't him. He is the one who is still in York in 1911 whilst mine is in Ashby.

4th and 5th

I'm getting a big long list. As I said, I have to believe he was from Yorkshire.

The last time I asked about him, it was suggested that perhaps he was a foundling. The comment on his deathbed "I wasn't wanted, that's all you need to know". That does maybe sound as though this could be the case.

I hope not but I think we are lost on this one.

[tinkerbe]

ok i just had a quick look and i was not sure who had followed my mistake

i have some harrison(surrey Birmingham and derby ) in my tree and i know they can be a pain in bum

i like the one the one where the step dad was a coal miner but who know know
i know you have to believe yorkshire as you have to start some where
good luck
and happy hunting
karen

[Chrissie Smiff]

There are no Peter Henry Harrisons born in Rotherham between 1880 and 1890.
The only Peter Harrison born between these dates in Rotherham was born Dec 1880.

Something doesn't ring quite right does it. I don't suppose his marriage cert is a misprint is it and should say 28 and not 23 (they can look alike)? Would it be worth asking the Register office to double check? I once asked them to look again as they had hubby's grandfather dying of an age related illness aged 17 (it should have read 77).

[Margaret in Burton]

Hi Chrissie

I've checked that Peter Harrison out. He's on the 1911 elsewhere.

No, the marriage cert is quite clear. The family always insist that Peter and Lily were the same age anyway.

[Merry]

Are there records available for the local workhouse? I was just thinking it's possible they could have dealt with a foundling and I have noticed before that foundlings were sometimes given less ususal names (like Peter, perhaps?)

[Margaret in Burton]

Local to where Merry?

Rotherham I suppose.

[Uncle John]

FWIW Rotherham Workhouse became Moorgate Hospital.

[Merry]

Records: •Rotherham Archives and Local Studies Service

http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/graphics/Learning/Archives/

Rotherham Central Library, Walker Place, Rotherham, S65 1JH. Holdings comprise: Guardians' minute books (1837-1930 with gaps); Births (1848-79, 1912-38); Creed registers (1883-1894, 1897-1932); Inmates' relatives (males only, 1887-91, 1911-32 with gaps); Register of vagrants and remand cases (1921-40); Master's journal (1913-48); etc.

[Margaret in Burton]

FWIW Rotherham Workhouse became Moorgate Hospital.

Thank you UJ

[Margaret in Burton]

Records: •Rotherham Archives and Local Studies Service

http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/graphics/Learning/Archives/

Rotherham Central Library, Walker Place, Rotherham, S65 1JH. Holdings comprise: Guardians' minute books (1837-1930 with gaps); Births (1848-79, 1912-38); Creed registers (1883-1894, 1897-1932); Inmates' relatives (males only, 1887-91, 1911-32 with gaps); Register of vagrants and remand cases (1921-40); Master's journal (1913-48); etc.

Thanks Merry

I've made a note of that. Goodness knows when we will be able to get to Rotherham, in the spring maybe.