Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:42:37 +0000

Managed to find his grave !
And despite earlier advice of it being a paupers grave being correct and without a marker, I did in fact find a headstone which was turned face down - righted it and indeed it was bearing his name.
An emotional moment.
Found his resting place, marked, and also with that found my grandmother as her ashes were apparently placed in with him.
So huge thanks to those who helped !

Going to now investigate any history of Rudhall House where his grandparents lived( in service ), aside from the fact of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton using it as their love nest.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 11:40:17 +0000

Oh hi only just seen this for some reason! That was an amazing visit.
Helps me that in adds to the history - so by 1953 I can assume my ancestors had gone - ( Neville family and Ester Williams ).
I must get along to the village ! Thanks for posting.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 11:32:19 +0000

Hi Mike
Back on the trail to see if I can establish the existence of whether or not my Great Aunt Ester ( Esther ) did have any children, married etc or what became of her ( prompted by the Country File on Sunday showing the Forest of Dean - looks beautiful, I must visit ! )
I found a reference that showed the death of one possibility in 1975 in Dafydd ?
The Ancestry records ask if I seek Sarah Esther Annie Williams born 04/1895 but I have no way of tying that name to extend it to Sarah.
Any way I can seek any further record of what happened to Esther or Sarah ( On my Grandfathers Sea Service record which I obtained, the archivist considered that there was an error in stating that his Mother was N O K as she was dead by then.
Any help gratefully received
Thanks

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Jefff — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 19:17:08 +0000

thanks Mike, no apology needed as wasn't chasing you up astwere.

Also for confirming they did reply, ta.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 09:34:47 +0000

Hi Jeff,

Apologies, I should have followed this up ages ago. Yes I did get a message back that the name was definitely WILLIAMS on the record. I’m not sure that this entirely resolves the issue since I suppose registrars recorded what they were told.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Jefff — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:21:20 +0000

Name:
WILLIAMS, SARAH ESTHER ANNIE
Mother's Maiden Surname:
WILLIAMS
GRO Reference: 1895 J Quarter in ROSS Volume 06A Page 452

I have submitted an error check to GRO to establish whether the mother’s maiden surname was actually NEVILLE or not.

Hi Mike,
just seen this thread for the first time, and wondered what response you received from the GRO regarding your request for an error check ?. Asking as I wasn't too impressed with their response, or lack of, when I submitted a couple of queries of my own some while before yours, and I was wondering (hoping) they'd improved their service.

Currently this entry appears to be unchanged on their website, still has mother's maiden name as Williams. However I can see no way of knowing whether they've actually checked it, or if it's still in the queue, or what.

Many thanks Jeff.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

summerliz — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 22:02:32 +0000

My grandparents lived in this house from c1953 to 1970. It is indeed still there - I have been to take a nostalgic look at it.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 19:52:07 +0000

FODFHT

Record_ID: 528729
Entry_Number: 596
Year: 1895
Month: May
Day: 26
Parents_Surname: WILLIAMS
Child_Forenames: Sarah Esther Annie
Fathers_Forenames: Frederick
Mothers_Forenames: Esther
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Crowhill
Occupation: Blacksmith
Officiating_Minister: Andrew Pope Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: AD99/5
Page_Number: 75
Parish_Chapel: Upton Bishop
Soundex: W452

This corresponds to the GRO entry already mentioned in this thread,

Name:
WILLIAMS, SARAH ESTHER ANNIE
Mother's Maiden Surname:
WILLIAMS
GRO Reference: 1895 J Quarter in ROSS Volume 06A Page 452

I have submitted an error check to GRO to establish whether the mother’s maiden surname was actually NEVILLE or not.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 11:41:30 +0000

Hi Mike,
Yes that looks exactly correct thank you, it gives me 1911 census and shows that Esther is alive, as was my information on the Sea Service correct. Fred died in 1913, and my Grandfather joined up with the RND in 1914 and was sent South to Crystal Palace, where he lived in Penge where he died in 1925.
Having moved South I imagine that Esther stayed in Ross area - but beyond her being named as N O K in 1914 I have no further trace of her, could be a link to unknown family for me, thanks for the response very kind.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 19:54:29 +0000

GR 1911 Census, Hole in the Wall, Nr. Ross, Heref.
In the household of Samuel Smith, 48, Farm Labourer,

Frederick WILLIAMS, Boarder, 52, Widower, Blacksmith journeyman, born Hay, Brecon

GR 1901 Census, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil
In the household of Thomas THOMAS, 45, Stone Mason. All born Hereford, Ross.

Fred WILLIAMS, Head, Boarder, 48, Blacksmith Iron Works
Esther WILLIAMS, Wife Boarder, 41
Henry, WILLIAMS, Boarder Son, 6
Esther WILLIAMS, Boarder Daur, 5
Fred WILLIAMS, Boarder, Son, 4

If these are the correct people it confirms that Esther (living with her grandparents at Oxford Cottage in 1911) was indeed the sister of Henry and that (John) Frederick still styled himself a widower in 1911.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 17:55:36 +0000

To those fine people who helped me before, apologies for the delayed reply, the postman lost the records I ordered. The mystery was that on my Grandfathers Sea Service enrolment he had listed his Mother as Next of Kin in 1914 when it had been established she was already dead in 1905. On the Sea Service record it had been hand annotated with the comment “ Mother” against the name of Esther” - I queried this with the Archivist and they responded that it was probably added after he had signed on as an assumption by a helpful clerk ( hmmm).
Now that to me means that Esther or Ester Williams was alive in 1914, and presumably still at the last Census address of 1911.

As I understand that the next census records of 1921 are not yet available, I am at a loss as to where else to look.
Any ideas ?

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 22:33:57 +0000

Amazed !
Thank you !!

I have been looking at the Training Ship Wellesley on line - maybe some source there

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Mike Pinchin — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:53:34 +0000

Maybe this didn’t help John Frederick’s ability to obtain work?

Gloucestershire Echo - Monday 05 December 1904

£50 FOR A BROKEN LEG.

John Frederick Williams, blacksmith, Ross, sued his employer, C. J. Harris, blacksmith, of the same place, at Ross County Court, on Saturday, for damages under the Employers’ Liability Act of 1880. Plaintiff was shoeing a horse, when the animal knocked him down and broke one of his legs. Defendant now offered £5O in settlement, and this was accepted.

[£50 in 1904 would be worth about £4000 today]

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:35:32 +0000

To everyone that has given their time to contribute today to this I am so amazed and thanks for this !

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:59:14 +0000

But then again I think you are right !

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:39:31 +0000

Wow what a find!
How sad !
The third grand child it would appear then could be the young Ester or Ester born I presume in 1896 - although its showing that there were only two siblings born to the marriage of my great grandparents.

If the presumed death of Esther being the mother if so in 1905 lead the Williams Boys into being put up for transfer to the Training Ship Wellesley makes sense, but then the Naval Sea Service Document of 1914 still lists her as being the next of Kin at that address..

Maybe he did not state it was his Grandmother, or maybe it was his sister ?

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:31:35 +0000

I don't think this can be my Great Grandmother as in 1914 she is listed as Next of Kin to my Grandfather in his Sea Service Records and curiously at the address of Oxford Cottage Grey Tree Ross - so that's a mystery

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 19:25:53 +0000

Thanks -grateful - In terms of Tyneside Training Ship my Grandfather joined the RND from Tyneside as his serial number indicated he was from that region and joined the Collingwood Battalion, so the link to his sibling Frederick Andrew suggests that he also went that way, but then he is seen to have died in the Workhouse Infirmary aged just 16 but elsewhere, so a bit confusing

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

Bootroom — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 19:20:50 +0000

Fantastic Colin, I am very grateful for the information provided ! Starting to build a picture now.

Tracing my Grandfather Henry Thomas Williams of Ross On Wye (reply)

shepway — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 19:09:37 +0000

A Google Search result indicates that the property exists at Second Avenue, Greytree, Ross on Wye:
https://bit.ly/2nnM5Gb

Mike