Sam Bransom, Brampton

[martin mosley]

I am working on commemorative records for men from Brampton who fell in the Great War.

The following record is of Sam Bransom who was killed just before the Armistice.. Unfortunately I can find absolutely nothing more about him. When and where he was born, where he lived, his family, his military service. Even where he is commemorated.

Sam Bransom
Residence:   Brampton, Derbyshire
Death Date:   8 Nov 1918
Death Place:   France and Flanders
Enlistment Place:   Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Rank:   Private
Regiment:   Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment
Battalion:   2 6th Battalion
Regimental Number:   71296
Type of Casualty:   Died
Theatre of War:   Western European Theatre

Does any kind soul know anything about this hero? Any help gratefully accepted.

[keyboard86]

Hi their is a Medal Roll for a Sam Branson 71296 (Notts & Derby Sherwood Foresters)

Keyboard86

[Pennines]

There is a Samuel BRANSON born Q/E Jun 1896 in Chesterfield Reg Dist -- I wonder if that might be him.

[martin mosley]

Thank you! Now I feel daft, that was a beginners error

Looks like I can now find his civilian life if not his military service

[Pennines]

A Samuel BRANSON left a soldier's will. Army number 71296. It would cost £10 to retrieve it though.

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Branson&Year=1918

[martin mosley]

That's the man, and it would be interesting to read. But he's not one of mine, this is for a site I'm building about the families and features of Brampton and Old Brampton. I'm pulling together local history and genealogy, combining it with photo records and current events.

My focus at the moment is to commemorate those who fought and died in the Great War, and also to pay homage to those they left behind. I can't afford to pay for records relating to those who are not linked to my own families though 

[trish1120]

Hi Martin,

From FreeREG, www.freereg.org.uk
Samuel BROWNSON?, Baptised 04 May 1896 (Born 05 April 1896), Primitive Methodist, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Parents CHRISTOPHER/ELIZABETH
Fathers Occp Miner
Siblings;
ANNIE and LOUISA Baptised 26 Nov 1888, Born 29 Oct 1888 and 06 Aug 1886
CHRISTOPHER Baptised 21 May 1894, Born 11 April 1894
All down as Brownson, but one has a note or BRANSON

1891 Census
22 Alma Street,
Brampton, Derbyshire
RG12/2764/116/10
Ezechiah C Brandon, 40, Head, Mar, Coalminer, born Whitwick, Derbyshire (should be Leicestershire)
Elizabeth Brandon, 38, Wife, Mar, born Whtwick
Harriett Brandon, 17, Daug, born Whitwick
John T Brandon,15, Son, born Whitwick
Mary Brandon, 9, Daug, born Chesterfield
Lenard Brandon, 7, Son, born Chesterfield
Louisa Brandon, 4, Daug, born Brampton
Anne Brandon, 2, Daug, born Brampton
Walter Brandon, 6weeks, Son, born Brampton
Eli HUNT (Hurst), 20, Lodger, born Whitwick, Leicestershire

1901 at same address but surnames wrong Ezekial Christopher has become Thomas!
Thomas Denter, 50, Coalminer, born Whitwick, Leicestershire
Elizabeth Denter, 48
Harriett Denter, 28
Thomas Denter, 26
Leonard Denter,17
Walter Denter, 10
Louisa Denter, 15
Chris Denter, 7
SAM Denter, 5

Everything matches though so must b right Family.

Next Census the Father is Heyekiah Christopher Branson  born c 1851 Whitwick, Occp Innkeeper
Cant post 1911 details but Sam is there.

1881 he is under Christopher Branson c 1852 Whittick, Leics

Marriage Reg, March 1874, Branson, Hezekiah Cristopher, Ashby Z.,    7a 157
Elizabeth HURST on same page.

Trish

EDIT;
1851 Hezekiah Barnson seems to be the illeg. Son of Mary Branson born c 1831 Whitwick
She is with her Father Thomas born c 1791 Whitwick, Occp Frame Work Knitter (so is Mary)

[martin mosley]

Trish, you are a true star! I had managed to track most of that, but couldn't for the life of me find the 1901 census.. This family certainly had some strange transcriptions, though the spellings in 1911 suggest they probably weren't sure themselves either

I didn't have the baptisms either, so appreciate those, thank you!

The 1911 shows Ezechiah to be publican, though the address he gives is nonsense. (I think he was trying to say they had seven rooms) The cover sheet though, indicates they were at 131 Chatsworth Rd.. So my next stop is to find whether that was a pub, and if so which one in 1911

The Commonwealth War Graves site search facility is not working so I've mailed them asking for any info they may have about where Sam is either buried or commemorated.

As you know, I don't live in the UK, and that can sometimes be a little frustrating, but this diversion from my own genealogy is proving very rewarding, and it feels an honour to be able to commemorate the men and their families who gave so much. The Brampton site, for anyone interested can be found at www.bramptonoldandnew.com

Many thanks Trish!

[trish1120]

Your very welcome
I dont live in the Uk either, I'm in Sydney.

Did you notice 1911 they noted their Children that had died? Very unusual to see that.

1861 Census
Wednesbury, Staffordshire
Thomas Blakearl, 33
Mary Blakearl, 30, Wife, Mar, born Whitwick, Leics
Herekiah B Blakearl, 10****
Emma Blakearl, 8
Leonard Blakearl, 6

1871 Census
Whitwick, Leicestershire
Thomas Bakewell, 42, Head, Mar
Mary Bakewell, 40, Wife, Mar, born Whitwick
Christopher Bakewell, 20, Son, born Whiwick****
Leonard Bakewell, 16, Son, born Whitwick    
John Bakewell, 6, Son, born Whitwick

Marriage Reg, June 1852,  Ashby De La Zouch, 7a   177
Mary BRANSOM and Thomas BAKEWELL on same page