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« on: Monday 25 March 24 20:47 GMT (UK) »
I’m trying to trace the groom from a 1917 marriage at South Shields Register Office, but unless he died in 1916 and rose from the dead then I’m completely stumped!
Robert Grieves, 37, Bachelor, Private Northumberland Fusiliers (marine stoker), 56 Albion Street, Jarrow. Father: Alfred Grieves, Ship Driller
Gwendoline O'Toole, 38, Widow, 56 Albion Street, Jarrow [NB also known as Winifred]
Wits: Wm C Barclay & Elizabeth Badger
His service number was 10175, and the Shields Daily Gazette of 27 July 1917 has an article about him being charged as a deserter. He told magistrates that he enlisted at the outbreak of war, served for a week, and then left the camp and went to sea. His age is given as 37 and he was found in Albarry Street (sic).
His pension cards give addresses of 46 Rose Street, Hebburn (his address in 1921) and 6˝ Villier Street, Sunderland. The latter ties in with a Merchant Seamans record giving his birth as 27 Mar 1883, Sunderland, Next of Kin: Alfred Grieves, 6˝ Villier Street, Sunderland. NB The 1921 census gives his age as 40 years & 3-months, born Sunderland, so born Mar 1881
Despite all of this information I can’t find him before marriage, unless he is the Robert Graves who married Margaret Kirven in 1906 in Jarrow. In 1911 he is with Margaret at 57 High Street, Jarrow, aged 30. With them is his widowed mother Hannah Graves (nee Day) aged 57 born Hull.
I have this man’s birth certificate – born 11 Feb 1881 High Street Jarrow, parents Robert (Iron Shipyard Labourer) and Hannah (nee Day). Registered 7 May 1881
This Robert is reported to have died 31 May 1916 whilst serving aboard HMS Queen Mary. Margaret’s widows pension says Robert was in the Royal Navy Reserve, No. 2973, but his RNR records (from TNA) give his DoB as 11 Jun 1885!
To further complicate things there are school records in Sunderland in 1893 and 1897 for a Robt Grieves born either 6 Mar 1885 (father Alfred) or 27 Mar 1886 (father deceased).
Can anyone help me sort this out please!