Arthur BLYTH, man of mystery.

[Johnf04]

Arthur married Sarah PROCTOR at the parish church of St Giles, Camberwell, Surrey, on August 19th 1854. Sarah was a spinster, of full age. Arthur was a batchelor, of full age, a gardener. Arthur's father was William BLYTH, a farmer. The witnesses were James BLYTH and Eliza CHEYNEY.

Arthur and Sarah had two children registered in Middlesex. William George BLYTH, born 1855, registered Upper Clapton, and Frances Eliza BLYTH, registered Stamford Hill. Frances was baptised on 15th August 1858 at the Parish of Reigate district of Redhill, Surrey. Arthur is named as father on the baptism.

In the 1861 census Sarah is living with her sister Frances CHEYNEY at Reigate Foreign in Surrey. She is married, but there is no sign of Arthur.

In the 1871 census, Sarah is living with her mother in Stretton, Staffordshire. She is married, but there is no sign of Arthur.

In 1881, Sarah is a housekeeper for her uncle, Benjamin WALKER, in Stretton, Staffordshire. Still married, no Arthur.

In 1891, Sarah is still living in Stretton, as a widow.

I have not been able to find a trace of Arthur BLYTH, apart from his wedding, and the baptism of his daughter.

[Annette7]

An Arthur Blyth 23 gardener  born Newburgh, Fife, is on Scottish 1851 census at Newburgh with parents William and Isabella plus siblings.   William Blyth is a farmer.   So is this 'your' Arthur?

Annette

[Cas (stallc)]

Hi,

Wonder if he was born Scotland?

Arthur - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBJD-X96

James - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBJ8-8MZ

Just found these bapts Annette, saw red post, but posted as thinking alike

Cas

[Annette7]

James was also a gardener - in Perthshire in 1851 and married in Fife in 1861.

Arthur is a lodger in Govan, Renfrewshire - shown as unmarried (?) but cannot see any trace of him after then either in Scotland or England.

Did the 2 brothers foray down to London where Arthur married and then debunked back to Scotland I wonder?   

Seems somewhat too much of a coincidence for an Arthur Blyth (not a common name then) to be of the right kind of age, son of a William who was a farmer, had a brother James, and that both he and brother James were gardeners.

Annette

[Cas (stallc)]

Just for info...

There's a possible candidate, but does not give anymore info on index but name.
Arthur Blythe
Regiment 23 Foot number 1323?
Royal Hospital Chelsea: Admission Books, Registers, And Papers 1702-1876
Archive   The National Archives
Archive reference   WO 23

Maybe a red herring

Cas

[Johnf04]

Thank you Annette7, and Cas, for your help. I think you have found Arthur. Cas - I'll see what more I can find out about the military record you found.

There is an Arthur BLYTH who was admitted to Dunston Asylum on April 8th 1864. He died on May 19th 1865. The death is registered in Gateshead, Durham.

Added later: the GRO index shows the age at death of the Arthur BLYTH above, as 36.

[Johnf04]

The index for Arthur BLYTHE's military record, on Ancestry, has this information:

Name:   Private Arthur Blythe
Service End Year:   1864
Regiment:   2nd Battn 23rd Reg Of RW Fusiliers
Regimental Number:   1323

[Mabel Bagshawe]

His brother James ends up in prison  by 1871 and in an asylum in 1881 and 1891 (although they have his age wrong)

[isobelw]

Findmypast has a little more info. about the Arthur Blyth who served in the 23rd regiment ( number 1323). According to his discharge papers he was born in St Johns, Liverpool and had been a Silk Weaver before joining up.
Isobel