RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: Gerry on Thursday 30 September 21 17:36 BST (UK)
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Cecil Ward Drayson was born in 1898 in Salisbury, son on Albert Drayson and Ada Ellen (nee Ward) Drayson. Cecil is recorded in the 1901 census aged 2 together with his mother, Ada, and sister Dorothy Pretoria. In 1911 Cecil is recorded in Romsey Infirmary - St Joseph's Orphanage for Boys. Why he was in an orphanage is unknown. Family stories say during Word War I, Cecil served in the Dorset Regiment and Royal Engineers. Also, his father, Albert born c.1868 in Portland was a soldier which might explain his absence from the 1901 census.
After 1911 I've found nothing more about Cecil. Perhaps he was a WW1 casualty? Grateful for help in adding to what I know about Cecil.
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There is a probate entry for Cecil Ward Drayson, died 9 October 1959, administration to his widow Frances Mary - Ancestry.
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He enlisted in 1916. WW1 record on Ancestry and FindMyPast. He's in the 1939 Register in Wiltshire.
Looks like he died in Oct 1959 --Probate record on Ancestry. All records easy to spot on Ancestry.
Apologies for the brevity of this reply -- my laptop is running out of charge!
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WW1 record on Ancestry shows his mother as Ada Ella.
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Here he is in 1901 census in Maddington:
Cecil Ward Drayson age 2 b Shrewton, Wiltshire, son of Ada Ella Drayson
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He and Frances are on the 1939 Register with a possible family relation.
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Baptism - Shrewton - 25 December 1898
Cecil Ward - born 26 November 1898 - son of Albert (Clerk, RE Civil Staff) and Ada Ella of Waddington.
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Many thanks for your helpful replies. I don't have access to Ancestry or Find my Past. I will visit my local library to find more about Cecil but believe 'free access' to these sites has been cut on cost grounds.
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Your local libraries still appear to be offering FindMyPast and British newspaper archives in their libraries