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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Buckinghamshire => Topic started by: Shiny1 on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:20 GMT (UK)

Title: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:20 GMT (UK)
Hi All,

I have been researching a relative, Robert Johnston Blair who was born in North Shields, Tyne and Wear in 1895. He was a member of the Northumberland Fusiliers and was wounded in 1917 which resulted in him being evacuated to a hospital somewhere in Buckinghamshire.

He died in 1925 in St. Albans, Herts, according to his memorial here in the North East it was due to his wounds, but in those few years he did manage to get married.

I have found a possible marriage in Q3 1919 to Jessie Seymour in Eton, Buckinghamshire.

Being as it's valentines day, the old romantic in me is wondering if Jessie was his nurse otherwise how would he have met someone down there (and someone who could cope with him, as his high school roll of honour describes him as being severely wounded).

I was hoping someone local to the area may be able to help with any of that theory or find any more information about the mysterious Jessie as I know nothing more than her name (assuming she is the right person).

Thanks a lot,

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: giggsycat on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:43 GMT (UK)
Hi Michael

Possible daughter registered Eton RD?

Births Sep 1920 
Blair    Hazel    Seymour    Eton    3a   1860

Or do you know about her?

Giggsy
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: groom on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:46 GMT (UK)
He died on the 2nd May 1926 at Tynholm, Sandridge Road, St Albans. The person who applied for probate was Thomas Finhall Blair, a trade union official. It could be worth getting that as it may give you information about a wife.

https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:49 GMT (UK)
Hi Giggsy,

Thanks a lot, no I didn't know about her.

The wound I know of was that he was shot in the buttocks, it's good to know that didn't go anywhere else and stop things from working.

He was medically discharged about a year later so I'm guessing he went back to France and was wounded again.

Thanks for the help,

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: giggsycat on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:51 GMT (UK)
There is this Jessie registered in Eton (just following her for now!)


Births Sep 1897   
Seymour    Jessie        Eton    3a   743

Giggsy
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:52 GMT (UK)
Thanks Groom,

Thomas Finkall Blair was his dad (and his brother was also named that but he died in 1918).

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:55 GMT (UK)
Thanks Giggsy,

I'm new to this and can sort of do the military trail but I'm pretty lost on the stuff you are finding.

1897 would make her a similar age so it's looking promising.

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: giggsycat on Wednesday 14 February 18 21:58 GMT (UK)
Jessie was actually born in Slough, Bucks.

Parents were Edward John & Martha Seymour. He worked at Windsor Castle.

Giggsy
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: giggsycat on Wednesday 14 February 18 22:12 GMT (UK)
Just to add that in 1901 Edward was described as the Queens Wardrobe man. Interesting!


Giggsy
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Wednesday 14 February 18 22:14 GMT (UK)
Wow, that's all quite a find!

Thanks very much for the help.

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: groom on Wednesday 14 February 18 22:20 GMT (UK)
The only problem is, at the moment is that it is speculation that it is the right couple - to be really sure you would have to get the marriage certificate. That might also give her profession.
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: giggsycat on Wednesday 14 February 18 22:23 GMT (UK)
You could really do with the marriage cert to make sure it is the right couple!

Can anyone else find anything please? Jessie was only 13 in 1911 and still a scholar, so no idea what she ending up doing as job.

 Giggsy

Snap Groom!
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Wednesday 14 February 18 22:32 GMT (UK)
That's a very good point. I did look on the newspaper archive today in the library but couldn't find a marriage announcement or death announcement which is what I was hoping for.

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: groom on Wednesday 14 February 18 22:34 GMT (UK)
I can't find a Jessie or Hazel Blair in 1939, so there is the chance she remarried.
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Thursday 15 February 18 08:15 GMT (UK)
Thanks Groom, I was going to try and go to the library in my lunch break and do that very check.

Thanks a lot,

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: jonw65 on Thursday 15 February 18 11:41 GMT (UK)
There's a school record in Slough, Buckinghamshire
Jessie Seymour
born 22.8.97

also Gladys, born 16.6.00
Both admitted 8.1.06
Father Edward
address 21 Wellington St
previous school Slough British
Jessie left 28.7.09, Gone to High Wycombe

Sadly, Gladys is marked up as "left" 26.2.06, Deceased

Using that date of birth, with a couple of years either side,  a free search of the index to the 1939 Register has a possibility
Jessie Knight (Blair), born 22 Aug 1898, in Sutton Coldfield M.B., with Bessie Fieldhouse and 1 more person (I think another Fieldhouse)

There's a Jessie Knight, d-o-b 22 Aug 1897, died Taunton Deane, February 1991.
Are all these Jessie's the same person or not?
John
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: groom on Thursday 15 February 18 11:58 GMT (UK)
I still think the only way to be sure is to get the marriage certificate. Do we know for sure that Robert Johnson Blair actually married?
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: groom on Thursday 15 February 18 12:03 GMT (UK)
Just answered my own question - his wife was called Jessie.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160646450/robert-johnston-blair#
Title: Re: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Thursday 15 February 18 12:07 GMT (UK)
Hi Groom,

You have beaten me to it, I visited that grave on Sunday and found her name.

If you have a look at the record for his brother:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59984779/thomas-finkall-blair

It has a transcription of the text on the stone included as well.

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: groom on Thursday 15 February 18 12:25 GMT (UK)
No mention of Robert being a father on the headstone is there? I wonder if he also has a headstone in St Albans?
Title: Re: Robert Johnson Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: jonw65 on Thursday 15 February 18 12:33 GMT (UK)
Would have made it a lot simpler if the OP could have got the name of their relative right.
Robert Johnston Blair
Title: Re: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Thursday 15 February 18 12:34 GMT (UK)
I did wonder why, if he had a wife and child, the probate had gone to his dad at the other end of the country, but not knowing about these things I just took it as read.

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Thursday 15 February 18 12:40 GMT (UK)
Would have made it a lot simpler if the OP could have got the name of their relative right.
Robert Johnston Blair

Jon you are correct, I'm really sorry. I posted using my phone and didn't spot the typo.

Michael
Title: Re: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Thursday 15 February 18 12:42 GMT (UK)
He died on the 2nd May 1926 at Tynholm, Sandridge Road, St Albans. The person who applied for probate was Thomas Finhall Blair, a trade union official. It could be worth getting that as it may give you information about a wife.

https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate
Title: Re: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: keyboard86 on Monday 20 January 20 16:58 GMT (UK)
  ::) Why have you now a duplicate enquiry which is being answered?
Keyboard86
Title: Re: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: rosie99 on Monday 20 January 20 17:08 GMT (UK)
  ::) Why have you now a duplicate enquiry which is being answered?
Keyboard86

The duplicate enquiry was only asking for someone to do a marriage entry look up.  Probably my fault as I got carried away  ::)

It would have helped if we had known about this thread as we would not have looked for anymore information but I don't mind as I found it interesting and in an area I am familiar with.  ;D
Title: Re: Robert Johnston Blair and Jessie Seymour 1919
Post by: Shiny1 on Monday 20 January 20 17:30 GMT (UK)
  ::) Why have you now a duplicate enquiry which is being answered?
Keyboard86

Sorry, this is another thread on the same people but as Rosie mentioned, I was only hoping to find someone who might do a look up for me. I hadn't allowed for how helpful people were on here and that someone might start looking for information for me.

Michael