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The Common Room / James O’Connell born 1896 - where did he die?
« on: Sunday 21 August 22 22:56 BST (UK) »
Hello,
I’ve been helping a chap (Richard) with his family history for a while now but one of his ancestors is more than a little elusive… We’ve gathered a lot of information but haven’t been able to discover what happened to James and would welcome some fresh eyes.
James O’Connell, we think was born about 1896.
He married Lucy Jane Adkins 29th August 1915 at Warwick Register Office.
His occupation is Army Pay Orderly. They both list their address as 11 Bowling Green Street, Warwick.
James’s father is Richard - Sergeant 4th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
On the birth of their first child - James Walter in April 1916 his occupation is Private 4th Battalion (looks like) Wilts Regiment (Butchers Assistant)
Second child - William Richard in September 1917 his occupation is 274511 Private Royal Engineers (‘Comny' Pay orderly)
Third child - Eileen Marguerite in September 1920 his occupation is Butchers Assistant.
The address on all of the above birth certificate is 7 Bowling Green Street, Warwick.
There are 3 additional children born after this time, who appear in the index to have the same parents and Lucy Jane (Adkins) is shown as the mother but the certificates have no father listed.
Joseph Leonard 1924 - 1993
Reginald 1926 -1985
John 1929 - 2002
On the electoral register for 1920, James is listed at 7 Bowling Green but there is a small a next to his name. Would this mean he was an absent voter? Still in the army perhaps?
He is there again in 1921 but without the small a, however he is not at that address in the 1921 Census.
Lucy is, along with her 3 children and her sister. He continues to appear on electoral registers up to 1928 at the same address.
In 1929, Lucy is at 7 Bowling Green but with an Oliver Kinsett. No sign of James.
By 1930 Lucy and Oliver have moved to Wathen Road, where they continue to live until their deaths in 1957.
I found a Richard O’Connell (James’s father) who transferred to the Royal Warks in 1899. On his pension record it shows his wife as Mary Elizabeth Frangleton, they married on 3 Feb 1896 and their son James was born 22 June 1896, in Warrington.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rs9/
The 1901 Census in Warrington has a Mary O’Connell (wife of Richd on active service) with son James aged 5.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rs8/
(In the 1911 Census Mary is, I think living with Frederick Whalley
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rsa/ She marries him in 1915)
Then we came across a record from Belgium which has the same date and place of birth as the James in the army pension record
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rqq/
Are Belgian records accessible?
We haven’t been able to find anything further but would welcome any corrections or advice on what/where to try next!
I’ve searched on Ancestry, FindMyPast and Family Search.
I’ve tried to include all the relevant information but apologies if I may have missed some details.
I haven’t posted on RC very often but I do read the forums regularly and have learned a huge amount from the many knowledgeable posters here.
Many Thanks
Sadie
I’ve been helping a chap (Richard) with his family history for a while now but one of his ancestors is more than a little elusive… We’ve gathered a lot of information but haven’t been able to discover what happened to James and would welcome some fresh eyes.
James O’Connell, we think was born about 1896.
He married Lucy Jane Adkins 29th August 1915 at Warwick Register Office.
His occupation is Army Pay Orderly. They both list their address as 11 Bowling Green Street, Warwick.
James’s father is Richard - Sergeant 4th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
On the birth of their first child - James Walter in April 1916 his occupation is Private 4th Battalion (looks like) Wilts Regiment (Butchers Assistant)
Second child - William Richard in September 1917 his occupation is 274511 Private Royal Engineers (‘Comny' Pay orderly)
Third child - Eileen Marguerite in September 1920 his occupation is Butchers Assistant.
The address on all of the above birth certificate is 7 Bowling Green Street, Warwick.
There are 3 additional children born after this time, who appear in the index to have the same parents and Lucy Jane (Adkins) is shown as the mother but the certificates have no father listed.
Joseph Leonard 1924 - 1993
Reginald 1926 -1985
John 1929 - 2002
On the electoral register for 1920, James is listed at 7 Bowling Green but there is a small a next to his name. Would this mean he was an absent voter? Still in the army perhaps?
He is there again in 1921 but without the small a, however he is not at that address in the 1921 Census.
Lucy is, along with her 3 children and her sister. He continues to appear on electoral registers up to 1928 at the same address.
In 1929, Lucy is at 7 Bowling Green but with an Oliver Kinsett. No sign of James.
By 1930 Lucy and Oliver have moved to Wathen Road, where they continue to live until their deaths in 1957.
I found a Richard O’Connell (James’s father) who transferred to the Royal Warks in 1899. On his pension record it shows his wife as Mary Elizabeth Frangleton, they married on 3 Feb 1896 and their son James was born 22 June 1896, in Warrington.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rs9/
The 1901 Census in Warrington has a Mary O’Connell (wife of Richd on active service) with son James aged 5.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rs8/
(In the 1911 Census Mary is, I think living with Frederick Whalley
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rsa/ She marries him in 1915)
Then we came across a record from Belgium which has the same date and place of birth as the James in the army pension record
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rqq/
Are Belgian records accessible?
We haven’t been able to find anything further but would welcome any corrections or advice on what/where to try next!
I’ve searched on Ancestry, FindMyPast and Family Search.
I’ve tried to include all the relevant information but apologies if I may have missed some details.
I haven’t posted on RC very often but I do read the forums regularly and have learned a huge amount from the many knowledgeable posters here.
Many Thanks
Sadie
