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Alex,

That's interesting. I have no record of a "Grace".  The last born daughter I have a record of is Clara, born in Maidstone in 1902 . Alfred left the Army in 1904 and the family moved to Malta at some point after that.  Was Grace born after the move to Malta?

I am trying to unravel details about my mother's family from County Cork, but finding it difficult as I live in Somerset, England.  I would be grateful for any help that anyone can give me.

The details I have so far are as follows:

My mother was the daughter of a Julia Spence, who came from Kerry Pike, and Albert Wakelin, a British soldier, who she married in the Church of Saints Mary & Ann Shandon, Cork, on the 9th January 1916.   Julia Spence was born on the 13th November 1886 in Kerry Pike and was the daughter of a John Spence and Margaret Coleman(Nee Hayes) both of Kerry Pike who were married in the Roman Catholic Cathederal Cork on 22nd April 1884.   On the marriage certificate Margaret Coleman is described as a widow from Kerry Pike and her father is given as a Bartholomew Hayes, carpenter.   John Spence is described as a labourer from Kerry Pike and his father is given as a William Spence, labourer.   Margaret Coleman(Hayes) was born in about 1857 and seems to have died in the first quarter of 1890.

Julia Spence had a brother, William, who seems to have been a couple of years older than her.    After Margaret died John Spence seems to have married again in early 1891 to Mary ?.  In the 1901 census John, Mary, William & Julia are living in what is described as House 1 Coolymurraghue and in 1911, Mary, a widow, and William & Julia who are described as her step son & step daughter are shown as living at House 3 in Coolymurraghue.

I am keen to find out as much as I can about the family and in particular as much information as I can about William Spence, father of John Spence, Bartholomew Hayes, their wives and any other family members.

I would be grateful for any help that anyone can give.

Hello Heywood,

The place of birth is from his army records which unfortunately do not give a contact address.   I have looked at them again and they give Alfred's next of kin as John, his father of Alford in Essex, but with no date.   This is then crossed out and his next of kin is shown as Sophie(sister) of what looks like "annerby, Surrey".   The next line shows NOK as wife & children with Regiment.  So presumably his father died at some point between 1882 and 1891 when Alfred married otherwise "Sophie would not have become his next of kin.   Unfortunately I have been unable to find Sophie which might have led me further.

I am trying to gather further information about Alfred Albert Pearson who was my great grandfather.  He was born in Forest Hill, Lewisham in 1862.  He joined the Royal West Kent Regiment in December 1882 and continued to serve with them until March 1904 having reached the rank of CSgt.   He married a Maltese girl, Rosina Abela in 1891 in Malta and after he left the service he and his family returned to Malta, although I cannot find the date of his emigration.   He had a large family, 2 sons and at least 7 daughters, and most of his daughters married in Malta to either British serviceman or local Maltese men.   He died in 1937 and is buried in Imtarfa Cemetary Malta.     I am trying to trace any detail of his parents or life in the UK until he joined the army and any detail of his life in Malta after he emigrated in about 1904.    I have a full record of his service life in the Royal West ent Regiment.  Can anyone help?