John Beer(Beard) The Buffs

[bowman]

Having chased granddad through the census's I have now found out that sometime in the 1880s-1890s he changed his name from Beer to Beard, through family connections and stories it has been established that he was born in 1866 in Dalston London, his father was born in Gt Torrington Devon in 1827 and his mother Susannah Pilbrow born in 1833 in St Georges East London with 5 sisters, Alice, Susannah, Winifred, Mary Ann and Ellen. He served at some time in the 1880-1890s in the Buffs, possibly abroad in South Africa, in 1899 he married my Grandmother Selina Smith and is down as a labourer on the marriage cert his name then is Beard, Why the name change? we just don't know if any one can help I would be most obliged,Bowman

[harribobs]

i think we can only guess, but i'm sure he got some ribbing as beer has always been one of a soldiers favourite pastimes

[liverpool annie]

Hi Bowman and welcome to RootsChat!

Heres a list of sites that may give you some ideas!

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,2274.0.html

Annie 

PS  Possibly - like in my family - he gave his name as Beer but whoever was taking the information heard it as Beard! - maybe at that time he wasn't able to read and write so didn't notice the change in spelling!! did he sign the marriage certificate or did he make his mark?

PPS  I did find this on the Buffs Boer War data base - maybe a family member - maybe a reason to change his name 

Surname:   Beer
Initials:   C
Serial No:   2125
Rank:   Private
Date:   08-Dec-1900
Place:   Brugspruit
Details:   Accidentally shot dead by sentry

Also a Beard .... possible relative ?

Surname:   Beard
Initials:   A
Serial No:   3001
Rank:   Private
Place:   Vet River
Details:   Died from Disease

[bowman]

Hi Annie, he is down on the 1881 census as a printer,aged 14, and he signed the marriage cert as Henry John Beard, giving his fathers name as Philip Henry Beard, so I don't think there was a mishearing of the name and I'm sure he was able to read and write, given the "printer" status as his employment, there is a story that he was involved with a women during his stint in South Africa and on his return to the UK she had taken up with someone else, he may have been married and could not afford a divorce so disappeared, changed his name and married my Grandma, then again he could have deserted the Army and the name changed followed. I will look up your links and see if there is anything to find. Many thanks for your interest Ted
PS He died in 1930 in Southampton of TB

[liverpool annie]

Hi Ted!

I'm wondering if an email to the Buffs Regimental Museum might bring some insight!

http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=601

How did you find out he served with the Buffs? I've been ferreting around and can't come up with anything right now - but I'll keep looking and see if I can get any other ideas!

Annie 

[bowman]

Annie, All I can say is my father always showed me the large frame picture of the Regimental Colours of The Buffs surrounding all the battle honours, with a history relating to them in my Grandmothers parlour, this picture was used by my Grandad whereby all the boys had to learn this of by heart, then turn their backs whilst sitting on the table, and recite the whole thing from memory, all this nto earn their 1 penny pocket money !!I don't know whether the Regimental museum would answer any enquirieshaving looked at their website, I'm sure it says no research will be carried out. What I forgot to say in my last post was that he down as an Army Pensioner when he died and that he did serve in the military during WW1 at the age of 48 as a reservist in the 16th Yorks & Lancs regt, I have a copy of his war medal card, his is the bottom left of image Army No 27171   

[Wendi]

Hi Bowman,

You've got to get a tough skin for family research, and you do have so much going for you.....you have his number and a good idea if his regiment.  Tough those doors.  If you phrase your questions in the right manor they may not answer them but point you in the right direction .

Go for it and Don't give up
Good luck
Wendi

[liverpool annie]

Hi Ted!

I was talking to my friend and he came up with something I didn't think about !!  If Henry John was in the second Boer war and with the Buffs - he would have got the QSA and maybe the KSA......... and that means that he will be on the medal rolls!!!   If he is - that will help find out which Battalion he was in and his rank and number etc and then you'll be able to look for his army records via TNA.

The medal rolls are in WO100 but we're not sure what subsection the Buffs are in - I'll keep looking!!

Annie 

[bowman]

Annie Hi, Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 2nd Boer War was around 1897-1900 ? if so what with his marriage in 1899, his first child born in 1900, and the 2nd born in 1901, I don't think he had time to be in that war zone given the time it took to travel, all the same many thanks for your help, what with you and you friend, and me and my 3 cousins we should get some where soon, if only we could establish this flaming name change as being correct Bowman