RFA: Ernest M BARR

[Jean M]

Hi Phil,

despite the  so far unknown connection between BARR and Ernest Whiting MARSHALL
I have ordered the GRO birth certificate this afternoon.  Doubt if the office will
clear that to post before Christmas unless Santa's delivery is turbo charged!

Very grateful that you had trawled through Eltham, Greenwich etc entries.
Something may fall into place.  My gt grandfather had been placed with
his  aunt as a youngster.  Didn't know the history that far back  and I had to
 find her married name and then it became clear why they had taken him into
their household. No adoption arranged.

Jean

[Jean M]

Hi Phil

 ....delighted to receive GRO birth certificate yesterday,
together with death cert of BARR snr, the master tailor.
 - pronto service and good of the office to clear the
decks before the holiday.

you may find this interesting - when you have time,
and please let me know of your find but hesitated to
forward -  a matter of elimination perhaps.

Reg District Bromley, Kent Sub District: Chislehurst, Kent
Erith Villa, Birkbeck, Sidcup, Kent
13th November 1881
Ernest Whiting MARSHALL
registered 22 December 1881
father John Henry MARSHALL, commercial traveller
mother Marianne MARSHALL formerly EDWARDS

That family does appear to be straightforward enough, but meantime another look in the census.
Jean

[forester]

Hello Jean,

You should know that there is no such thing as a straightforward family.

After finally finding that Sidcup comes under Foots Cray, I couldn't get any further in working out where Ernest came from- and I did try.

I can't find Erith Villa mentioned by name on the 1881 or 1891 and due to the amount of development and different enumerator's routes, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly.

In 1881 there is a Charles Marshall and his wife, Lydia, living in about the right place. I've tracked them back to 1851, with the exception of 1861, and up to 1891. I can only find one child, Jane, born back in 1846, in 1851 and a grand-daughter, Frances Stone, born 1875, in 1881.

I can't find any trace so far of John Henry and Marianne, including a marriage.

Have you got any further?

Happy Christmas,
Phil

[Jean M]

Hello Phil,

I have been browsing too particularly in RG12 633 Footscray but
like did not pinpoint Erith Villa. However in local studies for Bexley
I did find a ref. to Birkbeck  and location of the Cottage hospital
was described
. 
Perhaps Villa was a 'nursing home/maternity unit'. I has hopeful
that Footscray/ Sidcup neighbours might prove to have been
significant. Blank with that so far.

The marriage cert of for George B BARR = Emmas PALMER
25th December 1872 (that's auspicious)  shows the marriage
 took place at St Alphege Parish Church  Greenwich.
The Witnesses Abraham LORD and Marian Emma LORD.

In Census 1871  RG10775  Schedule 102 I found
Marian E. EDWARDS age 9yrs St Germans
Place, Kidbrook Lodge daughter of Edward EDWARDS, tea
dealer.  Marian E /Marianne....approx 19yrs by 1881.

I am clutching at straws, I shall try to put these 'ideas'
into a chart.....better stop.

Good wishes Happy Christmas
Jean

[forester]

Hello Jean,

Just to let you know that I didn't manage to get any further with the hunt for Ernest's parents.

I found a John (Edward) Marshall, commercial traveller, living very close to the Barrs, but he was married with 3 children  and no visible connection to Charles Marshall in Foots Cray.
(1881 census: RG11 0721/32 page 23)

Mary Ann Edwards in Woolwich, whose father was a Scottish tailor, looked promising, but turned out in 1871 and on birth record to be Mary Caroline.
(1881 census:  RG11 0747/47 page 19)

Have you had any luck yourself?

Phil

[Jean M]

Hi Phil

this search has become a 'bee in the bonnet'.  Much appreciate
your latest ideas. It is very odd that  the MARSHALL's do not  appear
in marriage and census records.  I have checked for early sudden
deaths without any useful clues.  I wonder if they had left for
US, Canada or Australia and arranged for the son to be fostered
then adopted.
 
Today I have located  Greenwich Absent Voters list kepot at the
Woolwich Heritage/local studies.  That may reveal more on Ernest
if he had survived.

The witnesses at the marriage Abraham and Marian Emma LORD
may have been significant and  working on that trail.

Pity the facts are hard to prove so far - but not giving up yet.


Jean

[Jean M]

Hi Phil

A glimmer of  positive news!    I can now say?Ernest M  BARR as shown on the medal card is
one and the same man Ernest Marshall BARR
and his Absent Voters address 42 Straight's Mouth, Greenwich.??There were 10 other possible candidates in the Army records. ?
The service number 77797 is a match and describes him
Gr (gunner) D/58th Bde R.F.A.
 ?Earlier records don't exist at Woolwich but he was listed in the
Absent Voters from Spring 1918 to Autumn 1919 but by
1920 he was  not in the  record.?From this can it be believed that he was NOT killed in WW1?

The Absent Voters list included many annotated notes of
others on the pages, i.e. killed, discharged, POW, deserted, or transferred.
But nothing helpful for Ernest M Barr.  

I also checked through the  full voters' lists and his  adopted parents,
George BARR  and  later Emma were found at home.

It' s a wee step forward - be pleased to have your comments
and specially on D/58th Bde - when you have time.

Jean



?

[mmm45]

D/58th Bde could be D Battery 58th Bde Royal Field Artillery.

Ady

[Jean M]

Hello Ady

Many thanks - with that  detail it should be possible find
where  and what that unit did. 

Jean