1911 Census - In Army

[Ose_jo]

Hi All,

I have found my Great Uncle's family in Northampton, on the 1911 census, Benjamin and Agnes E James.  Their eldest son is not living with them, Benjamin born 1892, Northampton. 

By fluke I thought I wonder if he was military as a few of his cousin's were and lo and behold there he is signing up in 1915 to the Suffolk Regiment.

Could he have been there in 1911 or would his service record of 1915 be the first document of his enlistment? and if so where would I find census information for Military personnel?

Also in this family on the 1911 census they say they have had 6 children and only 4 are alive.

They declare
Annie 1894
Benjamin 1900 (this child was not on the 1901 census and I haven't found a birth yet)
Rhoda 1895 (her birth date is actually 1900 according to birth record and previous census)
John 1903

Annie had died in 1901  aged 3, and we know that their eldest joins the service in 1915 so he hasn't died he's just not there.  Do I assume they have counted him as dead or that they haven't counted him at all and I'm now looking for another child? 

I get the feeling that although the head of the family was literate he didn't really understand what he was doing.

Thank you in advance for any advice/guidance, much appreciated.

Jo

[Gaie]

Hi Jo

1901 Census
RG13 1425 125 41
45 Lower Harding Street, Northampton
Benjamin JAMES Head 32 Furrier
Agnes E Wife 26
Benjamin Son 9
Agnes Dau 3
Rhoda Dau 1
All born Northampton
+ three boarders

Death Sep Qtr 1901 Northampton Vol 3b Page 42
Agnes JAMES aged 3

I think Benjamin senior may have muddled up Benjamin junior and Rhoda's ages in 1911.  Added:  So you needn't look for another Benjamin born c1900 

Where was Annie in 1901?

KR
Gaie

[Gaie]

What was Benjamin's occupation on enlistment?

[Ose_jo]

Hi

Thanks for the response.

Annie was living next door to the family with her mothers parents at 43 Lower Harding Street.

Sorry I meant that Agnes had died....far to many names in my head this weekend.

xx

[Ose_jo]

Benjamin Jnr, lists his employment as C--- L---- Machine Worker (it looks like Canal or Camel something, I would expect it to be in the Boot and shoe industry as everyone else is and it's the main profession of Northampton.

He lists his address as 35 Compton Street Northampton and he's married.

[Gaie]

Ok, found Annie, with the Astens at 35 Lower Harding Street (Agnes's maiden name).

So you're just short of one child now:

c 1894 Annie
c 1893 Benjamin
c 1898 Agnes died 1901
c 1900 Rhoda
c 1903 John

There's a larger gap between Benjamin Annie & Rhoda; looking at James deaths in Northampton registration district between 1893 and 1898, there are a number of children who died between the ages of 0 and 2; the missing one could be any one of them.

KR
Gaie

See, now I'm getting muddled with their ages 

[Gaie]

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Just in case you hadn't come across this free resource 

[Ose_jo]

Thank you for your help.

My dad got muddled with my age (I was never 18 if you look at the electoral roll) so in my case I think it's a family trait!!

So you would say that the Benjamin he lists as 11 is actually 19 year old Ben?

 

[Gaie]

Sorry for the delay, dropping children off 

Yes, I think he's muddled them all up, apart from John.

Benjamin registered Mar Qtr 1892
Annie Naomi registered Jun Qtr 1894
Rhoda registered Dec Qtr 1899

Benjamin Sr's sort of got the ages right, just written them for the wrong children.

KR
Gaie