James Ackland - who were parents???

[BW252]

 have a James Ackland born 1874ish.    He married Ada Hicks  23 Nov 1895 and gives his father as William on the Parish record.    I can trace him and Ada as follows:

1901 - 27 Pearl St, Roath, Cardiff
1911 - 24 Albert Ave, Newport Monmouthshire
1914 - 42 Harold St, Cardiff (his and his sons address on enlistment)
He enlisted 62651 Sapper Royal Engineers on 13 Dec 14 and was discharged as unsuitable "could not read or write" on 31 March 1915.
The 1901 census has them as Hackland and James born Scotland
The 1911 census has him as born Burnham, Somerset.
None of the birth info checks out.
Cannot find him in 1881, 1891
Children are James Sidney b1896, Ida May Hicks b1898 d1900 and Frank Albert b1899 all Cardiff
I just cannot find his parents at all.    Any help, as always, much appreciated

[Milliepede]

What about this family 1881 in Cogan Glamorgan

William Ackland 37 mason born Devon
Norah A 25 born Alderney
James R 6 born Cumberland
William H 2 born Cardiff
Walter 8 months born Cardiff

James may have been confused over his birthplace if the family moved around a bit. 

Now to find a birth.  Depending when parents married he may even have belonged to Norah.

[Milliepede]

Maybe this marriage but different area again

William Ackland
Norah Ann Slack

Jun 1878 Lichfield so if correct after the birth of James

Only odd birth seems to be James Slack - no mothers name - Jun 1872 Wolstanton but that seems a bit early so could be on the wrong track.

[Milliepede]

Checked out the births for the 2 younger children on the 1881 census above and we have

William Henry Slack Ackland Dec 1878 Cardiff mothers maiden name Leach

Walter Ackland Sep 1880 Cardiff mothers maiden name Leach

So with the name Slack in the mix it must be the right marriage but Norah must have been a young widow when she married William?

So maybe James birth is under Leach or would it still be under Slack MMN Leach, depends when she married first.

[BW252]

Thanks for that info Milliepede

Have just found a Norah Ann LEACH marrying a Henry Slack in Derbyshire 22 Oct 1876 both marriages show her father as James Leach.
Her marriage to William shows her as a widow

Harry

[Milliepede]

In Dec 1876 Derby there's a marriage

Henry Slack
Norah Ann Leach

with a note that Norah was born 1856 Alderney which bears out the census info.

[Milliepede]

1891 transcribed as Arland

William 48
Norah Ann 35
James K Stock - amended to James R Slack - born Carlyle Scotland

No wonder he was confused! 

His entry has been crossed out then listed again at the bottom under their own children as
step son 17.

[BW252]

M

have also found school admissions for both James Roger and William giving James DOB as 1 May 1874, Fa William and Mo Norah.   

Croyden, Surrey admitted 8 Jan 83 and left 11 May 83 (left neightbourhood)
Cardff admitted 9 July 85 left 26 Mar 86
Splott Cardiff admitted 24 86 left
just not 100% sure this is them.    James was discharged from the army as being unable to read or write!!!

[BW252]

Have made some inroads  on this topic:

Henry Slack on various documents gives his Father as Josiah and Mother Martha.   They have a son Henry b1835 Wirksworth, Derbyshire.    Henry dies in Ashbourne Derby in 1878 Mar Q.  Norah then marries William Ackland 24 April 1878 in Whittington, Staffs.    They have a son William Henry Slack b 4 Oct 1878.   He COULD be the son of Henry and named after the new husband and his father Henry Slack.

Still not 100% positive but looking good!!!

H