Author Topic: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please  (Read 1057 times)

Offline Fisherman

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1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« on: Wednesday 25 September 19 16:52 BST (UK) »
I have followed Henry Charles back from his death in 1965 in Bath to 1901 when he is a soldier in London.
He consistently gives his year of birth as 1882 and Trowbridge as the place.

I cannot find him in 1891 or his birth registration.
I have however found a birth, Dec. Q 1881 for a Charles Henry Purnell (a possibility) but again not showing in 1891. This leads me to think that they may be one and the same.

I would be gratefull for any help in finding him

Thanks
Fisherman
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Online amondg

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 25 September 19 17:39 BST (UK) »
1891 census Melksham
Charles Purnell 50 railway porter
Jane 45
James 19
Arthur 15
Jesse  13
Herbert 11
Cornelius 9
Henry 7  (1884) age is off but correct place of birth.
Frank 4
All born Trowbridge

Offline Fisherman

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 25 September 19 17:49 BST (UK) »
amondg,

Thanks for that.
I will take a close look at this family but it does look promising.

Thanks again
Fisherman

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Online cath151

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 25 September 19 17:54 BST (UK) »
There is an army service record for Charles Henry Purnell born 1881 Trowbridge, it mentions mother Jane and lots of brothers some as mentioned in census record above;
He was in the Coldstream  Guards and appears to have married a Laura Louisa Denning Kemp (in 1909 I think)
Cathy
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Clements,Coles,Mc Donagh,Rock

Census InformationCrown Copyright from www.national archives.gov.uk


Offline Fisherman

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 25 September 19 19:28 BST (UK) »
Hi Cathy,
That's him.
I believe he won the MM for rescuing a drowning French girl.
It also confirms what amondg found.
Could you list his brothers please.

Many Thanks
Fisherman
Sockett in Shropshire, Montgomeryshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Glamorgan and probably the rest of the UK
Corbet/t in Shropshire, Norfolk, Worcestershire
Gambold in South West Wales, USA, Australia
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Manthorpe in Shropshire, Norfolk, Cheshire, Suffolk

Online cath151

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 26 September 19 10:37 BST (UK) »
Hi again,
Yes it mentions he saved a (it says man ) from drowning in 1915, mentioned in dispatches and awarded the MM
Brothers listed were
Herbert, Jesse, Arthur  all Trowbridge Wiltshire
John, James, Frederick  older
Cornelius , Frank  younger.


Cathy
Sinnock/Sinnicks...Brighton,Greenwich.
Clements,Coles,Mc Donagh,Rock

Census InformationCrown Copyright from www.national archives.gov.uk

Offline Fisherman

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 26 September 19 13:41 BST (UK) »
Hi Cathy,

Thanks for the names, it will help me find the parents and hopefully grandparents.

I was always led to believe that he saved a girl who was swept away in a fast current while swimming.
Shows how stories get twisted over the years.
He also got another award (civilian) rescuing people when a bomb hit a shelter in Bath in 1942. Must have been a brave man.

Thanks again for your help
Fisherman
Sockett in Shropshire, Montgomeryshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Glamorgan and probably the rest of the UK
Corbet/t in Shropshire, Norfolk, Worcestershire
Gambold in South West Wales, USA, Australia
Baylis/s in Gloucestershire, South Wales
Richards in Breconshire
Manthorpe in Shropshire, Norfolk, Cheshire, Suffolk

Online cath151

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 26 September 19 15:13 BST (UK) »
Well, very brave, looking again there is a good description of him rescuing three french ladies from the water on 14th Sep 1918 at Briel (Criel?)Plage so your story was true :)
Cathy

The same account of the rescue is in the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser 14th Dec 1918
Sinnock/Sinnicks...Brighton,Greenwich.
Clements,Coles,Mc Donagh,Rock

Census InformationCrown Copyright from www.national archives.gov.uk

Offline Fisherman

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Re: 1891 lookup for Henry Charles Purnell please
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 26 September 19 17:44 BST (UK) »
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for finding that.
I'm going to have to get a copy of the report to add to his records.

Regards
Fisherman
Sockett in Shropshire, Montgomeryshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Glamorgan and probably the rest of the UK
Corbet/t in Shropshire, Norfolk, Worcestershire
Gambold in South West Wales, USA, Australia
Baylis/s in Gloucestershire, South Wales
Richards in Breconshire
Manthorpe in Shropshire, Norfolk, Cheshire, Suffolk