Completed - Royal Marines - 1901 Census

[Canuc]

I'm trying to narrow down my search for a Grt GF, he was in the RM.
I see his wife and his four children together in the 1901 census (Gillingham, Kent), but he is not with them, and was still enlisted.

He's not coming out of a census search as being at a RM depot, and he could have been at any one of the overseas HMDs. Then there's the Boxer Rebellion and the 2nd Boer War.

If he is at an overseas HMD, of fighting in China/South Africa can I still expect him to be listed on a census return the way he was listed as one of umpteen privates based at Walmer in the 1881 census?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome.

Happy hunting
Canuc

[ShaunJ]

If he is at an overseas HMD, of fighting in China/South Africa can I still expect him to be listed on a census return the way he was listed as one of umpteen privates based at Walmer in the 1881 census?

No. Maybe. Some Royal Navy "ships in foreign waters" returns survive but there is a gap between Amphion and High Flyer.

Do you have his Royal Marines record?  Have you checked the medal rolls?

[Canuc]

Sadly I only have his marriage certificate stating he was a private RM, and his youngest daughter's memory to go on. She was born 1902, she remembers his white pith helmet and him not being around through her earliest childhood. I suspect he was already diagnosed with the cancer, that would kill him, by 1914 because there is no memory that he'd retired and had reenlisted, he was a career soldier.

Thank you
Canuc

[ShaunJ]

Perhaps if you could give us his name we might be able to help.

[Canuc]

Thank you,
he is:

Frederick William James
b. Plumstead, Kent (registered third quarter in Woolwich Volume 01D  Page 974)
m. 1893-10-14 St Michael & St Joseph RC, Devonport (Stoke Damerel Vol 5b, Page 716, No 76) - Mary (Minnie) Catherine Collins
d. 1923-04-21 Gillingham, Kent

Census
1881 - Plumstead with parents
1891 - Walmer, private RM
1901 - ?
1911 - Gillingham, Kent - General Labourer

Canuc

[ShaunJ]

m. 1893-10-14 St Michael & St Joseph RC, Devonport (Stoke Damerel Vol 5b, Page 716, No 76) - Mary (Minnie) Catherine Collins

The Royal Marines marriage records have him marrying Minnie Collins with permission on 24 November 1894 at Chatham registry office. They must have married again in order to bring Minnie onto the official establishment.

The marriage records give his number as C7651 so this is his service record: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7767079

You can download the service record free of charge. It shows that at the time of the 1901 census he was serving on HMS Dido (which was then on the China station) and that he was awarded the China medal in 1902. This medal is for naval and marine personnel who were landed in China during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.

[Canuc]

Shaun,
Thank you so very much!

The Chatham info is new, and I'll take a look at the National Archive link.
Much appreciated, I think I can mark this closed.

Onwards and upwards
Canuc

[Canuc]

I should add, the first marriage would legitimize the pregnancy. The 2nd, as you say, is with permission and brings her onto the establishment.

Canuc

[Canuc]

Shaun,
Some further help.
I've followed the link. It tells me that downloads are free if I put the record(s) in my basket, register and log in.
I've done that but as I proceed to checkout it is wanting to charge me.

Do you know if there is something else I should be doing?

There is, start from the begining and it corrects to £0.00 and emails the document.

Thank you
Canuc