Clerk at GPO savings Bank

[RGB]

Dear All,
I hope you can help me. My great grandfather was William Smith born in Pembury 1855 and died before 1911. He is recorded on the various census as a civil servant and latterly as a clerk at GPO savings Bank.

William and his wife Annie Read Luckhurst lived for most of their married lives and their children were born in Forest Gate, Essex (Sydney Road, Disraeli Road and Hampton Road).

I cannot ascertain Williams death date nor where he is buried sadly.Would there be any record of his death and pension from the GPO savings bank.

Please let me know if you need any further information which can assist.

I am, as always, extremely grateful for your kind help
Roger

[Girl Guide]

This could be William's death

Deaths Mar 1905   
Smith    William    49    W. Ham    4a   85

If he was born later than the MQ 1855 then the above would be right.

Living in the West Ham registration district in both the 1901 and 1911 census records.  Annie is shown as living at 105 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate which is covered by the West Ham registration district.

One to consider.  A pdf costs £7 if you wish to consider getting the death cert.

[Girl Guide]

Could this be William's baptism?

First name(s)   William
Last name   Smith
Baptism date   15 Apr 1855
Baptism year   1855
Place   Pembury, St Peter
Residence   Pembury
Father's first name(s)   James
Father's occupation   Labourer
Mother's first name(s)   Elizabeth
Mother's last name   -
County   Kent

[RGB]

Thanks very much and I believe you have the correct William Smith. Certainly he was born in 1855 in Pembury and married Annie Read Luckhurst. Annie lived at 105 Earlham Grove after William died which I had ascertained was before the 1911 census.

For my education it would be great if you could explain what MQ stands for in your reply and how you found Williams death so quickly. Was there a knack to it that you could pass on.

One last question if I may. Could I expect to find any records from Williams employment as a clerk at the GPO savings bank?

PS I will certainly order the PDF from GRO

Many thanks again
Roger

[jim1]

Ancestry hold appointment books but the information is basic.
You can imagine how many Wm. Smiths there are.
There are a couple employed by the Savings Bank listed
but impossible to say if it's your man.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1933/
https://postalheritage.wordpress.com/tag/employment-records/

[Girl Guide]

MQ means March Quarter. Having checked that Annie was still in the West Ham district I made the assumption that William's death would be registered there.

I then worked out what his age would be through 1901 to 1911 and came upon the 1905 one as being most likely.

I think finding any staff records may be difficult.  You could try checking the National Archives to see what they have.  Or try googling Post Office Staff Records and see what comes up.

[RGB]

Thank you Girl Guide and Jim1 for your answers. I will follow your suggestions but yes I do agree it is not easy following genealogy with the name Smith.

Just a note on James possible baptism at St Peters Pembury. Williams parents were indeed James (Cochrane Smith) and Elizabeth (Stiller). James being shown as a labourer is slightly at odds as in 1971 he is shown as a retired clerk and before that a boarding house keeper. He seems to have had many different jobs so I presume labourer is not entirely out of the question.

Thanks very micu
Roger

[Girl Guide]

Below is a link to the Postal Museum which is currently closed

https://www.postalmuseum.org/discover/collections/#

They appear to have staff records and I think they may cover the time that William worked in the GPO.  When the museum re-opens you may be able to contact them and ask for information regarding staff records.

You may have to keep checking to see when they are open again.  May not be for some time, possibly the autumn perhaps.

[RGB]

Thanks for this Girl Guide. I have been to the Postal museum and searched their records albeit for another ancestor but have to admit not being able to find anything to supplement what was already on line but I will certainly try again.