Author Topic: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??  (Read 4303 times)

Offline Gail Johns

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My grandfathers early life has always been a big mystery and its proving tricky to solve! What I have so far is his marriage cert in NZ 1927, when he married my grandmother. His name is shown as James Summers
It states his age as 37, miner, place of birth Northumberland England. Father - Robert Summers,farmer. Mother - Emily Summers, maiden name Scott
I have his full military record from the New Zealand Defence Force when he joined in 1914 through to discharge in 1919, so clearly he came to NZ pre 1914.His next of kin on that record is his sister also living in NZ at the time. From her address on that document I think I have found her on electoral roll and her name is Elizabeth Smith
Cant find anything else that matches all of the above - lots of possibilities but not certain. He may have changed his name or lied about parents names, I know anythings possible but hoping someone may know something that gives a clue.

Offline CaroleW

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #1 on: Monday 27 July 20 12:21 BST (UK) »
No Summers/Scott marriage in England or Scotland.  The GRO index has no birth for an Elizabeth or James Summers with a mothers maiden name of Scott

There is an illegitimate birth in the June qtr 1888 in the Newcastle on Tyne Rd for a James Edward Summers
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Offline Christine53

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #2 on: Monday 27 July 20 13:10 BST (UK) »
No Summers/Scott marriage in England or Scotland.  The GRO index has no birth for an Elizabeth or James Summers with a mothers maiden name of Scott

There is an illegitimate birth in the June qtr 1888 in the Newcastle on Tyne Rd for a James Edward Summers

I think James Edward Summers b 1888 may have died soon afterwards ;

James Edward Summers b 1888 died J-S 1888 Newcastle upon Tyne 10b 55
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Online rosie99

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #3 on: Monday 27 July 20 13:30 BST (UK) »
Welcome to rootschat

From her address on that document I think I have found her on electoral roll and her name is Elizabeth Smith

What was the address/year and who else was resident at the property
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Offline Christine53

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #4 on: Monday 27 July 20 14:07 BST (UK) »
I picked out two things from his service record :

He had previously served with the Royal Garrison Artillery - but I haven't traced any record of that so far.

There is another name and contact address on the records in addition to the sister :
Miss Layland , Bell Hill , Billericay , Essex.

I have found the Layland family on the census and in Electoral Rolls , including 1915 which is about the right time -  " Robert Jasper William Layland , Bell Hill, Billericay " -  but cannot make a connection.

EDIT : R J W LAYLAND married ETHEL SUMMERS in 1902 in Melksham - will look for more info.
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Offline Christine53

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #5 on: Monday 27 July 20 14:15 BST (UK) »
Robert Jasper William Layland 25 bachelor , sawyer ,of Essex,  father William
Ethel Summers 25 spinster of Melksham , father James Summers farmer

married 20 Apr 1902 Melksham
witnesses Maud and John Fry
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Offline wivenhoe

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #6 on: Monday 27 July 20 14:23 BST (UK) »

At this site -
https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/

search....William SCOTT 26/969......  for WW1 file

William SCOTT Hawarth Cottage Ngaio....born England
NOK Mrs Emma SCOTT Hawarth Cottage  (mother)
amended to...26 Hospital Street Wellington
amended to ..Mrs Sydney SMITH  26 **mandel Rd Wellington

Offline JenB

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #7 on: Monday 27 July 20 14:40 BST (UK) »
1901 census Ethel Summers is with parents James and Emma in Melksham
(RG 13/1930/28/13)
Also in the household is 13 year old James.

Birth of James 3q 1887, Melksham 5a, 111 mmn Cornish

Birth of Ethel 3q 1876, Melksham 5a, 106 mmn Cornish

Marriage James Summers + on same page Emma Cornish, 2nd q 1883, Bath 5c, 1201

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Offline Dundee

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Re: Missing - James Summers born Northumberland 1887/1889? in NZ by 1913??
« Reply #8 on: Monday 27 July 20 14:52 BST (UK) »
The service record is the first in the list, not the second James of Melksham.


At this site -
https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/

search....William SCOTT 26/969......  for WW1 file

William SCOTT Hawarth Cottage Ngaio....born England
NOK Mrs Emma SCOTT Hawarth Cottage  (mother)
amended to...26 Hospital Street Wellington
amended to ..Mrs Sydney SMITH  26 **mandel Rd Wellington


Yes it is Sydney and Jean SMITH at 26 Hospital Road (former address Harwath Cottage, Ngaio), not Elizabeth SMITH.

Debra  :)