Dependants Pension Document

[rob749]

Hi everyone,
Ive been told that it would be better to post this query here, hoping you kind people can help me out. Wondering if you could solve this small mystery. Trying to trace my Grandfather John Owen Jones birth details, I came across this (see attached - one is upside down, it was the only way I could get rest of detail in - sorry!). It's a WW1 Dependants pension document for his son Harry OK Jones who obviously died towards the end of the war. I have all those details, burial place, sign up documents etc.

The strange part is his father is listed on the Pension document as Richard John Owen Jones, I have been looking for birth records for John Owen Jones, because on all the census documents, marriage certificate etc is how he has listed there. All the addresses on the document tie up (9 Windsor Arcade is where I was brought up) and  the original address North St, Port Talbot is on the 1911 Census. Thats the first anomaly, the second is his wife's name has been crossed out and 'deceased' written in and the new address written in at the same time. I'm wondering was this added at a much later date than 1918 to transfer the Pension maybe.

After 'Father' written in the relationship line I wanted to know if you think that is a date (5/10/38). Also in red ink on the right of the document in the upside down picture (couldn't get it in on original as it was chopped, so rotated to see it), if that is a date 17/10/38 maybe as well??

Just thinking that would help in pinpointing death date of my grandmother, as I've looked all around 1914-18 and nothing found that ties up. Still can't find any birth records of (Richard) John Owen Jones around 1867 in Cenarth, Cardiganshire though. 

Sorry its all a bit complicated, hope someone's got the patience to plough through it! Thanks in anticipation.

[jim1]

The ledger only gives Ann Jones as a dependant, this would be
in accordance with the wishes in his will.
His father named as John Owen Jones received his gratuity in 1918
& 1919.
My reading of it is that she died 5/10/38 & the other date is when
the Pensions Dept. was notified.
I'm not sure at the moment if his father was entitled to his pension as he's
not listed as a dependant when his will was made.

[rob749]

Thanks for that jim1, just out of curiosity, how did you know it was paid 1918 and 1919. The other thing that's confusing me is that he wrote Richard as one of his forenames on this document, and I haven't found a ref to that anywhere else - really odd.

Also can't find him on the 1939 Register at either address, even though my family - my mother and her siblings are listed at that address. I'll keep at it though. 

[jim1]

War Gratuity was paid to the family of the deceased soldier.
This was based on the number of dependants & length of service.
His father was the recipient in 1918 & again paid another sum in 1919.
Richard may be an admin error. It happened all the time.
He may also have been dead by 1939 but with such a common name
it would be difficult to prove.
You could look for a death in the last quarter of 1938 in the Reg. District
the family were living at just in case 5/10/38 does refer to him.

[rob749]

Hi again Jim1
Thanks again for the reply, I know my grandfather (John Owen Jones) was alive in 1945, as his name is on my mother's marriage certificate then, I think I'll ignore the Richard thing, that name hasn't appeared anywhere in my previous research. What's odd is, he is not listed at that or the previous address in the 1939 register, or anywhere else I can find. Quite frustrating ! Just have to persevere, or just accept I can't find him or my grandmother's death details in that period, maybe the 1921 census may help fill in some gaps, when it is published. Thanks.

[jim1]

It wasn't compulsory to indicate if a father was dead on a marriage cert.