Hello! I'm a published writer working on a book. RootsChat helped hugely in 2021- thank you! I wonder if your military experts might throw light on the story of my Great-Aunt Ada Ellen Powell- who apparently never married John Perkins, the 1890s Coldstream Guardsman who was the father of her first 3 children?
Ada Ellen Powell was born in 1873 at Hednesford,Staffs, daughter of Elizabeth & John Powell, a gamekeeper. John Perkins was born in 1869 at Wacton, nr Bredenbury, Herefordshire, son of a labourer. In the 1891 Census, John is a 'Single' Private, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, Chelsea Barracks.
Quick queries, please.. Was this a prestigious regiment? Would a Private who enlisted in 1890 have a choice of regiment? Or would he just be allocated to one? If so, did this depend on regiment numbers, or on the recruit’s ownl qualities?
I believe, in the 1890s, only a few soldiers per regiment were given permission by the Army to marry & have wives 'on the strength'? Was a Coldstream Guards Private, married without permission in the 1890s, likely to suffer penalties from the Army?
I’ve found no marriage record for Ada & John. On 2 April 1896, Ada registered the birth of her son Albert John Perkins, born on 18 Feb 1896. Father: John Perkins, 'Private Soldier in Coldstream Guards'. Her address: Bowmans Hill, Winslow, 3 miles from John's birthplace. She called herself 'Ada Ellen Perkins, formerly Powell'. Is this a standard description of a wife? This formula appeared on every certificate for her first 3 children.
On 13 Oct 1898, Ada registered a daughter, Ada May, born 13 Sept, 1898. Father 'John Perkins, Farm Labourer'. It seems John had left the Army. Ada’s father, often officially called 'Farm Labourer' was definitely a gamekeeper. It’s possible that John Perkins was, too. Ada's address was still Bowman's Hill.
Sadly, little Ada May died on 27 April 1899. Her mother, Ada Ellen, registered her death on 2 May 1899. All the details she gave matched birth details, with a new address: Suckley Green, Worcs.
I know that by the 1901 Census, Ada’s parents lived in Suckley Green. Family tradition said that John Powell was a 'Head Keeper' for the Earl of Dudley. John Perkins may have been a junior Keeper to John Powell, living in a ‘tied’ cottage.
Ada's mother, Elizabeth Powell, remembered as indulgently kind, registered Ada's 3rd child, William Henry. Elizabeth said she witnessed his birth at Suckley Green,11 March 1900. She called Ada: 'Ada Ellen Perkins, formerly Powell'. William was registered on 3 April 1900, son of 'John Perkins, Farm Labourer'. But John may have already been in South Africa- perhaps as a Reservist- in the Boer War? He died there on 29 May, 1900.
A descendant of Ada has traced the Army death record: ‘J Perkins. Casualty Type: Died. Casualty Date: 29 May 1900. Casualty Place: Bloemfontein Rank: Private. Force: South Africa Field Force. Regiment: Coldstream Guards. Battalion: 1st Battalion. Number: 7972.' Local newspapers reported that John Perkins died of disease & that his name was placed on a memorial in Hereford Cathedral.
Do you think that John Perkins may have been first deterred by Army rules from marrying Ada? And that, although they co-habited after he left the Army, they may never have found a chance to arrange a wedding & turn a fictional marriage into a legal one?
On 31st March, Census Day 1901, Ada, still in Suckley Green, described herself as ‘Widow’, at 27, & gave 'Perkins' as surname for herself & sons. Her 24 year old 'Brother-in-Law' George lived with them, listed as 'Farm Labourer' But in later records he was definitely a gamekeeper. He may have taken his brother's job, & his tied house, keeping Ada in a home.
On 28 Sept, 1901, Ada & George Perkins married at Wolverhampton Registry office. He was described as a 'Bachelor'. Both gave the same Wolverhampton address, 35 miles from Suckley Green. They may have been on their way to George's 1904 workplace, Wolverley, 40 miles away from Suckley Green. Elizabeth Powell, who could write, was a witness. She presumably knew that Ada described herself, at this wedding as 'Ada Ellen Powell, Spinster'.
If this was true, Ada's first 3 children were illegitimate. If it was untrue, Ada would, I believe, have broken the law by marrying George It was illegal in 1901 for a woman to marry her late husband's brother. The law was not changed until 1921.
Briefly, Ada stayed married to George from 1901 until her death in 1952. They finally settled, for several decades, in a pleasant Buckinghamshire village - over 100 miles from Suckley Green! They had two daughters who lived to be adults.
Family memory throws no light on Ada's life with John. Frank Powell, her brother (grandfather) was 17 years younger than Ada. He only told me 'My sister married Mr Perkins!' (George, who appears in our photograph collection. No one I know has a photograph of John.) I must stress that I have every sympathy for Ada, especially for her losses.
A relative, Ada's direct descendant, researched the family & discovered the parentage of her sons. He - & an elderly aunt - were amazed, having thought they descended from George. We would both very much like to understand more of the lives of Ada Ellen Powell, Spinster, & John Perkins, Private, First Battalion, Coldstream Guards.
Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you very much for your time!
