Genealogy Chat

I may be chasing a red herring but it seems as though my mother - in - law's family (Wood) had some connection with the Salvation Army - I'm not sure what!

The family started off in Cannock Stafford where I have found a few references to Salvation Army in various census for example: 1891 census: Salvation Army Barracks, Cannock Staffordshire. Francis J Stephens aged 32 a French Polisher.....

Anyway, the family moved to Barnsley, Yorkshire (I think because of mining jobs) and lived in Hawson Street where Salvation Army were based. One of the family later (around 1910) is an Accordian Player, Salvation Army.

Is this a coincidence - were the Salvation Army "big" in 1900's? or is there more of a connection do you think? Any ideas about how I go about exploring this?

Thanks - Gai

They were very Big - try a google search. Further down the Trying to find board you will see someone else is also looking for sally ann records. Try this link:

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf

I have found that several branches of my family appear to have a relationship to the Salvation Army, my earliest verified association is in the 1870's. I have found that around the turn of the century Salvation Army members appear to have married other members of the S.Army.

Sadly though not many documents survive for the 19th and turn of the 20th century. However I have found my local archive office have past copies of family tree magazines, where there is a lot of information related to the Salvation Army.

I am lucky in that a cousin has his grandfathers journal of the 1900-1920's, where he has a lot of accounts of run in's with the skeleton army, along with accounts of my great grandparents work in London..

As far as I am aware it is easier to find members who were officers rather than soldiers. It may be worth contacting the local group to see if they have any info, sadly for me they did not have anything to help me.

Heather's right, they were BIG and still are - worldwide etc.

I've got the SA in my family. Officers had to marry officers at one time - not sure about now though - bit out of touch.

They have a very good heritage section in London - I've sent a lot of my inherited stuff to them.

If you google Salvation Army Cannock (& Barnsley), you will find email addresses to contact to see if they have any records etc.

Thankyou for the info. Sorry I haven't replied earlier - away at a work conference until now but with no internet connection - sadly! I will try the links suggested and see if I can follow through. Thanks again.

Gai

Hello friends, I have just picked up the Army thread,My Grandparents from Yorkshire and also the family from Sunderland were what we call 1st generation Salvationists
By we, I mean SALVATIONISTS.In the early years you may have read of Salvationists being persecuted by the Skeleton Army.These were the young hooligans of that day who would pelt the Salvationists as they witnessed in the street.Poor dears, they would sing and pray in the streets as they do today but were not recieved as kindly as today.My grandparents met in those days and were often pelted with rotten eggs and bad fruit.However they were brave enough to stick up for their Christian faith.My grandfathers in SUNDERLAND and Dinnington were thrown into jai for *causing an affray
not long after(or before)lthat time the miners set out from Sunderland and Yorkshire on the Jarrow hunger strike.We can never underestimate the sacrifices made for us by our ancesters, Not everyone stays in the church that their ancesters chose, but many do and I for one am grateful for the example they set for us The Camsey family is well known for its musical ability and I am proud to belong to this movement Marian Hunt(Camsey) Written 10.5.2010

REF SALVATION ARMY..I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER SINCE BIRTH.ALTHOUGH YOUR PARENTS CHOSE WHICH CHURCH YOU GO TO IF YOU ARE CHILD,OBVIOUSLY
THERE COMES A TIME WHEN YOU DECIDE FOR YOURSELF IF YOU WANT TO
COMMIT YOURSELF TO FOLLOW CHRIST FOR YOURSELF..THAT APPLIES TO ALL WHO FOLLOW HIM,,IT IS PERSONAL I WAS BROUGHT UP BY SALVATIONISTS WHOSE PARENTS HAD JOINED THE S'A'RMY WE ALL LOVED THE FORM OF WORSHIP AND I AM 77 AND HAVE FOUND GREAT JOY AND HAPPINESS IN MY CHURCH,MY BROTHER TERRY CAMSEY WAS A VERY WELL KNOWN AND HIGHLY RESPECTED MEMBER IN G,B, AND IN U.S.A. WHERE HE AND FAMILY SETTLED.Everyone is most welcome to visit a Salvation Army Please look in your newspapers for lists of activities and get in touch..Perhaps there is a coffee morning where you could introduce yourself,IF not ask if the officer could get in toucn with you I can assure you that wherever you are a warm will await you.Dont put it off get in touch today Love Marian <3

This is an old thread which you have unearthed, and Gai is unlikely to see it

Isn't Gai still around, or is it someone with a similar name?

Mariion, if you're interested, there is a 'Christian thread' on General Chat. You'd be most welcome to join in.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/general_chat/thread/1315835

It's not a secret that Cynthia, a poster on that thread was brought up by SA parents, although she is now a Communicant of her local CoE church. Lovely lady :-)

Thank you DET............now, where's that blushing emoticon......... :-)

There is a Gai around sometimes - not sure if it is the same one though.

Anyone is welcome to join the Christian thread, whether they have faith or not. :-)

but no proselytizing, I think!

For the record Ladies, It's not me that started this thread.


Gai :-)