Genealogy Chat

Hi All,

My Granddad's story has been that of a Dr Barnado's boy, whose mother was tragically killed when he was 2 years old and his father who was said to have a been a soldier killed in 'the great war'.

Granddad (now 89) recently produced an old shoebox full of postcards sent during the war to his mother. These cards were obviously sent by someone with a romantic link to great grandma!

The soldier's name was Benjamin Fellows. My initial search was for a man killed in the war and although I had a close match, it just didn't seem close enough. I then went to Kew and trawled the war records there and found a Benjamin Fellows who survived the war!

He served with the ASC up until 1919 when he discharged. One of the postcards is an embroidered card of the ASC emblem. Also the handwritting evidence is very strong.

His war records show he was still married to Gertrude (Hill) and they had a daughter, Winifred. I have established a link to Gertrude through another tree, but there is little info on Ben.

Can anyone help further....I have been through the census records (have been trying to backwards in the hope of finding another link to come forwards), but with limited success.

His war records give,

DOB - 1890.
Enlistment (1916)
Service No. - S4/144102 of the ASC
Discharge (1919)

Much appreciated,

Martin

If you get their M/C it will give you his dads name

Marriages Dec 1911 (>99%)
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Bridge Edwin Kings N. 6c 989
>>Fellows Benjamin Kings Norton 6c 989
>>Hill Gertrude F Kings Norton 6c 989
Pratley Charity King's N. 6c 989

Hi Martin,

If you don't have too much info on Benjamin the best bet would be to buy a copy of his and Gertrudes marriage certificate. They usually have the fathers names of the groom and bride and where they were living at the time so you can narrow your search a bit.

Benjamin Fellows
Gertrude F Hill
Year of Registration: 1911
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Kings Norton (To 1912)
County: Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
Volume: 6c
Page: 989 (click to see others on page)

Good Luck, Lou

Sorry Witchypoo,

I had a look at the census first and didn't see your post

Lou

No worries Lou...as they say many hands make light work

Julie

Thanks guys.I will give that a go. I take I can buy this online?

Martin

Hi Martin Google GRO and you can buy the cert from them, £7 with the inforation given above.
Best wishes Joan

Barnardos have a good aftercare service, it might be worth getting in touch with them to find out if they have his records... Think he would have to request them himself. My mum is an ex-barnardos kid and she found all kinds of info in the file. She had a caseworker who tried to help her find her father but they didn't have any luck. (That's actually how I got into genealogy).

Try their website for an address: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/who_we_are/history.htm
There's a link on the bottom right for "After care information and resources"

that sounds like a great idea. will give that a go too.

thanks.

According to Benjamin's War Pensions Records (on Ancestry) he was born 1890 at Gt. Bridge, Staffordshire and his permanent address was 78 Cheshire Road, Smithwick, Staffs.

1901 England Census
about Benjamin Fellows
Name: Benjamin Fellows
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1891
Relation: Son
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Male
Where born: Great Bridge, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: Smethwick
Ecclesiastical parish: St Matthew
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:
Registration district: Kings Norton
Sub-registration district: Harborne
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 127
Household Members: Name Age
Albert E Fellows 14
Benjamin Fellows 10
Elizabeth Fellows 45
John A Fellows 16
Joseph H A Fellows 21
William F Fellows 20

.
1891 England Census
about Elizabeth Fellows
Name: Elizabeth Fellows
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1859
Relation: Sister-in-law
Where born: West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England

Civil Parish: West Bromwich
Ecclesiastical parish: Trinity
County/Island: Staffordshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: Dressmaker

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:
Registration district: West Bromwich
Sub-registration district: West Bromwich South West
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Benjamin Fellows 1
Elizabeth Fellows 32
Eva Jacquiss 18
Joseph F Jacquiss 13
Leonard Jacquiss 7
Philip S Jacquiss 10
Samuel Jacquiss 48
Selma Jacquiss 46
Wilfred J Jacquiss 3

Possible birth-

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Jun 1890 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fellows Benjamin W. Bromwich 6b 826

thanks pam. i had seen the 'jacquiss' (unusual name) one, but not the first one listed. elizabeths age seems to indicate that they are same person?

JUST STARTED DOING MY HUSBANDS FAMILY HIS GT GRANDAD WAS A BENJAMIN FELLOWS AND A EMMA HODGES. DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FAMILY THE PARENTS OF THESE TWO BUT DAUGHTER EMMA IS GRANDMA. ON 1881 CENSUS I FOUND EMMA HEAD BORN GLOUCESTERSHIRE, ELIZABETH BORN SMETHWICK, SAMUEL, EMMA, JOHN, MARY, BENJAMIN. A BENJAMIN FELLOWS MAY HAVE DIED 1879 OR 1880 KINGS NORTON THATS WHERE MARRIED IN 1868,
SUE

Susanne,
Martin posted this 5 years ago, and may no longer be a member of genes.
You could click on his name and send him a message, if he still has the same email address genes can contact him.
Or, if you want some help with your ancestors, you could start a new thread of your own, detailing what help you want.