John Wilson (1836 - 1912)

Born 18 Feb 1836 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Husband of Sarah Jane (Woodgate) Wilson — married 15 Nov 1868 in Plymouth, Devon, England

Descendants

Died 4 Aug 1912 at age 76 in London, England

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Biography

John Wilson was born in Hampshire, England.

Early Life

John Wilson was born on 18 Feb 1836 (see research notes) in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, a son of Mark, a corporal in the Royal Artillery, and Rosannah Wilson. He was baptised on 8 Jul 1936 at Saint Thomas church in Portsmouth.^[1]

Military Career

John joined the Royal Artillery on 18 Feb 1847 when he was eleven years old.^[2] His service number was 5302. Until he turned 18, he was probably a drummer boy or a trumpeter. In his discharge papers it just says 'Dr. & Tr.'

He began his actual service as a soldier on 18 Feb 1854 when he turned 18. During his miliary career, he became a bombardier, a corporal and a sergeant before ending up as a battery sergeant-major all while with the 13th Brigade. At the end of his career he transferred to the 2nd Division of the Depot Brigade and, finally, the Coast Brigade as a sergeant. He spent five years in the Barbados, two years in Turkey (the Crimea) and seven and a half years in India.

His last day of service was 11 Apr 1875 when he had completed 21 years of service. He was 38 years old. He earned the Crimean Medal with clasps for Inkerman and Sebastopol and the Turkish War Medal.

Family Life

John married Sarah Jane Woodgate on 15 Nov 1868 at the Registrar's Office in Plymouth, Devon.^[2] John and Sarah Jane had eight children one of whom died young:

• Alice Wilson 1864-1936
• Ellen Wilson 1866-1939
• Rose Wilson 1868-1914
• Emily Frances Wilson 1871-1871
• Sara Jane Wilson 1873-??
• Maria Elizabeth Wilson 1876-1945
• Florence Margaret Wilson 1878-1937
• Khyra Edith Wilson 1882-1939

in 1871, John was still in the army and the family was living in Plymouth, Devon.^[3]

In 1881, after he left the service, he worked as a civil servant being a clerk in the Pension Office. The family was now living in Lambeth, London.^[4] In 1891, he was an extra out-door officer for Her Majesty's Customs.^[5]

John's wife died early in 1894. In 1901, John was a widower working as a caretaker for a plumber's shop in the City of Westminster, London.^[6] In 1911, John was now 75 and was retired living on his army pension. His daughters Rose and Florence were living with him.^[7]

John Wilson died on 4 Aug 1912 in central London.^[8] He was 77 years old.

Research Notes

His birth date is never explicitly stated, however on his army discharge papers there is a list of the time he spent at each rank that he held while in the army. The first two entries show that he is under age but the third entry is for 18 Feb 1854 and this is when he starts to accumulate time in the service which will be counted towards his pension. I believe that this means that he turned 18 years of age on that date which would give his birth date as 18 Feb 1836.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Hampshire Baptisms"
   FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 24 January 2023)
   John Wilson baptism on 8 Jul 1836 (born 1836), son of Mark & Rosannah, in Portsmouth St Thomas, Hampshire, England.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Military: "British Army Service Records"
   Archive: The National Archives; Series: Wo 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913; Reference: WO 97
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 24 January 2023)
   Last name: Wilson; Attestation date: 18 Feb 1847; Birth country: England; Birth county: Hampshire; Birth parish: St Marys; First name(s): John; Year: 1847; Attestation age years: 11; Box record number: 58; Birth year: 1836; Birth town: Portsmouth; Service number: 5302; Document type: Discharge; Country: England; Discharge corps: Royal Reg Of Artillery; Regiment: Royal Reg Of Artillery; Box: 1847; Discharge service number: 5302.
3. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 England Census"
   The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 2124; Folio: 7; Page: 14; GSU roll: 832028; ED, institution, or vessel: 23; Household schedule number: 1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7619 #10620052 (accessed 24 January 2023)
   John Wilson (34) head of household in Plymouth registration district in Devon, England. Born in Portsmouth Hampshire England.

   John Wilson Head M 34 Portsmouth Hampshire England

   Sarah Jane Wilson Wife F 31 Blackheath Kent England

   Alice Wilson Daughter F 6 Dover Kent, , England

   Ellen Wilson Daughter F 5 Dover Kent, , England

   Rosa Wilson Daughter F 2 Falmouth, Cornwall, England

   Emily Frances Wilson Daughter F 1/12 Plymouth, Devon, England

4. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 England Census"
   Class: RG11; Piece: 601; Folio: 82; Page: 11; GSU roll: 1341138; ED, institution, or vessel: 9
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7572 #20705529 (accessed 24 January 2023)
   John Wilson (44), married, (C S) Clerk In Pension Office, head of household on No 400 Kennington Rd in Lambeth registration district in London, England. Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

   John Wilson Head Married M 44 (C S) Clerk In Pension Office Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

   Sarah Wilson Wife Married F 40 Blackheath, Kent, England

   Ellen Wilson Daughter F 14 Dover, Kent, England

   Rose Wilson Daughter F 12 Pendennis, Cornwall, England

   Sarah Wilson Daughter F 7 Rawel Pinnia, India

   Maria Wilson Daughter F 5 Stratford, Essex, England

   Florence Wilson Daughter F 3 Kennington, Surrey, England

   Alfred Nicholls Married M 63 Storekeeper At Pension Office Strand, Middlesex, England

   Nicholls Wife Married F 53 Housecleaner Elstead, Kent, England

5. ↑ 1891 Census: "1891 England Census"
   The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 489; Folio: 110; Page: 55; GSU roll: 6095599
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 6598 #8138528 (accessed 24 January 2023)
   John Wilson (54) head of household in Camberwell registration district in London, England. Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

   John Wilson Head M 54 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

   Sarah J Wilson Wife F 51 Blackheath, Kent, England

   Alice Wilson Daughter F 26 Dover, Kent, England

   Rose Wilson Daughter F 22 Falmouth, Cornwall, England

   Maria E Wilson Daughter F 15 Stratford, Essex, England

   Florence M Wilson Daughter F 13 Kennington, London, England

   Kyra E Wilson Daughter F 9 Kennington, London, England

6. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England Census"
   Class: RG13; Piece: 88; Folio: 55; Page: 32; ED, institution, or vessel: 30; Household schedule number: 278
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7814 #681721 (accessed 24 January 2023)
   John Wilson (64) head of household in St George Hanover Square registration district in London, England. Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.
7. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 England Census"
   The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911; Registration District Number: 5; ED, institution, or vessel: 05; Piece: 470
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2352 #1446164 (accessed 24 January 2023)
   John Wilson (75), widowed, None, Army Pensioner, head of household at 33 Morland Buildings, Millbank, Westminster S W, St Margaret and St John, London, England. Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

   John Wilson Head Widowed M 75 None, Army Pensioner Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

   Rose Wilson Daughter Single F 42 None Wall, Cornwall, England

   Florence Margaret Wilson Daughter Single F 33 Dress Maker Kennington, Surrey, England

8. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales Death Index"
   FreeBMD Entry Information (accessed 24 January 2023)
   Wilson, John (Age at death: 77).
   GRO Reference: 1912 Jul-Aug-Sep in St.Geo.H.Sq. Volume 1a Page 458.