Seeking relatives of Arthur Bryan White, Surrey UK, died 16 August 1917

Question

I am looking for any ancestor names or relatives of Arthur Bryan White, a British soldier from Croydon, Surrey, who was killed in action 16 Aug 1917 in France. He had no children, his estate went to William White, warehouseman (father??).

I am trying to see if his tree links with mine at some period in the 1800's. I have no evidence one way or another.

Interestingly, I found out about him because his name was on a pewter mug I discovered in an antique shop in Tasmania.

thanks

Kim White

Answer 1

According to the 1911 UK census for Croydon the family living at 7 Birdhurst Rise, Croydon comprised:

William White, aged 52, WoolenMerchant, born Barnsbury, London.

His wife Fanny White, aged 50, married 27 years, born Pnders End, Essex.

Two of their three children were living with them. They are :-

Noel White, daughter, aged 26, single, born Acton, London, not working.

Arthur Bryan White, son, aged 22, single, Carpenter Accountant, born Acton, London.

They also had two live-in servants :-

Lily Smith, cook, and Emily May Vellenden, housemaid.

Looking back to the 1891 census in Acton we find William living with his wife Fanny at 26 Queen Anne's Road in Acton. He is a Wollen Merchant and they have two servants. Apparently no children yet.

In 1901 we find them still living at the same address in Acton but this time we are able to identify the third child as :-

L Carol White, son, aged 14, born Acton.

Hope this sets you on the path to discovery. Let me know if you would like copies of Acton census records.

Regards

John Shipton

Devon, England

Comments

John,

what amazing information! I am very very grateful for your assistance. I must find out if these Census databases are on-line and available for anyone to look at. I am very new to this "family history" business and am still learning what tools are available.

cheers

Kim

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Hi Kim

The latest year for available UK census returns is 1911. The first good year for research is 1851 since this is the first year when the whole family is grouped together in a specific residence. The 1921 census will probably be available in 2021/22. Most genealogy webbsites will have census returns and many other document resources available for you to search. All will charge fees and you need to select a site carefully because some are quite expensive and some have poor search results because the data has not been indexed with any great accuracy.

For research within the UK I use www.genesreunited.co.uk. This site allows you to operate on a pay to view basis by purchasing credits. Until 18 November you can view the 1911 census for free on this site.

Another site, with no charges, that holds most of the church records for christenings, marriages, and burials is www.familysearch.org. This can be very useful as you go back into the sixteenth century. It will seldom produce a birth date but it is reasonable to make an inital assumption that the child will be about six months old when it is christened. If you find two children in the same family christened on the same date be aware that they may not be twins. Sometimes there will be a year or two between them simply because the parents were unable to devote time or money to the christening of the first child. Two for the price of one is not uncommon.

When looking at census records try to view the original document because you will find that the census enumerator may have edited the original information.

Regards

John Shipton

Devon, England

Answer 2

Hi Kim,

This my relationship to Arthur Bryan White:

• Arthur Bryan White (1889 - 1917)
  is my 1st cousin 2x removed
   
  Your 1st cousin 2x removed
  Fanny Spreckley (1860 - 1921)
  mother of Arthur Bryan White
   
  Thomas Spreckley (1821 - 1892)
  father of Fanny Spreckley
   
  Thomas Freer Spreckley (1850 - 1927)
  son of Thomas Spreckley
   
  Claude Spreckley (1878 - 1935)
  son of Thomas Freer Spreckley
   
  Thomas Lloyd Spreckley (1908 - 1988)
  son of Claude Spreckley
   
  Christopher George Spreckley
  I am the son of Thomas Lloyd Spreckley

If I can be of further assistance please contact me!

My family tree appears on ancestry.co.uk

 

Good luck.

 

Chris

Comments

Chris, many thanks. That is really excellent data. Would you believe I have an inscribed pewter tankard which was won by AB White before WW1, when he was an NCO in the London rifle Brigade. I found it in an antique shop in Tasmania, Australia. No idea how it got there.

It would be interesting to see if we are related. My name is Kim White, father Charley, grandfather Henry John William White, g.g.father Patrick.  The family arrived in Australia from Co. Donegal in 1853?

Any of those sound like yours??

cheers

Kim