Alexander English (1879 - 1916)

Born 4 Apr 1879 in 116 Sandy Row, Belfast

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Fletcher) English — married 11 May 1900 in St Anne's Church, Belfast

Died 1 Jul 1916 at age 37 in Beaucourt-Hamel, France

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patrick Brown [send private message]

Biography

Alexander (Sandy) English was born at 116 Sandy Row, Belfast, on 4 April 1879, son of Alexander English, a labourer, and Agnes Connor, who were not yet married. Agnes' address is 3 North King Street.^[1] In the 1880 Belfast Street Directory, 116 Sandy Row is the address of Mrs McMillan, nurse tender, and North King Street is noted only as "a number of small houses".^[2] He grew up in Carrickfergus.

On 11 May 1900 he married Sarah Fletcher at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast. He was 19 and a sailor, living at 21 Byron's Place. She was 18 and a weaver, living at 35 Argyle Street.^[3]

When their son Alexander was born at the Maternity Hospital in Belfast on 2 December 1907, he was working as a gardener and living at 2 Henry Lane.^[4] Henry Lane is listed as "two small houses" in the 1907 Belfast Street Directory.^[5]

When their son James was born on 17 May 1910, Sandy was working as a shoemaker and living at 30 Richmond Street.^[4] When James died of convulsions arising from dentition at 32 Malcolm Lane on 15 March 1911, age 9 months, he was said to be the child of a labourer.^[6]

When their daughter Agnes was born on 16 May 1913, Sandy was a shoemaker living in Ballygallagh, Ballylinney, Doagh, County Antrim.^[4]

Sandy signed up with the Royal Inniskilling Fusilers, and died on the Somme. He was buried at the Ancre British Cemetery at Beaucourt-Hamel, France, on 1 July 1916.^[7] He had made a will on 10 May 1916, splitting his property between his mother Agnes of 69 Skipton Street, Belfast, and his son Alexander of 19 Malvern Place, Belfast.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Civil birth record
2. ↑ 1880 Belfast Street Directory
3. ↑ Civil marriage record
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Civil birth records
5. ↑ 1907 Belfast Street Directory
6. ↑ Civil death records
7. ↑ Burial record, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
8. ↑ WW1 Irish Soldiers' wills