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John's pension records:

British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920

Name: John Power
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1886
Age at enlistment: 18
Birth Parish: Keighley
Birth County: Yorkshire
Document Year: 1904
Regimental Number: 7807
Regiment Name: West Yorkshire Regiment
Number of images: 7

He attested 29 April 1904, nok at that time mother Anne Jane Power. He was a millhand. Had various overseas postings but can't make them out.

He married Ellen Betts 22 March 1914 at Lichfield Register Office, witnesses Frank Woodham and Emily Betts.
One child listed - Gwendoline, born 9 January 1915 in Lichfield (possible there may have been others later but not added).

** He died 21 June 1946 in the Pulmonary Hospital, Lancaster. Cause pulmonary tuberculosis.

So, John was from West Yorks which explains why there would have been marriage banns there. When he was stationed in Staffs that must be how he met Ellen.

This must be John's family in 1891:

POWER, James Head Married M 26 1865 Railway Signalman Islington, Middlesex
POWER, Ann J Wife Married F 27 1864 Preston, Lancashire
POWER, John Son M 3 1888 Keighley, Yorkshire
POWER, James Son M 1 1890 Corley, Lincolnshire

Piece: 3738 Folio: 49 Page: 30
Registration District: Dewsbury
Civil Parish: Ossett with Gawthorpe
Municipal Borough: Ossett

Address: 47, Manor Road, Ossett With Gawthorpe, Ossett County: Yorkshire (West Riding)
_____________________________________________________________________

and 1901:

POWER, Ann Jane Head Widow F 35 1866 Worsted Twister Bradford, Yorkshire
POWER, Matilda Daughter Single F 15 1886 Worsted Spinner Bradford, Yorkshire
POWER, John Son Single M 13 1888 Worsted Jobber Lad Keighley, Yorkshire
POWER, James Son Single M 11 1890 Corby, Lincolnshire
POWER, Anie Daughter F 8 1893 Ossett, Yorkshire
POWER, Willie Son M 3 1898 Bradford, Yorkshire

Piece: 4071 Folio: 171 Page: 23
Registration District: Keighley
Civil Parish: Bingley

Address: 5, Mill Street, Bingley, Cullingworth County: Yorkshire (West riding)
____________________________________________________________________

and John in 1911:

1st Battalion The Prince Of Waler's Own West Yorkshire Regt,
CONNAUGHT BARRACKS, RAWALPINDI, PUNJAB, INDIA
Military details: Corporal 1st Br West York Regt

National Archive Reference: RG14PN34987 RD641 SD12 ED2 SN9999

County: Overseas military

POWER, John Single ? 24 1887 Keighley Yorks

I'm sure this is the banns for Ellen Betts & John Power's marriage - not sure why it's in Bradford?

West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
Name: John Power - a bachelor
Birth Year: abt 1888
Age: 26
Marriage or Bann Date: 4 Feb 1914
Parish: Bradford, St Peter
Father's Name: James Power - Railway Signalman
Spouse's Name: Ellen Betts, age 22 - spinster
Spouse's Father's Name: Thomas Betts - Groom and Coachman

John was an Army Sergeant in the 1st Battalion West Yorks regt. Stationed at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield.

Ellen lived 20 Margate Road (no town given)

Wonder if John was originally from Bradford?

Hello Lynne - this thread is showing as "answered" - are you happy that you have all of the information you need? If not, then I'd suggest you go to your first post at the top - you'll see a button that says something like "mark this as unanswered" - click on that if you want people to continue to help.

Hi Roy,
Yes I do have one of the birth certificates I looked at it this morning to check what I thought and it does not mention Power. Still I suppose this is only a minor detail as it appears the rest of the information all ties in with her being married twice.
Its interesting to note that one son is named John then the next child born also a son is called Arthur, these being the names of both her husbands - is this a coincidence as she didn't marry Arthur Salt until three years after this child was born or had she already met Arthur Salt? Its obviously something I will never find out for sure. Such mysteries make the research more interesting!
Lynne

Divorce was expensive in those days, not may got divorced they tended to either wait until their ex died or entered into a bigamous marriage

Strange that she would admit having a previous marriage when getting married for the second time and then not when registering a birth "assuming you have one of the birth certs" ?

The index would not show all previous names for a mother it would only show her name that she was known by at the time of the birth and her maiden name

All other names would only be listed on the actual birth certificate

If all the info was on the index we would not need certificates

Roy

That is what I thought but only the names of Salt and maiden name of Betts were shown - could this be because the certificate asks for the mothers maiden name or maybe she did it by choice if she was divorced?
I'll get on to that site now Roy and thanks
Lynne

Birth certificates from that time should list all previous names for the mother

for info on all bmd certs see

http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/indexbd.htm

Roy

Thanks. When did Arthur die do you know and do you know if John Power was killed in ww1.
I know that when Barbara was born Ellens' maiden name was down as Betts no mention of Power

??

Deaths Dec 1931 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SALT Ellen 39 Stafford 6b 19

Why do grandchildren have bad dreams and need settling when there is important questions to be answered ... sorry for not replying sooner everyone just blame the kids!
I believe Ellen died about 1931, I know Barbara was very young but I don't really know much about the family at all which is why I'm looking them up and why I have asked for ANY information.
I found something relating to a John Power and Ellen Betts but got a bit lost with the children and wasn't sure then if I'd got the correct line.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Dec 1897 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Betts Ellen Stafford 6b 4

A possible birth for Ellen but you really need a marriage certificate for her age and parents.

Births Mar 1915

Power Gwendoline Betts Lichfield 6b 904

Births Jun 1919

Power John Betts Tamworth 6b 606a

Births Jun 1923

Power Arthur Betts Stafford 6b 5

Births Dec 1924

Power Marjorie J Betts Stafford 6b 20


Roy

Great minds think alike


So it is back to that marriage cert for their ages and names of fathers etc

Possible first marriage for Ellen:

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages Mar 1914 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>BETTS Ellen Power Lichfield 6b 651
Hollings Joseph Simmons Lichfield 6b 651
>>>Power John Betts Lichfield 6b 651
Simmons Ada Hollings Lichfield 6b 651

??

Marriages Mar 1914 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BETTS Ellen Power Lichfield 6b 651
Hollings Joseph Simmons Lichfield 6b 651
Power John Betts Lichfield 6b 651
Simmons Ada Hollings Lichfield 6b 651

Marriages Mar 1914

BETTS Ellen Power Lichfield 6b 651
Hollings Joseph Simmons Lichfield 6b 651
Power John Betts Lichfield 6b 651
Simmons Ada Hollings Lichfield 6b 651


Roy

Do you know when Arthur and Ellen died ?

Buy the marriage cert it looks like Ellen may have had a previous marriage

Marriages Mar 1926

Salt Arthur Power Stafford 6b 23
Salt Arthur Betts Stafford 6b 23

image says Arthur married power or betts which suggest a prevoius marriage

Roy