Find Ancestors

Please can someone help?
Confirmed details;
Alice Mary Meredith- born 1855 Hambledon, Hampshire:died 1946.
Joseph Clapson- born 2/01/1883 in Kent. Died 1916 on HMS Invincible at battle of Jutland.
Married at St. Marys Church 29/05/1890 Island of Ascension.
Children: Joseph Cyril b.1892 Island of Ascension
Cecil- born, died and buried in 1893 on Island of Ascension.
Alice Marie - born Fratton Portsmouth 1894
Twins Jessie Christina and William Donald [ my maternal Grandfather] born 14/01/97 born in Queensferry Scotland.

Through this site I managed to confirm these details but I am still trying to find out more about the life of my maternal great grandmother Alice Marie Meredith
[supposedly with links to the Meredith and Drew biscuit company] and how/why my Great Granny ended up on the Island of Ascension and whether she met Joseph Clapson there or travelled there with him.
It has been rumoured that she went into service for a Lord & Lady de Wald/ron [supposedly highly connected with the Island]; but again I can find no evidence.
Thanks to this site I managed to find a half uncle [ who I didn't know existed] who has been to the Island within the last year and featured in a newspaper article having taken over and donated some old photos to the historical society there; but was unable to get the missing years details filled in.
Is there any way of finding out how /why Alice and Joseph were so far from home? I can find nothing in any passenger lists either going out or coming back.
I am desperate to complete the details of their early lives and any help on this would be gratefully received.
Thank you,

?

1871 England Census about Alice M Meredith
Name: Alice M Meredith
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: Hambledon, Hampshire, England
Civil parish: Portsea
Ecclesiastical parish: St Bartholomew
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Registration district: Portsea Island
Sub-registration district: Landport
ED, institution, or vessel: 48
Household schedule number: 115
Piece: 1147
Folio: 16
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
Lizzie Deans 28 - Wife of Chief Engineer
Lizzie T Deans 2
Alice M Meredith 16

?
1861 England Census about Alice Meredith
Name: Alice Meredith
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Thomas Meredith
Mother's Name: Louisa Meredith
Gender: Female
Where born: Hambledon, Hampshire, England
Civil parish: Hambledon
Ecclesiastical parish: Winchester
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation: (of father) Baker

Registration district: Droxford
Sub-registration district: Hambledon
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 147
Piece: 698
Folio: 16
Page Number: 25
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Meredith 42
Louisa Meredith 37
Hardham Meredith 18
Louisa Meredith 13
Phillip Meredith 11
Fanny Meredith 8
Alice Meredith 6
Eva Meredith 4
Rose Meredith 2

Trudi,
If Alice married Joseph in 1890, then he can't have been born in 1883, he would only have been 9yrs old??

The copy of marriage image on FMP says date of marriage was 12 August 1890

not that that answers any questions but differs to what you have posted.

Jan

GroomCLAPSON, Joseph

Bride:MEREDITH, Alice Mary

Date of marriage:12 August 1890

Parish:St Marys Church

Town:Island Of Ascension

County:

Series:ADM184 - Royal Marines, Plymouth Division: Order, Discharge and Letter Books, Registers and Returns

Box:0044

Folio:21

What does the marriage cert say about their respective occupations?

1881 she is housemaid -

1881 England Census
about Alice Meredith
Name: Alice Meredith
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: Hambleton, Hampshire, England
[Hambledon, Hampshire, England]

Civil parish: St George
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street Address: 38 Brook Street
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Housemaid

Registration district: Chelsea
Sub-registration district: Hanover Square
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 91
Folio: 58
Page Number: 21
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Higgins 34 Surgen
Fred Durham 36
Tom Bird 37
Julia Doller 26
Alice Meredith 25
George Goodfellow 22

The image doesn't give details but think I read Corporal (as it somes from Marines records presumably he was a marine? are those records on National Archives?

It does say "duty completed 1 June 1894" (so would that give a clue as to why the remaing children born in UK?)

Jan

These 2 records are on National Archives

Name Clapson, Joseph. Official Number: 350021. Place of Birth: Bearsted, Kent. Date of Birth: 02 .Jan 1883..

Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services. General series to 1907. Name Clapson, Joseph. Official Number: 350021. Place of Birth: Bearsted, Kent. Date of Birth: 02 January 1883.

Collection: Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies
Date range: 01 January 1894 - 31 December 1894
Reference:ADM 188/529/350021
Subjects:Armed Forces (General), Navy
Browse by hierarchy | Browse by reference

Name Clapson, Joseph. Place of Birth: Cranbrook, Kent. Continuous Service Number: 32028. Date of Volunteering: ...

Admiralty: Royal Navy Continuous Service Engagement Books. C.S. NUMBERS. Name Clapson, Joseph. Place of Birth: Cranbrook, Kent. Continuous Service Number: 32028. Date of Volunteering: 17 October 1856. Date of Birth: 30 August 1840.

Collection: Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies
Date range: 01 January 1853 - 31 December 1872
Reference:ADM 139/321/32028
Subjects:Armed Forces (General), Navy, Labour

The first of the records that Janet posted ties up (except for DOB) with this Joseph who is also on the 1901 as Ship's Corporal, Royal Navy Man:

1911 England Census
about Joseph Clapson
Name: Joseph Clapson
Age in 1911: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Bearstead, Kent
Civil parish: Chichester
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Street Address: 20 Lyndhurst Rd Chichester Sussex
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Carter Wine & spirit Merchant
Registration district: Chichester
Registration District Number: 86
Sub-registration district: Chichester
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Household schedule number: 360
Piece: 5412
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Clapson 49
Alice May Clapson 50
Joseph Cyril Clapson 19
Alice Marie Clapson 16
Jessie Christina Clapson 14

The Joseph Clapson who died in 1916 is this one

Name:CLAPSON, Joseph

Date of death:31 May 1916

Age:

Place of death:

Date of birth:2 January 1863

Place of birth:Beanstead, Kent

Port received from:

Belonging to service:RN

Royal Naval Reserve district:

Ship's name:

Series:ADM242 - Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War

Box:0007


UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 about Joseph Clapson
Name: Joseph Clapson
Rank: Sh Corpl 1st (Pensr)
Birth Date: 2 Jan 1863
Birth Place: Bearsted, Kent, England
Branch of Service: Royal Navy
Cause of Death: Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action
Official Number Port Division: 350021 (Po)
Death Date: 31 May 1916
Ship or Unit: HMS Invincible
Location of Grave: Not recorded
Name and Address of Cemetery: Body Not Recovered For Burial
Relatives Notified and Address: Wife: Alice, Bank Chambers London Road, Redhill Surrey

1863/1883 typo ?

worth spending £3.50 on to find out?

The navy number of the one who died in 1916 is 350021, which says DOB 2 1 1863

this number is the same as on the National Archives site with the DOB 1883
I would buy that service record if I were you , you can download from the site

Jan

Naval Casualties 1914-1919 - soldier details
Name: Joseph CLAPSON
Rating: Sh. Corp. 1st (Pensr)
Birth date/place: 2.1.63. Beanstead, Kent.
Section scan: 7/0752
Service branch: R.N.
Ship unit: HMS INVINCIBLE
Official number: 350021 (Po)
Cause of death: Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action.
Date of death: 31/05/1916
Location of grave: Not recorded
Cemetery: Body not recovered for burial
Relatives notified: Wife:- Alice, Bank Chambers London Road, Redhill Surrey.

Chris :)

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1308702

(related above)

From CWGC site

CLAPSON, JOSEPH
Rank:Ship's Corporal
1st ClassTrade:Pensioner***************

Service
No:350021

Date of Death:31/05/1916Regiment/Service:Royal Navy H.M.S. "Invincible." Panel Reference21.MemorialPORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:


George

Going backwards, Joseph in 1871- father is a Policeman, b Robertsbridge, Sussex; mother b Market Drayton, Shropshire:

1871 England Census
about Joseph Clapson
Name: Joseph Clapson
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1863
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Joseph Clapson
Mother's Name: Mary Clapson
Gender: Male
Where born: Bearsted, Kent, England
Civil parish: Cheriton
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Registration district: Elham
Sub-registration district: Folkestone
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Household schedule number: 186
Piece: 1016
Folio: 68
Page Number: 32
Household Members: Name Age
Joseph Clapson 34
Mary Clapson 30
Joseph Clapson 8
William Clapson 7
Henry Clapson 5
George Clapson 3
Emily Clapson 7 Months

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 about Joseph Clapson
Name: Joseph Clapson
Probate Date: 13 Jul 1916
Death Date: 31 May 1916
Death Place: Surrey, England
Registry: London, England

.............of Bank Chambers Redhill Surrey petty officer R.N. died 31 May 1916 in the North Sea killed in action Probate 13 July to Alice Mary Clapson widow.
Effects: £190

1901 England Census about Joseph Clapson
Name: Joseph Clapson
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Alice M Clapson
Gender: Male
Where born: Bearstead, Kent, England
Civil parish: Portsmouth
Ecclesiastical parish: St Bartholomew
Town: Portsmouth
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation: Ships Corporal R.N.

Registration district: Portsmouth
Sub-registration district: Kingston and East Southsea
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 102
Piece: 988
Folio: 29
Page Number: 16
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Clapson 39
Alice M Clapson 44
Joseph C Clapson 9 born: Island of Ascension
Alice M Clapson 6 born: Fratton, Portsmouth
Jessie C Clapson 4 born: Queensferry, Scotland
William D Clapson 4 born: Queensferry, Scotland

Trudi, most of this info has already been posted on the thread that Chris has posted the link to. It really would have been better is you had posted again to that thread.

Thanks all; yes it was a typing error re date of Joseph's birth- should have been 1863; a problem with so many Josephs' in the family. Although Alice was in service- why /how she ended up on the Island of Ascension appears to remain a mystery!
Sorry, hadn't realised I should have added this enquiry to an old thread as it was posted last year.

Wow- I think I may have missed a trick here! Help Please. Joseph Clapson b.02/01/1863- d. 1916
As both service records have the same birth date -could it be that the Joseph Clapson who appears in the archives as in the Royal Marines light infantry Plymouth, who enlisted in 1882: is one and the same person as my great grandfather Joseph Clapson who went down on HMS Invincible in 1916?? This might explain why my great grandfather does not appear in any census for 1881 or 1891. Therefore, could it be that as a Marine he was sent to Ascension ; then came back to the UK where he is listed in 1901 census at Jubilee Rd, Southsea [ which I know was the address] and then later joined the Navy? I have been going round in circles for so long with trying to find out what Joseph was doing on Ascension- does anyone know if having two different military records is feasible please and how I could find out if these relate to one and the same person? Thank you for any further comments which may help me to solve some of the mystery.