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Hi there - does anyone have any info at all on my grandfather Samuel Wright Evans?
(Sammy). DOB 1862 in Bolton to mother Sara (Sarah) and died in Irlam, Manchester circa 1951. He married Emily Blease Forster in Northwich in 1911.
He served in the Green Howard's but a huge chunk of his history is missing. Family legend has it that he was mentioned in Despatches for an incident involving Lord Bayden Powell in South Africa, but there is nobody left in the family who can verify anything. Would be most grateful for any info. There may be relatives from his sisters side who might see this.
Thank you.
Ann (nee Fletcher)

Hello Ann, have you used the Search Trees facility on the menu to see if anyone else is researching him?

What research have you already done (so we don't repeat it) and have you bought copies of relevant certificates (birth, marriage & death)?

His baptism?

Baptism: 16 Feb 1862 St Thomas, Pendleton, Lancashire, England
Samuel Evans - [Child] of Sarah Evans
Abode: Pendleton
Baptised by: H. P. Marriott, Curate
Register: Baptisms 1856 - 1862, Page 146, Entry 1168
Source: Manchester Central Library

(from Lancs OPC http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/)

You could order a copy of his birth certificate for exact date of birth:

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
Name: Samuel Wright Evans
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1862
Registration District: Oldham
Inferred County: Lancashire
Volume: 8d
Page: 503

If he didn't marry Emily until 1911 then he would have been getting on for 50 and possibly married before. I'd recommend (if you haven't already got it) buying that marriage certificate to see what it gives as his marital status.

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915

Name: Samuel W Evans
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1911
Registration District: Northwich
Inferred County: Cheshire
Volume Number: 8a
Page Number: 535

Records on Page:
Name
Samuel W Evans
Emily B Forster

You also need his occupation to check back through census with any certainty.

There was a Jane Evans (mother Sarah) baptised on the same day and in the same church:


Manchester, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915

Name:Jane Evans
Baptism Date:16 Feb 1862
Parish:Eccles
Parish as it Appears:Eccles Church Of St Thomass Pendleton
Father's Name:Evans does not appear on image
Mother's Name:Sarah Evans
Reference Number:L49/1/5/6
Item Number:1

Archive Roll:
527

Baptism: 16 Feb 1862 St Thomas, Pendleton, Lancs.
Jane Alice Evans - [Child] of Sarah Evans
Abode: Pendleton
Baptised by: H. P. Marriott, Curate
Register: Baptisms 1856 - 1862, Page 146, Entry 1169
Source: Manchester Central Library

The opc version, full name may help in locating them on census records/

Google Boer War for possible info about his alleged time in South Africa

As he was illegitimate, the paternal side of the line will be a closed book to you - although the second forename may have been given to the child as a 'clue'

Death

Name: EVANS, Samuel W
Registration district: Barton
County: Lancashire
Year of registration: 1951
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at death:89
Volume no: 10B
Page no: 262

Evans is too common a name to trace, but there is nothing obvious on the census records for Samuel, his sister or mother. I wonder if Sarah married and they are hiding on the census under her married name - that happened with my grandmother, she was recorded on census records under her step-father's name.

Thank you so much for your responses. I have not bought copies as I was waiting for the results of a search of family papers. I will do so now as I have heard nothing.
Happy New Year,