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nudge

Thanks for that, but I have 'chased' John Wrights in Derbyshire through to the 1911 census where they have been married with children. My John did not marry until 1914 when he was stated to be a bachelor and I have no reason to believe he was not.

I really think the only way I can be certain of discovering the correct John is to locate his Army records, if they have not been destroyed. His medals are apparently with a great great grandson who is not now in contact with his family, and although we have tried to find him, we have had no response to various requests made.

If there is anyone out there who knows a Michael (born Wright) but now using a different surname, aged mid to late 20s, probably went to school in Keighley and could still be living there, and was, but not now, in the 2nd Para Regiment, perhaps they could let me know.

Its a bit of a long shot, but someone somewhere might know him.

Have you tried this for his birth reg - Belper is the reg district for Heage where he appears in 1881 & 1891:

Births Dec 1876 (>99%)
Wright John Shardlow 7b 468
Wright John Belper 7b 569

nudge

Thanks for that Grumpy, but my grandfather John Wright was a coal miner hewer and did not enlist with KOYLI until December 1914, just after his marriage to Mary Elizabeth Chilton.

He went to the front in April 1915, was wounded in the left arm and shoulder at the battle of Hill 60 and was discharged on physical grounds on 24th February 1916. In August 1916 he was taken into hospital where he underwent an emergency operation for a presumed stomach ulcer (not found). He died the next day from a ruptured blood vessel in his left lung (it is thought this could have been as a result of gassing), but not proved.

He had a military funeral, but I have contacted KOYLI HQ and they have no records, although it was reported in the local newspaper.

This information was obtained through the Yorkshire Indexers site researchers BUT it didn't lead to me finding him on any census return from his supposed date of birth in 1878 until the 1911 census!

with ref to 1901 i would guess he was maybe still a soldier this site for the koyli shows them to be away
http://www.lightinfantry.org.uk/regiments/koyli/kingyork_KOYtl.htm
so the following would maybe apply?

Members of the British Army stationed abroad were never fully enumerated, instead the military authorities provided the Census Office with information as to the numbers of officers, other ranks, wives and children, either by place or by regiment.

Thanks Gillian, that's one I have not come across. Will have a closer look and see if I can find John on an earlier census record.

When I started my searching little did I realise how difficult it would be to find my grandfather. My maternal grandparents were a lot easier!

This is as near as I can get to it...

1901 Census:
Brinsley, Nottinghamshire
William Wright 1830 Derbyshire, Head, Colliery Under Manager
Mary Wright 1841 Madeley, Shropshire, Wife
Rebecca Foxholmes 1887 Brinsley, Nottinghamshire, Servant
Civil Parish: Brinsley
Ecclesiastical parish: Brinsley Holy Trinity
County/Island: Nottinghamshire
Registration district: Basford
Sub registration district: Greasley
Source: RG13; Piece: 3143; Folio: 50; Page: 40

Gillian

hi wilma, what was his occupation at marriage?
edit.
sorry just read the other post ref 'hewer'

Am still looking if anybody else has any thoughts please. Sent for his first son John's birth certificate (1915) in the hope his Army number would be on it - it wasn't. My grandfather died in 1916 before his second son (my dad) was born.

The brick wall seems to be getting higher.

Thank you Grumpy and Richard. I have looked at the returns that you put forward and researched later records of the particular John Wrights but sadly in all cases he was married and or was not a miner. So they are not my grandfather unless he told porkies on his marriage lines. The brick wall is still very much intact.

Thanks Potty. I have already used some credits on that census and unfortunately the John Wright was married and my grandfather was a bachelor when he married in 1914.
Wilma

There is only one John Wright living in Pontefract on the 1911 census, but you would need to buy credits to view it.

From this site: http://www.1914-1918.net/koyli.htm
several battalions of the KOYLI were in Pontefract in 1914, that's why I wondered if he had joined before that.

He was not in the Army when he married, he was a Coal Miner (hewer)
I will look at the census returns as put forward.

Wilma

Was he in the army when he married?

1881?

Name: John Wright
Age: 4
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Wm.
Mother's Name: Harriet
Gender: Male
Where born: Heage, Derbyshire, England

Civil Parish: Heage
County/Island: Derbyshire
Country: England

Street address: Ripley Road
Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Belper
Sub registration district: Ripley
ED, institution, or vessel: 13
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Wm. Wright 48 coal miner
Harriet Wright 46
Thomas Wright 19
Joseph Wright 16
Ann Wright 15
George Wright 13
Mary Wright 12
Harriet Wright 9
John Wright 4

Thanks Liz
I have looked at FreeBMD but the problem is there are so many John Wrights I just don't know where to start
Wilma

there are many john wrights on freebmd you will have to narrow it down somehow any siblings?

i have found this who knows
Household Record 1881 British Census

Search results | Download Previous Household Next Household


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Household:

Name Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation
William WRIGHT M Male 39 Hambleton, York, England Ag Lab
Alice WRIGHT M Female 30 Whaplode, Lincoln, England
Sarah L. WRIGHT U Female 4 Rawcliffe, York, England
John E. WRIGHT U Male 3 Rawcliffe, York, England
Josiah WRIGHT U Male 1 Rawcliffe, York, England


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Source Information:
Dwelling Cottage In Lane
Census Place Rawcliffe In York, York, England
Family History Library Film 1342140
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 4715 / 34
Page Number 21
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Household Record 1881 British Census

Search results | Download Previous Household Next Household


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Household:

Name Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation
William WRIGHT M Male 36 Estwinch, Norfolk, England Iron Miner
Mary A. WRIGHT M Female 23 Helbeach Marsh, Lincoln, England
Jane WRIGHT Female 12 Marchlenfin, Norfolk, England Scholar
John W. WRIGHT Male 3 Barnaby Moor Guisbro, York, England
Mary A. WRIGHT Female 1 Barnaby Moor Guisbro, York, England


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Source Information:
Dwelling Barnaby Moor Cottages
Census Place Guisbrough, York, England
Family History Library Film 1342167
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 4844 / 158
Page Number 7

Have you tried a search on free bmd
Liz

Looking for his birth record and registration.
Known details below.
Married Mary Elizabeth Chilton 5/9/1914 at Pontefract Registry Office – age given as 36 years (born c1878)
Father given as William Wright, deceased, Colliery Underground Manager.
He enlisted with Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry KOYLI – no trace found in WW1 records.
Died on 16/8/1916 (aged 38 years) in Clayton Hospital, Wakefield – Occupation was Coal Washer Motorman and a discharged private from 3rd KOYLI.
Lived in Featherstone at time of marriage and death.

Cannot find on census returns for 1881, 1891 or 1901 with a father William.

The family believed him to be a Yorkshireman but I have found nothing to confirm this.