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R S B Martin, a 'Law & accident Student' ??

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Marcus

Marcus Report 24 Feb 2026 12:31

Looking at an old postcard posted August 1916 to -

Mr R S B Martin,
(law & accident Student),
4, Kendal Street,
Caldewgate,
Carlisle

Struggling to find him in 1911 or 1921 census.

I did manage to find a possible birth of Robert Sydney B Martin in the Gloucester area of Dec 1874. But not sure if this is the correct one...

The sender, who remains anonymous and put their address as 25, Castle Hill, Aspatria, sends regards to Agnes and the children. So I guess that's his wife and family...

Am not related to this person, but curious about the law and accident student part.

Can anyone help with this??

Thanks

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 24 Feb 2026 13:10

He's NOT the child born in 1874:

Birth:
MARTIN, ROBERT SYDNEY BRUCE mmn PARKER
GRO Reference: 1874 D Quarter in GLOUCESTER Volume 06A Page 305

Death:
MARTIN, ROBERT SYDNEY BRUCE 0
GRO Reference: 1875 M Quarter in GLOUCESTER Volume 06A Page 251

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 24 Feb 2026 13:12

Have you thought of looking for a marriage?

Seems unlikely for a 42-year-old to be a student.........in those days

If you aren't related, how do you come to have the postcard?

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 24 Feb 2026 14:02

Apart from sending regards to Agnes and children, does the sender say anything else?

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 24 Feb 2026 14:07

I wonder if "Law and accident student" is a private joke about something Mr Martin has done or experienced ??

Looking at Streetview, 4 Kendal Street seems to be just an ordinary terraced house - hardly somewhere where there would be any need to specify Mr Martin's occupation, or distinguish him from some other R Martin at that address.

Gwyn in Kent

Gwyn in Kent Report 24 Feb 2026 14:39

1911, There is this Agnes married to a Robert.

In 1921, he is said to work at Caldergate.

Name Agnes Martin
Age in 1911 35
Estimated Birth Year abt 1876
[abt 1876]
Relation to Head Wife
Gender Female
Birth Place Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Civil parish Carlisle
County/Island Cumberland
Country England
Street Address 40 Crummack St Carlisle
Marital Status Married
Registration District Number 574
Sub-registration district St Mary
ED, institution, or vessel 09
Piece 31330
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Robert Martin
35
Head
Agnes Martin 35 Wife
Olive Martin
4
Daughter
Eva Martin
2
Daughter

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 24 Feb 2026 14:57

MARTIN, EVA REBECCA METCALFE
GRO Reference: 1909 M Quarter in CARLISLE Volume 10B Page 582

Marriages Sep 1901 (>99%)
MARTIN Robert Carlisle 10b 902
METCALFE Agnes Carlisle 10b 902


Probably a futile quest, TBH

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 24 Feb 2026 14:58

Yes, I've looked at that Robert in 1911, 1921, and other censuses.
He worked for Carr's Biscuits.

In 1921 he and his family are at 72 Greystone Road, Carlisle.

There's never any suggestion of middle initials for him, in any census, or at birth.

Perhaps the middle initials are part of the private joke!


If anyone has access to Fold3;

Robert Martin
in the UK, Royal Air Force Airmen Records, 1918-1940
Name Robert Martin
Gender Male
Age 43
Birth Date 5 Nov 1875
Birth Place Carlisle, Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Service Date 26 Jun 1918
Service Number 261734
Spouse A Martin
Next of Kin A Martin
Relation to Airman Wife

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 24 Feb 2026 15:19

His record is on FMP

First name(s) Robert
Child's birth date 04 Jun 1906
Last name Martin
Child 2 first name(s) Eva Rebecca
Birth year 1875
Child 2 birth date 03 Feb 1909
Birth date 05 Nov 1875
Next of kin first name(s) A,Olive May,Eva Rebecca
Birth town Carlisle
Next of kin last name Martin
Birth county Cumberland
Country England
Occupation Biscuits baker
Archive The National Archives
Service number 261734
Series title Air Ministry: Air Member For Personnel And Predecessors: Airmen's Records
Attestation age 43
Series AIR 79
Attestation year 1918
Archive reference AIR 79/2305
Attestation date 26 Jun 1918
Record set British Royal Air Force, Airmen's Service Records 1912-1939
Marriage year 1901
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Marriage date 03 Aug 1901
Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
Spouse's first name(s) A
Collections from Great Britain, England
Child's first name(s) Olive May


Joined up 1918 - transferred to reserve 1919 - discharged 1920

Served at Hornsea and Heaton Park (my late husband was stationed at Heaton Park in 1944)

Marcus

Marcus Report 24 Feb 2026 15:53

ErikaH, the postcard is of Aspatria church, where some of my ancestors lived in.
I'm slowly getting a few postcards of places for other branches of the tree...

ArgyllGran, it starts with 'Dear Bert' with general greetings etc, ending by asking about Agnes and the children.

No children's names given, or even signed by the sender which I thought was a bit odd...

Oh, it is addressed to Mr R S B Martin. So , because it starts with 'Dear Bert' , I assume the person who it is sent to is Robert??

Just very curious about the 'student' part...!!

Marcus

Marcus Report 24 Feb 2026 16:14

Gwyn in Kent, ErikaH & Argyll Gran, I've just seen your later posts regarding family !

This looks promising, so thanks for sharing this with me!

Like you said, it's probably an 'in joke ' between these 2 people...

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 24 Feb 2026 16:17

Just for INFO

1911 Census For England & Wales
4 Kendal Street Carlisle, Carlisle, Cumberland, England
John Kendal Head Widower Male 63 1848 Wholesale warehouseman Carlisle Cumberland
Mary Jane Kendal Daughter Single Female 28 1883 - Carlisle Cumberland

1921 Census Of England & Wales
4, Kendal Street, Carlisle, Cumberland, England
John McGough Head Male 1879 42 Carlisle, Cumberland, England Stone Mason Carlisle Corporation
Margaret McGough Daughter Female 1881 40 Carlisle, Cumberland, England Home Duties -
Evelyn McGough Daughter Female 1906 15 Carlisle, Cumberland, England Tapestry Weaver W Paton & Son, Shadson Works
Charles McGough Son Male 1912 8 Carlisle, Cumberland, England - -
May McGough Daughter Female 1916 5 Carlisle, Cumberland, England - -
Joseph McGough Son Male 1918 3 Carlisle, Cumberland, England - -
Eleanor McShimmings Sister-in-law Female 1883 38 Carlisle, Cumberland, England Cardboard Box Maker Carr & Co, Biscuit & Chocolate Works


Sorry, but not sure how you hope ever to get a definitive answer.

What do you hope to achieve?

Marcus

Marcus Report 24 Feb 2026 18:34

Maybe Mr Martin lived only a short time at this address as the census in 1911 & 1921 there are different occupiers/families, or could be just there as a lodger...

What do I hope to achieve? To find out what I can about the person on the postcard.
If the information is limited, then that's fine with me, and to find out about the 'student' aspect and what that mean if anything.

The thrill of the chase and all that!

Thanks for helping me discover with what you have done so far....