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Hi there I trying to find more information about a relative. I have his death certificate Aug 1953, and his marriage certificate, 14th July 1908, but i cannot find his birth certificate. His marriage certificate states his dad is John Robert Wilson (deceased) but i have no details of either his mum or dad. We have many rumors flying around the family, including that he ran away to sea and changed his name. He was in the 1st world war, in the East Yorkshire regiment, but was discharged when he was hit by mustard gas. He was admitted to hospital, and whilst in there a german soldier was admitted. No one could understand him - but Jack could speak fluent German. No one knows how he knew it.

Also in some records he goes under Jack Robert (Marriage Certificate) and other he goes under John Robert (Death, war)

Can anyone help me to trace him and his family? I do know he married Alice Elizabeth Lathwood if that is any help.

Many thanks

do you know where he was born? I'm guessing his year of birth is about 1881

Have you looked for his war pension on ancestry?

I dont think that the name Jack/John has any significance really, its interchangeable and he has just used what he wants at the time.

Who was in the hospital at the same time as him and saw him speaking German? Another of your relatives?

When is he supposed to have run away and changed his name? After he married?

Marriages Sep 1908 (>99%)
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HEGGETT Mary Ann Hull 9d 432
HUGGINS Robert Hull 9d 432
LATHWOOD Alice Elizabeth Hull 9d 432
WILSON Jack Robert Hull 9d 432

Caroline has already bought the marriage cert apparently.

Births Mar 1878 (>99%)
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Wilson John Robert Hull 9d 289

this ones too old

yes i know this is for ref



How old was he when he died

If this is him work on the age he died and then look for him on the 1881 census

I do not have where he was born, but he was 26 on his marriage certificate, which is the one Nerine has found. I have looked for his war pension but cannot find it on the records, but i do have a copy of his war medals record. He had supposedly changed his name before he was married, but he supposedly only told 1 person his story, who then never told a soul. I cannot quote how true this is bu it was said he was the one who translated for the german soldier in the hospital.

Another story is that he was an apprentice jockey who rode in the colours black and gold, and he had a brother who was a solicitor in Hul under the name Claus or Kraus but still these are just stories at the moment.

That age for his marriage gives him 1882 he might be on the 1891 census age about 8/9 years


what does it say for his age on death record ?

Births Mar 1882 (>99%)
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Wilson John Hull 9d 237

a maybe