RALWAY POLICEMAN

[libtech50]

Hello,
I researching still my grandfather George Frederick Archer b. 1887 in Dorset.
However, his last known British address was in Kensington, Liverpool 6. My mother remember he was a railway policeman. So I am thinking he may have been working around either Edge Hill Station or Lime Street Station. How does one search for this information when a person has so little information?

[Waitabit]

Hi Libtech50, I could only find a George Robert Archer b. 1885 in Upton Dorset..

1891 Res. Dorchester,Holy Trinity, Dorset.

1901 George Archer c.1885;;Parents: John 42 + Alice 37..
sibs,:Alice 12..William 10...Reginald 4..+Ralph 2.

Is this the correct Family?


Image for Jan.1/4 had no George Fred, either but a Frederick George b. W.Ham + one in Birmingham.

Do you know his Wifes' name?. This all helps.

Also was he in the Boer War?

cheers Wendy

[Jan1954]

If George was in the British Transport Police, have a look at their history archives (http://www.btp.police.uk/History%20Society/) to start with.

[Geoffers]

See both the above replies

Have you found your chap in any census returns? Is this where you get the year and shire of birth? I see from other messages that you have posted that your chap was a Private in the Dorset Regiment and that you though he was born in Sussex. What has made you change your view as to where he was born? You also mentioned him living in the New Forest, which is in Hampshire. Have you sorted out whether your chap was George Frederick or Frederick George?

There seems to be a lot of confusion here. I suggest going back to the beginning.

1. Have you got your mum's birth certificate? This will show he parents' names and mum's maiden name.

2. If your dad was a Private in the Dorset Regiment, have you looked to see if his service record has survived?

3. Try the Railway police to see if there is confirmation of his date and place of birth.

4. Do you have his marriage certifcate? - If you do, what is his age, occupation, marital status, place of residence and his dad's name and occuaption?

5. Have you been able to locate him in the 1901 census? - If you have, where was he living, who is living with him, what was his age then and where was he shown as being born?

[Sue Mackay]

Perhaps a bit earlier than your chap, but bear in mind that railway policemen were originally more what we would call signalmen today.

From 'British Railway Signalling' by Kichenside and Williams:

"Some means of signalling was necessary to indicate to an engine driver whether he had to stop his train or could continue at speed. Each railway company employed policemen posted at stations, junctions, road level crossings and intermediately where necessary to control the running of trains. They signalled to drivers by hand signals. Almost from the start many railway companies organised their policemen on a similar basis to the then new Metropolitan police. Their duties included the general maintenance of law and order on railway premises, the inspection of the way and works, the removal of trespassers from the line and assistance in the working of the station, in addition to the operation of points and the signalling of trains... By the beginning of the 1840's the railway traffic policeman's duties were concentrated more on the working of signals and points for the control of trains and less on other matters... By the 1870's slotted post semaphore signals had become standard on most lines."

Edit: I see you are in the States. A railway signalman is I think what you call a tower operator, with elements of a switch operator.

[libtech50]

Thanks to all who reply.

My grandfather's name on my mum's birth certificate states George Archer. However, on my grandmother's death certificate( exwife) it is listed as Frederick G Archer.

When I talked to my older cousin, he remember his mother (grandad's daughter) that he was occasionally called Fred and that he was born in Dorsett. However, I cannot not locate any information in the census regarding him.

According to the marriage record (he was married in Ireland and settled in Liverpool 6). The age listed is 22 in 1914 year of marriage, however, the birth year listed is 1887. So not sure which one is correct. My grandmother was born in 1887 according to her death certificate.

My mother told me he was a Bobby, but on the death certiifcate of my grandmother death certificate he is listed as Railway Policeman.

[Sue Mackay]

My mother told me he was a Bobby, but on the death certiifcate of my grandmother death certificate he is listed as Railway Policeman.

My husband is a railway signalman and he is known as a bobby.