William John Partridge - East Yorks (Hull)

[FredP]

The Wiliam John Partridge who appears in the 1901 census (Sculcoates RG13/4508) Widower aged 56, b Blackfriars, Storeman, S M Mining at 28 Paull Street, Paull, and in the 1911 census (RG14/28719) as Army Pensioner, formerly Sapper, Royal Engineers at 57 Beverlley Road, Hull, married to Elizabeth 60, b Docking, Norfolk, is almost certainly my grandfather who was dischaged on pension at the begining of 1886, stating he was going to contunue residing in Southampton, but who left sometime in the next three years, supposedly for Australia, leaving his wife and family behind, and nothing is known of any further contact between them.

The marriage to Elizabeth Giles, widowed boarding house keeper of 97 West Parade, Hull took place in Junqtr 1901 (Hull 9 d 479). His first wife had died in 1892. He died in Sepqtr 1912 and Elizabeth in Marqtr 1922.

I should be glad to know if anyone has any further information about either, or can suggest what other Hull records might be on line, as it is an area with which no other family member has ever had any connection. In particular I am eager to know when he first appeared in the Hull area.

I am currently checking to see if the S M Mining Company was operating in Australia in the 1890s. Otherwise, apart from his absence from the 1891 census, there is no proof that he ever went there.

Thanks for any help in finally resolving this search which has been going on for about 120 years. FredP.

[Peter Goodey]

I am currently checking to see if the S M Mining Company was operating in Australia in the 1890s.

Not with you there. If you're referring to the 1901 census (the full reference of which is The National Archives; RG13/4508 f 6 p 4), I beg to differ on your interpretation of his occupation.

It appears to read "Storeman S. M. Mining" I would strongly suspect that this refers not to a commercial company but to the Royal Engineers Sub-Marine Mining Station which was located in Paull. These was connected with the sort of mine that went bang and sank a ship!

If he had a retirement job with his old regiment, that may open up new research paths.

I would forget about Australia unless you have some firm evidence, not hearsay.

It would be worth checking whether there are any records of army pension payments for this period and of civilian staff in RE.

It sounds as if you haven't got the 1901 marriage certificate. Surely you'll be getting that.

[FredP]

Thank you, Peter, for the information about the RE connection with Paull, a place I had never heard of until I received the 1901 census information from a Society of Genealogists researcher a few weeks ago.
At first I was doubtful whether it could be my g-father, but the 1911 census showed that it almost certainly was, and this is now confirmed by the Marriage Cert. which merely gives him as 'storekeeper', but has his father's correct name and occupation.
I found that there is an S M Mining Company in Western Australia dealing in excavating equipment, and have passed this query on to a relation living out there who was himself in the Mining industry.
Other family members, now all dead, were equally convinced about the Australian exile, and my father always spoke of him as if he were still alive in the 1920s. He seemed to have a high regard for his father (from what I have found about him over the years, I wonder why) and would have been deeply upset to learn that he must have sneaked back into this country and never got in touch.
I have never been able to get any information about post 1883 army pensions from the National Achives, the Army or the RE Archives,
FredP.

[Peter Goodey]

I would put money on "S M Mining" at that time in that place being unambiguous in referring to Sub-Marine Mining and not to mineral extraction.

I have never been able to get any information about post 1883 army pensions from the National Achives, the Army or the RE Archives,

I'm afraid that's probably right. I've managed to find some useful data for earlier periods but not post-1883.

[FredP]

I wonder if anyone who has access to pre-1901 electoral rolls for Rast Yorkshire can tell me the earliest date at which my grandfather William John Partridge is shown as living at 28 Paull Street, Paull or any other address in Hull or the surrounding area?

Many thanks for any information, FredP.