I have been researching the Wessons in this area.
I suspect that John Wesson born in 1888 in Snitterfield, is my grandfather. It's a tough search since my grandfather changed his name to John Watson when he deserted from the army (likely in the early 1900's) and emigrated to Canada. For reasons unclear, he returned to England and signed up for WWI under the name of Watson. I know this: he had a brother, Walter, his father's name was Walter and there may be a connection to South Africa. All my research has been done online, so there are limits. I have used the National Archives and Ancestry.com, have searched census, military birth, death and marriage records.
I know that Wesson is correct but "John" may be a fignebt of my grandfather's imagination (but I don't think so).
I think what would help is any information of any of the Wesson sibs. Here is the most complete list, but I think Sarah's BD should read 25 (I found the marriage cert.):
Census 1891
Household Members: Name Age
James Wesson 70
Walter W Wesson 26
Sarah Wesson 78
James H D Wesson 18
James T R Wesson 13
Walter Wesson 7
Bertram Wesson 5
Leonard Wesson 3
John Wesson 2
Robert Wesson 1
Results 1 to 10 of 11
Thread: Wesson in Snitterfield
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02-03-2009, 9:16 PM #1jabwokGuest
Wesson in Snitterfield
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02-03-2009, 9:59 PM #2GeoffersGuest
Welcome to the B-G forums
Originally Posted by jabwok
Army records are held by The National Archives at Kew. Those in WO97, and WO96 (Militia) are to be made available online by 2011 and that may be the cheapest option for confirming the details of his service and desertion.
What surname did your chap use in Canada?
I know this: he had a brother, Walter, his father's name was Walter
I know that Wesson is correct but "John" may be a figment of my grandfather's imagination (but I don't think so).
The 1891 census to which you refer is
RG12/2479 f10 p17
Wootton Wawen
It records in the household
James WESSON, hd, widowed, 70
Walter W Wesson, son, mar, 26
Sarah Wesson, daur-in-law, mar, 28 (not 78)
James H F Wesson, son, 18
James T R Wesson, son, 13
Walter Wesson, grandson 7
Bartram Wesson, grandson, 5
Leonard Wesson, grandson, 3
John Wesson, grandson, 2
Robert Wesson, grandson, 1
Before going too much further, how sure are you that your John WATSON was born John WESSON? - I could easily imagine this as a simple name variant (standards of spelling then were not the same as today).
One of the family James Henry seems to still be in Wootton Wawen in 1901
RG13/2940 f9 p5
Park Lane, Wootton Wawen
James Hy Devonport WESSON, visitor, unm, 27, blacksmith, bn Snitterfield.
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03-03-2009, 12:49 AM #3jabwokGuest
Thank you Geoffers,
All know is that when he married my grandmother in 1915, he was using the name of Watson. Their marriage cert shows his father as Walter Watson. My grandmother, long dead, is the source of the name Wesson and the story he deserted from the army prior to his first emigration to Canada. He returned to UK to enlist under the name of Watson where he met and married my grandmother. My grandmother also remembers a brother Walter who may have emigarted to Canada after WWI
The 1891 census I attached shows the father's name as Walter and James as the grandfather.
Since my grandfather made up Watson, its not entirely certain that he didn't also make up John. He lived his life in Canada after leaving the army as John Watson. I have his medal card from WWI.
James Wesson from 1901, I think is the son of James, and the uncle of my putative grandfather!
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03-03-2009, 8:16 AM #4GeoffersGuestOriginally Posted by jabwok
He returned to UK to enlist under the name of Watson where he met and married my grandmother. My grandmother also remembers a brother Walter who may have emigarted to Canada after WWI
or registers of seamen's services? - or to see if any are recorded as having died in WW1 in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) web-site. The surviving army service records from WW1 are being put online via Ancestry. As mentioned, earlier service records are being put online by 2011.
The 1891 census I attached shows the father's name as Walter and James as the grandfather.
Since my grandfather made up Watson, its not entirely certain that he didn't also make up John. He lived his life in Canada after leaving the army as John Watson. I have his medal card from WWI.
I'll have another look in the 1901 census to see if other family can be identified.
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21-04-2009, 9:28 PM #5Fiona67Guest
Freebdm
There is a John Claud Wesson b Sep quarter of 1888 in Aston Warwickshire Vol 6d page 354
Could that be him?
Regards
Fiona
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21-04-2009, 11:10 PM #6jabwokGuest
Possibly. I've ordered a Birth Cert. But the Claud part has thrown me.
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03-04-2020, 4:15 PM #7
- Join Date
- Apr 2020
- Location
- Coventry
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04-04-2020, 3:05 PM #8
Hi, welcome, nice of you to offer but did you notice this post is 11 years old? It could be that the O/P jabwok, no longer comes on here, or is doing their family history after such a long time
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05-04-2020, 12:43 AM #9jabwokGuest
I’ve made much progress and have met Wesson cousins on my last trip to the uk. My tree is on ancestry and I can give you access. Then we can figure out how we all fit together. If you do not have an ancestry acct, send me your email address.
Judith
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01-11-2022, 12:08 PM #10
- Join Date
- Nov 2022
- Location
- UK
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