Tracing Joseph Harris

[Gracie Mae]

Hi everyone i'm a newbie to the site, i am trying to search details re my Grandad who was in the Army but after two months i still don't have any more info , i was hoping someone on this site could help me!!! his name is Joseph Harris and he was born in 1861 in Birmingham,i am informed by my Mum that he was in the Worcestershire Regiment , she thinks he was a Sergeant or Sergeant Major !!! , he retired from the Army with a pension when they were living in Portsmouth, he died in 1947/48 and was buried in Milton Cemetry ( of which i can find no records). i have tried 2 military sites to no avail, I would be grateful of any help. Thanks

[Antie Em]

Hello Gracie Mae - welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately if your granddad was pensioned out of WW1, you might not be able to trace his records. The place where these records were stored took a direct hit in WW2 and most of the records were destroyed. I think some survived, but were badly damaged.

[Gracie Mae]

Thank you for that information.

[apowell]

Hi,

I doubt he would have served during the First War 1914-1918 because of his age being around 55 years.

This will prove very difficult to find any information about his military service but it may help if you could post some information on his parents, wife and children so we could attempt to work from the census returns etc.

If he was a NCO then he most likely would have served for some length of time so it's possible some information maybe available.

Regards
Adrian

[Gracie Mae]

Hi there, i haven't found his parents names as yet but i can give details of his wife and children -wife Elizabeth Harris ne Hemmings married in 1912 in Coventry , Children William Hemmings -Harris born 1911, Joseph Harris born 1913 died 1918- Rose Elizabeth Harris born 1916 - Leonard Harris born 1918 - James Harris born 1920 -Lily Harris born 1924 - Grace Harris born 1927-Violet Harris born 1931 died 1933. They lived in Coventry and then Portsmouth. i hope this helps, thank for your time.

[apowell]

Hi,

I'm a little confused on your date of birth for Joseph 1861 because you state his oldest child was Grace Harris born 1927 which would have made him around 66 years old It's possible but his wife must have been alot younger to have had a child at that age.

I just want to confirm is 1861 the right year because that would change all the search options.

Regards
Adrian

[Gracie Mae]

Grace was second to youngest , Violet being the youngest who died at just 18 months, Grandad was 30 years older than Grandma, does that help?

[cid]

Could this be her in 1911

Court 4 Hos 4 Grey Friars Lane Coventry

JONES, Elizabeth Head Widow F 33 1878 Housekeeper Banbury Oxfordshire
JONES, William Son M 11 1900 School Coventry Warwickshire
JONES, Rose Daughter F 10 1901 School Coventry Warwickshire
JONES, Hilda Daughter F 5 1906 School Coventry Warwickshire
JONES, Elizabeth Daughter F 3 1908 Coventry Warwickshire
HEMMINGS, Elizabeth Boarder Single F 19 1892 Confectioner Coventry Warwickshire

[cid]

Is this Williams birth??

Name HEMMINGS, William
Registration District Coventry
County Warwickshire
Year of Registration 1911
Quarter of Registration Jul-Aug-Sep
Mother's Maiden Name Hemmings
Volume No 6D
Page No 1018

[Gracie Mae]

Elizabeth Hemmings (my Grandma ) Father was a William Hemmings and a farm worker her Mother Ellen Hemmings formerly Payne died when Grandma was around nine but i cannot find any details of the death , the address on Grandma,s birth certificate is 26, Court 24, Greyfriars, Coventry, but again i have come to a brick wall on that, it is possible that you have found Grandma as a boarder as when she became pregnant with william her Father threw her out of the house, was that some kind of hostel she was boarding in ?? or someone elses house ? yes that is poss william's birth you have found , it's amazing well done. i think Grandma also had an older Sister and a younger Brother named William ( maybe Ellen died in child birth !!

[cid]

Is this them in 1901??

William is already a widower.

Brandon Old School Mill & House Brandon And Bretford

HEMMINGS, William Henry Head Widower M 36 1865 Ordinary Agricultural Labourer Allesley Warwickshire

HEMMINGS, Ellen Daughter Single F 14 1887 Stoneleigh Warwickshire
HEMMINGS, Elizabeth Daughter Single F 9 1892 Coventry Warwickshire
HEMMINGS, William John Son Single M 6 1895 Coventry Warwickshire


The 1911 house with Elizabeth in as a boarder looks to be just an ordinary house, and she is staying here with them

[cid]

1891

4 4 Court Grey Friars Lane Coventry St Michael Coventry

HEMMINGS, William H Head Married M 26 1865 General Labourer Allesley Warwickshire
HEMMINGS, Ellen Wife Married F 31 1860 Harbury Warwickshire
HEMMINGS, Ellen Daughter F 4 1887 Stoneleigh Warwickshire
PAYNE, Sarah A Mother In Law Widow F 59 1832 Living On Her Own Means Bourton Warwickshire

[Gracie Mae]

SOooooo much information thats brilliant , could i also ask you a question re Grandad Joseph Harris my Mum is saying that when my Aunt -Rose Elizabeth Harris was born in 1916 my Grandad was still in the Army as she remembers a photo of her Mum and Dad holding Rose as a baby and he is in his uniform, but he would about 56 !! does that sound right ???

[cid]

I'm not that good with the military stuff. Have you tried sending for a birth certificate for Rose, this should give her fathers occupation and if he's still in the army it should say so.

I've looked in the military records and can't find one for a Joseph Harris that fits with the birth date 1861/ Worcestershire Regiment.

You might get lucky with the birth cert and it may tell you what Regiment he's with.

[Gracie Mae]

Thank you for your help, I have been to the Library this morning looking for the marriage of Ellen Payne to William Harris but no luck , also no luck in finding in finding a death for Ellen Harris , would you have better luck than me??