COMPLETED Reservists 1901

[snoopysue]

On the 1901 Census I have Ralph Small's wife as a Reservists Wife (Relief):

1901 CensusRG13 piece 2728 folio 109 page 3
1, Sparrows Forge Lane, Wednesbury
Ann Small, Head, Mar, 36, Reservists Wife (Relief), Staffs Wolverhampton
Ralph, Son, 10,
Harriet, Daur, 9,
Jane, Daur, 7,
Isaac, Son, 3,
Lydia, Daur, 2,
Others born Staffs Wednesbury

In 1891 they were here:
1891 Census RG12 piece 2278 folio 88 page 47
26, Forge Lane, Moxley, Staffordshire
Ralph Small, Head, Mar, 26, Sheet Mill Worker, Staffs Moxley
Anne, Wife, Mar, 26, Staffs Wolverhampton
Elizabeth, Daur, Single, 3, Staffs Bradley
Ralph, Son, Single, 8, Staffs Wednesbury

I have found a possible in 1901 for Ralph, where he's boarding in Harwarden, and seemingly the family moves there as there is one that seems to match up in 1911 (probably working in the nearby Steel Works in Shotton).

My question is what sort regiment would Ralph have been with, and what would his obligations have been? I'm assuming he'd have been with some sort of Yeomanry.

[apowell]

Hi,

On the 1901 Census I have Ralph Small's wife as a Reservists Wife (Relief):

My question is what sort regiment would Ralph have been with, and what would his obligations have been? I'm assuming he'd have been with some sort of Yeomanry.

This will prove very difficult to answer because I've checked for Ralph Small on the British Army Service Records 1760-1913 but without any joy. The Reservists title could mean he had served in the Regular Army and when discharged was placed for a number of years on the Army Reserve list to be recalled if required. The year of 1901 is interesting because this was during the Boer War and a number of Territorials and Reservists were called up to fight in South Africa. The problem is we have Ralph living and working in the UK on the 1901 census and when it states Reservists Wife (Relief) indicates to me that his family was receiving some sort of relief monies from the Parish due to her husbands status.

I can't understand why if Ralph was working and earning monies would his wife be described as Reservists Wife (Relief)

I'm sorry not to be able to help further but I'll continue to search for clues

Regards
Adrian

[MarkCDodd]

He is not in the Militia records.

[MarkCDodd]

1911 census transcription details for: 27 Brook Road Shotton Flint
National Archive Reference:
RG14PN33966 RG78PN1962 RD620 SD1 ED3 SN118

Reg. District: Hawarden Sub District: Hawarden
Parish: Hawarden Enum. District: 3
Address: 27 Brook Road Shotton Flint
County: Flintshire
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
SMALL, Ralph Head Married M 46 1865 Catcher Moxley
SMALL, Ann Wife Married 26 years F 46 1865 Bradley
SMALL, Ralph Son Single M 20 1891 Rollers Hepler Wenesbury
SMALL, J Son M 13 1898 Wenesbury
SMALL, Hich Son M 8 1903 Shotton
SMALL, W Son M 5 1906 Shotton
SMALL, Jane Daughter Single F 17 1894 Wenesbury
SMALL, Lyd Daughter F 12 1899 Wenesbury
RATCLIFFE, James Boarder Single M 21 1890 Doubler Bradley
WILLIAMS, Joseph Grandson M 0 (6 MONTHS) 1911 Connahs Quay

[MarkCDodd]

Doesn't look like the Army to me.....

1901 census transcription details for: 10, Brook Road, Hawarden (Flint), Shotton
National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG13 Piece: 3377 Folio: 43 Page: 20

Reg. District: Chester Sub District: Hawarden
Parish: Hawarden (Flint) Enum. District: 3
Ecclesiastical District: Hawarden St Deiniols City/Municipal Borough:
Address: 10, Brook Road, Hawarden (Flint), Shotton
County: Cheshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
JONES, John Head Married M 41 1860 Sheet Iron Roller Bromwick Staffordshire
JONES, Rachel Wife Married F 40 1861 Tipton Staffordshire
JONES, John Son Single M 12 1889 Bilston Staffordshire
JONES, Minnie Daughter F 8 1893 Ponty Newydd Monmouthshire
JONES, Frank Son M 7 1894 Ponty Newydd Monmouthshire
JONES, Lily Daughter F 6 1895 Ponty Newydd Monmouthshire
JONES, Stanley Son M 2 1899 Wednesbury Staffordshire
SMALL, Ralph Boarder Married M 35 1866 Sheet Iron Roller Wednesbury Staffordshire
ASHFIELD, Alfred Boarder Married M 22 1879 Furnace Man In Iron Works Bilston Staffordshire

If you look at the 1901 census, the Reservists Wife (Relief) is crossed out.

[snoopysue]

That's what's confusing me, the family in 1911 seems to match up, and in both the 1901 and 1911 census the Harwarden entry was the only match. I recon he was working at the Steel Works in Shotton, it's only a few miles away down the hill (also not far from where I grew up!). The kids on the 1911 census seem to match the ones on the 1891 census. Could he have just got back from the army?

Thanks for having a look Mark

[MarkCDodd]

I just think the entry in 1901 was wrong and was crossed out.

There is simply no record of him in the militia or regular army.

[snoopysue]

Thanks Mark for your help.

This can be archieved now!

[snoopysue]

I was talking to my Dad about the Smalls who moved from BC to Shotton, Flintshire, as they live about ten miles away. He told me that he knew someone who was welsh but could speak BC dialect. His recollection was that at one point a whole steelworks was moved from Bilston to Shotton.