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[Swordfish]

Hello,

I’m not sure if this is the right place on the Forum for this request. Perhaps someone will redirect me if needed.

My request is help in finding Thomas William Ballard born in 1884 Aston, Birmingham. I would like to know more about him once he reached Canada.

I have a document that states he travelled on 23rd July 1915 from Liverpool to Quebec by way of the Metagama. Could someone please look to find his whereabouts after he landed? His occupation was a butler. I would like to know if he settled in Canada; married and had a family.

He would have been 31 years old so does anyone have any idea why he was not serving in WW1?

Thank you.

[gardener]

Hi
Conscription did not begin until Jan 1916, so unless he wanted to volunteer he did not have to join the army.

Do you have him in the census at all? Or his parents' names? It would be a shame to chase the wrong one and lead you astray

[Jimmy]

I see on the passenger list his intended occupation was Waiter.

[Swordfish]

Hello Jimmy,

The passenger list from the Metagama states his occupation as Butler. Which passenger list and what year are you looking at?

Thank you.

[Jimmy]

Thomas W Ballard

in the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
Record Image View

Name: Thomas W Ballard.
Gender: Male.
Age: 31.
Birth Year: abt 1884.
Date of Arrival: 1 Aug 1915.
Vessel: Metagama.
Search Ship Database: Search for the Metagama in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database.
Port of Arrival: Quebec, Canada.
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England.

It states occupation Butler, but intended occupation waiter.

[Jimmy]

I wonder if this is him, age slightly out, but occupation Waiter.

1921. 260 Clinton St, Toronto "ward 5"
Thomas Ballard 35. Waiter. England.
Lillian Ballard 25. England.
Nancy Ballard 1. Dau. Ontario.
Kathleen Ballard 0. Dau. Ontario.

Year of immigration 1918.

[Swordfish]

Hello Gardener,

Thank you for your reply. I hadn't realised that conscription began in 1916, so that answers one of my queries.

I have found him on the 1891 Census living with his siblings and parents Samuel and Ann Ballard in Birmingham. In 1901 he is living in Birmingham with his mother and siblings and is recorded as William Ballard not Thomas William.

His birth was registered as Thomas William Ballard 1884 Aston.

Thank you.

[Swordfish]

Looks as if you have more detail from the passenger lists than I do.

Then this is possible him in 1921. The occupations fit. Not sure about the immigration year though.

Would you be able to trace his marriage to Lillian? His marriage may give the names of his parents they were Samuel and Ann Ballard.

Thank you for your help Jimmy.

[Jimmy]

Looks like a different one, different father

Thomas William Ballard.

in the Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928.
Record Image View

Name: Thomas William Ballard.
Age: 33.
Birth Date: abt 1885.
Birth Place: England.
Marriage Date: 2 Nov 1918.
Marriage County or District: York.
Father: William Ballard.
Mother: Ann Bannister.
Spouse: Lillian Ayton.
Spouse's Age: 22.
Spouse Birth Date: abt 1896.
Spouse Birth Place: England.
Spouse Father: Richard Ayton.
Spouse Mother: Kathleen Kenny.

[peterd]

wrong one then unlees Samuel was William Samuel ?


Thomas William Ballard Age: 33
Date: abt 1885 England

Marriage Date: 2 Nov 1918, County or District: York

Father: William Ballard
Mother: Ann Bannister

Spouse: Lillian Ayton Age:22
Date :abt 1896 England

Spouse Father:Richard Ayton
Spouse Mother:Kathleen Kenny

[Swordfish]

Thanks Jimmy,

It is a different Thomas to my own. Many thanks for going to the trouble of looking for the information. I do appreciate it.

Swordfish.

[gardener]

Hello Gardener,

Thank you for your reply. I hadn't realised that conscription began in 1916, so that answers one of my queries.

I have found him on the 1891 Census living with his siblings and parents Samuel and Ann Ballard in Birmingham. In 1901 he is living in Birmingham with his mother and siblings and is recorded as William Ballard not Thomas William.

His birth was registered as Thomas William Ballard 1884 Aston.

Thank you.

so you have this

1891
Samuel Ballard 33 brass tape dresser
Ann Ballard 32
Agnes Ballard 12
Rose Ballard 10
Samuel Ballard 9
Thomas Ballard 7
Joseph Ballard 3

1901
Rose Meredith 50
Aron Ballard 42 (is actually ANN)
Rose Ballard 20
Samuel Ballard 18
William Ballard 17 metal cleaner
Joseph Ballard 13
Rose Simpson 7

there is this marriage

Name: William Thomas Ballant
[William Thomas Ballard]
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1882
Marriage Date: 14 Nov 1903
Marriage Age: 21
Marriage Place: Birmingham, Bishop Ryder, Warwickshire, England
Spouse: Florence Allsopp
Spouse Gender: Female
Spouse Marriage Age: 20
Father: Samuel Ballard
Spouse's Father: Willliam Allsopp
Reference Number: DRO 30
Archive Roll: 581

Samuel Ballard (father of groom) is down as a brass turner
William Thomas Ballard is down as a metal cleaner

which seems to fit other than his age

1911
22 Court 7 House Heneage St Birmingham
William Ballard 27 strip castor
Florence Ballard 27
William Ballard 5
Gauanel Ballard 3 (Samuel?)

Name: William Ballard
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1884
Birth Place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Marriage Date: 14 Nov 1903
Marriage Place: Bishop Register Birmingham
Age: 18
Document Year: 1902
Regimental Number: 8732
Regiment Name: Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Form Title: Short Service Attestation
Number of Images: 14

William Ballard Self (Head)
Florence Allsopp Spouse
William Joseph Ballard Child
Samuel Ballard Child

He seems to have joined the army in 1902, for short service until 1905. Then rejoined in 1914 and served through the war including at Ypres. Joined in Dublin in 1902 "apparent age 18 years and 9 months". Discharged surplus to requirements in 1919. His records are on Ancestry and they include his eye/hair colour and stuff.

[Swordfish]

Hello Gardener,

I have just seen your latest reply to my request. Thank you for the Ballard family information and especially the army record reference for Thomas William. Thank you for your efforts. It looks as if you have found for me my gt. grandmother.

Swordfish