Interpretation of Marriage Certificate

[philthegill]

Hi All

I am trying to trace my family history down my Father's line....

I have got as far as the Marriage Certificate of my Grandparents, William James Wells & Hilda Walter. I am presently stuck trying to track back my Grandfather. Hopefully I've managed to attach a clip of his part of the entry to this message.

William James Wells & Hilda Walter Marriage Certificate

MC_Wells_WJ_Walter_H-crop.jpeg (214.51 KiB) Viewed 2049 times

I need advice and guidance on interpreting a couple of things, please?

Does anyone know what William's Rank or Profession means?

I cannot find any William Wells with a father named James Wells anywhere nearby but I can find a suitable William Wells in Suffolk on the 1901 & 1911 Census. To be sure that the Suffolk William Wells is my Grandfather I'd like to work out how he came to be some 100+ miles away from his last known family home. I can find no trace of him anywhere until his death Certificate in 1966. Does anyone have any ideas how he may have completely gone "off grid" (to use the modern parlance)?

Thanks in advance for any assistance

Phil

[peterd]

driver royal engineers 1860577 might be his regimental number? what year the marriage where is it ?

[philthegill]

Hi Peterd

Marriage year is 1922 - sorry I was a bit zealous in trimming. Location is Chatham and there is an RE base at Brompton Barracks.

Phil

[peterd]

would he be old enough to of served in WWW1 if so might be some records hanging around ?

[rockyfowler]

He was illegitimate ?
WELLS, WILLIAM JAMES - Order
GRO Reference: 1897 M Quarter in EASTRY Volume 02A Page 986


With mom
1901
Strand Street, Sandwich St Mary, Eastry, Kent, England
James Holley Head Married Male 48 1853 General Labourer Birchington, Kent, England
Harriet Wells - Single Female 30 1871 - Kent, England
William James Wells Son - Male 4 1897 - Eastry, Kent, England
Lilian Wells Daughter - Female 6 1895 - Eastry, Kent, England
1911
Must be Workhouse
Eastry Kent, Eastry, Kent, England
First name(s) William James
Last name Wells
Relationship Inmate
Sex Male
Age 14
Birth year 1897
Birth place Kent Eastry
Occupation School
House name -
House number -
Street Eastry
Address Eastry Kent
Parish Eastry
County Kent
Country England
Archive reference RG14
Registration district Eastry
Registration district number 64
Enumeration district 15
District number 15
Sub district Sandwich
Sub district number 1
Census reference RG14PN4553 RD64 SD1 ED15 SN9999
RG78 code number 188
Piece number 4553
Mother
Harriet Elizabeth Wells age 40 Divorced (Crossed Out) and put down as single
South Foreland Lighthouse Eastry

[peterd]

if that's him he would of been old enough for WW1 so i would check military records

[philthegill]

Thanks for suggestions!

This WJW is certainly a possibility but the Suffolk WJW's Marriage Cert has a complete match with his father's name. It also shows WJW father's occupation as Farm Labourer which is similar to the stated occupation of the Suffolk WJW on birth cert and 1901 & 1911 Census records. Either one of them would have been old enough to serve in WW1 and I've just been told about a war records site which has 3 records of a WJW with rank of driver on it in WW1 which I'm about to follow up.

I've also just ordered my WJW's Death Cert - he died in 1966 - so I'm hoping that more light will be shed when this document arrives.

Phil

[Northern Lass]

Moving this to general discussion