ARC tbc - Disappearing Judds

[Neil Barber]

I have struggled with this for a couple of years now and would welcome any help

My great grandfather was called Walter Richard Judd and I have located him on the 1881 and 1891 census, the last one shows him as a 19 year old living at home and working as a railway porter. The next bit of paper trail I have is his marriage certificate showing him marrying an Emily French in 1892 and his occupation as a porter and the birth certificate of their son, Walter Ernest Judd arriving a couple of months later. I traced back Emily in the 1881 and 1891 census as well. Both are from London.

At this point the trail ends for both Walter Richard Judd and Emily Judd (nee French) until 1915 when my grandfather, Walter Ernest Judd marries and his father, Walter Richard Judd is shown as deceased. I have searched through the 1901 and 1911 census and they don't appear there and I have searched the death register between 1892, the date of his marriage to Emily, to 1915, the date of the marriage of his son and I can't find a death record for a Walter Richard Judd (or variations) or Emily Judd. It is possible that Walter Richard Judd died first and Emily remarried and this makes tracing her very difficult. I did search the marriage registers for an Emily Judd but found nothing.

The 1901 census shows Walter Ernest Judd as a 9-year-old now living in Dover as a 'boarder' in a house occupied by people with no known connection to the Judd or French family that I know of. This begs the question: is his mother now dead and, if so, why hadn't the extended families of the parents look after the child?

The final clue I have is that Walter Richard Judd's occupation is shown on his son's marriage certificate as a 'Bell Diver' - a hazardous occupation. The male householder of the house in Dover in 1901 where my grandfather lived is shown as being a diver. Coincidence? There was a lot of work going on in Dover constructing the harbour over a couple of decades.

I have come up against a brick wall. Any ideas please?

[Northern Lass]

I thought I recognised this one
here we have this thread in the archives
viewtopic.php?f=72&t=1414&p=13945&hilit=judd#p13945

[Maths girl]

Is this Walter Ernest
1911
Institution: Hounslow, HOUNSLOW BARRACKS
Military details: Private 413 / X / 0 Royal Fusdiers

JUDD, Walter Ernest Single ? 18 1893 Soldier Surrey Southwark

If so -- can some of our military wizz kids work there magic and find any useful records?

[Neil Barber]

That's where they disappeared to. The archives!

Sadly, I'm still at a brickwall.

[Neil Barber]

:?: Is this Walter Ernest
1911
Institution: Hounslow, HOUNSLOW BARRACKS
Military details: Private 413 / X / 0 Royal Fusdiers

JUDD, Walter Ernest Single ? 18 1893 Soldier Surrey Southwark

If so -- can some of our military wizz kids work there magic and find any useful records?

Yes, that's Walter, I have the 1911 census, but I didn't know where he was in barracks. Thanks for that. I have him down as being born in Peckam though, is that the same as Southwark?

[Neil Barber]

One more clue. A witness at my grandfather's wedding in 1915 is shown on the marriage certificate as someone called Emily Dixon, the same Christian name as Emily Judd (nee French). There is the possibility that Emily Judd remarried at some point between 1892 and 1915 but I can't find it..

[Maths girl]

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: Walter E Judd
Regiment or Corps: Royal Fusiliers
Regimental Number: L/14390

Sadly no other info attached but this could be him --Royal Fusiliers!

[MarkCDodd]

There is a military pension record for a Walter Ernest Judd on Ancestry.

Living at 13 Masons Street, Reading in Berskshire with his wife Elsie May.

His age is a bit off though. 25 years and 11 months when he signed up in January 1915 makes his birth late 1889.

He might have been fibbing though...

They discharged him as medically unfit with aortic Disease and Rheumatic Fever.

[BC Wench]

Is this still a Brickwall, or have you solved it?

Unless otherwise advised this will be moved to the Brickwalls Archived section
within 24 hours