pension query

[Sue H]

Soldier dying 1915 who would get anything belonging to him next of kin in this case mother......or his wife, would she have to prove marriage, because I don't think she could.

[MaryA]

Sorry Sue, I don't have an answer, but have you found his Service Records and was there any mention of his family on them? Or any idea who received his medals? Is there any additional information on the CWGC site?

[promenade]

Sue,

The authorities were quite scrupulous - certificates would have to be produced (a 'common-law' wife was not acceptable - nor could any claim be made for children born out of wedlock) - before any money was paid out. I have seen mothers pleading with the War Office for part of a pension especially if their soldier son was recently married - they felt that they had raised and nurtured their son for all his life and found it unacceptable that they were to get nothing on his death.

I think the 'pecking order' was father then mother then sibling or if married then wife. I have seen instances where the parents have been estranged and the father has relinquished his claim in favour of the mother.

[Katie]

My great Grandmother Mary Morris and my Great Grandfather lived together but never married. They had the following children.

Edward Morris born 1898
Catherine Morris birn 1901 (Great Aunt Cissie)
Mary Morris born 1904 (My Nan)
Timothy born 1916 (Registered as a girl)
Twins born 1920 John and Edward Morris died 1920

there were others but I can't recall them at the moment.

Now, I always wondered why he didn't marry the great grandmother and a good few years back when the Service records became available on Ancestry, I typed in John Bannon. And there he was John Bannon 376a, Vauxhall Road, Liverpool. I thought right lets see? On his service record it stated he was a married man, Oh? I thought the little horror a married man and he got my great gran knocked up loads of times. On going to the details of whom he was married to. It states:-

Mary Morris whom he was alleged to have married in 1886? well I had to laugh at that because he was born in 1876 and the Great Nan was born in 1877.

Edward their first born was alleged to have been born in 1889
Catherine (our Cissie 1901)
Mary (My Nan) 1908)
Timothy 1916 (Correct)

At the side of these children's name is wrote Not verified.

Well Great grandma had to confess in 1920 when John Bannon died to not being his wife and she sent a letter asking to be considered payment of a pension under the Unmarried mothers scheme which I think was brought in later.

here is the link to my Granddads Service record with a four page letter from my Great Grandma pleading her case. Hilarious.

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1219/ ... 7624-00847

Enjoy

And they issued her with a ring paper.

[Sue H]

Morning Everyone

Well this may add another dimension to the tale.

Well its 100% cert that Norah and John werent married, therefore pension didnt go to her!!

But comparing it to your g. grandfather Katie ( and thanks for sharing) is glaringly obvious, he never included any of them!! Katie, that letter is quite sad, all that time and children together and she counts for very little.

At least he acknowledged them all.........on the other hand my g.grandfather the illusive Mr John William Davies wiped the slate clean

1. He names no wife or children on his records!!
2. His address is his mothers, she is the next of kin. He was already living with one of his daughters!!

Kathy is there anyway of finding out who got the pension and for how long?

His records also show an imprint of a sheet that is typed (record sheet ), but its not included there. Could I request to see the originals (sorry grasping at straws again)

On the same sheet is his mothers name and address........with the added name Hughes. I know she didnt remarry and she died at the same address in 1936, I have her death certificate. Her grandaughter Jessie, signed herself as daughter. Hughes was my grandmothers married name (jessie's sister) but in no way relative in 1921 (that I know of)

Maybe I should look at this address more thoroughly as they were there from sometime after 1911 to 1936.

William Jones I think died in 1931........dont know why I havent got a copy of his death certificate???

JUST FOUND WILLIAM'S DEATH CERTIFICATE................He died in January 1931, same address and it was reported once again by Jessie.

Thank you all for you help x

[Katie]

Try looking at his Service records on FMP. Apparently Lives of the First World war which is in partnership with D.C. Thompson, which in turn is FMP, say they have rescanned all the Original papers and you now have a 50% chance for a soldier's records.

[Sue H]

Morning All

Took your advice Katie and joined FMP for a month. Same documents there, no clearer. But did find his previous doc (talked about on here) when he joined at 17.

On the page were his children's names should be there is a statement

Officer in Charge
Typed sheet 46

Will have to get my daughter to print the sheet I can see the imprint on and try and read it. Was in the WRN as a Radar Plotter........taught to write backwards on the perspex boards.......maybe it will now come in useful