Genealogy Chat

Hello, I'm hoping to find a newspaper web site that would allow me to search for early 1900's newspapers in the Willesden and Paddington areas. I'm looking for news about a Walter George Webb who served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment under and alias of GW Harris. He died at the Paddington workhouse after being wounded and sent home. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

nancy :-)

Try googling...............that's the best way to find ANY website info

But I wouldn't hold out too much hope of there being an article about the man in question.

Hello Nancy, welcome to the boards.

What did he do that makes you think he would have been in the papers?

Did you get the alias from his service records?

Thanks Reggie and MarieCeleste for your replies. Apparently he served under his name of Walter George Webb, then deserted and hid out before re-joining under the alias of WG Harris.

I thought there might be a news article about him deserting or about his death because he had deserted.

Nancy, I'll happily do a search about him on the British Newspaper Archives if you can give a bit more info about him such as when and where born.

As I asked earlier, did you get this info from his service records?

Hi again, Thanks so much for offering to help me! I don't have service records as such. I found info on the Forces War Records site and have a picture of his grave site at the Paddington Cemetery. I have his birth date as Dec 1885 born in Wandsworth and his death as 6 Nov 1917 in Paddington.

On the Forces War Records site it says
First Name: W G
Initials: W G
Surname: Webb
Age: 32
Nationality: British
Date of Death: 06/11/1917
Information: (Served as HARRIS). Husband of Jane King (formerly Webb), of 31, Brindley St., Harrow Rd., Paddington.
Rank: Private
Service Number: 8365

Afraid I'm not finding anything in the papers Nancy.

How was his wife Jane King - had she remarried? (She was Jane Lord when they married in 1912)

Walter and Jane had three very young sons, after Walter died, Jane pretty much ignored the boys, threw them out so to speak. She married Henry King, June 1919. I believe the young children lived with Jane's sister, Ellen. Henry and Jane had two more children, Albert and Marjorie. I've not been able to track down any descendants of Albert b. 1920 or Marjorie b. 1923. Thanks again for your looking. Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

nancy :-)

Is this her second marriage then?

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
about Henry James King
Name: Henry James King
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Age: 42
Spouse Name: Jene Webb
Spouse Age: 30
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 8 Jun 1919
Parish: Paddington St Paul
Borough: Westminster
Father Name: Henry James King
Spouse Father Name: James Lord
Register Type: Parish Register

Yes, I didn't have that, thanks! Is there a way to find out if this Henry King had children from a previous marriage? So many questions, praying for more information.

:-)

On the 1919 marriage that Kempina posted Henry James King was a carman, his father of the same name was a labourer. Jane's father was a firewood dealer - both father's were noted as deceased.

Jane and Henry James were both shown as widowed and the address for both was 31 Brindley Street.

The witnesses were Alice Bell and Harry Bell.

The signature on this marriage is very similar to that of the 1919:

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921

Name: Henry James King - carman, os 25 Woodchester Street
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Age: 25
Spouse Name: Maria Esther Barton, of 25 Clarendon Street
Spouse Age: 21
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 25 Dec 1901
Parish: Paddington St Mary Magdalene
Borough: Westminster
Father Name: Henry James King - no occupation listed
Register Type: Parish Register

Maria Esther's father given as Joseph Barton, a woodchopper

Neither had been married before.

Witnesses: Jeremiah Collins and Alice Agnes Hall.

Possible death of first wife:

England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2006
Name: Maria E King
Birth Date: abt 1880
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1918
Age at Death: 38
Registration district: Paddington
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1a
Page: 88

As Jane was named as King when Walter died 1917 then she and James must have already been together before his wife died (presuming these are the correct records).

Can't yet positively identify them in the 1911 ......

EDIT - think I've found them:

KING, Henry Head Married M 34 1877 Carman Box Makers Kilburn
KING, Esther Wife Married F 29 1882 Paper Sorter Marylebone

RG number: RG14 Piece: 54
Reference: RG14PN54 RG78PN2 RD1 SD2 ED13 SN293
Registration District: Paddington
Sub District: Paddington Central
Enumeration District: 13
Parish: Paddington

Address: 20 Clarendon Street Paddington W County: London

Married 9 years, no children

Now, I would love to find out more about Henry James King. The third of Jane Lord Webb's 3 young children, who she pretty much disowned, was named James Henry. The plot thickens!

I've been searching for info on James Henry King b about 1877 to a Henry James King or his children he had with Jane Lord Webb King, Albert b about 1920 and Marjorie b. about 1923. I'm having almost no luck.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions offered.

Nancy :-)

I wonder if Walter George deserted because he found out Jane was having an affair and wanted to try to save his marriage? Just speculation ......

Have you used "Search Trees" to see if anyone else has them in their trees?

You could try searching for marriages and then subsequent children for Albert and Marjorie. Have you looked up the births of Albert and Marjorie on FreeBMD to get a better idea of when they were actually born?

Do you already have this?

London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921

Name: Walter George Webb - Carman
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887
Age: 25
Spouse Name: Jane Lord
Spouse Age: 24
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 6 Oct 1912
Parish: Maida Hill (Emmanuel Church)
Borough: Westminster
Father Name: Walter George Webb - carpenter
Spouse Father Name: James Lord - (deceased) woodcutter
Register Type: Parish Register

Neither married before and address for both 26 Richmond Street.

Witnesses: Harry Dell and Nellie Dell.

I'd not thought of that, but it certainly sounds plausible. I did have the marriage for Walter and Jane but I appreciate you posting and asking because I may not have had it. I looked up the births of both Albert and Marjorie but it hasn't helped a lot. It indicated that Marjorie was born in Camberwell. I got Albert's middle initial H. and Marjories as E.R.

Since I live in the states I have to look up every town and district to see if it's in the general area. I really don't want to order birth records yet (I'm spending way too much $$$). The witnesses on the marriage record for Walter and Jane is Jane's sister, Ellen who took the three young children into her home, although they pretty much brought themselves up. Thanks again!

I spoke with someone from work, and without knowing what you said, told me that in WW1 "the number one reason for awol is problems with marriage, they go home to try to fix things. Then usually regardless of outcome, they re-enlist because it's dangerous to be awol, much safer to be serving."

I was able to get service records last night, a little difficult to read, but I'll attempt to create a time line of service time and when children were conceived and born. This has taken a whole different turn. I'll keep you posted. I still would like to find info on Albert and Marjorie. I'm hoping that if Albert had sons I might find a male King descendant to take a Y-DNA test.

Now I need to sleep after working all night. :-)

Do keep us posted, Nancy. Meanwhile if I find anything relevant I'll put it on here.