WILL A SOLDIER BE ON CENSUS

[ELAINE]

I am looking for a family member..( family history )

On a marriage certificate, I have a Patrick Allen named as the father of the groom...

It states Patrick as being a soldier....this was 1915... I should imagine Patrick would be about 60 then.
The groom Charles James, was down as being 37..

The question is, did soldiers go on the census's

Any help would be appreciated

[Hawker Hurricane]

Only some army units stationed overseas were included. These were ones in places that were classed as British territories overseas, and where the records got back to England safely. Soldiers not on 'British' soil, or on the soil of a British territory were not counted. Similarly Naval personnel were only counted if aboard ship on the night.

If he was nearly 60, it is unlikely he was still a soldier, but would more likely have been living somewhere on a pension. You could try the Chelsea Pensioner records on Find My Past. I'm not sure how complete they are at the moment, as the work was ongoing on the collection last time I checked.

[shred]

Elaine,

If soldiers were in the UK at the time of the census, whether in the barracks or living at home and reporting for service each day, they were entered in the census. I think we have all looked for people in certain census to find them mentioned in the 1881 and 1901 but not in the 1891. Whilst 60 is quite old for a soldier it is not implausible.

Garry

[shred]

Jim,

These were ones in places that were classed as British territories overseas, and where the records got back to England safely. Soldiers not on 'British' soil, or on the soil of a British territory were not counted. Similarly Naval personnel were only counted if aboard ship on the night.

Thanks for this, hadn't known this was the case for some troops away from home.

[ELAINE]

On the Marriage Cert...it says Soldier....

If he had have been dead, surely it would have stated it...

The family story goes.....Patrick Allen, was a soldier in London...His son Charles James, went to a select school in London..!!!

Charles, ended up in Salford...married in 1915 to a Salford girl......at the time, he was a merchant Seaman...as he was through WW1....

[shred]

Sorry Elaine,

I don't think either me or Jim implied that he was dead. I agree that the certificate would have stated "deceased" if that was the case.

Garry

[ELAINE]

I know you did'nt imply that Garry.....It was me just thinking perhaps he was dead..

I will try the Chelsea Pensioners records tomorrow, as Jim said..

Thanks for your help....

[shred]

Ahh I see. I do a lot of that thinking out loud thing, always gets me in trouble at work.

[bomber]

Elaine..... it could be he was retired, and the registrar missed that bit of the certificate

[Hawker Hurricane]

I don't think I implied he was dead. It would be normal for it to say deceased on the marriage certificate if he had been, but this cannot always be taken for granted. However, as the groom was over 21, the vicar wouldn't need 'father's consent' for the marriage, so would simply record the name and occupation. Be aware, I know of cases (my own great grandfather for one!) where the father's details are completely wrong (my great grandfather never knew who his father had been and simply made it up and said he was deceased). If the vicar was satisfied with the information given, then that was it. As you mention that Charles was 37 at time of marriage, the vicar probably didn't take that much notice of father's details.

So be still serving at that age, Patrick would more likely be in a position like storekeeper, quartermaster, etc. and probably of at least an NCO rank. I think pension records may be a good place to check for him. I'll have a rummage on Find My Past next chance I get and see if anything jumps out, but their records are only up to 1915, so if he was still working the records may not be in that collection. They should, however, as I understand be with the National Archives.

Did Charles meet his Salford girl while his ship was docked at Salford Docks I wonder?

[ELAINE]

Yes Jim, he did meet her while his ship was docked...

How did you guess.. ;D

Thanks Everyone...