Person:John Edwards (185)

John Edwards was born on 12th May 1877 at Pagham in Sussex, son of a dressmaker named Fanny Edwards, formerly Grant, and her husband William Edwards, a traction engine driver. He was the fifth of their ten children. He appears in the 1881 and 1891 censuses living with his parents and siblings at Pagham. By 1891 he was working as an agricultural labourer.

In 1896, aged 19, John joined the Royal Navy. At the time of joining up he was working as an engine cleaner. He was described as being 5'9½" tall with brown hair and blue eyes. He signed up for a twelve year period of engagement. He was posted to HMS Victory II, which appears to have been a training base at Portsmouth. He served in the Navy from 10th September 1896 to 6th August 1897 with "very good" character, but was then invalided out of the Navy suffering with phthisis (tuberculosis).

John did not live long after leaving the Navy. He died aged 20 and was buried on 11th September 1897 back at his native Pagham, where his parents were still living.

1. ↑ Births index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   b. John EDWARDS, June Quarter 1877, Westhampnett Registration District, Volume 2b, page 348, mother's maiden name Grant

2. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Pagham (Sussex). Parish registers for Pagham, 1707-1901. (Chichester: West Sussex County Council).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Pagham in the County of Sussex in the Year 1877
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   436	1877 June 17	John	William & Fanny	Edwards	Pagham	Engine Driver	G.S. Griggens, Off[iciatin]g Minister

3. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1123; Folio 98; Page 10, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Pagham hamlet, Pagham, Sussex
   William Edwards, head, married, male, 34 [1846/7], Engine Driver (Ag[ricultura]l), b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   Fanny Edwards, wife, married, female, 40 [1840/1], b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   Albert Edwards, son, male, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   Fred Edwards, son, male, 7 [1873/4], Scholar, b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   William Edwards, son, male, 5 [1875/6], Scholar, b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   Eliza Edwards, daughter, female, 5 [1875/6], Scholar, b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   John Edwards, son, male, 3 [1877/8], b. Pagham, Sussex
   Ann Edwards, daughter, female, 2 [1878/9], b. Pagham, Sussex
   Theresa Edwards, daughter, female, 11 mo [1880], b. Pagham, Sussex

4. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 841; Folio 96; Page 8, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: Pagham Hamlet, Pagham, Sussex
   4 rooms occupied
   William Edwards, head, married, male, 42 [1848/9], Traction Engine Driver, employed, b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   Fanny Edwards, wife, married, female, 48 [1842/3], b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   William Edwards, son, single, male, 15 [1875/6], Agricultural Laborer, employed, b. Sidlesham, Sussex
   John Edwards, son, male, 13 [1877/8], Agricultural Laborer, employed, b. Pagham, Sussex
   Thersa Edwards, daughter, female, 10 [1880/1], Scholar, b. Pagham, Sussex
   Lily Edwards, daughter, female, 9 [1881/2], Scholar, b. Pagham, Sussex
   Louise Edwards, daughter, female, 8 [1882/3], Scholar, b. Pagham, Sussex
   Alfred Edwards, son, male, 6 [1884/5], Scholar, b. Pagham, Sussex

5. ↑ Naval service records, The National Archives
   ADM/188/453; image 328, 10 Sep 1896.

   No. 283365, Portsmouth
   Name in full: John Edwards
   Date of birth: 12 May 1877
   Place of birth: Pagham, Sussex
   Occupation: Engine cleaner
   Date and Period of C.S. Engagements: 10 September 1896 - 12yrs
   Age: [illegible]
   Height: 5ft 9 1/2in
   Hair: Brown
   Eyes: Blue
   Complexion: Fresh
   Ships served in: Victory II
   Rating: Sto 2cl
   Period of service: 10 Sep 96 - 6 Aug 97
   Character: V.G. 31.12.96, V.G. 6.8.97
   If Discharged, Whither, and for what Cause: Invalided Phthisis

6.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. John EDWARDS, September Quarter 1897, Westhampnett Registration District, Volume 2b, page 235, aged 20 [1876/7]

7. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Pagham (Sussex). Parish registers for Pagham, 1707-1901. (Chichester: West Sussex County Council).

   BURIALS in the Parish of Pagham in the County of Sussex in the Year 1897
   No	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   1357	John Edwards	Pagham	11th Sep[tembe]r 1897	20 years	E.W. Godfrey, Curate