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I have recently applied for my Gt Grandfathers wedding certificate. His name is John Nield and in 1905 he married Beatrice Whitehead at St.Johns Church Hurst , Ashton-U-Lyne. The certificate says he was 30 years old and his wife was 18, but to my suprise he was a widower. This is where my problem begins, I have managed to trace his steps to Manchester on the 1881 census, where he lived with his parents. I also know he was in the Army (1st Manchester Regiment ) and served in the Boer War. He was stationed in India in 1908 and was a Sergt. his army no. was 3200. I'm not sure but would I be able to trace his first wife through his army records? If anyone can guide me in the right direction I would be very gratefull. Regards Jonathan.

Where was he born? Reg

There are these two marriages in Ashton under Lyne:- Name: Nield, John Record Type: Marriages Quarter: September Year: 1898 District: Ashton under Lyne County: Cheshire Lancashire Volume: 8d Page: 834 and Name: Nield, John Record Type: Marriages Quarter: December Year: 1899 District: Ashton under Lyne County: Cheshire Lancashire Volume: 8d Page: 729 Kath. x

IF he was in the Army B4 his marriage in 1905, then yes his Army records MAY give his first wife's details, because he would have had to have mentioned her when he enlisted. IF HE WAS married at the time. Army records are taking upto and sometimes longer than a year to arrive after applying for them. It was 9 months waiting - that was 2 years ago. Was he married on the 1901 census or single ? He obviously married either BTEWEEN census 1891 - 1901 or after 1901 but before 1905. Maybe wife 1 died in childbirth ? Check FREEBMD for a possible first marriage ... Elaine ;-)

was he born in Manchester? can't find him in 1881 to get the details was going to check 1891 / 1901 to see if a wife appered with him then

Please post 1881 in full....it will help to clarify. Thanks Reg

The information i have for the 1881 census is: Piece /Folio 4000/119 page 54, on the Later Day Saints Site 13 Bridden Street, Manchester. John Nield born Manchester Lancs Regards Jonathan

LDS 1881: John J. NIELD Head M Male 36 Rochdale, Lancashire, England Iron Moulder Harriet NIELD Wife M Female 36 Stablingsborough, Lincoln, England Emma NIELD Daur Female 10 Stockport, Cheshire, England Scholar Alice NIELD Daur Female 8 Manchester, Lancashire, England Scholar John NIELD Son Male 5 Manchester, Lancashire, England Scholar Harriet NIELD Daur Female 3 Manchester, Lancashire, England Eliza A. NIELD Daur Female 11 m Manchester, Lancashire, England Dwelling 13 Bridden St Census Place Manchester, Lancashire, England Family History Library Film 1341954 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4000 / 119 Page Number 54

Thanks, Elaine....can try 1891 now Reg

1891............ Alice Nield abt 1873 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire View Record Eliza Nield abt 1881 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire View Record Harriet Nield abt 1845 Stallingborough, Lincolnshire, England Wife Ashton under Lyne Lancashire View Record Harriet Nield abt 1878 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire View Record John J Nield abt 1845 Rochdale, Lancashire, England Head Ashton under Lyne Lancashire View Record Maria Nield abt 1883 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire John is not with the rest of the family............ Reg

1891 he'd left home- which was 13 Gower St Alice Nield abt 1873 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire Eliza Nield abt 1881 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire Harriet Nield abt 1845 Stallingborough, Lincolnshire, England Wife Ashton under Lyne Lancashire Harriet Nield abt 1878 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire John J Nield abt 1845 Rochdale, Lancashire, England Head Ashton under Lyne Lancashire Maria Nield abt 1883 Manchester, Lancashire, England Daughter Ashton under Lyne Lancashire

Can't see him in 1901..........not surprising, if he was in the Boer War. Reg

I'm not sure but would anyone be able to check Ladysmith Barracks, Mossley Road, Ashton Under Lyne. I have just checked his wedding cert. for 1905 again. This was the barracks for his regiment and the address given on his wedding cert. Regards Jonathan

I would just like to say thank-you to you all for your help, I have just been reading through all your threads and realised you have added a new name to my tree (Maria Nield). Thanks once again, Jonathan.

Jonathan I think this is him in 1901 he is a soldier and a widower. Name: John Neild Age: 28 Estimated birth year: abt 1873 Household: View other family members Gender: Male Where born: Manchester, Lancashire, England Civil parish: Chatham Ecclesiatical parish: Chatham St Mary County/Island: Kent Country: England Street address: View image Condition as to marriage: View image Education: View image Employment status: View image Occupation: View image Source information: RG13/732 Registration district: Medway Sub-registration district: Rochester and Chatham ED, institution, or vessel: Chatham Barracks Folio: 40 Page: 10 (click to see others on page) Household schedule number: 1 Georgina.

This would be him in 1891.He is unmarried in this census. Name: John Neild Age: 18 Estimated birth year: abt 1873 Relation: Soldier Gender: Male Where Born: Manchester; Lancaster Civil parish: Hartshead Ecclesiastical parish: Hurst St John Town: Hurst County/Island: Cheshire Country: England Street address: View image Condition as to marriage: View image Education: View image Employment status: View image Occupation: View image Source information: RG12/3296 Registration district: Ashton Under Lyne Sub registration district: Hartshead ED, institution, or vessel: Ashton under Lyne Barracks Folio: 162 Page: 9 (click to see others on page) GSU Number: 6098406 Georgina.

There are several marriages between 1891 - 1900 for John Neild ....in Lancashire .... one in particular stands out from the rest: Marriages Dec 1891 Neild John Liverpool 8b 281 Marriages Sep 1894 Neild John Ashton 8d 690 <<<<<<<<<<<< see below Marriages Sep 1895 Neild John Chester 8a 705 Marriages Jun 1896 Neild John Thomas Burnley 8e 476 Marriages Jun 1897 Neild John James Manchester 8d 530 <<< Marriages Dec 1898 NEILD John Francis Salford 8d 124 Marriages Sep 1899 Neild John Blackburn 8e 759 Marriages Sep 1900 Neild John Prescot 8b 1206 ********** Dewhirst Lucy Ashton 8d 690 Hibbert Mary Jane Ashton 8d 690 Neild John Ashton 8d 690 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Should we see which wife died between 1891 - 1900 ?? This is the most obvious because of the age: Deaths Dec 1896 Neild Gertrude Helen 18 Salford 8d 44 BUT I can't find a Gertrude marrying a John Neild ...sorry. In fact, the only Neild marrying a Gertrude (possibly) is in 1900, and gertrude had already died before then. Just confusing matters now. Elaine ;-(

Thanks, Georgina and Elaine, I appreciate your help, I will follow up your information. I am wondering if he married whilst he was based down South. I now have something more to go on than I had. Just one thing, is it right that he would appear on the 1901 Census even if he was fighting in South Africa (Boer War). I suppose he could have been sent home, I know from my Grandma that she was told he came home very poorly after the siege of Ladysmith. Regards Jonathan.

Jonathan the info from the 1901 census shows that he was in this country in Chatam Barracks. If as you say he was injured after the siege of Ladysmith he would have been sent home. The siege lasted between 2/11/1899 to 28/2/1900 and the census was a year later. Georgina.

Just wondering if anyone can help a little further. I think I may have found his first wife. I have used the Cheshire BMD site and gone through the weddings from 1891-1901 in Ashton Under Lyne only. There were a possble 9 wifes to start with so I went through the deaths, this reduced it to a possible 5. After checking each one and their ages one stands out as the others would possibly be to old. The death of Betty Nield was registered in June 1899 Ashton under Lyne aged 18. There is also a marriage in 1897 of John Nield to a Betty Kenyon. Would it be at all possible to check the 1891 census for me to see if she can be traced aged 10. I have had a look on the LDS site and don't seem to be able to see her unless she was Elizabeth, but with her being Betty on her wedding day and on her death cert it seems possible she may have been born after the census in 1881. Regards Jonathan