WILLIAM KEITH 1x grandparent (OH)

[Shona]

Name - "official" name and what they were known as:
William Keith

Date and place of birth:
October 1874, Shankhill, Belfast
Date assumed from military records. Birth record not found.

Names of parents:
Possibly Charles Edward Keith and Margaret Gribben/Gribbin
Name of parents taken from records relating to William's older brother, John. However, I have not found a birth record for William and no record of a marriage between Charles Edward Keith and Margaret Gribben.

Details of each of his or her marriages - if any - and any divorces:
Married Matilda Hughes on 18 May 1904 at St John's Church of Ireland, Laganbank, Belfast. Witnesses: J Cotter and Anne Rankin

William was Protestant - Matilda was a Catholic.

Occupation(s) - if any:
1) Labourer
2) Private in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
3) Alleged gold prospector in either South Africa or what was then Rhodesia. Lots of family stories, but no evidence to back this up:

Family stories say that he went prospecting for gold at some point after he left the army. He was supposed to have sent all the money made back to his wife in Belfast, who spent it all, when he thought she was saving it. Another branch of the family say that, because he was in a remote area, he paid runners to take letters and money to the nearest town. However, they stole it. His wife thought he has died or left him.

4) Labourer

Military service - if any:
On 11 April 1896, enlisted with the RIF, aged 22 years and 6 months. Had been a member of a militia force - 3rd RIF. Served in India and Pakistan. Private Keith received the India Medal with Punjab Frontier 1897-1899 clasp. Batallion posted to South Africa (Boer War) arriving on 7 February 1902. In June 1903, William Keith ‘bought himself out’ of the Army and returned to Belfast. Private Keith received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps – Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1902.

Addresses where they lived - and please list which censuses you have or haven't found him/her on, if applicable.

1888 9 Leeds Street, Belfast
1896 12 Nelson Street, Belfast
1896-1902 Military service in India, Pakistan and South Africa
1904-1910 22 Tyrone Street, Belfast

1911 census 22 Tyrone Street, Belfast
William Keith, 36, jobber builder’s yard, Church of Ireland, read and write
Matilda Keith, 26, Roman Catholic, read and write
Victoria Keith, 28, reller in mill, Roman Catholic, read and write

1913 22 Tyrone Street, Belfast
1918 York Road, Belfast

Date, place and cause of death:
Died at the age of 52 on 4 May 1927 at 157 North Queen Street, Belfast, from gastric carcinoma (6 months) and cardiac disease (6 months). Registered by M Keith, widow.

Date and place of burial / cremation:
Buried in Milltown Catholic cemetery in Belfast

Details of will / administration of their estate - if applicable:
Not found

Memorial inscription - if any:
There is one.