Hitting a brick wall ????

[JBee]

Wonder if the kirk sessions might reveal a father?

[kiterunner]

From his army records:

National Archives' reference WO 400/93/2725
BLACK, DAVID 2725

Casualty Form - Active Service
2 Life Guards, No 2725, Rank Tpr, enlisted 13/06/05
3/11/14 reported missing, in the field, date 31/10/14
28/1/16 Acceptance of death for official purposes.

Transfer to Army Reserve, certificate no 230/2LG.
ID number B17
Number 2725, 2 Life Guards, Trooper.
Cause of transfer to the Reserve: At the expiration of his period of Colour Service.
Conduct and character: Exemplary
Trade or employment desired in civil life: Chauffeur
Other qualifications for employment in Civil Life: groom and valet.
Number of GC Badges: Two
Medals and Decorations: Nil
Certificate of Education: 3rd Class
If employed on Staff or Regimental Employ: Officers Batman, 18 months
Signed by David Black 12 Jun 1913
Description on transfer to Army Reserve:
Age 26 years 7 months,
Height 5 feet 11 inches, Chest 40, waist 35, helmet size 7, boot size 10
Complexion fair, eyes blue, hair brown, trade Farm Servant, intended place of residence 176 Albany St, NW1.
Descriptive marks: Scar back of left wrist and front of forefinger and middle finger left hand.


Receipt of 1914 Star acknowledged by E Black 29 Jan 1919.
Receipt of British War and Victory Medals acknowledged by Mrs E Black 12 Mar 1921.

Short Service Attestation:
Name: David Black
Born in the parish of: Gatehouse-on-Fleet, near the town of Castle Douglas, in the county of Kirkcudbright.
Age: 18 years 7 months
Trade: Farm Servant
Have you resided out of your Father's house for three years: No
Have you been an apprentice: No
Married: No
Imprisoned: No
Already in forces: No
Ever in forces before: No
Ever rejected as unfit: No
Willing to be vaccinated: Yes
Corps to be enlisted for: Gordon Highlanders
Signed at Glasgow 13 Jun 1905.

Description on enlistment:
Age 18 years 7 months
Height: 5 ft 10 3/8 ins, weight 143 lbs, chest 36 1/2, complexion fair, eyes blue, hair brown.
After 6 months' service and gymnastic course: Height 5 ft 10 1/4 ins, weight 160 lbs, chest 39 1/2.
Religious denomination: Presbyterian.

Statement of services - number 9767 is crossed out and 2725 written in at a later date.
Service towards limited engagement reckons from 13/6/1905
Joined at Cork on 17/6/1905.
Gordon Highrs: Attested 13/6/05
Appointed 24/9/06
Granted Ser Pay Class II 4d 13/11/06
Granted Ser Pay Class I 6d 2/8/07
Granted 1 GC Badge 13/6/07
Transferred to 2nd Life Guards as Trooper, 24/6/10.
Transferred to Section B, Army Reserve 12 Jun 1913
Rejoined Colours on Mobilization 5/8/14.
Reported Missing 31/10/14.
Official acceptance of death on or since 31/10/14 dated 12/2/16.

Military History Sheet
Home 13/6/05-12/6/13
Army Reserve 13/6/13-4/8/14
Home 5/8/14-5/10/14
Expeditionary Force 6/10/14-31/10/14.

Certificate of education: awarded 3rd Class 13/2/06.

Medal: 1914 Star
Name and address of next of kin: Mother Mary and Eldr Bro' George, address not known.

Married Esther Attridge parish church S Farnborough 21/7/09
Children David James Black born 1910, Jean Black born 1913
Address: 52 Somerset Rd, S Farnboro, Hants.

Regimental Conduct Sheet
Offences - certified no entry.

Medical History
Examined 13 Jun 1905 at Glasgow
Born Gatehouse-on-Fleet, Kirkcudbright
Age 18 7/12 years
Trade: Farm Servant
Height 5 ft 10 3/8 in
Weight 143 lb
Chest 33 1/2 in
Physical Development: Good
Small Pox Marks: Nil
Vaccination Marks: 1, right arm
When vaccinated: Infancy
Enlisted at Glasgow 13 Jun 1905
Stationed Cork 17/6/05 - 1/10/07
Aldershot 2/10/07-23/6/10
London SW 23/6/10-3/5/11
Windsor 4/5/11-30/4/12
London 1/5/12

[kiterunner]

So he actually joined the army in Glasgow, not Cork. Cork was his first posting.

[Shona]

Well done finding the records - I drew a blank earlier. I thought it likely he joined the Gordon Highlanders in Scotland and there's the proof.

There could easily be kirk session records. They had an obsession with sex and it was common for a couple who had an illegitimate child to be hauled before the congregation.

Could there be a baptismal record?

I had wondered if there may have been action taking to seek financial support for the child, as well.

[Shona]

So where is David Black in 1891 and 1901?

[kiterunner]

Originally Posted by Shona

Well done finding the records - I drew a blank earlier.

I didn't find them - Lorraine sent me a copy. They are on TNA but don't seem to be on ancestry or FMP. It must be a set of records which isn't included in the main WW1 soldiers' papers for some reason.

[annswabey]

His records would have been in the Household Cavalry records (TNA Ref WO400) - a separate series of records from those on FMP and Ancestry (WO363 and WO364)

[Shona]

That explains it.

[Shona]

Oooh - look at this. A website dedicated to Gatehouse of Fleet family history. They have transcribed kirk session records up to the 1860s.

http://www.gatehouse-folk.org.uk/

Might be worth contacting them.

[kiterunner]

Originally Posted by Shona

So where is David Black in 1891 and 1901?

On the 1901 census there is a David Black age 14 born Anwoth, Kirkcudbrightshire, scholar, at Crossmichael Village as a boarder with a Jane Stewart age 59 and an Elizabeth Black age 15, both born Crossmichael.

I thought at first that this David was the same one who is the son of William and Lillias Black on the 1891 census, but their David's birthplace is St Andrews, Fifeshire (this is all according to ancestry's transcription so could be wrong!) and they don't have an Elizabeth, but Elizabeth Black age 5 and "Daivd" Black age 3 are boarders in Crossmichael in 1891 too, with Jane Kinsbrey age 50, her granddaughter Nelly Kinsbrey age 9 (surname could be wrong as this is from ancestry!), and an Agnes J Campbell age 1 born Kirkcudbright. I have submitted a correction from "Daivd" to "David" despite not having viewed the image.