As some of you know, I am Indexing small sections of the WW1 Service Records in the hope that some of those soldiers will be re-united with their descendants. But I don't think anyone will ever look for this one. So perhaps some of us here at TD can "adopt" him? Robert Alexander Scott, born 1894, Newbiggen by the Sea, Northumberland. Killed in Action in 1917. In 1919 his cousin Elizabeth Jobson summed up his life on the Relatives Form (W5080) - every entry blank, and a note: "This soldier was of illegitimate birth - and was brought up by the father's parents entirely. Nothing whatever is known of the mother or her relatives. The father died five weeks after the child's birth. The grandfather and grandmother are now both dead. Letters of Administration with the Will annexed of this soldier has been granted to me." Please, when you're thinking about the WW1 Casualties, spare a thought for this 23 year old lad. Jane (in pensive mood today!)
It is sad that there is probably no-one around to remember him. I have just been looking at the CWGC website and there are a couple of RA Scotts who were killed in 1917 with no age stated. What was his date of death?
Oh my goodness! He is buried at the Nine Elms British Cemetery at Poperinge in Belgium. I actually visited that cemetery when I stayed at Talbot House, in Poperinge some years ago - the only cemetery that I visited whilst I was over there.
If I am right, he can be found on the 1901 census RG13/4834/208/32 - living at 4th Row, Bedlington, Northumberland William Scott b 1840 Scotland - horse choppyman Isabella wife b 1837 Hambleton Robt Alexr grandson b1894 Choppington William Black nephew b1880 Choppington - brickyard labourer By 1911 William is dead and Robert is with his Grandma Isabella (listed as having 1 child - dead) RG14 PN1775 SN160 Robert is an apprentice butcher They are living at 7, Aged Miners Homes, Bedlington Station (in 2 rooms) It looks like Isabella dies Dec qtr 1916 Morpeth 10b 511 If we look at the 1891 census we can find the name of his father - unsurprisingly Robert Alexander - RG12/4257/126/15 even more tragic is that Rbt Alexr senior is just 13 in 1891 meaning he fathered his child when he was around 16 1881 census RG11/5117/56/56 confirms Rbt Alexr b1878 Just to tie up the ends William Scott married Isabella Wintrip (d/o Alexander) in 1875 No one might ever look for him - but we have not forgotten him
Thank you Jan, I was glad to have someone to search for, I need to learn how to use the redesigned FMP site, so it was a good exercise. Plus it is nice to record more about Robert Alexander - you never know someone somewhere may look for him one day. I do hope so.
Aww beaten to it by MollyMay. But I'm not wasting it so here goes There is a birth registration for a Robert Alexander Scott in the June qtr of 1894 in the Alanwick registration district. familysearch has the baptism for a Robert Alexander Scott in Choppington, Northumberland on 29 April 1894. Parents Father Robert Alexander Scott Mother Edith There is a death for a Robert Alexander Scott in the Morpeth registration district, which covers Newbiggin by the Sea, in the June qtr of 1894 (same qtr as the birth registration) This Robert was aged 16. his burial was on 7 April 1894 residence Choppington Colliery, Northumberland. On the 1881 census there is a Robert Alex Scot born 1878 with William & Isabella Scott living in Bedlington. He is entered as their grandson. Bedlington to Choppington is only one mile. He is still with his grandparents in 1891. In 1901 living with William and Isabells (still in Bedlington) is a 5 year old Robert Alex Scott. He is also entered as their grand son. In 1911 The lad now aged 17 is with his grandmother Isabella. She is the head. Could this be the above R A Scott.
That's him, Mollymay & Chimp. On his attestation in 1915, he gave grandmother Isabella as his next of kin. Address: Catchburn Farm, Morpeth. Thank you! Jane
I'm sorry to make this thread even more sad but...... Morpeth Herald 14th April 1894 SAD DEATH OF A LAD AT CHOPPINGTON. On April 6th, the Travellers' Rest, in the parish Choppington, an inquest was held by Mr. J. E. D. Lynn to inquire into the circumstances attending the death of Robert Alexander Scott, who resided at Choppington Colliery. William Scott said he was a miner, and lived at Choppington Colliery, and he identified the body as that of his son, Robert Alexander Scott, 16 years of age, a waggon lad at Choppington Colliery. He died on the 5th instant from injuries to the thigh and bowels received on Tuesday whilst at work screening at the colliery. William Neil said he was a screener at the same colliery. On the 3rd inst., about 12.40 he saw the deceased coming out underneath the screens riding astride the brake of a full car. He slipped off the brakeband and one of his legs got inside the wheels, and was scraped by the wheel. The wheel got hold his leg, and he fell in front of the wheel, which caught his thigh, and pushed him in front until the brake was stopped. He had only been at that work about 5 weeks, and had not been accustomed to run trucks down. The truck was going slowly at the time. William Tait said he was sent to work with the deceased at the small screens on the 3rd. He did not see how he got injured. He was running out the trucks in the usual way. Deceased said he would run out the full trucks if he would put in the chock to the empty trucks which were coming in, and it was at the time he was chocking the empty truck that got injured. The Coroner returned a verdict having "died from injuries received to the thigh and bowels, accidentally received whilst at work at the Choppington Colliery on the 3rd inst., from being crushed by a coal truck which was running out underneath the screens." Ann
Oh Ann - you are a marvel with the newspapers. You put flesh on the bones of the info that people find.
what a sad life story, but at least the younger Robert was obviously loved by his grandparents and was kept in the family, which many wouldn't have been.
Aha! I have found a very useful article about pit ponies which says: Feeding A major part of the cost of keeping pit ponies was the food bill. Colliery owners knew that well-fed ponies made better workers so a healthy diet had to be provided. The feed was made up of certain basic foods; chopped hay, oats, pulses (field peas and beans), maize and barley. It was known as ‘choppy’ or ‘chop’. In general, ponies had a good diet, which was often supplemented by their drivers, who might bring treats such as fresh grass pulled up from the road- side, fruit, sweets or even specially prepared sandwiches. From this, I would suggest that a 'Horse Choppyman' was the chap who provided the pit ponies with their feed. Source: http://www. ncm.org.uk/docs/background-information/pit-pony-care.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Aha. I'm well acquainted with chop; I feed it to ours every day. Never heard it referred to as 'choppy', though, but it makes sense. 'Choppyman'. I've learnt something new today.
How sad - We will remember him and adopt him - I have ancestors from Newbiggin by the sea and Bedlington too. I have an ancestor from Newbiggin who was killed in the great war in 1916. RIP Robert Alexander Scott. We will not forget.
William Black would be his 1st cousin, once removed so there will be relatives somewhere! Hope I've got that right William is with William & Isabella in 1881 and 1891 census as well. William Scott & Isabella Wintrip married 24 Dec 1875, Newcastle Upon Tyne. There are pension records for William Black. He married Mary Latty on 04 June 1903 and they had a daughter Elizabeth born 26 Mar 1909.