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Marston, Samuel

The first time I can find Samuel Marston was on the 1891 census, he was living at 43, Granville Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire (St. Michael) with his family, head of the household was his father John Marston, 43, a Furnaceman in the Iwon Works, who was born in Shropshire, his wife, Mary Ann, 44 had been born in Tividale, Staffordshire, as had Samuel,10, the only child of seven children to be born there.    The family seem to have moved around a lot, probably for work as the children have different places of birth.   Hannah, 19 a Dressmaker, Lydia, 18, John, 15 and Arthur, 13, had been born in Bilston, Albert, 7 had been born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, with the baby of the family William H., 4 born in Warrington, Lancashire.

The 1901 census sees Mary Ann Marston, 54 without John Marston, although the census says she is “married” and not a widow, so John must be away looking for work, perhaps.   They were now living at 72, St. James’s Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, (St. Michael & All Angels), Samuel, 20 was single and a Labourer in the Iron Works (Pud), as was Albert, now 17.   Son William M. (sic), 14 was a Cotton Spinner’s Piecer.

I believe that Samuel had married 1st November 1902 to Margaret Ann Howard at St. Michael’s Church, Ashton under Lyne, (Tameside CE4/32/314).

I don’t know when they came to Shotton, but they must have come after their marriage or after the 1911 census, but I cannot find them on that census, so any help would be appreciated.

However, to Shotton, Samuel did come, as he is shown to have enlisted in Shotton, on the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919, which tells us that he was born in Oldbury, Staffs, which is at odds with the earlier censuses and confirms his regimental details.

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 about Samuel Marston tells us that his first Theatre of War was France and he entered it on the 27th September 1915, but was killed on the 17th February 1916.

Samuel Marston in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the Sole Legatee was his widow Margaret Ann who was paid £1. 1s 5d on the 22nd May 1915 and his War Gratuity of £6 on the 25th September 1919.

Samuel is mentioned in the book “Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Volume 28.”

Commonwealth War Graves additional information: Son of John and Mary Ann Marston; husband of Margaret Ann Marston, of 16, Bennett St., Stalybridge.

Thanks to Bill Tyrell, who allowed me access to the Minutes of the the Conservative Club Shotton where in a meeting on the 9th October 1916 the committee voted to give financial help to sixteen widows of the area.   Mrs. S. MARSTON*, Henrietta St., Shotton, was one of those widows, they were each given 5/-. Please click on the link to read the names of the others who were mentioned in the minutes.

*Married women were sometimes known by the name of their husband, i.e. Mrs Samuel Marston.

Any help gratefully received.


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