Training Ship Exmouth.

[baza]

in a job lot of family heirlooms we have found a Good Conduct medal dated 22nd June 1901 with the name J.Cuthbert, as this is not a known relative can anyone suggest how to trace any surviving relatives with a view to returning the medal to them?
Thank you for any help.

[DJHawkes]

this is how local family history societies continue to merit charitable status. They have volunteer members who will be able to identify the correct family or more likely donate it to the London Metropolitan archive where the records of the boys from the poor law unions in the london boroughs are now kept. Whichever workhouse he was put into (or born into) the LMA will hold the records of the poor law guardians and his transfer out from the workhouse to the training ship,

[baza]

thank you for the info, as the only date we know is 22/06/1901 and the name will the LMA be able to trace him?

[DJHawkes]

The training ship was moored in grays essex, the boys went there from the ages of 12 until they were 16 or entered the navy. I can try to find the 1901 census return for the ship and see what turns up.

[DJHawkes]

found him, James Cuthbert born Bethnal Green 1889, on board the training ship Essex aged 12 in 1901 sailor boy in training.
In 1911 he was an Able seaman aged 25 on His Majesty's Ship Illustrious moored at Portland, Dorset.
I think in 1891, when he was 4, he was living with his Grandparents in bethnal green, no mother present. in 1881, The grandfather Edward Cuthbert had 2 daughters living at home, Esther Ann Cuthbert and Maria Elizabeth Cuthbert.
Maria Elizabeth married Walter Curtis Wand 23 April 1892, Esther Ann s 1869, was a servant in 1891 at 38, Upper Berkeley St, Marylebone. I would take her as James's mother. She married Arthur J Denton in 1899 and in 1901 had 2 children arthur aged 6 and edith aged 1.

[DJHawkes]

sorry that's training ship 'exmouth' not essex.

[DJHawkes]

there are other researchers for his aunt and i can send them a message for you if you like, I have left a message on his 1911 entry incase anyone comes looking in the future

[craft1948]

A James Cuthbert aged 6 was removed from Mile End Old Town on 5 Sep 1894 under a Poor Law Removal Order.

[DJHawkes]

just found his removal order, September 5th 1894, aged 6, Parish removed from Mile End Old Town, Nature of Settlement, grandparent, date of service 7th September, time up 27th september.

I think possibly James went to the USA in 1913 as a prospector but that's not 100% at this stage and I have to go out.

[DJHawkes]

Craft i have to go out, if you can, would you check the details of maybe his WW1 service, though i do think he beggared off to america in 1913 to look for gold!

[DJHawkes]

there is an illegitimate birth for a jane cuthbert registered at bethnal green workhouse in december 1891, mother rose cuthbert, that looks interesting but I'm off now. will have a look at her later

[craft1948]

I can't find a WW1 record, I've looked at the emigration record but wonder if it was this James as I think he's travelling first class..........

[baza]

Thank you both for all this information I will pass it on to the rest of my family. Took it into the local jewellers who said it was Hallmarked silver, seems a bit posh.

[DJHawkes]

I would imagine it would be silver as there was probably a patron of the scheme that was not just a benefactor but also possibly a Naval person.

[baza]

Passed on all the information, I wonder if the medal was pawned to pay for the ticket to America?