On 23/09/2013 15:40, melanie chesnel wrote: > I have had no luck trying to find my great grandfather in the 1901 > census, having found him in all the others. Born in Dronfield, > Derbyshire on June 3rd 1882, he was probably working for Wolseley in > Aston at the time. He did an apprenticeship, making the iron rings > used to support tunnels for the London underground, but I don't know > the dates of his apprenticeship, nor for who he worked. He was a > mechanic for Herbert Austin who won first prize in class B of the > 1900 1000 miles Trials with his Wolseley Voiturette. The prize was > given by the Dailymail but I have no access to their digitalized > archive here in France. I have also found photos on Youtube of the > Trial uploaded by Peter Stowe and so if I could find out Herbert > Austin's number in the trial I might be able to identify him in the > photos. William married Clarise Brown in Handsworth in 1903, and > they were living in Bylaugh in 1904 when their first son was born. > He died within in a few days and is buried in the Bylaugh church > yard. William told my father, his grandson, that he was working for > Wolseley making cars and he had to deliver them once they were ready. > He delivered one to Knox Darcy at Bylaugh and was employed on the > spot as his chauffeur. This may well coincide with the end of his > apprenticeship and have been the spur to get married now he had a > good situation. So in 1901 he may have been delivering another car > and could have been anywhere staying overnight! Any help much > appreciated regards melanie He died in 1961 and left a will when he was living in Ludon. Clarise was still alive then. In 1918-1919 he was living in the County Borough of Barnet (half-way between London and Luton up the M1) where he is on the list of electoral registers. In 1911 he is at Stanmore, Middlesex, as W. B. Ward, when he is a domestic chauffeur living at The Hall Stables, Little Common, Stanmore, Middlesex In 1901 he is indexed as William Hard, living in Dronfield with John and Annie Bridge.

> > > > In 1918-1919 he was living in the County Borough of Barnet (half-way > > between London and Luton up the M1) where he is on the list of electoral > > registers. > Interesting, he was working in Luton making ball bearings in 1918, so I am not sure why he is voting in Barnet > > > > In 1901 he is indexed as William Hard, living in Dronfield with John and > > Annie Bridge. I knew Annie was his sister and had found her on the census but stupidly hadn't made the Hard/Ward connection - silly me regards melanie