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

On Monday, September 23, 2013 4:40:43 PM UTC+2, 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 thanks to you both, Jenny and Renia, the entry living with the Bridges looks very promising. I forgot to say he was resident at Stanmore on his marriage cert, so he was already employed by William Knox D'arcy before his marriage, he is described as a fitter on the marriage cert, so presumably he was more a car mechanic than a chauffeur in the beginning. He was certainly the Chauffeur when Knox D'arcy died as he was given money in the will, which allowed him to set up his own business running a garage in Leagrave near Luton. regards melanie ps typing error should be Clarice Brown - never learnt to type accurately!

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, This one any good? WARD, William Brother-In-Law Single M 18 1883 Crane Fitter Dronfield, Derbyshire VIEW Piece: 2708 Folio: 119 Page: 38 Living with John & Annie Bridge and daughter Doris. -- Jenny M Benson