George James Morris 1834-1907

[Phil Carter]

Hello all,

Herewith an update on George James Morris, he of Mitre Square fame and a few pieces of information related to censuses and the like. Hope some of you find it interesting.

George James Morris b. 8th February 1834 Teddington, Middlesex
baptised 15th June 1834, in the parish of
St. Mary, Teddington, Middlesex.

He was the son of John and Elizabeth Morris. John Morris is listed as a labourer under the baptism registration.

George James Morris d. 1907, Edmonton, Middlesex



He married Jane Arnold in 1857, Lambeth, Surrey

(Jane Arnold was born ca. 1836, Lambeth)

1861 census:-

George and Jane were living at No.4 Tamworth Lane, Mitcham, Surrey
He is listed as a police constable, she as a dress maker
the children are listed as follows:-

Elizabeth b. ca 1858 (aged 2)
Julia b. 1860 (aged 7 months)

1871 census:-

George and Jane were living at No.37 Gt Church Lane, Hammersmith
George is listed as a police constable.
The children are listed as follows:-

Elizabeth 12 y.o. scholar b. Mitcham, Surrey
Julia 10 y.o. " " "
George 8 y.o. " " "
Jane 6 y.o. b. Brixton, Surrey
Edward 5 y.o. " "
Albert 3 y.o. " "
Mary 1 y.o. b. Hammersmith, Middlesex

1881 census:-

George and Jane were living at 48 Pantile Road, New Hampton, Middlesex.
George is listed as a police constable.
The children are listed as foillows:-

George 18 y.o. Postman, b. Mitcham, Surrey
Jane 16 scholar, b. Brixton, Surrey
Edward 15 Grocer's errand boy, b. Brixton, Surrey
Albert 13 scholar, b. Brixton, Surrey
Mary 11 " b. Hammersmith, Middlesex
John 8 " b. Hampton, Middlesex
Thomas 5 " b. Hampton, Middlesex

An explanation as to the name of the place "New Hampton" as it does not exist today as such.
Originally called Hampton Common, or colloquially as "The Common", New Hampton was not a popular name. It's residents did not like the relationship, and ties, to Hampton. They decided to petition for a name change, and on the 12th of July 1890, the Reverend Henry Bligh received a letter from the Post Master General that the change of name to Hampton Hill had been sanctioned and accepted. As another side note, and Neil and Adam Went, amongst others, may find this fascinating.. Henry Bligh was the uncle of Ivo Bligh, the man who brought first back the Ashes from Australia. Rev Henry Bligh was one of the First Presidents of Hampton Hill Cricket Club, founded 1855, in three separate batches, from 1883-87, 1889-90, and 1893.

1891 census:-

George and Jane were living at No.12, Addison Road, Bromley, Kent
George is listed as a nightwatchman.
The children are not listed as living with their parents.

1901 census:-

George and Jane were living at No.10, West Grove Cottages, Woodford, Essex.
George is listed as a retired policeman.
The registration distirct is West Ham, the sub-registration district is Walthamstow.

George James Morris died in the first qtr of 1907, Edmonton, Middlesex aged 73

Jane Morris died (I believe) 2nd qtr of 1909, Edmonton, Middlesex, aged 73.

Work:-

George James Morris according to the A-Z, served in the army for four and a half years. He joined the Met Police in 1856 (warrent No. 35246); resigned in 1863. He rejoined in 1864 (warrent No. 44855) and resigned in 1882.

.................................................. .................................................. ..............

I am currently researching the whereabouts of George's children. If anyone has any information to add to this or anything thus presented, please feel free to do so.

Hope this is of some use.

best wishes

Phil

[lynn cates]

nice work

Hello Phil. Nice work. Now I think I can see why he needed to stay busy.

Cheers.
LC

[cats meat man]

Hello Phil.In the 1841 census George is living with his parents in Teddington High Street. He has an older brother, Wiliam and younger brother,Thomas.
George was later PC211 T( Hammersmith Division) and retired on 13th January 1882,aged 47, due to ill health ( stomach disease). He received a Certificate No 3 denoting 'Generally Good' conduct.

[TomTomKent]

Thats a great pieof info. Thank you very much for sharing.

[Nemo]

A recently posted article on JtR forums mentioned he was a Naval pensioner

(Grantham Journal 6th Oct 1888)

[cats meat man]

A search of Naval/Army records might lead to something, Crimean War maybe?
I wonder why he resigned from The Met the first time and what exactly is stomach disease?

[cats meat man]

A quick search has revealed a private George Morris regt No 1136 Regiment
8th Hussars who was involved in The Charge Of The Light Brigade.

[Robert]

Hi CMM

I'm very ignorant on things military, but this link suggests that, unless he was invalided out, George would have been sent to Ireland after the Crimea, and then on to India, making him unavailable to join the Met in 1856 :

http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/8th-kings-royal-irish-hussars

[Cogidubnus]

Hi Cats Meat Man

According to the Forces War Records site (which I can't fully access as I'm not a subscriber) there were four George Morris possibilities servivg at the time of the Crimea (1853 to 1856)

One described as a Private in "The Hussars"
One listed as a Private in the 23rd of Foot
One listed as a Private in the 8th Hussars
One listed without rank in the 45th of Foot

The 23rd of Foot were the Royal Welch Fusilers, recruited largely frm Mid and North Wales. They served in the Crimea

The 8th Hussars were the Kings Royal Irish, and did indeed take part in the charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea

The 45th of Foot were The Nottinghamshires (The Old Stubborns) and were largely serving continuously in South Africa at this time

If I had to put money on it I think I'd look more towards the 23rd of Foot but that'd be wild guess.

On a lighter note did you know that the Regimental Goat of the Royal Welsh is the only British Army member left entitled to a cigarette ration? Apparently it's good for his digestion...

All the best

Dave

[cats meat man]

Thank you for that information. On The National Archives website British Army Service Records 1760-1915 I searched for George Morris born 1834 exact Middlesex and only one match with that year of birth came up-Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records WO97. I will look into how to register to view the record and discover what It tells us.

[cats meat man]

This George Morris was born in the Parish of ST Peter Middlesex.He joined The Scots Guards in 1844 as a Drummer and was discharged as a Corporal in 1873 occupation described as a Labourer,so not George Morris of Mitre Square.....but I'm an optimist and I still have 25 credits left! It's like opening a WONKA bar and looking for that golden ticket.

[cats meat man]

This could be George Morris of Mitre Sqauare fame-Recorded under Merchant Navy Seamen 1835-1941: series B7116 piece 63:
George Morris born London 1834 age 22 in 1856. The image lists various George Morris' and where born, age and what appears to be the name of the ship they sailed on eg 'Lesley Alexander' or 'Pomona'. The George Morris born London records 'Empire State' then what looks like Hells 'Orion'. The top of the page is headed Voyages and split into sections from 1853 to 1857 with OUT and HOME recorded underneath . All entries are in the HOME section 1856 and have dates and numbers with names such as Calcutta, Swansea,Hartlepool, Lpool. For George Morris born London it looks like 05/11/9 Mary Anne and could then be sister or Bristol then directly underneath what looks like 05/11/11 Aletone Lport 22 dec 10.10. A date at the bottom of the page reads 1-11-56.
George Morris joined the Metropolitan Police on 22nd December 1856 age 22 .

[cats meat man]

Hello Dave-I've looked at the four George Morris possibilities. All were killed in action during The Crimean War except the one listed without rank in the 45th of Foot (Nottinghamshire). He was in service from 1846-47 the Second Kaffir War and 1850-53,the Third Kaffir War and awarded The South Africa Medal 1854. This George Morris is also recorded as James Morris seperately for the same details. Could be worth looking into further ( George James Morris?)QUOTE=Cogidubnus;267861]Hi Cats Meat Man

According to the Forces War Records site (which I can't fully access as I'm not a subscriber) there were four George Morris possibilities servivg at the time of the Crimea (1853 to 1856)

One described as a Private in "The Hussars"
One listed as a Private in the 23rd of Foot
One listed as a Private in the 8th Hussars
One listed without rank in the 45th of Foot

The 23rd of Foot were the Royal Welch Fusilers, recruited largely frm Mid and North Wales. They served in the Crimea

The 8th Hussars were the Kings Royal Irish, and did indeed take part in the charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimea

The 45th of Foot were The Nottinghamshires (The Old Stubborns) and were largely serving continuously in South Africa at this time

If I had to put money on it I think I'd look more towards the 23rd of Foot but that'd be wild guess.

On a lighter note did you know that the Regimental Goat of the Royal Welsh is the only British Army member left entitled to a cigarette ration? Apparently it's good for his digestion...

All the best

Dave[/QUOTE]

[Cogidubnus]

Little Drummer Boy?

Hi Cats Meat Man

Good stuff mate!

If our George James Morris was indeed born in 1834, and he joined the 46th of Foot in 1846 that would make him just 12...this is possible though, as Drummer Boys still saw active service overseas until well after this, and I think younger than 12 was known - it wasn't officially sanctioned but it happened!

All the best

Dave

[cats meat man]

Could explain why I've struggled to find George James Morris in the 1851 UK census. Further searching has revealed that a George and James Morris both served in the 45th of Foot Regiment. They are recorded as recipients of The South African Medal in 1853 and George is listed as a Lieutenant and James as a Private.
Does anyone know where the info comes from for George Morris to be recorded as having served four and a half years in the Army in the A to Z? I'm aware that the reference to being a Naval pensioner comes from a press report but I've never heard about him serving in the army before.