Genealogy Chat

Thanks Sarah I'll have a good look through that site after I've sorted out these pesky kids It's a wonder they get fed sometimes, when I get started on family history Sarah

Where abouts are you? Maybe a trip to the Nat Archives at Kew is in order? This is part of their research guide ''Metropolitan Police (London): Records of Service Domestic Records Information 52'' Alphabetical Registers of Joiners September 1830 - April 1857; July 1878-1933 (MEPO 4/333 - 338 ). The earliest volumes give names and addresses of referees. Attestation Ledgers Ledgers for warrant numbers 51491-146379, February 1869 - May 1958 (MEPO 4/352 - 360 ) give signatures of the recruit and witness. Certificate of Service Certificates for warrant numbers 74201-97500, January 1889 - November 1909 (MEPO 4/361 - 477 ) give a description of recruit, date of birth, trade, marital status, residence, number of children, name and place of last employer, previous public service, surgeon's certificate, postings to divisions, dates of promotion or demotion and cause of removal. Registers of Leavers March 1889 - January 1947 (MEPO 4/339 - 351 ) give class of officer, number of certificate granted if not dismissed (1. Excellent, 2. Very Good, 3. Good, 4. Open, i.e. no comment), date certificate sent to division, number of documents an officer is entitled to, according to regulations, and date documents sent to division. These last two details are phased out around 1913-1914 and the comments on an officer's conduct are no longer expressed numerically. The abbreviation RP stands for 'resignation permitted' and is replaced in October 1920 by RR 'required to resign'. The divisional abbreviation CO stands for 'Commissioner's Office'. Pension Records Before the Police Pensions Act 1890, pensions were granted on a discretionary basis. The Act provided a legal right to a pension after twenty-five years service, and a modified pension or gratuity if discharged medically unfit. Pensions and gratuities, 1829-1859, are mentioned in the early series of correspondence and papers (MEPO 5/1 - 90 ). Records of Metropolitan Police pensioners who retired or resigned between 1852 and 1968 and who were granted or (after 1890) qualified for a police pension are to be found in class MEPO 21 . These contain detailed personal records, including physical description, date and place of birth, marital status, dates of service. Before 1923, names of parents and next of kin are also given. There is a nominal card index to MEPO 21 in the Research Enquiries Room for dates of retirement until March 1889. After March 1889 it is necessary to know the approximate date of retirement to use this class. (The date of retirement can be determined by referring to the register of leavers). Sorry it's so long. There is a lot more on the guide than this. See, some things might give details of marriage etc!! Sarah

Hi Sarah Yep he was the metropolitan police officer in 1901, down as being 'single' maybe he was and they weren't married until after 1901. He was down as William G Roberts in 1901 from a place in Cornwall, 1881 census shows William Grose Roberts from exactly the same Cornish place Hester Hannah Jones calling herself Ettie Roberts and on daughters bith certificate named as Hettie Roberts formerly Vincent. I'll track them down if it kills me - bankrupt me as well while in the process I think lol

Did ''we'' decide that William was in the Met Police force in 1901?? I've forgotten!! It was Hester Hannah Jones who was called Ettie or Nettie or something? What was that other surname she suddenly invented? I am almost strong enough to look again.........But have to cook sons tea + schoolrun, so will return later. Hopefully someone else will have shouted ''Eureka'' in the meantime lol Sarah

Well I'm still determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of Hester Hannah Jones and William Roberts. Have a suspicion that William might be William Grose Roberts originally from Cornwall. So set about on 1837 online last night to try and track down his marriage. Used the date of their younger daughter as the starting point. Went 10 years before daughter was born, a few years after.............then hubby peers over my shoulder and asks why I'm looking at births of William Roberts instead of marriages Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr How many units I wasted on that I don't know Then felt quite ashamed this morning when I went to get together all the years and quarters I finally managed to search for his marriage (right event this time) and I've written the whole lot of the back of my Sainsbury's receipts, gonna take me ages to make head nor tail of it. Must start organising myself better and nope from 1891 to 1901 - no blinking William Grose Roberts Sarah

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