John Flint
- Family History
- Military History
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John Flint was the son of George and Sarah Ann Flint (née Walker). His father George was born in 1847 at Blidworth. His mother was born in 1849 at Codnor Park; she died in 1904 aged 55 yrs. They were married on 14th August 1870 at Selston St Helen and had at least 13 children: Thomas b1870, Samuel b1872 (J/F/M), Walter b1873, Joseph b. 3 August 1874 and Mary b1876 (J/F/M) who were born in Selston and then eight children who were born in Kirkby in Ashfield: John b1879, Kate b1880, Sarah b1883 (J/F/M), Martha b1884, Bertha b.1885, Eliza b1887, William b1888 and Arthur b1891 (J/F/M). In 1871 George (24), a coal miner, and Sarah (22) were living at 'end of Poplar Terrace', Selston, with their son Thomas (under one year). George, Sarah and the seven children born between 1870 and 1880 have not yet been traced on the 1881 Census. However, the five eldest were born in Selston while the two youngest, John (1879) and Kate (1880) were born in Kirkby in Ashfield. In 1891 George (44), a coal miner, and Sarah (42) were living on Portland Row, Kirkby in Ashfield, with their 13 children, Thomas (20), Samuel (19), Walter (19) and Joseph (16), who were all coal miners, and Mary (15), John (11), Kate (10), Sarah (8), Martha A (6), Bertha (4), Eliza (3), William (2) and Arthur (under one year). By 1901 George and Sarah had moved back to Selston and were living on Alfreton Road with just two of their children, William (11) and Arthur (10). Eliza (14) was a general domestic servant in the household of Henry Rawson, a draper, also of Alfreton Road, while John (20), a coal miner, was also living in Selston, a boarder in the household of John Draycott, a coal miner, and his wife. Sarah Ann died three years later in 1904 and in 1911 her husband George, a retired farm labourer, was living on Hanstubbin Hill, Selston, with his married son Samuel, a colliery contractor, and his wife Sarah Jane (née Green, m. 1897) and five daughters. Also in the household were two of Samuel's younger siblings, Eliza (23) and Arthur (20) a collier loader. Only five other members of the family have been traced on the 1911 Census: Thomas (40), a coal miner, was living at 8 Hampsden Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, with his wife Sarah Ann (née Eggleshaw, m. 1898) and their two children; Joseph (37) who was living with his wife Rose Mary (née Coles, m Selston St Helen 24 December 1897) and their eight children on Portland Road, Selston; John (29) a colliery labourer was a boarder living at 17 Portland Row, Selston, with Henry Jepson, retired coal miner, and his wife; Bertha, her husband Joseph Castledine (m. 1902) and their seven children were living in Jacksdale, near Selston; William was probably also in Selston, working as a coal miner loader and a boarder in the household of Nathan Hall, a miner hewer, and his wife. The five other siblings - Walter, Mary, Kate, Sarah, Martha (who married George Stubbs in 1905) - have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. George Flint may have died in 1913 (J/F/M Basford) aged about 66. The Registers of Soldiers' Effects gives the names of John's legatees; these were his four brothers Thomas, Samuel, Joseph and Arthur and three married sisters Sarah Bingham, Martha Stubbs and Bertha Castledine, all of whose names annotated with the date 18 February 1921. Another name was added and annotated 11 March 1921, Henrietta Flint, a sister-in-law, who has not yet been identified. However, a George Flint (b. 1878 J/F/M Basford, mother's maiden name Walker) married a Henrietta Coles at Selston St Helen on 24 February 1900 (J/F/M Basford) and in 1901 and 1911 they were living in Selston (each census gives a different place of birth for George, Kirkby in Ashfield and Selston respectively). George therefore may have been another sibling, although he does not appear with the family on the 1891 Census when he would have been about 13 years old. George probably died in 1919, so if he was one of John's brothers his widow may have been nominated as an alternative legatee.
Private John James Flint enlisted on 18th January 1915 at Mansfield. He gave his age as 34 yrs and 77 days and was a coal miner. He was residing in Annesley Woodhouse. His next of kin was his eldest brother, Thomas Flint, of 8 Hampden Street, Kirkby in Ashfield. John was posted to the Sherwood Foresters Regiment and served with the 1st battalion. He went to France on 31st May 1916 and served throughout the war, returning to England on 18th December 1918. He was discharged from the Army on 24th July 1919 but re-enlisted on 25th July 1919 for a further period of 2 yrs. On this occasion he named his brother, J [Joseph] Flint of 15 Portland Row, Selston, as his next of kin. John was posted to the 3rd battalion Sherwood Foresters at Liverpool. John's body was recovered from the River Trent at Stoke Bardolph, Nottinghamshire, in July 1920; he was deemed to have died on 21st July 1920. John had drowned and at the inquest the coroner recorded an open verdict. He was buried in St Peter and St Paul churchyard extension, Shelford, Nottinghamshire.
CWGC, Registers of Soldiers' Effects, birth registration and Census transcripts give first name as John. Army Service record, John James. Nottingham Evening Post, 23 July 1920: ‘Selston Soldier’s Fate. The body found in the Trent at Stoke Bardolph on Wednesday has been identified as that of John Flint, late of Portland-road, Selston. He belonged to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters and was on leave. His brothers state that when they last saw him he seemed in trouble in consequence of being ordered to go to Ireland. An inquest will be held to-day.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 24 July 1920: 'Toll of the River. Open Verdict at Inquest on a Notts. Soldier’ ‘An open verdict was recorded by the District Coroner (Mr H Bradwell) at the inquest this week, at Shelford, on a soldier, named John Flint, 39, single, formerly of Portland-row, Selston, whose decomposed body was recovered from the River Trent, near the Stoke Bardolph ferry, on Wednesday. ‘From deceased’s brothers it was learned that he rejoined the army about five months ago, becoming attached to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters, after 3½ years’ service during the war. He came home on leave on June 29th to July 12th, and visited a brother who lives in Bromley-place, Nottingham, after which he went to Selston. He returned to Nottingham on the 13th inst., and being a day overdue on his leave, and left about midnight ostensibly to catch a train from the Midland Station back to Blackdown Camp. During the time he was with his brothers he had never appeared worried but said that whilst in Germany with the army of occupation he had ‘the best time of his life.’ It was understood that his regiment had orders to proceed to Turkey or Ireland, but there was no reason why he should have gone down to the riverside at all. ‘Pc Anderson, who, assisted by a man named William Kirkham, recovered the body, said that a number of army papers were found in his tunic pocket, showing that he was demobilised in December, 1918, and including a return ticket to Brookwood, Woking. There was no money in his possession, and deceased, who was fully dressed, including greatcoat, had apparently been in the river for about ten days’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) The above report of the inquest was also published in the Mansfield Reporter on 30 July 1920 under the heading: 'Toll of the River. Open Verdict at Inquest on a Selston Soldier'
