John Sentance

John was the son of William Henry and Emma Sentance (née Chappell). His father William Henry was born in Norwell Woodhouse in 1861, the son of John and Mary Sentance, and baptised at Norwell St Lawrence on 8 February 1861. In 1871 the family was living on the Ossington Hall estate, Nottinghamshire, where his father was a shepherd. They later moved to Hawton, Newark. His mother Emma was born in Norwell in about 1858, the daughter of Malcolm and Sarah Chappell, and baptised at Norwell St Lawrence on 14 February 1858. In 1861 the family was living in Norwell and still living in the village in 1871 by which time Emma's mother had died. William and Emma were married in 1886 (A/M/J Newark) and had eight children of whom one died in infancy or childhood. Their surviving children were: George b. Bilsthorpe 11 August 1886 bap. Bilsthorpe St Margaret 12 September 1886; Henry (Harry) b. Bilsthorpe 1 February 1888 bap. St Margaret 4 March 1888; Annie Gertrude b. Brant Broughton birth registered 1890 (J/F/M); Frederick (Fred) b. Mansfield 1891; Mabel b. Mansfield birth registered 1894 (J/F/M); John b. Wadworth Yorkshire 15 March 1897 bap. Wadworth 25 October 1897 (reg. Doncaster) and Frank b. Hemsley 12 October 1902 (reg. Doncaster). In 1891 William, an agricultural labourer, and Emma were living at Forest Cottages, Southwell Road, Mansfield, with their three children, George (5), Henry (3) and Annie (1). By 1891 they had moved to Limestone Gate Cottage, Tickhill, Doncaster, where William was working as a shepherd. He and Emma now had six children; George and Henry who were also employed as shepherds, Annie, Frederick (9), Mabel (7) and John (4). Frank, the youngest son, was born the following year. By 1911 the family had returned to Nottinghamshire and were living at Shelton, near Newark, where William was a gamekeeper. Only four of their children were in the home on the night of the census: Henry a railway platelayer, Frederick a farm labourer, John a farm boy and Frank (8). Both their daughters were working as domestic servants, Annie at Cropwell Bishop in the household of Joseph Baldock, a relieving officer and registrar of births and deaths, and Mabel in Newark in the household of Robert Stephenson, an agricultural engineer. George had enlisted in the Militia in June 1906 but transferred to the regular army on 23 August 1906 and was serving in India with the 1st Bn York & Lancaster Regiment (994 Private). William died in 1913 and Emma was living at 20 Lindum Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire, when John was killed in 1917. She may have died in 1933. A report of John's death in the local newspaper recorded that his three brothers were also serving: Frank who was in hospital in England suffering from trench fever, George who had been twice wounded and also gassed and Harry who was with the Notts & Derby Regiment and had served in Ireland during the uprising. George served in the York & Lancaster Regiment (8478) and was in France from 1 May 1915. He later transferred to the Labour Corps (375000 A/Sgt) and was demobilized, Class 'Z', on 13 February 1919.