Arthur George Nash

Arthur George was the son of Frederick and Emma Maria Nash (née Beeson). His parents Frederick and Emma were both born in Buckinghamshire and were married in 1874 (reg. Wycombe Buckinghamshire). They had seven children, two of whom died in infancy: Lilian Margaret b. 1875, Laura Annie b. 1877 d. 1878, Arthur George b. 1879, Mabel Ada b. 1881, Frederick Alfred birth registered 1883 (J/F/M), Henry Percy b. 1884 d. 1885 and Walter Thomas birth registered 1886 (J/F/M). In 1881 Frederick, a farm labourer, and Emma were living on Weedon Hill nr. Aylesbury with their children Lilian (5) and Arthur (1). Another daughter, Laura, had died in 1878. It is likely that Emma Nash died in 1888 two years after the birth of her youngest child, Walter. None of the family have yet been traced on the 1891 Census but in 1901 the eldest daughter Lilian and her husband Harry Southam (m. 1893) were living at Fleet Marson near Aylesbury, with their two children and Lilian's brothers Frederick (19) and Walter (15) who like Harry were farm workers. Their sister Mabel was employed as a domestic servant in Streatham, London. Arthur George has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census but in 1911 he was a railway labourer and living in Bamford, Derbyshire, with Mary Alice Harrison, named as Nash on the census return and described as his wife of 10 years. Also in the home were four children: Wallace (9), Frederick Alfred (7), Dorothy (5) and Alma (2). All the children had the surname Nash. Mary Alice Harrison (née Berrisford) was born in Crich, Derbyshire, in 1880, the daughter of Frederick and Ellen Berrisford (alternative surname Collins). Mary married John W Harrison in 1900 (reg. J/F/M) and at the time of the 1901 Census they were living with Mary's parents (surname Collins) in Crich. Also in the home was John S Collins, described as Frederick and Ellen's grandson; John was Mary's son, born in Crich in 1899 (birth reg. O/N/D, John Stanley Berresford-sic). John and Mary had a second son, Wallace later in 1901 and both children were baptised at Crich parish church on 4 July 1901 (John Berrisford, parent Mary Berrisford and Wallace Harrison, parents John and Mary Alice Harrison). John was brought up by his maternal grandparents in Crich and used the surname Berrisford (1911 Census: John Stanley Harrison Berrisford). Although Wallace had the surname Nash on the 1911 Census he later used his birth surname Harrison on civil records. Of his half-siblings: Frederick Alfred was born in Waddesden Buckinghamshire birth registered 1904 (J/F/M), Dorothy Mabel Alice Ada was born in Darley Dale Derbyshire in 1906, Alma was born in Crich in December 1908 (reg. 1909 J/F/M) and a fourth child, Ellen, was born and baptised in Bamford in 1911. The births were registered as Nash. The family later moved to Nottinghamshire and lived in East Kirkby where Mary continued to live after Arthur's death. Later records gave her address as 34 Bleak Hall, East Kirkby. Mary's third son Frederick (Nash) joined the Royal Tank Corps (No. 541909) in December 1921, previous occupation miner, and he named his mother of 44 Bleak Hall, East Kirkby, as his next of kin. Frederick was discharged at Canterbury in December 1925. Mary's eldest son John Stanley Berrisford served with the 7th Seaforth Highlanders (S/25288 Private). He was killed in action on 20 July 1918 aged 19 (b. 1899) although the CWGC record gives his age as 17. The WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Card named his widowed grandmother, Ellen Harrison, as his next of kin but the CWGC record gives Mary's details: 'Son of Mrs Mary Alice Harrison of 34 Bleak Hall, East Kirkby.' John has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial; he is also named on the Crich war memorial (J Berresford-sic). Derbyshire Courier, 3 August 1918 Crich, Lea, & Holloway: 'News was received by Mrs Ellen Berrisford of the Town End Crich, last weekend that her grandson Private John Harrison Berrisford, Seaforth Highlanders, had been killed in action. The intimation came from his officer Capt G V Stewart, in a letter written 21st July, which stated: – "It is with deepest regret that I have to inform you that your son, Private John Berrisford, was killed in action yesterday evening. He was engaged in the successful advance on Meteren, when he was shot through the head. Death was absolutely instantaneous. Your son was not very long with those, but he had all the qualities of a fine soldier, and his cheerful disposition was a comfort to us all. I am asked by his comrades to convey to you their sympathy in your loss." Private Harrison Berrisford had lived with his grandmother since infancy. He was 19 years of age. He had been in the Army since April last year. Before enlisting he worked at Wingfield Manor Colliery.' (www.crichparish-ww1).