James William Sampson

James William was born in Nottingham in 1893 (reg. O/N/D, mother's surname Swords), the son of James and Elizabeth Sampson. He was baptised at St Patrick RC church, London Road, Leenside, on 24 March 1894 (b. 11 October 1893). His parents were then living at 1 Lyndock Row in the parish of St Mary. His father was probably the son of Henry Isaac and Priscilla Sampson who in 1881 were living in Leenside, Nottingham, with four of their children including James (13), a lace hand. There is a record of a James Sampson age 18 years 3 months (b. abt. 1868), a card puncher (employer William Gregory), of 1 Crossland Place, Leen Side, in the parish of St Mary, who in February 1886 enlisted in the Militia, 'D' Coy Derbyshire Regiment (2352). James snr. married Elizabeth Swords (also recorded as 'Sands') at Sneinton St Luke on 8 May 1893. Elizabeth may have died in 1896 (reg. J/F/M Nottingham). James, aged 20, emigrated to Australia in 1914, embarking at Liverpool on 21 March (SS Irishman, White Star Line), destination Melbourne. The passenger list gave his occupation as 'orchardist.' Australian on-line military records show that he enlisted in Gunnedah, New South Wales, but a 'place of assocation' was Mullaley, a village about 38km from Gunnedah, so this was probably where James lived. Neither James William nor his father have yet been traced on the 1901 or 1911 Census, but the Australian military records gave his father's address as Pinder Street, Nottingham.