A lesson in never giving up

George Hogg 1880 – 1937 - Tailor and Soldier

This blog is a testament and lesson to never giving up on searching for information and to always remember to revisit searches that you have carried out before. This week, I have found information that I have been searching for, for over 15 years.

George Hogg, my paternal, maternal great grandfather was born in 1880 in Greenwich, Kent but until this week, have not been able to find his baptism record. My search originally focussed around the Greenwich area in London in the 1880s, but I was aware that the family had also moved to Lambeth later on. I had also considered the possibility that the family were non-conformist, specifically Presbyterian as research had discovered that his father Joseph Hogg, born in Belfast in 1851 was a Presbyterian. However, due to the recent addition of records held by the City of Westminster Archives, recently published on Ancestry.co.uk, I have managed to find his baptism entry on 29 April 1886, aged 6, alongside his siblings Eleanor (born 1878) and William (born 1883). In retrospect, even when writing this, there are clues that indicate that Westminster should have been a place to research for this and trips and the necessary find may have been discovered much earlier. This shows me, that it is important consider all possibilities especially when the information isn’t found in the obvious place and how important it is to draw a time line not just of the individual in isolation but in relation to the rest of their family.

Here is George’s story...

George was born on 29th April 1880 at 18 George Street, Greenwich. He was the second of eight children (the oldest son of a family of 4 girls and 4 boys) to Joseph and Matilda Hogg. Joseph Hogg was born in 1851 in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Matilda Caroline (née Belles but also known as Nicholls) was born in Greenwich in 1857. Joseph Hogg was a tailor.

The 1881 census they were living at 14 Tuskar Street in Greenwich , with Nelly (3). They also had a servant called Louisa Sweetlove. By 1891 they had moved to 104 Belvedere Road, Lambeth. A trip to London in 2005, placed the estimated location of this as to where the London Eye is now on the South Bank. The family was bigger by now with 6 children listed in the census, Eleanor, George, Hetta, William, Ethel and Matilda. The census shows that the first three children were born in Greenwich, William (Lambeth) and Ethel and Matilda in Westminster.

The 1901 census, shows the family living at 58 Cromwell Road in Lambeth, although George is no longer in the family home. This is because George had enrolled in the Army. Researched carried out by other family members found that George enlisted on 4th April 1899 in the East Surrey Regiment. It is here that we have a description of what he looked like (this is important as it is thought there are no photographs of him owned by the family).

George was 19 when he enrolled and was of fair complexion with brown hair and blue eyes. He was 5ft 3¾ inches tall and was employed as a tailor. He had a scar on his head, forearms and right thumb. He served in South Africa from 1900 to 1902 and East India from 1902 to 1903. The next record where we find him is in Jersey in the Channel Islands when he gets married. On 14th March 1907 George marries Marie Louise Garnier in the parish of St Luke, Marie Louise was the daughter of Auguste Louis Pierre Garnier, a sailor (already deceased). (Keep and eye out for future blogs about Auguste).

George and Marie had two children whilst living in Jersey, George William Hogg (born 1907) and Cyril Harold (born 1908). The next record that is found for George and Marie is the 1911 census where they are living back in England. As George is still serving in the Army at this time, they appear on separate census records but both living at the Kingston Barracks[6]. The record for Marie Louise indicates that they had had three children and one had died. There are no children appearing on the census records, but a search of London Baptismal records shows that Joseph Samuel Hogg, born August 1910 was baptised in Kingston (St Paul’s). Unfortunately he did not survive and died on 14th March 1913, sadly on the parents 6th wedding anniversary. The child who died was Cyril Harold, however to date I have not confirmed where or when he died.

George and Louisa continued to have a total of 11 children, all of which survived to adulthood except Doreen who died in 1928 at the age of three months.

George continued to serve in the army gaining medals for service in South Africa and also the Long Service and Conduct Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment in 1914 and was discharged in June 1920.

George lived with his family in Battersea, until 1937 when he died on 18th June at the Colindale Hospital aged 57 suffering from haemoptysis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

References [1] City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: SMGP/PR/1/3 [2] Class: RG11; Piece: 726; Folio: 105; Page: 35; [3] 14 Tuskar St - Google Maps [4] Class: RG12; Piece: 389; Folio 88; Page 5; [5] Class: RG13; Piece: 401; Folio: 20; Page: 31. [6] Class: RG14/40/ 3533