I am researching the Bolas branch of my family tree from Shropshire. Most of my ancestors, including myself, are Lancashire born and bred so Shropshire is outside my usual territory.
I am researching Elijah Bolas( my 3xgreat uncle) b. 1855 Chetwynd, parents George and Harriet Bolas.
He married Elizabeth Day in 1880 and they had 3 children George 1880, Benjamin 1882 and Mary Ann 1884. I can find Elijah and Elizabeth in the 1881 census but after that they seem to disappear. Two of their children, Benjamin and Mary Ann are in Whitchurch union workhouse in the 1891 census but there is no sign of their parents.
I can't find Elizabeth in any of the census' after 1881 but there is a burial for Elizabeth Bolas in 1916 at Whitchurch cemetery (according to the Whitchurch cemetery website she died in the union workhouse).
I can't find a burial for Elijah or find him on any census after 1881. There is an E. Bolas on the UK Military Campaign medal and Award Rolls for the Sudan campaign , Suakin 1885.(1st Kings Shropshire light infantry) but is this him?
Can anyone help with:
Do records exist for Whitchurch Union Workhouse ? If they do can anyone access them for me to see if it gives any information on why Benjamin and Mary Ann were in the workhouse at the tender young ages of 10 and 7 and also to see if Elizabeth their mother is the same Elizabeth who died there in 1916.
What happened to Elijah? Was he the E. Bolas in the Kings Shropshire light infantry? Where and when did Elijah die?
Hoping someone will be able to help
Many thanks
Hi Chris,
Many thanks....that's very kind of you, I appreciate it.
Regards
grannym
Hi, I asked at the Records Office this morning and I'm afraid there aren't any useful records for the Whitchurch Workhouse. There are various administrative books but no Admittance or Discharge Register nor anything that gives details of individuals. It seems a shame - the lady at the RO said that the Workhouse is still in existence and forms part of the hospital.
With regard to Elijah Bolas, have you tried the Regimental Museum in Shrewsbury? They are very knowledgable there.
Good luck, Chris
Hi Chris,
Thank you for enquiring at the record office. I have just emailed the museum so hopefully they will be able to point me in the right diection.
grannym
Hi Grannym,
I have found Elijah on Ancestry but it is not a pretty story.
On `10th March 1877 he was on trial in Shrewsbury, aged 22, charged with "Unlawful Wounding". He was sentenced to 18 months. He is listed as Boles.
He married Elizbaeth after this in 1880, and their son George was both born and died in 1880. Maybe his past caught up with him after Mary Ann was born in 1884. I have not found him on further census'.
If he joined the KSLI he would not show on a census or, as in part of my family, he was at sea. This makes keeping track of people much more difficult.
Hope this helps. Hazel
Hello Grannym
I just wonder if your Elijah BOLAS had another brush with the law. If you look in the Shropshire Quarter Sessions CD (see Shop top right then Publications Catalogue) there is an entry for Elija BOLAS in the June quarter of 1879 convicted of something committed at Hodnet. The Ref. is QR542 Item 143. If you visit Shropshire Archives (you will need a Reader's Ticket to view original documents) you can find out what it was all about.
Mike
Hi Hazel and Mike,
I had found Elijah's brush with the law in 1877. Serving 18 months and then marrying in 1880 I hoped he had managed to turn his life around so interesting that in 1879 he seems to be on the wrong side of the law again. Perhaps it wasn't too serious and didn't involve being imprisoned as he married in 1880.
Thank you for the reference Mike. Unfortunately I don't live near Shropshire Archives so I might request a photocopy.
Many thanks
grannym
Hi Grannym,
Have found some more which should help if you are contacting the Regimental Museum. This again is on Ancestry.
"1st K.S.L.I. ; Roll of Officers, Warrant Oficers N.C. Officers & Men entitles to the War Medal, clasp or clasps for the operation upon the River Nile and in the vicinity of Suakin 1884 - 1885. Signed by Brigadier W. or H. Worhich (this is a very hard name to read) 18th December 1885, Grahams Point, Suakin".
This is the Sudan campaign (Kitchener maybe - this bit of history is hazy to me). E. Bolas Regimental Number 527 is on this list and was in Suakin in 1885 as I read the document, then in England, presumably still with the Regiment.
Hope this is of use. I also can vouch for the helpful people at the Regimental Museum although I know they were having funding problems when I was last there. They obtained my own grandfather's army records for me. Goodlluck. Hazel
Hi Hazel,
Thank you for looking this up....I had seen the page where E.Bolas was listed but never thought to go to the previous page..Doh! The extra info certainly helps, thankyou...although as you say the Brigadiers name is difficult to read...I think its Original W/H H/Worwich.
My history is very vague full stop....so I need to do a bit of background reading for this one
Did you notice that against E. Bolas' name in the right hand column it says" A.G. list" I think its something to do with administration but not managed to find out exactly what the list was. There are a handful of soldiers with the same and are mainly either in England or dead; any ideas what the A.G. list is?
Thank you once again
grannym
Hi, Have just Googled "Suakin 1884-85" and the following website comes up : www.discovershropshire.org.uk. This gives quite a comprehensive account of the KSLI there at the period you are looking at. I haven't read it all yet but it looks interesting - we maybe will find out who that Brigadier is. Hazel
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I will ask what records they have for Whitchurch Workhouse next time I'm in the Records Office - probably be a few days time.
Best wishes, Chris