Arthur Henry Rackett

GEDCOM Note

Arthur became a coal miner in his early teens. He married Jane Potter on 21st December 1889 at St Peter's Church Farnworth-aged 21. Twelve months later he joined the Army as a driver at Woolwich . He deserted a month later on 2nd January 1891. He rejoined on10th March 1891, was convicted for desertion and served 42 days in prison. During his period of Imprisonment in the army " glasshouse" his wife gave birth to a daughter, Bessie, Jeans Gran. Jane was living with her mother step father and half brother in Kearsley at the time. Arthur served as a driver for approximately 15 months at Woolwich and Aldershot with the royal Artillery. He did not serve aboard and it is thought he probably bought himself out. Notes from Jeans Documents: Medical Height: 5ft 3in Weight: 122 lb 0oz Cause of death: Mining disease- from gold mine in Africa Source : info from family. Medical Information: Army Discharge Papers shoe grey eyes and brown hair at 22 yrs with coal scars on his back from coal mine and 3 inoculation scars on left arm. Of good physical development. Chest size 34" 8st 7 lbs. Source army records.

Burial: August 1912 Salisbury S Rhodesia- now known as Harare, Zimbabwe. Source: Assumption as result of letter from Zimbabwe. Census:1881 29 William St, Farnworth, Bolton Lancs. Age 12 - a scholar. Christening:13 Dec 1868 Garrison of King Williams Town,Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. His mother was born in Wynberg, Cape Town . She was said to be of Dutch descent. Source: Baptism Cert. Military service 1:Bet 1890-1892 Royal Artillery,Woolwich. Signed up at Bolton, medical at Bury,said he was 18yrs 11months but was in fact aged 22yrs, said not married but was, named mother as next of kin, not wife Jane whom he married in 1889, (was this because of a parallel family investigate ?Pauline's idea) Was a collier when enlisted ,became a driver. Army service at woolwich and Aldershot. Hospitalized 16th March 1891 to 19th March with ITCH after desertion. Hospitalized 14th Nov 1891 to 28th Nov 1891 was accidently wounded when off duty. Two simple dressings applied. Between 2 Jan-10th March1891 Deserted and was imprisoned for this for 42 days on 24th March 1891. Jeans Gran Bessie Rackett was born on 8th April in Kearsley, whilst he was in prison. He resumed his duties as a driver, on release and was discharged from Army on 11th March 1892. Religion: Between 1868-1912 Church of England Source: Church and Cert records.

Residence1: 1 December 1868 Army Garrison, King Williams Town , Soth Africa, Res 2 :1871 Dublin Ireland - sister Mary born there. Res 3 : 1872 Cork Ireland ,army records of William, father discharged from army ( I thought destination was Manchester) Res 4 : Nov 1872 78 Ellesmere St Farnworth Bolton. From Masonic Records of father. Res 5: May 1873 31 Longcauseway, Farnworth Bolton. Brother William's christening at St John's Farnworth. Res 6 : 1875 33 Cobden St Farnworth Birth of sister Elizabeth Lethbridge Rackett. Res 7: 1880 22 William Street Farnworth sister Catherine Louisa born . Charles Elizabeth and Catherine christened at St John's. Res 8 :1881 29 William St Farnworth Census record. Res 9 : 1889 5 Anvil St Farnworth Mother listed at this address in Post office directory Res 10: 21 Dec 1889 75 Crompton St Farnworth when he married Jane Potter. on Marriage Cert. Res 11 : Bet 1890-1892 Woolwich and Aldershot. Army Rec. Res 12 : April 1891 In Army .Wife Jane living at 43 Larkhill, Farnworth when daughter Bessie born on 8th April. Census rec. Res 13 June 1891 4 William St Farnworth he attended Daughters christening even though in army. Cert of baptism. Res 14: 1895 71 Crompton St Kearsley. son William born here. William died 8th Aug 1895. Death record. Res 15: May 1901 104 Crompton St Kearsley,Son Arthur born here . He died on 10th August 1901 aged 11 weeks. He is buried in Farnworth Cemetery with his uncle Charles and grandmother Martha Maria Rackett. Death record. Res 16: Bet 1903- 1908 Arcturus Mine, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe. Res 17 : 1911 120 Lord St Kearsley Post Office Directory. his wife Jane lived with daughter Bessie and her husband Austin Jeans Gran and Grandad . He visited from Africa. Jeans mum was later born at this house in 1919. Post office directory. Res 18 : bet 1911-1912 Arcturus Mine and Johannesburg South Africa. from Letters to family photographs and info passed down.

Arthur became a coal miner in his early teens. He married Jane Potter on 21st December 1889 at St Peter's Church Farnworth-aged 21. Twelve months later he joined the Army as a driver at Woolwich . He deserted a month later on 2nd January 1891. He rejoined on10th March 1891, was convicted for desertion and served 42 days in prison. During his period of Imprisonment in the army " glasshouse" his wife gave birth to a daughter, Bessie, Jeans Gran. Jane was living with her mother step father and half brother in Kearsley at the time. Arthur served as a driver for approximately 15 months at Woolwich and Aldershot with the royal Artillery. He did not serve aboard and it is thought he probably bought himself out. Notes from Jeans Documents: Medical Height: 5ft 3in Weight: 122 lb 0oz Cause of death: Mining disease- from gold mine in Africa Source : info from family. Medical Information: Army Discharge Papers shoe grey eyes and brown hair at 22 yrs with coal scars on his back from coal mine and 3 inoculation scars on left arm. Of good physical development. Chest size 34" 8st 7 lbs. Source army records.

Burial: August 1912 Salisbury S Rhodesia- now known as Harare, Zimbabwe. Source: Assumption as result of letter from Zimbabwe. Census:1881 29 William St, Farnworth, Bolton Lancs. Age 12 - a scholar. Christening:13 Dec 1868 Garrison of King Williams Town,Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. His mother was born in Wynberg, Cape Town . She was said to be of Dutch descent. Source: Baptism Cert. Military service 1:Bet 1890-1892 Royal Artillery,Woolwich. Signed up at Bolton, medical at Bury,said he was 18yrs 11months but was in fact aged 22yrs, said not married but was, named mother as next of kin, not wife Jane whom he married in 1889, (was this because of a parallel family investigate ?Pauline's idea) Was a collier when enlisted ,became a driver. Army service at woolwich and Aldershot. Hospitalized 16th March 1891 to 19th March with ITCH after desertion. Hospitalized 14th Nov 1891 to 28th Nov 1891 was accidently wounded when off duty. Two simple dressings applied. Between 2 Jan-10th March1891 Deserted and was imprisoned for this for 42 days on 24th March 1891. Jeans Gran Bessie Rackett was born on 8th April in Kearsley, whilst he was in prison. He resumed his duties as a driver, on release and was discharged from Army on 11th March 1892. Religion: Between 1868-1912 Church of England Source: Church and Cert records.

Residence1: 1 December 1868 Army Garrison, King Williams Town , Soth Africa, Res 2 :1871 Dublin Ireland - sister Mary born there. Res 3 : 1872 Cork Ireland ,army records of William, father discharged from army ( I thought destination was Manchester) Res 4 : Nov 1872 78 Ellesmere St Farnworth Bolton. From Masonic Records of father. Res 5: May 1873 31 Longcauseway, Farnworth Bolton. Brother William's christening at St John's Farnworth. Res 6 : 1875 33 Cobden St Farnworth Birth of sister Elizabeth Lethbridge Rackett. Res 7: 1880 22 William Street Farnworth sister Catherine Louisa born . Charles Elizabeth and Catherine christened at St John's. Res 8 :1881 29 William St Farnworth Census record. Res 9 : 1889 5 Anvil St Farnworth Mother listed at this address in Post office directory Res 10: 21 Dec 1889 75 Crompton St Farnworth when he married Jane Potter. on Marriage Cert. Res 11 : Bet 1890-1892 Woolwich and Aldershot. Army Rec. Res 12 : April 1891 In Army .Wife Jane living at 43 Larkhill, Farnworth when daughter Bessie born on 8th April. Census rec. Res 13 June 1891 4 William St Farnworth he attended Daughters christening even though in army. Cert of baptism. Res 14: 1895 71 Crompton St Kearsley. son William born here. William died 8th Aug 1895. Death record. Res 15: May 1901 104 Crompton St Kearsley,Son Arthur born here . He died on 10th August 1901 aged 11 weeks. He is buried in Farnworth Cemetery with his uncle Charles and grandmother Martha Maria Rackett. Death record. Res 16: Bet 1903- 1908 Arcturus Mine, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe. Res 17 : 1911 120 Lord St Kearsley Post Office Directory. his wife Jane lived with daughter Bessie and her husband Austin Jeans Gran and Grandad . He visited from Africa. Jeans mum was later born at this house in 1919. Post office directory. Res 18 : bet 1911-1912 Arcturus Mine and Johannesburg South Africa. from Letters to family photographs and info passed down.