John Albert Royce

In the 1880 census, there is a John Royce, age 2, living in Hartford CT. Parents are John and Ellen Royce, born in 1845 and 1847 respectively. Young John was born in CT. His father was born in CT, and his father's parents are both listed as being born in CT. His mother is listed as having been born in NH, and her parents are born in NH (mistakes?). John has an older sister, Mabel, who is 4. {NOTE -- this entry might not be my relative!!}'

In the 1900 census John A. Royce (22 y.o., born in May 1878) is living in Loudon, NH with his parents, and his 16 y.o. brother, George Royce. His father is John H., a laborer, born in June, 1849. His Mother is Ellen L. Royce, born in Sep. 1853. They were married in 1873. John A. is a laborer, listed as having been born in Ct. Mother is listed as having been born in NJ, and her parents are from Maine and NJ. respectively. John H. is listed as having been born in CT., and his parents are from CT.

In the Concord Town Report from 1903, there is a birth record from Jan. 31, 1903 for a John Henry Royce, born to John A. Royce and Priscilla M. Osier. He is listed as a laborer, living in Penacook. John A. is listed as having been born in Hartford, CT and Priscilla was born in Penacook.

[Note -- the records here are very confusing. There are several other kids that were born to John A. and Priscilla Osier in the Concord town reports. But then, the marriage record lists John A. Royce as marrying a Priscilla M. Anger. And then John A's brother marries a woman with a last name of Oser. And in some records, Priscilla M. is listed as an Oser.]

In the 1910 census, John Royce is living in Canajoharie, NY with his wife Cora. They are boarders. He is listed as a mechanical engineer, and she is a cook in a hotel (Note: my mom remembers hearing that he worked on railroads, and she worked in hotels. so that matches). He was born in CT and his parents were born in CT and New Jersey. she is listed as being born in Mass. Cora's parents are listed as being Scotch English.

In the 1940 census, John and Cora Rocye lived at 51 S. Main St. in Concord.

In the 1941 City DIrectory, John A. and Cora Royce live on S. Main St. in Concord, NH

In the 1930 census, he is listed as John A. Royce. He, Cora, and Marguerite are living in Burlington, Iowa. She is a cook, and he is working for the railroad. Marguerite is around 12 years old. It says she was born in New York. He was born in CT. and Cora was born in mass.

Grave = http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=royce&GSfn=jo...

He was a private in Co. E of the 1st NH Volunteers in the Spanish American War. This is his enlistment record https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TRW-TYW?i=1465&wc=3K4...

They mustered out of Concord in 1898.

"New Hampshire Militia Regiments - Spanish American War First New Hampshire Infantry-Official title, First New Hampshire Volunteers. Headquarters, Concord. Organized May 7, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 7-12, 1898. Strength in officers and men for war with Spain, 1,009. Commanded by Col. Robert H. Rolfe during war operations. Stationed during war at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, Ga. Casualties during campaign: 32 deaths. The regiment was mustered out at Concord, Oct. 31, 1898. The First New Hampshire Infantry, embracing the full quota of the State, consisted of the Third Regiment, New Hampshire National Guard, with two companies of the First and Second Regiments added." [SOURCE = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/militia-nh.htm]

[Note: there is a nearby grave in the same cemetery for someone named Ernest Sidney Royce, Jan 15, 1874 -- July 3, 1952, who was a wagoner in the 1st NH Infantry in the Spanish American War. Brother, perhaps? He was also in Co. E. He applied for and received a pension in 1901. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GT15-5DY?i=3190&wc=9FF...]

In the Town History of Penacook, NH it lists both John H. Royce and Ernest s. Royce as being in Co. E. Notice the middle initial is wrong here too. ??

The Penacook Town History says that John and Ernest's grandfather was Cpl John R. Davis of the 12th NH Volunteers in the Civil War, and they were the nephew of James Wooley, who was born in Stalybridge, Eng. But note, the town history also says that the Royce boys were born in Penacook. That doesn't match some of the census records I saw, which said he was born in CT. So is this the wrong John Royce? [No, the Town History is wrong. Ernest S. Royce's 1910 census records show he was born in CT, his father was from CT and his mother from NJ. This matches John Royce's 1910 census records from Canojaharie, NY. So I think the Penacook town historian is just wrong]