A PEARSON
Deck Hand RNR 4663/DA
HMS Attentive 111
5th November 1917 Age 33
PEARSON, A
Rank:……………………………Deck Hand
Service No:…………………4663/DA
Date of Death:…………….05/11/1917
Age:……………………………...33
Service:…………………………Royal Naval Reserve
…………………………………......H.M.S. "Attentive III."
Grave Reference:………….13. 392.
Cemetery:
LOWESTOFT (BECCLES ROAD) CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pearson, of Blundeston; husband of Alice M. Pearson, of 165, St. Margarets Rd., Lowestoft.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/397607/PEARSON,%20A
No obvious match on WW1 Naval Casualties.
The Naval Reservist Service Records for DA 4663 Arthur Pearson, born Beccles, Suffolk on the 6th July 1884, are held at the National Archive under reference BT 377/7/51137
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8512204
No obvious Civil Probate for this man.
6th July 1884 – Birth?
(Source – Catalogue entry at the National Archive for his service records).
There is no likely candidate for an Arthur Pearson in Suffolk or Norfolk in 1884. However there is an Arthur Pierson whose birth was registered in the Wangford District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1883.
Wangford District included Beccles.
www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/wangford.html
While there are references to an Arthur Pierson born Suffolk circa 1883/4 in the Census and death records, the place of birth referenced on the Census return, (Copdock), is not in the Wangford District.
1891 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The 7 year old Arthur. born Barsham, Suffolk, was recorded living at Fox Farm, Willingham, Lowestoft. (Barsham is also in the Wangford District). This was the household of his parents, Harry, (aged 39, an Agricultural Labourer, born Redisham, Suffolk), and Margaret M,. (aged 35, born Brampton, Suffolk). As well as Arthur the couple also have two daughters, Eliza, (11, born Barsham) and Alice M, (aged 2, born Willingham).
1901 Censuses of England & Wales and Scotland
The Pearson family are now recorded at a dwelling on Flixton Marsh Road, Blundeston, Suffolk. As well as parents Harry, (aged 46, a Farm Labourer now said to have been born “Storen”, Suffolk) and Margaret, (42), children living with them are Arthur, (17, Farm Labourer, born Barsham), Alice, (aged 12, born “Gillingham, Suffolk”), and Alfred, (aged 7, born Lowestoft). Also in the household is Harrys’ unmarried sister in law, Eliza Learned(?- tbc), (aged 50, born Brampton, Suffolk).
1911 Census of England and Wales
There is not an obvious match for Arthur on this census – but if he was already working as a Fisherman then he could have been at sea and avoided being recorded.
His father, the 56 year old widower Harry Pearson, born Stoven, Suffolk and a Labourer on a Farm, was recorded as a Servant living in the household of his employers. They were a Mr and Mrs Harvey of Glebe Farm, Gisleham, Lowestoft, Suffolk. Its not recorded how long Harry was married or how many children he has had.
1914 – Possible Marriage
It may be a co-incidence, but an Arthur Pearson married an Alice M Burgess in the Mutford district in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1914.
Post August 1911 it had become compulsory when registering the birth of a child with the Civil Authorities in England and Wales to also record the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Births for England and Wales doesn’t reveal any likely children of this marriage.
On the day
The normally very reliable Naval-History.net site does not have him in the official Casualty list for this day, nor does he appear in their list of Naval Casualties by surname.
The death of an Arthur Pearson, aged 33, was recorded in the Mutford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1917.
The cemetery records have been put on line by the local council. Arthur Pearson, aged 33, formerly of the Naval Reserve, and living at 165 St Margarets Road, Lowestoft, was interred on the 10th November 1917.
apps.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/pages/cemeteries/Lowestoft/oakes_...
Postscript
It may be a co-incidence, but the same Cemetery records also list the burial of a 74 year old widow, Alice Mildred Pearson, of 165 St Margarets Road, Lowestoft, who was interred on the 13th January 1951.
