• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants ; George Hayes ; Nutting

O

oldmangonewest

proper brummie kid
Hello
My Dad died last year and amongst the things I now have is a poster-sized document (below), which contains the following text:

“This is to Certify that George Hayes was admitted a Member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of England, Ireland,Scotland and Wales by the Small Heath Branch thereof on the (?) day of April1896. Witness our hands (Name?) Chairman and J Bloxham, Secretary”.

Unfortunately, the document is in a sorry state and I was lucky to be able to scan it in to 2 pieces. It is (or rather was!) quite an impressively presented document, as can be seen below. I presume the ASRS was a Union? But I wonder why a Member would have been presented with such a grand document – would George have been a senior figure?

George is also a bit of a family mystery to me. As far as I can tell there is no genetic link to our family. I had the impression that George used to lodge with my grandfather, Francis David Nutting (b1891 d1943), who lived in the Small Heath/Bordesley area but I guess I’d need to check Census details for that? Both my Dad and Uncle used to refer to him as “Uncle George” and told stories of him with a horse (called Bobbie) and cart doing deliveries around the Small Heath area,which must have been in the 1930’s. My Uncle told me that George died in 1934 but I have nothing to corroborate this - although from the date of the document and the fact my Dad and Uncle were born in 1925 and 1922 respectively, maybe it’s about right.

Can anyone shed any light,please? Thanks.
ASRS1.jpg

ASRS2.jpg
 
Hi

In 1911 at 20 Sarah Street, Deritend is a George Hayes born 1871 Herefordshire who is a carman living with his wife Ann and niece Florence M Elvidge born 1900 Doncaster.
The electoral rolls show George living at the same address up to around 1935 (in 1930 a Florence May Elvidge is also there) Also listed in 1930 is a Francis David Nutting at next 200 Windsor Street and under other abode is listed also at 20 Sarah Street.
By 1935 at 20 Sarah Street, George Hayes, Francis David Nutting and Florence May Nutting. So perhaps George Hayes was referred to as Uncle because Francis' wife was his niece.

Suzanne
 
The society was a predecessor of the National union of Railwaymen. Their archives are apparently at the University of Warwick (https://archiveshub.ac.uk/features/railways-railwayservants.html ) including membership registars, so he would presumably appear in them. Ancestry have just added employment records for railwaymen. There are an awful lot of George Hayes references. At a quick glance i can only see one that mentions (in the search result) birmingham. this was a George Henry Hayes,Carman for Great Western, born 2.2.1874 , gives dates of changes of wages, and notes he was fined for being drunking on duty 21st june 1902
 
George Hayes died 1935 Bham and his probate record says - of 20 Sarah Street, Small Heath, Bham, died 31 Dec 1935 to Francis David Nutting packing case maker and James Alexander Richmond railway employee. Effects £1203 17s 4d.

Suzanne
 
There was also a George Hayes, relief signalman at camp hill, in the 1901-09 lists
 
Don't know if you have the following for your grandfather?

Francis David Nutting 1918 & 1919 17/18 Templefield Street - J51535, AB, Greenwich, RN
In 1911 he is with his parents and siblings at 22 1/2 Templefield Street. Francis is a Saw Worker and his father is a Carter.

Suzanne
 
UK Navy & Medal Awards
Francis D Nutting J.51535 Victory Medal, British War Medal. Service Location: Europe

Suzanne
 
Thank you Suzanne and Mike. A lot to get my head around! It all makes sense though - Florence Elvidge went on to marry my grandfather in 1930 after his first wife, Annie Madge Beaumont, died in 1928. The connection between George and my grandad - who of course died way before I was born, is clearer. My grandad had a packing case making business with his brother - Nutting Bros Ltd at 205 Windsor Street - another posting about this by Natty is on this Forum and awaits a response. He must have lodged with George up until he married Annie (my grandmother) in 1921 and then returned after 1928. It would seem that "Uncle George" was a term of endearment...I know my Dad respected him and clearly he and my grandad must have been very very good friends to have been cited in his Will. "Carman" is clearly a railway term but what would he have done, I wonder? And I wonder why he went on to driving a horse and cart around Small Heath - perhaps moonlighting!
I have very little information about my grandad or grandmother for that matter - no idea where she was born - although I know it was in 1891 because she was the same age! My Dad was never told much himself. Sorry to be so ignorant but are the Victory medal and British War Medals significant or were all Naval combatants awarded them? My "step grandmother", Florence Elvidge died in 1966 but I have very little recollection of her - she re-married after my grandad died and I then had a "step grandfather" - who I do recall a little.
Thank you all again.
David
 
Thanks Paul. Just thought it might have been a job with a bit more prestige...such as repairing cars....but sounds about right!!
David
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top