Research Forum

Captain Walter Finch (WWI Sub Captain?) & Ada Luisa Washer
published by on Wed, 04/11/2015 - 0:29

Dear all,

Could you please provide any additional information on "Captain Walter Finch who married Ada Luisa Washer from Weston-Super-Mare" as handed down through the Washer family is a sawfish bill with 48 teeth which we think Captain Finch may have owned. The sawfish bill has "Indian Ocean 1917 Captain Washer Submariner HMS Petrel" etched on it.

From the NZ Washer's family tree Ada Luisa Washer's parents were Henry Charles Washer and Ellen Matilda Hewitt from Bridgwater probably born around the 1860's. Henry Charles Washers siblings were; Herbert John Washer and Sydney Washer and Kate Washer who married a Mr Greene.

Ada Luisa Washer's sister was Grace Catherine Washer who married a Wilfred Charles Blake. They lived in Western-Super-Mare.

Any information you have on a Captain Washer Submariner or on the HMS Petrel in the Indian Ocean in 1917 would be much appreciated as we can not find any information on this. We are not even sure if "Captain Walter Finch" as per the Washer family tree diagram manuscript was in the Navy.

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 06/11/2015 - 12:26

Do you have an approximate date and place for the marriage of Walter FINCH? I assumeAda WASHER was born in Bridgwater in about 1890 - is that the same one?

According to the GRO Index her sister Catherine Grace WASHER married Charles Wilfrid BLAKE in 1921 (did they both change the order of their names?) By the way, they are living in Torquay in 1939. When were they in Weston? There is an Ada L FINCH born 1890 in Torquay in 1939 as well but I don't know who she is living with.

Do you have a first name for Capt WASHER?

In 1919 a Lieut. Clyde Evan WASHER, R.N.R. was mentioned in Dispatches - probably a red herring!

Submitted by on Sat, 07/11/2015 - 20:37

Not knowing the Washer family I can't comment on the herring.

I've had a dig around in Ancestry and believe that Clyde Evan Washer was born 24/01/1886 in San Diego, California. I don't know when he came to Britain but was here in 1908 when issued a Competency as Second Mate in the Merchant Service at the Port of Cardiff. There are various certificates and Navy Lists 1914-1939 so he mst have signed up here early in the war. He died in Swansea.

There is another Washer in the Navy records, George Edward, but jis connections are Kent. Born 1886 Gravesend, died 1959 Kent. Census 1911 has him Master of a tug in Brixham. Navy lists 1917, Sub-Lieutenant RNVR, 1919 Lietenant RNVR, 1944 Temporary Commander RNR.

Only two I've found with naval connections, so far.

Submitted by on Thu, 19/11/2015 - 23:48

Thank you all for assisting with this.

I don't think Captain Finch is Captain Washer and you have confirmed Captain Finch is not part of our NZ Washer Family tree and I think this is correct (I.e. he is not a known relative).

So far I have found no record of a Captain Washer or a submarine by the name of HMS Petrel in the Indian ocean in 1917. FYI: There was a ship by the name of USS Petrel (PG-2) a 4th rate gunboat in the United States Navy with crew of c.120 searching for submarines in the Indian Ocean in c.1917.

Submitted by Pat Hase on Sat, 21/11/2015 - 0:08

I'm glad you have had some help but I'm still unclear about Ada Louisa WASHER who you originally said was from Weston-super-mare and married to a Captain Walter FINCH. My interpretation of the situation is that Ada Louisa WASHER was the daughter of Henry Charles WASHER and was born in Bridgwater in about 1890. She is living with her parents in Torquay in 1911. As I said in an earlier email there is an Ada Louisa FINCH living in Torquay in 1939 born in 1890 - is this the same person?

The Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser of Saturday 03 November 1945 has the following rather sad article - is this the same person?

BOURNEMOUTH - FINED FOR SHOP THEFTS Ada Louisa Finch (54). native of Bridgwater, whose home is at Newton Abbott, was fined £10 at Bournemouth on Thursday for stealing a dress from the stores of Bobby & Co., Ltd., and plasticine, and other articles, from Messrs. J. E. Beale, Ltd. She was seen by a stores detective and member of the staff of Messrs Beale's to pick a post card and book and leave without paying. The plasticine and the other items were found her possession. The Defendant, staying with friends Parkstone, said it was done under the stress oi the moment. She had been the verge of a nervous breakdown.

The probate for Ada's father, Henry Charles WASHER names Ada Louise FINCH as executor but describes her as a "Single woman" so did she adopt the name FINCH but nver marry?

What evidence do you have for a connection with Weston-super-Mare?

Submitted by on Sat, 07/11/2015 - 18:25

The only reference I found so far to an HMS Petrel or Peterel is not to a submarine.

From Wikipedia: HMS Peterel 1899-1919
HMS Peterel was one of two Spiteful-class destroyers [B Class Destroyer] to serve with the Royal Navy. She was built by Palmers, was 215 feet long and the 6,200 H.P. produced by her Reed boilers gave her a top speed of 30 knots. She was armed, as was standard, with a twelve pounder and two torpedo tubes. She served in home waters during the Great War and was sold off after hostilities ended in 1919.

“… name differed from the accepted modern day spelling for Petrel as per the bird as it reprised the name of the original ship to bear the name (in the eighteenth century "Peterel" had been an accepted alternative spelling).”

I found a reference to HMS Peterel in, “Scarborough Seafarers Lost At Sea 1918”. A telegram to Naval Headquarters at Immingham reporting the sinking of two vessels in a convoy, HMS Petrel being one of the escorts; “‘H.M.S. Petrel H.M.S. Bat, H.M.S. Ouse and escort force T.U.26 arrived 0600 convoy correct except…” This placed her in the North Sea in 1918.

There is the possibility that if Captain Washer of HMS Petrel was in the Indian Ocean in 1917 he may not have been aboard the Petrel at that time. It may be that he was not referring to the Destroyer Peterel/Petrel but to a submarine of that name (with the modern spelling) that hasn’t yet appeared on my searches. I’ll keep looking.

Submitted by on Sun, 08/11/2015 - 21:20

Too many FINCH and WASHER men in the Navy and elsewhere in the military records to identify either men without some dating to go by.

I think you may have the right one Pat.

1911 Census at 63, Market Street, Torquay, Devon:

WASHER Henry Charles age 46 (1865 Bridgewater, Som) Dairy shop keeper. 2 Children, both living. [Reg BMD:1866JFM Bridgewater. 1871Cen Bridgewater; Parents WASHER James & Jane, sibs: Herbert J, Ernest G, Sydney I, Kate]

WASHER Ellen M age 47 (1864 Bridgewater, Som) Dairy shop keeper [Ellen Matilda WASHER died 06/06/1955 a widow, living Rocombe Brae, Maidencombe, Torquay. 1871Cen Bridgewater; Parents HEWETT George (Langport Som) & Mary A (Broadway? Som), sibs William E, Edward J, George, Henry S]

WASHER Ada Louisa age 20 (1891 Bridgewater, Som) Dairy shop keeper, living and working at home [Reg BMD: 1890OND Bridgewater]

WASHER Catherine Grace 15 (1896 Torquay, Devon) No occupation, living at home. [Reg BMD: 1895JAS Newton Abbott]

If it may be of help, the ecclesiastical parish in the 1901 census is "Upton St. Mary Magdalene".

Ancestry people have a BMD 1888JAS marriage record in Birkenhead, Cheshire of a couple, Henry Charles WASHER & Ellen Matilda HEWETT. 1881Cen have both in Bridgewater, single, with their families. 1891Cen have them married, in Birmingham, with Ada L (5 months). Ahhh look at that! This census 1891: Henry C WASHER Head Mar 26 Occupation "Captain (Salvation Army)". Well, there's one "captain" in the Washer family.

Last comment: Found the NPC for Henry C WASHER. Reg: 1949 Newton Abbot, Devon. "of Crest View 80 Windsor Road Torquay died 1 April 1949 Administration (with Will) Exeter 3 June to Ada Louise Finch single woman .."

Submitted by Pat Hase on Mon, 09/11/2015 - 0:11

Using the Address search on the 1939 Register you will find that living at 80 Windsor Road are Charles Henry WASHER (born 1865) and Ellen M WASHER (born 1864)

Ada L FINCH (born 1890) is also living in Torquay in 1939 with Lionel L MITCHELL (born 1903) and Jean E M MITCHELL-CORP (born 1913) - don't know the address without paying a fee!

Ada Louisa FINCH (born 10th Nov 1890) died during the 4th quarter of 1979 in the Torbay District.