Researching William Sperring, South Wales Borderers in WWI published by on Fri, 29/01/2016 - 22:30
Hi, all, I am located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, so cannot come to Weston-super-Mare in person very easily. I am researching my grandmother, a Florence Jane Sperring believed to have been born in Burnham in 1890 and her brother, William Sperring, a sergeant in the South Wales Borderers Regiment in 1920. I believe he was born in Weston-super-Mare in 1888, but can't be sure. I have a birth index of a William Sperring born then and his birth certificate but I have not yet linked that person to the one William Sperring I found in the South Wales Borderers in 1920.
I also have a death certificate for a William Sperring, who died in 1956 in Bristol hospital but I can't verify that that man is either the same man who I have a birth certificate for, or that he was the man in the SWB regiment.
I am hoping that there are some historical records of obituaries available in this area that could help either prove or disprove that this death certificate belongs to my William Sperring of the SWB regiment. I am hoping that his obituary would name his next of kin etc.
I have attached the birth and death certificates here.
I don't live in Weston-super-Mare myself I was able to through a search on Ancestry find someone who is researching that family living in Weston-super-Mare his name is Duncan Sperring use this name when you search through the members, if you are able to make contact with him he maybe able to help you with the information you are looking for. Let me know if you can't and I will be happy to make contact for you, and pass on any details.
Gordon, thanks for that. However, I had already found Duncan Sperring of Weston-super-Mare in Ancestry earlier this month and I had sent him a message on Jan 03 asking for his help through the Ancestry messaging system but have received no reply. I am resending my message today. Hopefully I will get a reply from him this time.
I have William John Sperring in my family tree (born 1888 in Weston) son of William Sperring and Alice Gilmore. Siblings include Florence Jane born in Burnham 1890. I live in Lympsham (where William John's grandfather (John) and G Grandfather Samuel lived (I am descended from Samuel)).
I have had a look in the online newpaper archive and have found a probate notice for William John Sperring in Bristol but no useful details. However, I have also found a record of a marriage for a William John but the age on the certificate is 9 years out (recorded as aged 26 when married in 1900) - I suspect this is the William John who died in 1956 in Bristol but will try to confirm.
Have you got details for the siblings and parents etc - you should be able to see my research (I am wbtkp4 on Ancestry). Duncan and I are in touch and we exchange notes. I am happy to help where if I can.
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