your past....our present....their future
| RiD No.: | 1668 |
| Birth | 1808 (approx.) | Woolwich, Kent |
| Birthplace taken from 1851 census | ||
| Death | Q4 1885 (age 76-77) | Ipswich, Suffolk |
| A possible death registration for Peter is in Ipswich in March quarter 1885. His age is shown as 79 which would make him born c 1806. This is a couple of years out from his date of birth calculated from the 1751 census, but might match once his actual birth date has been confirmed. Note that the possible death of his wife Susannah is in the same location 4 years before. |
||
| Spouse | Susannah PAYNE (1810?-1881) | |
| Children | Caroline A BARR (1832?- ) | |
| Charles A BARR (1834?- ) | ||
| Harriette Elvey BARR (1837?-1925) | ||
| Emma E BARR (1839?-1877) | ||
| Alfred A BARR (1841?- ) | ||
| Agnes Mary BARR (1845-1930) | ||
| Marriage | 4 January 1829 (age 20-21) | East Wickham, Kent |
| Occupation | c1825 - c1846 | Served in the British Army. Probably with the Royal Artillery, 3rd Battalion. See "Other Details" below. |
| Census | 1851 (age 42-43) | Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Navarre Street, Ipswich The following is a transcript of the 1851 census for the Barr family in Ipswich, The original census return has not yet been examined: Peter Barr / Head / Male /occ Innkeeper / Chelsea pensioner / 43 / Woolwich, Kent Susanna Barr / Wife / Female / 41 / Woolwich, Kent Caroline A Barr / Daughter / Female / 19 / Ireland Ballincollig Charles A Barr / Son / Male / occ Solicitor general Clerk /17 / Ireland Ballincollig Harriette E Barr / Daughter / Female / 15 / Ireland Ballincollig Emma E Barr / Daughter / Female / 13 / St Helena Alfred A Barr / Son / Male / 10 / St Helena Agnes M Barr / Daughter / Female / 6 /Woolwich, Kent |
||
| Occupation | 1861 (age 52-53) | - |
| On daughter Harriett's marriage certificate, Peter's occupation is given as "Inn Keeper" | ||
| Occupation | 1865 (age 56-57) | - |
| On daughter Emma's marriage certificate, Peter's occupation is given as "Hotel Keeper" | ||
| Census | 1871 (age 62-63) | St Margaret, Ipswich |
| The following is a transcript of the 1871 census in Ipswich. The original return has not been examined. Peter's occupation is shown as "Pensioner". He was married at this time, but his wife Susannah does not appear at this address. Peter Barr / Head / Male / 63 / Woolwich, Kent Jane Naunton / Granddaughter / Female / 17 / Ipswich, Suffolk |
||
| Census | 1881 (age 72-73) | |
| Clay Lane, St Margarets, Ipswich The following is a transcript of the 1881 census in Ipswich. The residence note shows "Clay Lane. Peter is shown as a widower and his occupation as "Chelsea Pensioner from R A" (Royal Artillery?) Peter Barr / Head / Male / 74 / Woolwich, Kent, England Agnes Mary Parker / Daughter / Female / 36 / Woolwich, Kent, England |
||
From initial research, it was clear that Peter served in the Army from about 1825 to around
1845/51 and is assumed that he served in Ireland between 1829/30 and 1837, as his first 3
children were born there. He also served on the island of St Helena (where Napoleon was imprisoned) between
at least 1839 and 1841 as his next two children were born there. He was back in England, and perhaps still
serving, when his last child, Agnes, was born in Woolwich in 1845.
The following information has been extracted from Forces War Records.
The information appears to fit, but the archive needs to be viewed before confirming this is "our" Peter.
First Name: Peter
Surname: Barr
Rank: Sergeant
Duty Location: Portugal and St. Helena, 10 years
Date Awarded: 1846
Service Length: 21 years
Recommendation Date: 1846
Additional Information: Entry crossed through at source. Medal awarded with gratuity
Service: British Army
Primary Unit: Royal Artillery
Secondary Unit: 3rd Battalion
Archive Reference: WO102_10
From the 1851 census we know he is in Ipswich working as an innkeeper, but is also shown as a Chelsea
Pensioner.
I have been unable to find Peter as yet in the 1861 census, but by the 1871 census,
he is in Ipswich and recorded as a "pensioner". He is still married, and his wife Susannah is still alive,
but she is not at home on census night. Instead the census records his youngest married daughter in the
property.
By 1881, he is a widower, Susannah having died early in 1881 before the census was taken.
His occupation is recorded as "retired" and his granddaughter Jane is in the property on census night.
It is likely that Peter died in Ipswich in 1885.