John Henry Justice was my great grandfather and was born circa 1861. I have his certificate of service from the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He joined up on 22nd June 1880 aged 18 and 6/12. He was re-engaged on 15th Jan 1892.His date of birth is clearly stated as 22nd December 1861 Millwall,London,Middlesex.
Family photo. Date unknown. Possibly c1916
Photo. Circa 1908? On the back it says George or Frank, Arthur, John Justice. It says old man could be John's father or Amelia's (Henry Mills). Arthur was born 1902 and he looks about 6 in the photo so I am guessing 1908.
Photograph 1918 showing George, Arthur and John Henry Justice. Arthur is mentioned in a newspaper report. He was serving aa a bugler on the HMS Marmora when it was torpedoed and sunk on 23rd July 1918. He bravely sounded "action stations" and "abandon ship". He was the youngest of the ships company but showed the least signs of fear. I am trying to trace the original article as I only have transcript entitled "Luton Hero". See below. It does not mention any dates or which paper.
GRO records.
BIRTH The only match I can find is John Henry Charles Justice. On this certificate it states birth was 2nd Feb 1862 and the mother is Mary Ann Elizabeth Justice. The column for father is blank. My mother says she remembers her mother (Hettie Justice) talking about her father John Henry Justice. Hettie said something along the lines of you will not find out more about father as he was a foundling and raised by a rich aunt/woman. This could tie in with the facts. Mary Ann sems to be an unmarried woman and could have given John up for adoption by a relative or "rich woman"
IF this is my John then either the date on the certificate of service or birth certificate is incorrect. If it is him his mother married George Pavitt May 23rd 1864 in Stepney.In 1871 there is a George and Mary Ann Pavitt living in Bethnall Green at Hunslett Street. They are at the same address in 1881. By 1891 George had died and Mary was a widow living in Bethnal Green.I have found a Mary Ann Elizabeth Justice age 19 unmarried,house servant living in Stepney 1861. She was born in Bromley,Middlesex! Bromley is in Kent so this could be a mistake. However, I can find no mention of her on 1851 census (yet)
MARRIAGE John married Amelia Smith a widow in 1896. He states his father to be James Justice deceased,lead smelter which is rather puzzling. Amelia Smith was born Amelia Mills. She married Henry Smith and had 3 children by him. (see picture below)
CHILDREN. Amelia had 3 children from first marriage Nell,Ethel and Henry William. Amelia and John had
John b c1896 ? George b c1897 Frank b c1898 Hettie b c1901 Arthur b c1902 Rose b c1906
Photograph circa 1905 69 Connaught Road,Chatham, Kent.
CENSUS
1861 There is a Mary Ann Elizabeth Justice age 19,unmarried,servant living in Stepney. She was born in Bromley,Middlesex. This is probably the mother of John
1871 no definite details for John. There is a George and Mary Justice living in Poplar with a son John aged 9 born Millwall. This is about the correct age and birthplace but the parents do not seem to fit. Also their ages are given as 52. This would make Mary 43 when she had John which seems rather old for Victorian times. George and Mary might not be the parents of John. They could be his adopted parents. There is a record in the GRO indexes for the death of George Justice 1874 aged 55 in Poplar. Also death of Mary Justice aged 61, 1880 in Poplar.Could try and find this George/Mary in 1861/1851 for further clues?
1881. Found John aged 18 a private in RMLI in barracks. Listed as Jno H T? Justice born Millwall.
1891 not found
1901 Living at 70 Luton Road,Chatham,Kent. Married to Amelia with children Ellen aged 10,Ethel aged 8, William aged 6, John aged 4 and George aged 3.
MILITARY SERVICE see scan of his certificate of service in the RMLI. He received the Egypt medal in 1885, a clasp in 1887 and a South African grant. It also mentions he was mobilised in 1914 and demobbed 1918,receiving British War medal.
BURIAL John and Amelia both died in 1935 in Chatham,Kent. They have a grave in the Chatham cemetary on the Chatham-Maidstone Road. My mother occassionally visits and tidies up the gravestone. Grave location. Section 9 nos 129. Register of burials Folio nos 35374 and 35583
1896 marriage certificate
