John Henry Spray alias Williams

 Everyone likes a mystery!

John Henry Spray alias Williams
Mynyddbach Congregational Chapel yard

Armistice Day, 1919.  A year to the day that the guns fell silent on the Western Front, J. H. Spay, died at Hay, Brecknockshire, aged 19.  Buried at Mynyddbach Congregational Chapel yard.  Everything would be fine, however, Spray served as Williams.

Private J. H. Spray served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, dying on 11^th November 1919, aged 19 years.

Also buried with him is Thomas Williams, who died on August 5^th, 1895, aged 41 of Sydney Street, Brynhfryd.

So, it’s the 1911 Census record of 23 Sidney Street, we find John Henry Williams, aged 12.  He attends school.

1911 Census

Also present at the address, are his widowed mother, Ann Williams, 63, and two older brothers, Dd John, 32, Bass Caster and Sydney, 23, Labourer.  A visitor, H. B. Davies, 61, also resides at the address.

A decade earlier, in 1901, John H. Williams aged 1. Ann Williams, 50.  So in a decade, she has aged 13 years!  Also present are two older siblings, Agnes, 20, who is employed as a midwife, and Thomas A., 14.

1901 Census

So, if this is J. H. Spray, and he served as Williams, well could it have been that was his real name, Williams?

However, there is another side to the coin, and there is a record for J. H. Spray.

John Henry Spray was born in 1899, was born in Swansea Workhouse, his mother Maud Spray, had him as illegitimate.  There are no further records regarding this John.

Swansea Workhouse
Birth Register 

John Henry Williams
Discharge Papers

There are, however, the Discharge Papers, for John Williams, He served for 84 days, and he was declared unfit. John’s intended home address was 15 Harold Street, Hafod.