Private William Sylvester

William was born in June 1886, the 4th child of 8 known to have been born to George and Elizabeth, (nee Dawson from Ecclesfield) living at 47 Scholes Lane. George was a coal miner born in Thorpe Hesley around 1844 and his family was resident in Thorpe from at least 1841. George’s father was born there in 1804. George took up the lease of a farm at Netherfold, Scholes probably after his marriage to Elizabeth in March of 1881. According to the 1881 census, George and Elizabeth were farming a property of 14 acres, whilst George was still working as a coal miner. George’s father William is living with them aged 77, widowed and a retired coal miner. William died in 1890 aged 86. In 1891, the family is recorded as living at 47 Scholes Lane. This is likely to be the same property, but George is only recorded as a coal miner. There are 5 children recorded in the house that night, but William is not one of them. He was visiting his grandmother Ann Dawson together with other relatives at Cross House in Ecclesfield.
In 1901, the family are still at 47 Scholes Lane. William is 14 and working as a colliery checkweighman. His elder sisters Alice, a dressmaker and Martha are still living at home, together with younger siblings Ada, Edith and Ernest. His elder sister Elizabeth is not in the household. His younger brother George has died before the age of 1 in 1892.
William married Norah Sarah Arnold in the 2nd quarter of 1912. He served firstly with the Northumberland Fusiliers, service number 47648, battalion unknown, and lastly with the 3rd battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, service number 78113. This battalion did not see service abroad during the war. William died on 3rd November 1918, 8 days before the Armistice. The cause of death is not known. It is also not known why he had 2 regimental numbers. This suggests a break in his service record, but if this is the case the reason is unknown.
William is buried in Holy Trinity churchyard at Thorpe Hesley. The gravestone depicts the insignia of the Durham Light Infantry. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists him as being the son of George Sylvester of Thorpe Hesley; husband of the late Norah Sarah Sylvester of Thorpe Hesley. It is not yet known when Norah died, or if there were any children to the marriage.