Selected Biographies

Adams, Alexander Charles – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 22.10.1870.[1]  Parents: Andrew Adams (Coconut Mat Maker) and Laura Maria [née Borley] (Bootmaker). Family Connections: Brother to Ezra Adams [b1870], Jesseniah Adams [b1879] and Garfield Adams [b1888]; also, father of Frederick Charles Adams [b1897] and brother-in-law to Frederick Charles Rule [b1874], Harry William Rule [b1882, Gorge Richard Rule [b1893], and Ernest John Rule [b1894].  Home: Fair Green, Glemsford, Suffolk (1881 and 1891), Westgate Street/Lane, Long Melford (1901 and 1911).  Occupation: Coconut Mat Maker (1901 and 1911).  Married: Bertha Mary Ann Rule in 1897.  Service Record: No definitive military record found.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1939.

Adams, Ernest Edward – Born: Hartest, Suffolk on 25.8.1859.  Parents: John Edward Adams (Master Shoemaker) and Susan [née Seaman] (Dressmaker).  Family Connections: Uncle of Thomas Edward Adams [b1887], Joshua Ward Adams [b1892], Frederick John Adams [b1894], Ernest Seaman Adams [b1899] and George Cecil Adams [b1902].  Home: The Green, Hartest (1861 and 1871), Hall Street, Long Melford (1881 to 1901), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1911) to (1939).  Occupation: Solicitor’s Clerk (1881) to (1939).  Service Record: Ernest was a member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps and National Registration Enumerator in 1915.  In 1922 he is recorded as one of the 14 vice-presidents of the Long Melford Ex-Service Men’s Club.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1946.[2]

Adams, Ernest Seaman – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 4.4.1899.[3] Parents: Thomas Adams (Shoemaker) and Alice [née Mills]. Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Edward Adams [b1887], Joshua Ward Adams [b1892], Frederick John Adams [b1894] and George Cecil Adams [b1902]; also, brother-in-law of Sydney Charles Slaughter [b1897] and nephew of Ernest Edward Adams [b1859].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), Ferndale Cottage, Morton in Marsh, Gloucestershire (1939), The Cottage, Lower Swell, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire [1953 to 1965], Flat 385, Montpelier Terrace, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire [1980].[4] Occupation: School Teacher [1917], Registered Cattle Ford Distributor (1939).  Married: Doris Powell in 1926.[5] Service Record: Ernest was conscripted on 2.4.1917 as Signalman N^o. Z/6472 in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Division.  From August 1917 to the end of the War, Ernest was stationed at various isolated coastal locations around Scotland.  He received his discharge in February 1919.[6]  Died: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on 15.1.1980.[7]

Adams, Ezra – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 9.2.1876.[8]  Parents: Andrew Adams (Coconut Mat Maker) and Laura Maria [née Borley] (Bootmaker).  Family Connections: Brother to Alexander Charles Adams [b1876], Jesseniah Adams [b1879] and Garfield Adams [b1888].  Home: Brook Street, Glemsford, Suffolk (1871), Fair Green, Glemsford (1881, 1891), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), Hollands, The Green, Long Melford (1911). Occupation: Silk Winder (1881), Coconut Mat Maker (1891 to 1911). Married: Ada Elizabeth Middleditch [d1896] in 1891 and Priscilla Watkinson in 1903.  Service Record: No definitive military record found.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1940.

Adams, Frederick Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 28.8.1897.  Parents: Alexander Charles Adams (Coconut Mat Maker) and Bertha May [née Rule] (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections: Nephew of Ezra Adams [b1870], Jesseniah Adams [b1879] and Garfield Adams [b1888].  Home: Westgate Lane, Long Melford [1897], Hall Street, Long Melford (1901), living with Maria Adams (Grandmother) in Westgate Street, Long Melford (1911).  Occupation: Errand Boy (1911).  Service Record: A member of the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps in 1915.[9]  Frederick attested as Pte.G/27789 with 15^th [Labour] Battalion, The Queen’s [Royal West Surrey] Regiment.  This unit served briefly on the Western Front before being posted to Salonika.  Adams transferred in 1917 as Pte.58204 to 98^th Labour Company, Labour Corps also based in Salonika.[10]  Died: Frederick died on 21.12.1918 and is buried in Mikra British Cemetery [grave ref: 1089], Kalamaria, Greece.[11]

Adams, Frederick John – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 6.7.1894.[12]  Parents: Thomas Adams (Shoemaker) and Alice [née Mills].  Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Edward Adams [b1887], Joshua Ward Adams [b1892], Ernest Seaman Adams [b1899] and George Cecil Adams [b1902]; also, brother-in-law of Sydney Charles Slaughter [b1897] and nephew of Ernest Edward Adams [b1859].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1901), HM Royal Navy Training Establishment, HMS Ganges, Shotley, Suffolk (1911) 3 Coastguard Cottage, Dover, Kent (1939).  Occupation: Sailor from 1910 to 1944.  Married: Alice Matilda Palmer Randle in 1922.[13]  Service Record: Enlisted in 1910 as boy sailor N^o. J.9204 in the Royal Navy.  Served at sea from 1911 to 22.6.1914 as an Ordinary Signalman on the battleship HMS Commonwealth; from 16.5.1917 to 5.10.1917 as a Leading Signalman on the cruiser HMS Dido, and between 6.10.1917 and 1.4.1919 on the cruiser HMS Penelope, being promoted to Yeoman Signalman in May 1920 and awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1928 while serving on HMS Titania.  Frederick continued in the Navy up to his death as Signalman N^o. C/SX76 of the Royal Naval Shore Signal Service, based at N^o. 5 RNS Station Dover in 1939 then at N^o. 4 RNS Station Shoeburyness.[14]  Died: Frederick died on active service at N^o. 4 Royal Naval Signal Station, Shoeburyness, Essex on 13.8.1944 and buried at St Andrews Church, Shoeburyness [grave ref: 6B].[15]

Adams, Garfield – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 7.10.1888.[16]  Parents: Andrew Adams (Coconut Mat Maker) and Laura Maria [née Borley] (Bootmaker).  Family Connections: Brother to Ezra Adams [b1870], Alexander Charles Adams [b1876] and Jesseniah Adams [b1879]; also, uncle of Frederick Charles Adams [b1897] and brother-in-law of Charlie Sparrow of Long Melford [b1882].  Home: Fair Green, Glemsford (1891), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), Lower Street, Stanstead, Suffolk (1911), 1 Windmill Hill, Long Melford (1939) to [1947].  Occupation: Woodman and Hurdle Maker (1911 to 1939).  Married: Ellen Vera Sparrow of Long Melford in 1910.  Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in October 1916 Garfield’s application for exemption was refused.  He was however granted one month grace before conscription.[17]  He attested as Pte.203343 with 1/7^th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own [Middlesex] Regiment, being posted to France as part of 167^th Brigade, 56^th [London] Division, later transferring to 1^st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.[18]  Both battalions saw action during the Somme Offensive in 1916, the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres in 1917, and the Hindenburg Line in 1918.[19]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 9.6.1947.[20]

Adams, George Cecil – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 8.3.1902.[21]  Parents: Thomas Adams (Shoemaker) and Alice [née Mills].  Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Edward Adams [b1887], Joshua Ward Adams [b1892], Frederick John Adams [b1894] and Ernest Seaman Adams [b1899]; also, brother-in-law of Sydney Charles Slaughter [b1897], son-in-law of George Frank Rice [b1875], and nephew of Ernest Edward Adams [b1859].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1911) The Ferns, The Green, Long Melford [1917], Silverdale Street, Sudbury, Suffolk [1960].  Occupation: Baker’s Assistant (1911).  Married: Winifred Ida Kathleen Rice in 1928.  Service Record: George enlisted on 8.3.1920 as N^o. K55767 with the Royal Navy, serving aboard the submarine repair ship HMS Cyclops off the Nore in 1925.[22]  He was awarded the King’s Silver Jubilee Medal and Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1935, receiving his discharge after 1939.[23]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 19.10.1960.[24]

Adams, Jesseniah – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk in 1879.  Parents: Andrew Adams (Coconut Mat Maker) and Laura Maria [née Borley].  Family Connections: Brother to Ezra Adams [b1870], Alexander Charles Adams [b1876] and Garfield Adams [b1888] and, uncle of Frederick Charles Adams [b1897].  Home: Fair Green, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891) Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), 2 St Catherines Road, Long Melford (1911), The Green, Long Melford [1940].  Occupation: Baker (1901) to [1916], trading as J. Adams and Sons [1937].  Married: Bertha Perry in 1902. Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in October 1916 Aylmer Shelley a local baker, applied for exemption on Jesseniah’s behalf.  Exemption was refused with the proviso that he was not to be called up for one month.[25]  Conscription should have followed; however, no definitive military records have been found.  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 9.4.1940.[26]

Adams, Joshua Ward – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 26.4.1892.[27]  Parents: Thomas Adams (Shoemaker) and Alice [née Mills].  Family Connections: Brother to Thomas Edward Adams [b1887], Frederick John Adams [b1894], Ernest Seaman Adams [b1899] and George Cecil Adams [b1902]; also, brother-in-law of Sydney Charles Slaughter [b1897] and nephew of Ernest Edward Adams [b1859].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1901), The Ferns, The Green, Long Melford [1917], emigrated to Australia on the SS Bairanaid [1922].[28] Occupation: Solicitor’s Clerk (1911) and [1917], Mechanic [1922].  Married: Helena Tolchard in 1917.[29] Service Record: Recorded as Sgt.02940 later Second Lieutenant [Sub-Conductor] in the Army Ordnance Corps, posted to France on 24.5.1915, serving more than two years on the Western Front.[30]  Died: Australia in 1949.

Adams, Thomas Edward – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 22.8.1887.[31]  Parents: Thomas Adams (Shoemaker) and Alice [née Mills].  Family Connections: Brother to Joshua Ward Adams [b1892], Frederick John Adams [b1894], Ernest Seaman Adams [b1899] and George Cecil Adams [b1902]; also, brother-in-law of Sydney Charles Slaughter [b1897] and nephew of Ernest Edward Adams [b1859].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1901), 5 Clarence Road, Sudbury [1918], 12 Christopher Avenue, Ealing, Middlesex (1939).  Occupation: Solicitor’s Clerk (1901 and 1911), sometime Clerk to the Melford Military Tribunal [1916], Civil Service Clerk (1939).  Married: Clara Clarke in 1913.  Service Record: Attested at the end of 1916 as Pte.62168, transferring from 85^th [Training Reserve] Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers to the Special Reserve of Officers being gazetted in 1918 as Second Lieutenant in 3^rd [Reserve] Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment.[32]

Related Biographies

Rice, George Frank – Born: Hadleigh Hamlet, Suffolk on 29.9.1875.[33]  Parents: Isaac Rice of Kersey, Suffolk (Agricultural Labourer) and Harriett [née Bull].  Family Connections: Father-in-law of George Cecil Adams of Long Melford [b1902].  Home: Hill Farm, Assington, Suffolk (1881), Park Farm, Edwardstone, Suffolk (1891), 77 Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex (1901), Mill Cottages, Brantham, Suffolk (1911), Lapwing, Liston, Essex [1916] to (1939), School House, Mill Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk [1948].  Occupation: Errand Boy (1891), Foreman on Farm (1901), Miller’s Carter (1911), Carman for Stafford Allen and Sons of Long Melford [1916] to (1939).  Married: Amy Ellen Rice in 1901.  Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in November 1916, George’s employer Stafford Allen and Sons, applied for his exemption from conscription, which was granted for two months only.  In February it was renewed on the condition he joined the Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps.[34]  It is not known if Rice’s certificate remained valid until the end of hostilities, however no definitive military record has been found to suggest otherwise.  Died: Colchester, Essex on 14.3.1948.[35]

Slaughter, Sydney Charles – Born: Halstead, Essex on 14.7.1897.[36]  Parents: Charles Shuttleworth Slaughter (Grocer’s Manager) and Lucy [née Earey].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Thomas Edward Adams [b1887], Joshua Ward Adams [b1892], Frederick John Adams [b1894], Ernest Seaman Adams [b1899] and George Cecil Adams [b1902].  Home: 21 Parsonage Street, Halstead (1901), 2 Dobbs Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk (1911).  Occupation: Pawnbroker’s Assistant [1915].  Married: Maggie Adams of Long Melford in 1917.[37]  Service Record: Sydney enlisted in 1913 as Boy Sailor, later Signalman N^o. J24491 with the Royal Navy, serving on the battleship HMS Lord Nelson and the armoured cruiser HMS Bacchante in 1914.  In January 1917 he was transferred to Chatham as N^o. M25601, serving briefly on the light cruiser HMS Calcutta before his discharge in 1919.[38]

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] For Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915 and for Enumerators see SEFP 10.8.1915 and 25.8.1915.  [3] Baptism Register of 1.6.1899 for St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford.  [4] For Gloucestershire addresses see the Electoral Roll. [5] Name of spouse taken from the 1939 Register for North Cotswold District in Gloucestershire. [6] See also his Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Registers of Service [The National Archives – ADM 337/43/463].  [7] Entries from 1939, including Death Index, are in the name of Ernest Seaman-Adams.  Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.  [8] Baptism Register of 12.11.1897 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [9] Training Corps article see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 10.3.1915.  [10] For details of 15^th Battalion’s and 98^th Labour Company’s movements in Salonika see War Diaries [TNA – WO 95/4932] and [TNA – WO 95/4944].  Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [11] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  [12] Baptism Register of 2.9.1894 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [13] Marriage Register of 28.2.1922 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [14] For notice of his promotion see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 18.11.1914.  Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [TNA – ADM 188/665/9204] and Royal Navy Medal and Award Rolls [TNA – ADM 171/202].  [15] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and the National Probate Calendar.  [16] 1939 Register.  [17] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 11.10.1916.  [18] For details of 1/7^th and 1^st Middlesex’s movements see War Diaries [TNA – WO 95/2950/1] and [TNA – WO 95/2426/1].  [19] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [20] National Probate Calendar.  [21] Date of birth from his RN rRecord. [22] The Guardian and East Kent Advertiser 21.11.1925.  [23] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [TNA – ADM 188/972/557/67 and ADM 363/30/125] and Royal Navy Medal and Award Rolls [ADM 171/202].  [24] National Probate Register.  [25] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 11.10.1916. [26] National Probate Register.  [27] Baptism Register of 5.6.1892 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [28] For evidence of emigration and occupation see Outbound Passenger Lists on https://search.ancestry.co.uk/.  [29] Marriage Register of 20.6.1917 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford and Suffolk and Essex Free Press 27.6.1917.  [30] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329].  [31] Baptism Register of 2.10.1887 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [32] Date of his conscription is implied from an article concerning the Long Melford Tribunal in the Bury Free Press 2.12.1916.  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363].  [33] 1939 Register.  [34] For the Tribunal’s rulings see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 8.11.1916 and 28.2.1917.  [35] National Probate Register.  [36] Date of birth from Royal Navy Record.  [37] Marriage Register of 29.6.1917 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [38] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/695/24491 and ADM 188/1069/25601].