James Salter (1871 – 1905)

James Salter was born in 1871 in Greenham, the son of James and Elizabeth, nee Stansfield, Salter. His parents had married in 1870 in Newbury.

A sister Mary was born in 1873. Then four years later his mother Elizabeth died and she was buried at the Baptist Church in Wokingham on 10 March 1877.

In the 1881 census James was living with his grandmother Ann Salter, father James and sister Mary in Railway Cottages in Greenham. His father James was a general labourer, while James and Mary were scholars and his grandmother Ann was stated to be formerly a cook.

James’s father James died in December 1885 aged 36 and he was buried on 1 January 1886 at St Mary in Greenham.

A few years later in the 1891 census James was living with his grandmother Ann Salter at St Mary’s Hill in Greenham and he was a general labourer, while Ann was stated to be living on her own means.

James signed up to join the Royal Berks Regiment on 29 December 1894. At that time he was living at 17 Cheap Street in Newbury and working as a labourer for Mr. G Goddard. He was recorded as 5 foot 4 ¾ inches with scars on his left arm and breast. He served as a private in the 3^rd battalion. James was finally discharged from service on 28 December 1904.

There is no trace of James in the 1901 census, so he was probably serving in the army abroad, as soldiers in service abroad were not recorded in the census.

James died less than 6 months after leaving the army on 6 June 1905 in Newbury Union Workhouse and he was buried on 9 June at Newtown Road Cemetery. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 15 June as below.

SALTER – June 6, at the Workhouse, James Salter, of Newbury, aged 33.

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