There are confusing records of George Ernest's school attendance: George was admitted to Ashton Hayes County Primary School on 27 February 1900. He left that school on 25 May 1900 "Left Village". George was admitted to Hoole All Saints' And Westminister Road School on 2 March 1903. He left that school on 4 December 1908 "To work". However, George appears to have had a short spell back at Ashton Hayes in 1904. George was re-admitted to Ashton Hayes County Primary School on 30 November 1908. He left that school on 30 July 1909 "Exempt". George Ernest is connected to his parents by school attendance records. Both of George Ernest's parents were dead before the 1901 UK Census On the 1901 UK Census George was living with his uncle John CRIMES b.1876 and John's wife Martha Ann THOMASON In 1904 George Ernest was living in Ashton, probably with his maternal grandfather Charles GAULTON. From The Staffordshire Advertiser of 2 September 1916: "SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE MINING SCHOOL - CANNOCK Passed for first-aid certificates, George Crimes,....." In 1921 'George' was employed by Littleton Collieries Ltd. of Huntington, Cannock, but was 'Out of Work'. In the 1921 England Census return, George Ernest made a false declaration of his age, claiming to be 28 when he was 25. His wife Fanny's age was correctly declared to be 40. From The Staffordshire Advertiser of 8 December 1923: "CARELESS MINERS Four miners employed at the Littleton Collieries, Huntington, were summoned for contraventions of the Coal Mines Regulations Act, by taking matches or cigarettes into the mine. Mr. B. Burrell Davies prosecuted on behalf of the Colliery Company. - George Crimes, Wedges Mills, Cannock, who was stated to have had a cigarette in his possession, said it was entirely an oversight, and he called a witness to state that on the morning in question he left his motor cycle, his cigarettes , and matches at a house near the colliery, as was his usual custom. - A fine of 17s. 6d was imposed." George Ernest appears on the 1939 Register as "- Crimes (George E)". The following report from The Staffordshire Advertiser of 31 January 1931 MAY APPLY to this George: "PENKRIDGE POLICE COURT Theft of Fowls. George Crimes, of Railway Street, Cannock, was fined £5 for stealing three fowls, belonging to John Henry Sumner, at Penkridge on the night of December 17. Defendant pleased not guilty. Mr. A.D. Dallow, who prosecuted, said that after the theft footprints were found leading from the fowl-coop in the direction of the auction yard of Messrs. South and Stubbs, which adjoined the Wolverhampton Road. Crimes. who was employed on a sewerage system in the village, was alleged to have siad to a fellow workman (Heny Charles Simkins) on Dec 17, "Are you coming with me to fetch my Christmas dinner?" Simkins refused. The next day Crimes said to him, "You ought to have come with me; you would have had your Christmas dinner. I have sold the timekeeper one." It was afterwards ascertained that the timekeeper (Hillman) had been offered a fowl by Crimes. Addressing the Bench, defendant denied having seen or had any of the missing fowls. The Chairman, in giving the decision of the Bench, said it was not the first time accused had been in trouble." From The Lichfield Mercury of 27 March 1936: "COLLISION NEAR THE 'TURF' A collision between a cycle ridden by George Crimes, of Heath Gap Road, Cannock, and a motor-cycle ridden by Richard Jones, of High Street, Cheslyn Hay, occurred at the cross-roads on the Watling Street, near the Turf Hotel, at about 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Both persons sustained injuries and were removed to Walsall General Hospital." |