James Balfour (1893 - 1921)

Born 18 May 1893 in Delting, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 5 Aug 1921 at age 28 in Arcachon, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France

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Biography

James Balfour was born in Scotland.

James Balfour (1893-1921) was born in Delting parish, Shetland on the 18th May 1893. He was the son of Thomas Balfour and Catherine Johnson. ^[1]

They moved to Northmavine not long afterwards and were shown at North House, a croft there in the 1901 census. ^[2] They had moved to another croft, Est House, before 1911 when James was working the croft with his father. ^[3]

They were living at Lunnester, Northmavine by 1918 when James was in the Royal Naval Reserve in which he served until 1919. (The details in the record mention his death in 1921) ^[4]

In 1921 he was living in Gordon Street, Leith near Edinburgh and he was employed as a boatswain aboard the "Cornwall" a merchant vessel off the coast of Arcachon, France when his boat capsized and he died on the 5th August 1921. ^{[5] [6]}

Research Notes

On the actual record viewable at the National Archives Website the is a notation about his death in late 1921 and mentions an unnamed widow but I cannot pinpoint whom he married yet without purchasing certificate. His address at the time of his death was in Leith so a possible marriage in 1919 in North Leith district to a widow Jessie Carney or McFadyen

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Scotland, Statutory birth registers"
   Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)
   1893 BALFOUR, JAMES (mother's name JOHNSON)
   Ref: 002 / 9 Delting
2. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Northmaven; ED: 3; Page: 5; Line: 20; Roll: CSSCT1901_3; Registration Number: 8; Household schedule number: 26; Roll: CSSCT1901_3
   Ancestry uk Record 1101 #3317154 (accessed 14 January 2023)
   James Balfour (7) son, Scholar, in household of Thomas Balfour (38) at North House in Northmaven registration district. Born in Delting, shetland.
3. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Northmaven; ED: 3; Page: 3; Line: 11
   Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)
   James Balfour (17) son, Working on croft, in household of Thomas Balfour (48) at Est House in Northmaven registration district. Born in Delting, shetland.
4. ↑ Royal Naval Reserve Service Records: "Web: UK, Royal Naval Reserve Service Records Index, 1860-1955"
   Royal Naval Reserve Service Records (1860-1955). The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England. Series BT 164 and 377. URL: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8527029
   Ancestry uk Record 60378 #8144 (accessed 31 January 2023)
   Name: James Balfour; Birth Date: 18 May 1893; Birth Place: South Delting, Shetland; Date: 1908-1955; Service Number: DA 19533.
5. ↑ Death Registration: "Deaths At Sea 1891 – 1972"
   Archive: The National Archives; Reference: BT 334; Page: 185
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2023)
   First name(s): James; Last name: Balfour; Birth date: 1893; Birth place: British,Sillion,Shetland Islands; Age: 28; Death date: 5 Aug 1921; Death place: Arcachon; Place: Cromwell; Country: Great Britain; Type: At Sea; Vessel name: Cromwell; Source: Deaths At Sea 1891 – 1972; Box: 0080.
6. ↑ Burial: "Scotland, Newspaper Death Reports & Obituaries"
   FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 31 January 2023)
   James Balfour burial (died on 5 Aug 1921 at age 28) in Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland.