ORR FAMILY HISTORY
Descendants of James ORR
Generation No. 1
1. JAMES1 ORR1 was born 1789 in Glen Lewer(?), near Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland, and died 1867. He married JANE OSBOURNE1 Abt. 1847. She was born 1818 in Scotland, and died Unknown.
Notes for JAMES ORR:
A senior NCO in the Army
A member of a Scottish regiment based near Dalkeith, later merged with another, (unknown), when he met and married his wife.
Believed by family tradition to have fought at Waterloo (unconfirmed), and ended his career as a recruiting sergeant in Bristol during the Crimean War.
His army discharge papers are lodged with the Army Museum in Inverness, as discovered by Jessie and Hilda Millar, his great granddaughters.
According to family word of mouth, he tweaked the ear of his eight year old son Henry George Orr when on his death bed, and told him to be a good boy.
Listed as Chelsea Pensioner in 1861 census
Lived at 17 Belmont Street, Stapleton Road, St George, Bristol in 1861
Lived at 2 Wilkins Cottages in the Parish of St Philips and Jacob Out in 1851
Notes for JANE OSBOURNE:
Lived at 8 Charlton Street, Bristol in 1871
Children of JAMES ORR and JANE OSBOURNE are:
i. JANE2 ORR, b. Abt. 1844, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. Aft. 1871.
ii. EMILY ORR, b. Abt. 1848, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. Unknown.
Notes for EMILY ORR:
Machinist in 1871
iii. DAVID ORR, b. Abt. 1850, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. Unknown.
Notes for DAVID ORR:
Labourer in 1871
iv. ELLEN ORR, b. 1854, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. Unknown.
Notes for ELLEN ORR:
Machinist in 1871
2. v. HENRY GEORGE ORR, b. Abt. 1850, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. 1932.
Generation No. 2
2. HENRY GEORGE2 ORR (JAMES1) was born Abt. 1850 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, and died 1932. He married (1) SARAH WELLS. She was born Abt. 1855 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, and died Abt. 1884. He married (2) HARRIET WILLIAMS2 Abt. 1885, daughter of JAMES WILLIAMS and ELIZABETH [-?-]. She was born 1859 in Magor, Monmouthshire, Wales3, and died 1940 in 76, Carlyle Road, Greenbank, Bristol, England4.
Notes for HENRY GEORGE ORR:
Christened in the old church at the bottom of Tower Hill, opposite the Health Clinic in Bristol (called St Philips' and St Jacob's, today known as the Pip'n'Jay)
Schooling was scanty. Attended classes with a lady called Miss Pease of Clifton, who held classes once or twice a week for a few keen teenaged youths, and Henry was always indebted to Miss Pease for educating him in this way. They used to read and discuss the works of Morris, Ruskin and Rosetti and generally had a very elevating time.
Henry became an insurance agent, collecting weekly small payments. In the 1881 Census he is listed as a boot riviter, maried to Sarah, an umemployed tailoress, and had a six month old baby also called Henry George. in 1881 the family were living at 29 Morley Terrace. Also living in the sale house were David Orr (29 in 1881) and his wife Emma Orr (28), and a widow Eliza Wilkins (58) and her daughter Matilda Wells (17).
Henry remarried in about 1885.
He was living with his family at 42 Gratitude Road, Bristol in 1901, with his occupation listed as a boot manufacturer.
Shoe manufacturer Hickins, Orr and Pole broke up, and Henry started a new boot and shoe manufacturing company with a factory in Ashley Road, Bristol between 1910 and 1912. Ashley Road is the modern B4051 running into what is now the M32.
More About HENRY GEORGE ORR:
Christening: 04 Apr 1858, St Philip and St Jacob, Bristol5
Notes for SARAH WELLS:
Listed as an unemployed tailoress in 1881 census
Notes for HARRIET WILLIAMS:
Born in a small farmhouse opposite a railway crossing come road underpass in Magor, Monmouthshire (memoirs of Hubert Orr).
Left Magor to enter service, and in 1881 Harriet was an unmarried domestic cook at Regent House, Hill Road, Clevedon, Somerset, in the employ of John Maynard, Baker, Confectioner and Corn Dealer (1881 Census). She was working at a house in Alma Road, Clifton, when she met her future husband Henry.
According to her son Hubert, she was the dominant partner in marriage, taking care of financial affairs, with her husband making very few decisions affecting the family.
More About HARRIET WILLIAMS:
Christening: 16 Apr 1859, Magor, Monmouthshire5
Children of HENRY ORR and SARAH WELLS are:
3. i. HENRY GEORGE3 ORR, b. Abt. Nov 1880, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. Unknown.
ii. [-?-] ORR, d. Unknown.
iii. [-?-] ORR, d. Unknown.
Children of HENRY ORR and HARRIET WILLIAMS are:
4. iv. JAMES HENRY3 ORR, b. 1887, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. 30 Nov 1917, During WW1 action in Cambrais, France.
5. v. HERBERT ORR, b. 1889, Bristol; d. 1948, Cheltenham, Glos.
6. vi. HARRIET ORR, b. Abt. 1891; d. Nov 1979, Brightons, Falkirk, Scotland.
7. vii. CYRUS ORR, b. Abt. 1893; d. Unknown.
8. viii. EDGAR ORR, b. Abt. 1902; d. Unknown.
9. ix. HUBERT ORR, b. 13 Mar 1895, Bristol - Barton Regis 6a 99; d. Apr 1984, Bristol.
Generation No. 3
3. HENRY GEORGE3 ORR (HENRY GEORGE2, JAMES1) was born Abt. Nov 1880 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England6, and died Unknown. He married ROSINA HARRIET STUCKLEY. She was born 1880 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, and died Unknown.
Notes for HENRY GEORGE ORR:
Living at 29 Morley Terrace in 1881 and as a boarder at 372 Stapleton Road in 1901 when his occupation was listed as a bookmaker
Child of HENRY ORR and ROSINA STUCKLEY is:
10. i. HERBERT GEORGE4 ORR, b. Private.
4. JAMES HENRY3 ORR (HENRY GEORGE2, JAMES1) was born 1887 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, and died 30 Nov 1917 in During WW1 action in Cambrais, France. He married ADA NICHOLS Abt. 1913 in Kensington Chapel, Stapleton Road, Bristol. She died Unknown.
Notes for JAMES HENRY ORR:
On leaving The City School, Bristol, James became an articled clerk to the chartered accountancy firm Curtis, Jenkins and Co., of Corn St.
At about the time that James received his chartered accountancy qualification, Lloyd George introduced his National Insurance scheme, and James joined the civil service as a government auditor. After their marriage just before the First World War, at which Hubert Orr was their Best Man, they set up home at Bradford-on-Avon.
James joined Bristol's Own Battalion at the outbreak of the First World War and was killed in action in Cambrai, France in November 1917.
According to the records in the Imperial War Museum, Captain James H Orr of 210th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery died on 30th November 1917, and is buried in Panel 1, Cambrai Memorial Cemetery, Louverval, France. There was a battle around Cambrai which commenced on the 20th of November of that year in which the Mark IV Tank was introduced for the first time (regarded as a considerable improvement on previous tank designs) and this particular conflict was notable as the first successful tank battle, involving no less than 324 tanks. For the first time in the war, bells rang out in England for a victory.
On the first day of battle a 6 mile wide hole was punched in the Hindenburg Line south west of Cambrai. However, most of the new ground gained by the tanks was lost ten days later when the Germans, under their commander Crown Prince Rupprecht, demonstrated their counter-attack power. Judging by the day of his death and the accounts of the battle in "Battlefields of the First World War" by Tonie and Valmai Holt, James Orr was one of the many fatal casualties of this counter-offensive. Two days later the British were back almost where they started and the futility of the conflict is further illustrated by the fact that the number of casualties on each side were about equal at 40,000.
Marriage Notes for JAMES ORR and ADA NICHOLS:
Hubert Orr was best man
Child of JAMES ORR and ADA NICHOLS is:
i. MADGE4 ORR, b. Private.
5. HERBERT3 ORR (HENRY GEORGE2, JAMES1) was born 1889 in Bristol, and died 1948 in Cheltenham, Glos. He married KATE [-?-]. She died Unknown.
Notes for HERBERT ORR:
Attended St George Senior school, Bristol, leaving at the age of 15 in 1904
He was apprenticed to Piggot's, a steam locomotive manufacturer at the Lillyfields, Kingswood.
Engaged "in work of national importance" at Shardlow's in Sheffield, he therefore did not join the army.
Retired at 65 to a small holding near Cheltenham, and died before reaching the age of 69.
Children of HERBERT ORR and KATE [-?-] are:
i. PHYLLIS4 ORR, b. Aft. 1905; d. Unknown.
More About PHYLLIS ORR:
Fact 1: Lived in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley
ii. HERBERT ORR, b. Aft. 1905; d. Unknown.
6. HARRIET3 ORR (HENRY GEORGE2, JAMES1) was born Abt. 1891, and died Nov 1979 in Brightons, Falkirk, Scotland. She married J MILLAR. He was born Unknown, and died Bef. 1979.
Notes for HARRIET ORR:
Became a school teacher at St George's school in Bristol after being a pupil in the top class there.
Children of HARRIET ORR and J MILLAR are:
i. HILDA4 MILLAR, b. Private.
ii. JESSIE MILLAR, b. Private.
7. CYRUS3 ORR (HENRY GEORGE2, JAMES1) was born Abt. 1893, and died Unknown. He married ANNIE BENJAMIN Abt. 1919. She was born Abt. 1895, and died Unknown.
Notes for CYRUS ORR:
Engaged through the First World War years, like his brother Herbert, in "work of national importance" in Coventry, working for the Sunbeam Motor Company.
On returning to Bristol, he met his wife Annie, and his parents gave him 76 Carlisle Road as his home. Shortly after, he joined Armstrong Whitworth in Erith, Kent as a toolmaker, and while he was transferring employment Hubert and Ethel moved into Carlisle Road with Annie, before she joined her husband at Crayford in Kent.
Children of CYRUS ORR and ANNIE BENJAMIN are:
i. EILEEN4 ORR, b. Private.
ii. JESSIE ORR, b. Private; m. TOM [-?-], Private; b. Private.
8. EDGAR3 ORR (HENRY GEORGE2, JAMES1) was born Abt. 1902, and died Unknown. He married BLANCH [-?-] Private. She was born Private.
Notes for EDGAR ORR:
aka Uncle Eddie
A sea Captain in the Merchant Navy, later founded a jam factory in Bristol during the recession in the 1930's. He returned to the Sea when the recession ended. He captained petrol tankers which went in convoy to Malta on several occasions during the 1939 1945 war. This was very dangerous.
Child of EDGAR ORR and BLANCH [-?-] is:
i. STEWART4 ORR, b. Private; m. [-?-] WITTS, Private; b. Private.
9. HUBERT3 ORR (HENRY GEORGE2, JAMES1)7,8 was born 13 Mar 1895 in Bristol - Barton Regis 6a 999,10, and died Apr 1984 in Bristol. He married ETHEL GLADYS MAGGS11,12 14 Dec 1918 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England12,13, daughter of LEWIS MAGGS and LILLIAN BABER. She was born 03 Aug 1896 in Frenchay, Bristol, and died 25 Aug 1969 in 166a London Road East, Bathampton, Somerset.
Notes for HUBERT ORR:
Hubert Orr, known to his wife and friends as Bert, was born in John Street, near Eastville Road Methodist Church, Bristol. He moved as a babe in arms to live at 37 Gratitude Road, Greenbank.
As a young boy, Bert used to enjoy doing the family's shopping at Stapleton Road, and the manager of Home and Colonial offered Hubert a job as an errand boy when he was about 13.
Hubert recalls seeing Queen Victoria when she visited Bristol in 1899 to open the Bristol Maternity Home, which was to be the birthplace of his grandsons Michael James Orr and Peter Jeremy Orr.
He attended Greenbank School (built 1897) from the age of 5, joining his sister Hat (Harriet) and brother Ty (Cryus). Bert left Greenbank school in 1907, passing the entrance exam for St George secondary school, later a grammar school.
At St George, Hubert excelled at Science, and was selected for interview at Bristol University as demonstrator in Physics working under Professor David Robertson.
After sitting the University entrance examination, he won a City of Bristol scholarship to read Civil Engineering with a bursary of £20 a year at the age of 16. Bert became keen on dancing with three friends and met his future wife Ethel at a Cooperative Dance Hall function.
Sometime in June 1914, Ethel and Hubert started to take evening walks together, and in August Hubert asked Ethel if she would like to go on an excursion to Bournemouth with him. Ethel's mother and father agreed to this, provided Hubert was an honourable young man. They never had the opportunity to go to Bournemouth, as war broke out and all civilian long distance train journeys were banned.
Hubert joined the Bristol University OTC in 1914, headquartered at the old Bristol Blind Asylum.
In December 1914, he was gazetted as 2nd lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment, and was ordered to report to the Officer commanding the 10th Gloucesters. He was one of Kitchener's first 100,000, who were feted by all and offered membership of Cheltenham's many gentlemen's clubs. He received a formal commission on parchment starting "My trusted and well-beloved Hubert Orr, Greetings" and signed in person by King George V. The sending out of individual signed commissions in this way was soon stopped due to the numbers involved.
Put in charge of no. 13 Platoon, no. 4 Company in Cheltenham, he later moved to Salisbury Plain, then to Rainham, Essex and Newark, Nottinghamshire. He bought his elder brother James' motorbike. Billeted at Lillers in France in 1915, he saw and saluted both General Haig and King George V. One member of his platoon dropped his rifle when saluting the King. Hubert found out that day that he was capable of swearing, which he had previously never been heard to do. Later the King was to fall off his horse and left the parade by ambulance, being quite badly hurt.
At the 2nd Battle of the Marne, Hubert along with two others was awarded the Croix de Guerre for showing great bravery on behalf of the French under enemy fire.
Hubert had eight return trips to France in various campaigns of the war. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre, 1915 medal, General Service Medal and the Victory Medal.
When demobilised, Hubert was with No. 1 Siege company, and signed off as a reservist at camp at Ludgershall from where he returned to Bristol. He lived at 6 Frome Villas with Ethel's family, later taking up number 3, and then on to 76 Carlyle Road. He was yet to complete his Civil Engineering finals at Bristol University.
After the birth of his first son Hugh in March 1920, Hubert applied for a job as Assistant Executive Engineer, Indian Service of Engineers, and at the beginning of November 1920 got his passage on a German passenger liner handed to the allies as part of war reparations.
He bought a Model T Ford from Stewarts of Park St. Calcutta in 1921. He arranged for a 6 cylinder 15HP Austin to be waiting for him in Oxford Street when arriving in UK on 18 months leave from India, which would
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