Archer Roe (1845) and William Roe (1846)

It is very likely that Archer Roe (1845) and William Roe (1846), who carried out military service in India, were the same person.

Archer Roe was born in Oct-Dec 1845, in Yoxall, Staffordshire, and is recorded as living in Woodhouses, Yoxall in the 1851 census age 5 (name spelled ‘Arthur’) and in the 1861 census age 15. In 1871 and 1881 his name is not recorded in any of the UK census returns. However he is recorded as living once again in Woodhouses in the 1891 census, age 45.

In the 1891 census Archer heads a household consisting of: Ann (33) born in Madras, India; Isabella (12) born in Poonah, India; Emma (8) born in Jalandhar, India; Annie (4) born in Woodhouses, Yoxall; Agnes (2) born in Woodhouses, Yoxall; Clara (5 months) born in Woodhouses, Yoxall. Curiously no relationships are entered, so it is only a supposition that this family comprises Archer’s wife and children. However, assuming this to be the case it is reasonable to conclude that Archer lived in India at least between the years 1878 and 1883, and that by 1887 he was back living in Yoxall.

A man named William Roe, born about 1846 in Yoxall, Staffordshire, enlisted in the Rifle Brigade on 11 March 1865, age 19, and remained in active service until his discharge on 20 April 1886, age 40. From 18 July 1865 to 28 July 1880, and from 9 May 1881 to 5 April 1886 he served in India. He married Ann Clarke at Belgaum, Bombay, India, on 15 July 1873.

A separate civil record of William Roe’s time in India shows that Ann Clarke was age 16 when she married William in July 1873. They had at least three children: Isabella, born in Poona on 8 Nov 1878; Emma, born in Jalandhar on 10 Aug 1882; and Archer Stokes, born in Jalandhar on 18 Dec 1884. William and Ann’s marriage record show’s William’s father’s name as Frederick.

It is evident that William’s period of military service in India coincides with the dates that Archer’s name is missing from the UK census records. William and Archer have the same approximate year of birth and the same father’s name. Clearly William’s wife Ann and daughters Isabella and Emma were living with Archer in April 1891. Archer Roe’s mother had the maiden surname Stokes; it cannot be a coincidence that the son born to William and Ann in December 1884 was named Archer Stokes Roe.

The most logical conclusion is that Archer adopted the first name William when he enlisted in the army, and reverted to his baptism name, Archer, on his return. Why he should do this is a mystery.