Evelyn’s military record shows that he served in World War I from 1916 to 1919. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Evelyn Albert Aldous

Born: 18 APR 1889 in Westhall, Suffolk County, England

Father: Henry Aldous (1854 to 1940)
Mother: Mary Ann Stannard (1859 to 1947)

Spouse: None

Married: None

Children: None

Died: 3 JAN 1933 in Ipswich, Suffolk County, England

Probate:

Timeline:

1891 Westhall, Suffolk County, England
1901 Brunish, Suffolk County, England
1909 Death of brother, Henry
1911 Sternfield Friston, Suffolk County, England
1916 Enlisted in the British Royal Navy
1933 Death and Burial

Occupation: blacksmith’s assistant, a stoker in the British Royal Navy

Records:

1891 to 1911 England Census Records
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
The UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services, 1900-1928
The UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1861-1941

Variations of Surname: None

A Boy Named Evelyn?

That is what many people would say in the United States in our modern times. Yet, in British history, Evelyn, in its many variations, was first introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The given name of Evelyn was solely masculine in the 17th and 18th centuries. It did not gain popularity as a feminine given name until the 19th century when the novel, Evelina, became popular in Britain.

Wikipedia shows a list of famous British men with this given name. Evelyn may have been named after a famous military or political figure.

Evelyn’s Military Service:

Evelyn enlisted in the British Royal Navy and fought in World War I. He was a stoker who tended the ships’ steam engines.

Evelyn’s military record shows that he served from 1916 to 1919. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Evelyn Did Not Marry:

I do not believe Evelyn ever married. The probate record names his mother as executrix of his estate. It could be that he remained in the British Royal Navy until he retired to Ipswich.

Notes:

Here are some links to websites that helped with my Aldous family research:

Aldous.net (Aldous family history and family tree)
Ancestors of Tim Farr, Descendants of Stephen Farr (family tree)
Reid-Schroeder Genealogies (family tree)
The Tree of Us (family tree)
Family Search (family tree website)
The Internet Surname Database (surname meaning and origins)
House of Names (coat of arms)

Creating Your Family Tree

Interested in building a great family tree? Remember these important steps:

Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also an excellent source for vital records.

Talk to your older relatives to find out about your ancestry. They may relate stories about an ancestor that you can add to your family tree. Family history is usually not found in newspapers. It is more of a verbal memory passed down from generation to generation.

Find the right family tree builder that suits your needs. You can choose one that has a paid subscription like Ancestry.com. There are also free sites like FamilySearch.org.

When you start building your family tree, add documentation to your ancestor’s profile. Records should include birth, marriage, death, census, military, city, and county directory listings. Any information that you can find will help create a life story about your ancestor.

If you have a unique surname, you may find databases on the internet that are useful in your search. I use SurnameDB.com for my English surnames. There are other websites on the internet for countries like Italy and Germany.

Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” As you create your family tree, you would start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add their parents, grandparents, and so on. There are also family trees that go “forward into time.” Many of these family trees start with a famous person, such as a president or royalty. They would then move forward into the present time. The purpose of this type of pedigree is to establish a person’s bloodline to that famous person.

There is no limit on how big your family tree can grow. The blank canvas is there for you to use. Cherish your family history, and it will be there for generations to come!