Hello Listers,
It has been a bit quiet of late, I thought I might throw one in out of
interest. I came across a Vivian Chant, a Canadian who was KIA during
WW1:
Name: CHANT, VIVIAN
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment: Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regt.)
Unit Text: 72nd Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 03/04/1917
Service No: 129677
Additional information: Son of Ernest Chant, of 2,512, Main St.,
Vancouver, British Columbia. Native of Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. G. 54.
Cemetery: BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
As you can see he was born at Burham, Somerset. He is listed on the 1901
census there with his family:
Ernest Chant, Head aged 32, watchmaker, born Bridgewater, Somerset
Kate Chant, wife aged 33, born Kings Lynn, Norfolk
Vivian Chant, son aged 5, born Burnham
Gladys Chant, daughter aged 4 born Burnham
On Free BDM I found the following marriage entry for Ernest:
Marriages June 1894
Chant Ernest Bridgwater 5c 600
Wyatt Kate Margaret Bridgwater 5c 600
On the 1881 census there is the following for Ernest and his family:
Henry CHANT Head M Male 41 Bridgwater, Somerset, England Saw
Mill Proprietor Employing 4 Men & 3 Boys
Jane CHANT Wife M Female 41 Nether Stowey, Somerset,
England
Alfred CHANT Son U Male 17 Bridgwater, Somerset,
England Accountant
Ernest CHANT Son Male 12 Bridgwater, Somerset,
England Scholar
Francis CHANT Son Male 8 Bridgwater, Somerset,
England Scholar
Ada WILSHER Serv U Female 16 Bridgwater, Somerset, England General
Servant Domestic
Dwelling 5 Church St
Census Place Bridgwater, Somerset, England
On the 1891 census the family are still at Church Street, Bridgwater
Jane Chant, wife, married aged 51
Ernest Chant, son aged 22, watchmaker
Frances Chant, son aged 18, architect's assistant.
Ernest's father was visiting London at the time of the census:
He is listed at Lawrence Rd, Brixton at the house of Samuel Roddick, a
54 yr old Church Chapel Keeper, born at Radstock, Somerset. There were
some other 5 visitors that night, all born in Somerset. So it would seem
there was a little colony of Somerset in Brixton. Henry Chant is still
listed as a sawmill owner by 1891. He may well have in London on
business.
The eldest son Alfred Chant, is also living on Church Street,
Bridgwater, by now married:
Alfred Chant, Head aged 28, sawyer, born Bridgwater,
Anne Chant, wife aged 31, born Bridgwater
Ernest H Chant, son aged 1, born Bridgwater
Does anyone have any connections with this family ? To the best of my
knowledge we have never discussed the Bridgwater family, although it is
not too far from other "Chant centres" in Somerset. Does anyone know
when Ernest and his family migrated to Canada ?
Regards,
Sean