Arthur J R B ROADLEY was born 1906. He married Ann Elizabeth BARRATT January March, 1924 in Shardlow District, Derbyshire, England. He died UNKNOWN. Ann Elizabeth BARRATT was born 08 May 1902 in Birmingham District, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She died 14 May 1981 in Hounslow District, Middlesex, England.


Marriage Notes for Arthur J R B ROADLEY\Ann Elizabeth BARRATT:

I know very little about Arthur except that he seems to have gone off the rails pretty soon after he and Annie got married (as early as 1927), and made several court apperarances for minor offences. He was referred to as "of no fixed abode" or alternatively, a "Knight of the Road", so presumably, sleeping rough.

Other Marriages/Unions for Ann Elizabeth BARRATT:
See Edward KNIBBS & Ann Elizabeth BARRATT


Notes for Arthur J R B ROADLEY:

I can find nothing at all about Arthur prior to him marrying Ann, so for now he's a bit of a mystery. There was an Arthur J Roadley born in 1874, living at Long Eaton, Derbyshire in the 1881 census with his parents and siblings. Long Eaton is in fact in the Shardlow District, which is where our Arthur J R B Roadley married Ann Barratt.
This could be him, or maybe our J R B Roadley's father - or just another Roadley from the same area.
__________

It seems from the two following court appearances, that he must have left Ann after just a very short marriage and took to living rough - of no fixed abode, a "Knight of the Road".
__________

Stapleford & Sandiacre News - 24 June 1927
Theft of Money.
After bathing in the canal recently William Smedley, of Long Eaton. discovered to his dismay that 4s. 10½d. was missing from his pockets, Suspicion fell on Arthur J. R. B. Roadley, who was seen in the vicinity. Defendant eluded the police for some days but he was eventually arrested and at the Derby Comunity Police Court on Friday was fined 40s. or 21 days imprisonment. Roadley, who was described as a labourer, of no fixed abode, elected to go to prison.

__________

From the Tamworth Herald - 18 May 1929:
TAMWORTH DIVISION POLICE. SATURDAY.
Before Mr. Haskey (in the chair), and the Mayor of Tamworth (Mr. T. Leedham).
"Knights of the Road."
William Davies. Harry Jackson. John Reynolds, labourers, and Arthur J. R. B. Roadley, groom, all of no fixed abode, were charged with refusing to perform their allotted tasks at Tamworth Poor Law lnstituiton, on May 11. Defendants all pleadod guilty.
William Bagley, assistant master, stated that 8-30 a.m. the Porter informed him that the four accused had refused to work. Witness saw them and asked them to, offering them any kind, and they refused to do anything. They said they did not wish to be kept in until Monday morning, and they wanted to smoke. Witness added that they adhered strictly to the regulations, and casuals did not appear to like it. Accused were quite civil towards him. Witness added that there appeared be no uniformity in the treatment of casuals. In some places they appeared to do as they liked, and when they came to a place where they were strict they objected. Two of the accused were put stone-breaking, and all were offered cleaning afterwards.
Jackson said be was not a criminal when he went into the place, and did not see why he should kept there for 63 hours, locked up, and his clothing pulled about as if he had jewellery all over him.
Davies said he did not see why a fellow should be taken in for a night's rest and detained until Monday morning. Had he known he would have been kept in till then he would have had a night out.
Mr. Bagley pointed out that the regulations were shown in the receiving ward.
Davies remarked that in the majority of places casuals were turned out on Saturdays.
Reynolds said there was nothing in the regulations about smoking. Tobacco was taken from them, and the pockets of their clothing were turned out,
Mr. Bagley said the regulations stated that all articles should taken away from casuals and given back on their discharge.
Asked if anything was known against accused, Inspector Brooks said one of them appeared to have been convicted of drunkenness. They seemed to be knights of the road, being fairly conversant the regulations relating to casual wards.
Reynolds said according to the condition the country they had got be knights the road, they were forced to be, it was not on their own initiative.
Accused were each sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour, for which they thanked the magistrates.

Sources for Arthur J R B ROADLEY:

  1. Newspaper Article,

Notes for Ann Elizabeth BARRATT:

Also known as: Ann or Annie Elizabeth

I'm not 100% sure that it was this Ann Elizabeth who was born in Birmingham District, but it seems most likely.
__________

Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Ann.

Sources for Ann Elizabeth BARRATT:

  1. GRO England & Wales,
  2. findagrave.com, Gave date of death