Trafford

It is common to find that names have been missed off war memorials, in fact
VERY common.   However, it is extremely rare to find a name on a memorial
that should not be on it, or in this case, within the list of those killed
AND the list of those who served and returned.   Such is the case of
William Featherstone who actually survived the war, but is listed within
the "Died" section of the Altrincham Chapel Street Memorial.   As he is so
listed, I shall keep his record live on TWD to save anyone else looking for
someone who was not killed.

Born during the March quarter 1874 in the Manchester R.D. - ref: 8d/338,
the son of Thomas & Kate Featherstone.

1881 Census - Brownlow Green, Northern-Etchells.   (Family listed as
FETHERSTONE)  Son - aged: 7 - born: Manchester.    Head of household -
Thomas Featherstone - Married - aged: 39 - occ: Labourer - born:
Derbyshire.   Also Kate Featherstone - Wife - aged: 36 - born: Manchester. 
 Plus 4 siblings.  Emma 1867 - Frank  1869 - Mary 1876 - Ann 1879.

1891 Census - Peel Hall, Peel Road, Cross Acres, Northern Etchells.  
Servant - aged: 19 - occ: Agricultural Labourer - born: Gatley, Cheshire.  
Head of household - Betty Shenton - Widow - aged: 62 - occ: Farmer - born:
Northern Etchells.   His sister - Emma Featherstone was employed by Betty
Shenton as a Domestic Servant.   William was one of 12 Agricultural
Labourers employed by Betty Shenton.
His parents and 3 siblings were also residing at Peel Road, Northern
Etchells, Altrincham.  His mother - Kate Featherstone died in 1899 - aged:
51.

1901 Census - Cross Acres, Northern Etchells.   Son - aged: 27 - occ:
Teamsman on Cross Acres Farm - born: Cheshire.   Head of household - Thomas
Featherstone - Widower - occ: Farm Labourer - born: Biggin, Derbsyshire. 
Plus 4 siblings.

Married Lucy Shelmerdine during the June quarter 1904 in the Bucklow R.D. -
ref: 8a/389.

1911 Census - Wiggons Hill, Northern Etchells.   Waggoner on Farm - Married
- aged: 35 - born: Gatley.   Also - Lucy Featherstone - Wife - aged: 31 -
born: Baguley.   Plus 2 children - Lucy aged: 6 and William Harold, aged:
5.     Head of household - William Rigby - Single - aged: 56 - born:
Gatley.

Northern Etchells included - the hamlets of Brownsley Green, Cross Acres,
Heyhead, Moss Nook, Poundswick, Royal Thorn and Sharston. 

1939 National Registration - 46 Styal Road, Manchester.    William
Featherstone - Married - born: 30th November 1873 - occ: Farm Labourer.  
Lucy Featherstone - Married - born: 5th June 1880 - occ: Paid Domestic.

There are a few W. Featherstone's recorded by the CWGC as having been
killed in WW1, but none of them were serving in the Cheshire Rgt at the
time of their death.

I am indebted to Michael Byron for finding him listed in the 1939 National
Registration records proving that he survived the war and should only have
been listed on the Roll of Honour section of the Chapel Street War Memorial
and not the 'Died' section.