VAD James Jack
Ward Orderly, Transport of Soldiers and Hospital Duties
Reverend James Jack. Photo by Roger Owen (see below)
Early life:
James Jack was born on 5th November 1868 in Urquhart, Moray in Scotland, son of John and Isabella Jack.
I have not been able to establish much about his early life due to a paucity of records available in Scotland. Following his birth, the next available record is the 1881 census which shows 12 year old James living at Muryhall Cottage in Urquhart with his mother Isabella who was 49 years old. The head of the household was Mary Scott, a 65 year old woman described as a pauper, and I believe may have been Isabella's mother. James had two siblings - 18 year old Annie Jack who was working as a domestic servant, and nine year old 'Charlot' Watson Jack.
By 1891 James had relocated to Glasgow Barony and was a boarder at 27 Ronald Street, working as a grocer's assistant.
James married Margaret Skene Smith on 7th August 1899 at Eden Cottage in Elgin. She was from Petty in Inverness-shire.
By 1901 they were living at 115 Argyle Street in Myton in Hull. He was now working as a Minister at South Street Baptist Church. James and Margaret had a one week old daughter (born 24th March) who had not yet been named (she would soon be named Elizabeth Bell Jack). A nurse named Lizzie Willingham was living with the family also.
The Jack family shown on the 1901 Census
James left his ministry in Myton later in 1901 to become the minister at Wainsgate Baptist Church in Hebden Bridge where he remained until 1906. He then transferred to Bingley Baptist Church.
In 1911 they lived at 16 Priesthorpe Road. As well as Elizabeth Bell, they had another daughter, four year old Jeannie Munro Wainsgate Jack, born 10th September 1906.
War service:
James' VAD record suggests he began his role in July 1916, his tasks included ward orderly, transporting soldiers and hospital duties. There is a mention of him completing 1,000 hours of service in these roles at Morton Banks War Hospital and Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital. He also spent six months in France, though I have not found records to describe what his role there was, the record says "can not estimate the number" (of hours work).
In 1919 James and his family relocated to Rossendale in Lancashire where he ministered at Waterfoot. A newspaper reported that the family experienced accommodation issues initially, with no housing available they were given two classrooms at the Sunday School which were furnished as living and sleeping areas and curtained off! He remained in this role until retiring from the Ministry in 1928 due to failing health.
Post war:
Reverend James Jack died on 5th March 1931 at Ryde House, New Church in Rossendale and is buried at Wainsgate Baptist Church Graveyard in Hebden Bridge.
Margaret and her daughters lived on the same street in Rawtenstall at the time of the 1939 Register; Jeannie was married to Joseph Holt and had one child. Joseph was an ARP Warden and Jeannie worked with the Women's Voluntary Service. Elizabeth was married to Harold Hinton who was also an ARP Warden.
Margaret Jack and her daughters, shown on the 1939 Register
Margaret died in 1944 and was buried with her husband, as was Jeannie when she died in 1962.
Information sources:
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
1881 Scotland Census
1891 Scotland Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
Moray, Scotland, Local Heritage Index, 1632-2014
1939 England and Wales Register
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
findagrave.com
A History of Bingley Baptist Church - 250 Years of Faith, Fellowship and Fiction by Roger Owen (2013)
Photograph of James, by kind courtesy of Roger Owen, from his publication 'A History of Bingley Baptist Church - 250 Years of Faith, Fellowship and Fiction (2013)
Thanks also to Rob Harris, Interim Minister at Bingley Baptist Church
Hull Daily Mail - Letters 15th October-29th October 1901
Halifax Daily Guardian - 20th June 1906 and 28th August 1906
Todmorden and District News - 14th May 1915
Sheffield Evening Telegraph - 13th October 1919
Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian - 10th March 1931
