Guild of One-Name Studies
One-name studies, Genealogy
Christopher Rotherham was born on 12th April 1895 at Long Row Unstone, Derbyshire, the only son of John Henry Rotherham and Elizabeth [nee Wardle]. The couple did have a second child in 1897, who sadly died the same year. In 1901, the family set up home at 51/52 Chesterfield Road, Dronfield, when his father was working as a Sickle and Hook Maker, probably at the Unstone works of John Harrison and Sons (Dronfield) Ltd. By 1911, at the age of 15, he was still living with his parents and learning the trade of Sickle and Hook Making, probably alongside his father at the Unstone works.
Christopher Rotherham served as a Private in the 2nd/6th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derby Regiment), Service No. 81834. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918, aged 22. His death is recorded on the Arras Memorial at Pas-de-Calais, Bay 7. No marriage or descendants have been recorded for him.
Many generations of the Rotherham family are recorded in the Moss Valley/Eckington area of Derbyshire, where they were engaged in the sickle making industry from its earliest conception.
Sources: GRO War Deaths Army Other Ranks (1914 to 1921); Commonwealth War Graves Commission, casualty database; Census 1901 – 1911.