Diane's Genealogy Blog 2013

[if you wish to contact me, my email address is: diane27@gmail.com]

Now working on what I call the Matthews tree, mostly centred in London and Bath, England

<<2022 I am so sorry, all the photos appear to have dropped off this account.>>

Friday 27th December 2013

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I shall be back online on 2nd January 2014, on the new 2014 page.

Monday 23rd December 2013

Grace Nellie Hennig was born 17 Dec 1883 at 101 Avondale Square, Peckham to August & Hellen nee Hill and christened at St Luke's, South Kensington (unusual as not the local church where sibs went and older than most at 4 months). On 24 Jun 1889 aged 5 she was admitted to Rolls Road Infant School, then 19 Oct 1891 to the Junior School. As I have mentioned before, the school was in the next road and all her sibs attended. She can be seen in census return of 1891 aged 7 at 101 Avondale Square with parents & sibs and also there in 1901 aged 17, a dressmaker. On 17 Aug 1907 at St Philip the Apostle, the local church, she married Albert Edward Preston, a clerk from Bermondsey and they moved to Croydon and had a son Kenneth there a year later, then a daughter Elise in 1917. The census of 1911 finds Grace & Albert at 19 Leander Road, Thornton Heath with Kenneth, Albert listed as Clerk in Stock Exchange. Preston is a fairly common name and I cannot match up any deaths, although I suspect Grace died Apr 1964 in Surrey.

Helena Hennig was born 23 May 1902 in Wimbledon to Julius & Helena nee Bradley. Her situation was odd, to say the least. Both parents were working as servants and they married when she was 5 months old, but 1911 census showed that they carried on with their lives and I cannot find her. She was aged 8 and I thought she would be with grandparents etc but she is not. Her father was working as manservant and mother as general domestic servant in the household of a cotton merchant in Derbyshire. They had quite a busy life - I may well tell the story at a later date - but they claimed on the census form that they had no children. I picked her up again, thanks to electoral roll records, in 1951, living at 90a Philbeach Gardens, Earls Court, sharing with a Marjorie Fiennes, then again in 1959 at 6 Eccleston Square, Victoria with 6 other single women. However, the records go quiet again and she only turns up again on 11 May 2003, when she died aged almost 101 at Conquest Hospital, Hastings of bronchopneumonia, her home address Yvonne Robertson House, Bexhill (sheltered retirement accommodation).
 
Herbert Augustus Hennig was born late Dec 1879 in Newington to John & Henrietta nee Purser and christened there on 18 Jan 1880. He can be seen in census return of 1881 aged 1 at 30 Dante Road, Newington with parents & brother Arthur. We know 1891 is missing, so he is next seen in 1901 aged 21 at "Ecclesfield", Castle Road, Isleworth (see Thurs 19th for pic) with parents & sibs, listed as an Engineer. Then in 1911 he is still there at home with his parents & brothers, listed as Engineer's Buyer. On 28 Jun 1913 at St John the Evangelist, Hammersmith he married Mabel Sophia Golding. In electoral roll records they can be seen to be moving about, but it appears they had no children. In 1915 they can be seen at 33 Meadville Road, Ealing, then 1920-22 "Boscombe", 103 Thornbury Road, Isleworth. 1936-8 sees them at 17 Florence Road, Ealing. Then they lived 1939-40 at 10 St James Avenue, Ewell, Surrey. Herbert died aged 61 in Jul 1941, registered in the Brentford area. After this I lose track of Mabel (unless she lived in Fulham under her maiden name, which I doubt) until her own death in 1981 in Eastbourne aged 92.

Sunday 22nd December 2013

Frederick Charles Edward Hennig was born 7 Jun 1876 at 2 Bloomsbury Street, London to John & Henrietta nee Purser and christened at St George's, Bloomsbury (see Thurs 19th for pic) on 29 Jun 1876. He can be seen on census return of 1881 aged 4 boarding with his grandparents Edward & Sarah Purser at Chattern Hill, Ashford, Middlesex. As we know, 1891 census is missing for this family and we next see him aged 24 in 1901 at "Ecclesfield", Castle Road, Isleworth with parents & sibs (see Thurs 19th for pic of house too). He is working as a brazier & coppersmith. On 7 Oct 1905 at St John the Baptist, Isleworth he married May Bryant, daughter of the proprietor of The Royal Oak Laundry, Worton Road, Isleworth [nowadays you can see that the Royal Oak pub has a large outbuilding which could well have been a laundry]. Unfortunately this is one of the cases where as soon as somebody marries they disappear off the radar. I cannot find either Frederick or May from this point on, in UK or abroad, no Hennig children with mother's maiden name Bryant, and no deaths.

Frederick William Hennig, my great grandfather, was born in 1825 in Preussen, Germany (Prussia). I suspect he may be the Wilhelm Hennig, coppersmith, who arrived aboard the SS Neptune on 10 Nov 1845 from Hamburg. He certainly does not appear to be in London for the 1841 census. On 20 Feb 1848 at St John the Evangelist church, Waterloo he married Maria Cox. He gave his father's name as John Hennig, cook and witnesses included Maria's father Stephen, a water-gilder (applies gold leaf, usually to picture-frames etc). As Frederick worked in copper, he may well have been a colleague. The address given on the marriage certificate was Ann Street - now under Waterloo Station. In 1851 census they can be seen at 2 Hungerford Arcade, now under Charing Cross Station (one could think the railways had it in for their homes!) with 2 sons, Frederick listed as "brazier & coppersmith". In 1861 they can be seen very close by, at 32a Villiers Street with 4 sons, Frederick a "copper mould maker". [This is now part of the shops at the side of Charing Cross Station]. Sharing this house is a widow Catherine Noonan and her 3 children John, James & Catherine, from Cork, Ireland. Maria died at home in Jan 1865 and on 24 Nov 1867 at the Parish Church, Camberwell (St Giles) he married Catherine Noonan junior, a 27-year-old (ie 15 years younger than him) glove-maker, witnesses John Noonan (her brother) & Elizabeth Yobrow. In 1871 census they can be seen at 12 Loughborough Street with 5 sons. Unfortunately for her mother Catherine senior, they couldn't take her with them with all these children and she had to go into the Workhouse, where she remained until she died in 1884. Frederick had a dramatic end. His death certificate states that he died on 18 Dec 1879 of "Heart disease. Fell down suddenly in the street" at The Triangle, Kennington Road (a place I am familiar with from my childhood) aged 54. As I have already noted in Flo's segment (yesterday), Catherine married again: to John Daniel Miles at St Thomas church, Bethnal Green on 23 Sep 1886. However, he died Jan 1895 & she lived with my grandparents until she died in 1918 (4 years before my father was born there).

Saturday 21st December 2013

Ethel Maude Hennig was born in Jul 1884 at Newington. She can be seen on census of 1891 aged 6 - the only one of this family who can - staying with her uncle & aunt Henry & Louisa Purser and 9 year old cousin Louise at Albion House, Station Road, Shepperton. In 1901 she is back with the family at "Ecclesfield", Castle Road, Isleworth. On 9 Oct 1909 at St Mark's, Battersea she married Richard Sydney James Hollidge, witnesses at the ceremony William James Hollidge (groom's brother) & H J Hennig (bride's mother). Richard, along with brothers Ernest & William had each been renting a room from their mother for a few years & Ethel moved in with him on the 2nd (top) floor of 29 Almeric Road, Battersea Rise (near Clapham Common). Once children started to come, however, this became too small, so census of 1911 finds them at 20 Schubert Road, Putney, where they had 3 rooms as well as a kitchen & bathroom facilities, Richard listed as a "grain factor's clerk". At that point they had a baby of 11 months and one on the way, who followed a few weeks later, then 2 more, but in 1916 Ethel gave birth to son Alan Purser Hollidge on 10 Nov but she did not survive. The baby did however & lived to the age of 84. Richard in 1922-35 gave an address in London - offices in 60 Mark Lane - as well as 80 Coombe Road, New Malden [now a builder's yard]. He lived at the latter address until he died there on 4 Apr 1951, leaving effects worth £2777 to sons Richard Lionel Hollidge, flight sergeant in RAF, and Alan Purser Hollidge, farmer.

Florence Augusta Hennig, my paternal grandmother, was born on 8 Jun 1879 at 12 Loughborough Street, Lambeth to Frederick & Catherine nee Noonan [this site is now inhabited by blocks of flats near Tesco, Vauxhall] and christened at St Peter's, West Dulwich, as all her full sibs were, on 20 Jul 1879. She was only 6 months old when her father died - see later. I cannot find this family in census of 1881 but by 1891 she and her mother can be seen living at 15 Chatterton Road, Islington (her mother oddly giving the name Hennig, widow, even though she had been remarried for 5 years and her husband John Miles was away visiting elsewhere). In 1901 her mother was working as a cook in Chelsea, and again I cannot find Flo. But we soon catch up with her as on 23 Nov 1902 at St John's, Highbury Vale she married William George Matthews. Witnesses were Julius Redmond Hennig (her brother) and Eliza Emily Matthews (groom's sister). [Apparently the church was closed in 1979, demolished in 1980s and no pictures seem to have survived!] Over the next 20 years, Flo had four children, my father being the youngest. In 1911 census she can be seen at 30a Clayton Road, Peckham with William listed as a jeweller's polisher, son William aged 7 & Catherine Miles, her mother, aged 71.[This site is now a children's playground and I do remember as a young teenager passing this place & my father saying "There's the playground where I was born" much to our consternation! It wasn't quite what he meant, but I blame my imagination for the picture it conjured up in my head!]
By 1926 they had moved to 135 Peckham Rye (this is where I lived for the first 3 years of my life). Flo died there in Apr 1939 aged 60 and my grandfather continued living there until he died on 25 Apr 1952. In the later years his sons Albert (Uncle Bert) and Walter (my Dad) ran the family business from the house, which was equipped with a workshop.

Friday 20th December 2013

Edith Kate Hennig  was born 12 Jan 1894 at 101 Avondale Square, Camberwell to August & Hellen nee Hill & christened on 8 Apr 1894 at St Philip the Apostle church in the same road. On 26 Aug 1901 she was admitted to Rolls Road Junior School (transferred from the Infant Dept) in the next road. [The whole area was redeveloped in the 1960s. St Philip's was rebuilt 1963 and Rolls Road School rebuilt as Eveline Road School in 1966]. In census returns of 1901 & 1911 she can be seen at 101 Avondale Square with parents & sibs. There is then a gap of 47 years with no records for her, as she didn't marry. The next records I can see are 1958-76, where she can be seen at 143 Hangleton Road, Hove, Sussex. This may have been where she retired to, but I cannot find her in London in those intervening years. She died in Nov 1984 in Hove, aged 90.

Ernest Francis Hennig was born at Newington at the end of Mar 1882 to John & Henrietta nee Purser and christened on 9 Apr 1882 at St Matthew's church, Ashford, Middlesex. As I have said before, 1891 census is missing for this family and the next time we see him is on 1901 census at "Ecclesfield", Castle Road, Isleworth (see yesterday) with parents & sibs. He is aged 19 and working for the Home Office (Government Department) as a "boy copyinst". But he evidently was not strong, and on 3 May 1907 at the age of just 25 he died at the West London Hospital [which closed in 1993 and is now Sony Ericsson House], leaving effects worth £52 to his father.

Ernest Herbert Hennig was born 20 Dec 1887 at 101 Avondale Square to August & Hellen and was christened nearby at St Philip's on 8 Apr 1888. He can be seen on census return of 1891 aged 3 at 101 Avondale Square with parents & sibs. On 9 May 1893 he was admitted to Rolls Road Infant School aged 5, followed on 1 Oct 1895 by transfer to the Junior School. Then 1901 & 1911 census returns show him at the same address, in the latter listed as Clerk in the Stock Exchange, London. He must have emigrated to New South Wales, Australia in the years following this last census, as the next we hear of him is his marriage to Alice Mary Ashton on 15 May 1920 at St Silas church, Waterloo, NSW [closed 1977]. Unfortunately, the next news is that of his death aged 39 on 29 Jun 1927 at Randwick Military Hospital, Sydney, when his home address was given as Woy Woy, NSW. His will was probated in London (so maybe he was still a British Subject) on 29 Jan 1928, leaving £2060 to his widow Alice. I am told that she died in Australia on 4 Dec 1951 aged 59, leaving one son & one daughter, and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery.

Thursday 19th December 2013

Time to move on to a new tree. It is the turn of my late father's tree and I start with his mother's family the Hennigs.

Arthur Henry Hennig was born 29 Sep 1877 at 1 Bloomsbury Street, Bloomsbury, London [now a bookshop] to John & Henrietta nee Purser and christened there at St George's on 28 Oct 1877. He can be seen on census return of 1881 aged 3 at 30 Dante Road, Newington [now a modern estate] with parents and brother Herbert. In 1891 I cannot find the family, although we do know they are still in Newington, as his brother Stanley was born there about 3 weeks after the census. By 1901 census they have moved to Isleworth and he can be seen at "Ecclesfield", Castle Road with parents & sibs, listed as a Tin & Metal Plate Worker. In 1911 census this house has been given the number 52 and he is still here with parents & brothers, working as a panel-beater. On 20 Jun 1914 at St Mary's, Osterley he married Minnie Biggs, school teacher. From electoral roll records I can see that they both lived at 60 Thornbury Road, Isleworth from at least 1921, and maybe from their marriage. Just a little way down this road was the school where Minnie may well have worked, as they had no children of their own [A modern Health Centre stands on the site now]. On 1 Feb 1951 Arthur died aged 73 and his death was registered in the Ealing district. He left effects worth £4408 to Charles William Venning, barrister & legal editor. Minnie continued to live in the house until at least 1965, when electoral records cease at present. She died aged 93 in the Richmond area in Jan 1980.

August Rudolph Hennig (my grandmother's half-brother) was born not in August but 13 May 1850 at 1 New North Street, Holborn [now tower blocks looking very much like those in Only Fools & Horses!] to Frederick William and Maria nee Cox and christened there at St George the Martyr, Queen Square. He can be seen in census return of 1851 aged 11 months at 2 Hungerford Arcade, St Martins-in-the-Fields with parents & brother [this was built over in about 1862 to construct Charing Cross Station]. In 1861 I cannot find the family, all I know of this time was that his mother died in the Strand area in 1865. By 1871 census all has changed - he can be seen aged 20 at 12 Loughborough Street, Lambeth with father, step-mother, brothers & step-brothers. He is a journeyman copper-mould maker, as is his brother John and their father. On 29 Mar 1876 at St Martins-in-the-Fields, a very famous church in London, he married Hellen Emma Hill. They had 8 children, but one died in infancy and one at 8 years of age. Early in their marriage they seemed to live with his brother John in Dante Road, Newington, then in 1880 moved to 101 Avondale Square, Camberwell [off Old Kent Road, now again a modern housing estate]. August worked as a cutler, then cutlery dealer. They can be seen at this address throughout the censuses of 1881-1911 and after this they can still be seen there on electoral roll records until they died there, Hellen on 12 Mar 1921 & August on 31 Dec 1926, leaving £10,840 to their eldest two daughters, who were both married. [This is over half a million in current (well, 2012) values!]

Monday 16th December 2013

William Catchesides was born in the 1720s or early 30s, possibly in the Newcastle area of England. On 23 Feb 1755 at St Edmund's church, Southwold, Suffolk he married Margaret Willett and they settled in Great Yarmouth, 20 miles north of Southwold. They had 2 sons here, then in 1761 they moved to London and settled in Stepney, having 7 more children here (although 3 of these died in infancy). I have seen him in a Poll Book listing voters in Newcastle and by his name is a note that he was resident in London. I take it from this that he originated in the Newcastle area. In late Sep 1782 at Queen Street, Limehouse, William died and was buried at St Anne's. In Feb 1787 Margaret followed suit and was buried with him on 8th Feb 1787.

The other William Catchesides was born 6 Feb 1794 in Limehouse to Abraham & Sarah nee Pratt & christened there at St Anne's on 16 Mar 1794 (see above for pic). On 15 Aug 1818 at St Mary's Rotherhithe he married Prudence Hart, from Wapping. They had 4 children and by the time of 1841 census Prudence can be seen with the 3 boys living at Lemon Valley, Rotherhithe [now this whole area is an estate of modern residential blocks] with her parents & brother. Her father & brother are coopers and it may well be that William was too. He is nowhere to be seen and by 1851 she is marked as a widow, living at no. 7 Baltic Place, Rotherhithe with 2 sons [where Surrey Quays station now stands]. There is an article in Nautical Magazine 1833, telling of a "William Catherside (a frequent spelling of this surname) cooper, member of the crew on the SS Oldham of London, who was massacred by natives off Wallis Island, South Pacific in 1832". This may well have been our William, but of course no formal burial record exists. Prudence can be seen again in 1871 census at no.1 Baltic Cottages, Baltic Place with son Edward and she died in Jan 1874 in Rotherhithe aged 76.

There are 4 further Williams in this tree: William Abraham son of Abraham & Louise, who died aged 4; William Mark and William Robert sons of Robert & Ann, who died aged 1 & 9 respectively; and William Thomas son of William & Prudence above, who survived into adulthood. He was born 26 Jul 1821 in Rotherhithe & was christened at St Mary's on 19 Aug 1821. In the 1841 census he can be seen aged "15" (really 19 but ages were usually rounded down in 1841) at Lemon Valley, Rotherhithe with his mother & 2 brothers and in 1851 at 7 Baltic Place with mother & brother, listed as a labourer. On 7 Jul 1852 at St George In The East he married Ann Jane Kinchin. He was described as a mariner of 19 Great Hermitage Street. This document confirmed his father William was indeed a cooper, so the story above is probably true. He & Ann settled in Rotherhithe & had 5 children. In 1861 census they can be seen at 12 Hurrell Terrace (I think that's what it says - is very difficult to read). In 1871 they are at 3 Canute Street with 6 children and in 1881 the address is 61 Cornbury Road and 3 children are left at home. All these places are in the same area, that of Lemon Valley. I am told that Ann died in 1889 but I cannot find a record (mis-spelled again no doubt). William died in Jan 1891 aged 68. 

Friday 13th December 2013

Robert Richard Catchesides was born 12 Sep 1767 in Queen Street, Limehouse to William & Margaret nee Willett and christened there at St Anne's on 7 Oct 1767. On 12 Aug 1795 at St George's In The East church, Stepney he married Ann Warr. They had 9 children, all in Rotherhithe, but three of them died in infancy and one aged 9. I found Ann's death in the Rotherhithe workhouse, then her 1841 census record there. She is listed as a widow, so Robert must have died before then. Unfortunately registration didn't start until 1837, and I think he may have gone just prior to this. Matthew's marriage certificate does not say "deceased" but this proves nothing, as I said in his segment, the witnesses at that ceremony were attached to the church, so the whole thing may have been unknown to the family. It seems suspicious if his mother was already in the workhouse, but there may be another story here! Ann's death record states that she died while resident at the workhouse, but she would have been buried at St Mary's, as the workhouse was part of this parish, on 29 Jun 1842.

The other Robert Richard Catchesides, their son, was born 9 Jan 1806 in Rotherhithe (I am told in Adam Street) and christened there at St Mary's on 7 Feb 1806. On 11 Sep 1827 at another St Mary's, this time in Islington, he married Elizabeth Hughes from Beckenham, Kent. Witnesses were his brother John Thomas and Maria Mayhew. They settled in Deptford and had 2 daughters, Ann & Emily. As is so common, the 1841 census is missing, but they can be seen in 1851 at Crossfield Lane, Deptford [this lane is still there, crossing the land on which St Paul's church stands, now their side of the road is taken up with a spectacular set of railway arches and St Joseph's catholic school], Robert listed as labourer. In Jul 1854 he died and Elizabeth continued to live at 10 Crossfield Lane. In 1861 she can be seen there with her 2 daughters, listed as laundress. In 1871 she has daughter Emily & family with her, next door to a family called Dawes, probably related to daughter Ann's husband. (The two girls married on Christmas Eve 1865 at a joint ceremony). Elizabeth is listed as "mangler", showing she is still paying her way by taking in laundry. In Jul 1880 she died & her death was registered in Merton, Surrey - she was probably staying with daughter Ann, who lived at that time at Railway Place, Wimbledon, which may well have been in Merton district.

Thursday 12th December 2013

It is often the case after a breakthrough like I had on Tuesday, that karma comes & kicks you in the backside and the following days yield nothing. Unfortunately that was the case yesterday & today.

Margaret Catchesides was born 30 Jun 1762 at Ratcliff, Stepney to William & Margaret nee Willett and christened there in the Queen Street Independent Chapel, Ratcliff on 23 Aug 1762 [now the Rotherhithe Tunnel & Limehouse link have cut great swathes across this area]. On 19 Dec 1786 at St Dunstan's, Stepney she married John Matthews.
There are a variety of baptisms for children born across London in the following years to a John & Margaret Matthews, but I don't know if any or all are theirs. Likewise with death records.

Mary Ann Catchesides was born Jan 1807 in Rotherhithe to Abraham & Sarah nee Pratt and christened there at St Mary's on 8 Feb 1807. On 5 Mar 1821 at St Mary's, Newington she married Andrew Dennis.
I traced Mary Ann through four decades (censuses with absent husband, as he was a commercial traveller & rarely at home) and it was only when I discovered her son's middle name and hence his baptism record that it all unravelled when I found the father's name & mother's maiden names were wrong. So it is back to the drawing board... I do still have doubts about her marriage at 14 years old. It was not unknown to marry so young, but was rare, especially in London. I cannot however find any death records under the name of Catchesides or Dennis.

Matthew Catchesides was born in Oct 1758 in great Yarmouth, Norfolk to William & Margaret nee Willett and christened there at the Old Meeting House, Gaol Street on 13 Nov 1758. By the time he was 4 years old, the family had relocated to London and on 25 Feb 1781 at St Paul's. Deptford he married Elizabeth Nichol - by licence as his bride was only 17 years old. They had 2 daughters, but both died as infants, Elizabeth at a few days old in 1785 and Jane aged 10 months in 1762. Unfortunately the trail goes cold here and I cannot find them either in death records or emigration lists.

Matthew James Catchesides was born 14 Oct 1811 in Rotherhithe to Robert & Ann nee Warr and christened there at St Mary's on 8 Nov 1811. On 8 Mar 1840 at St Mary's, Lewisham he married Jane Wells, both living at Blackheath.
The witnesses are what appear to be "professional" witnesses provided by the church, but this doesn't appear to be a rushed wedding, where these are normally used, as their son Matthew doesn't appear until almost exactly 9 months later. He was followed by 3 further sons and they can be seen in censuses of 1851 & 1861 at Claremont Place, Greenwich [now a modern housing estate]. As it is very difficult to find this family, I can only say that William died aged 7 and two of the others married, but apart from this I can find no trace... Oh, this Matthew was a butcher by the way.

Tuesday 10th December 2013

Louisa Agnes Catchesides, my great great grandmother (Nan's Nan), was born 8 May 1833 in Rotherhithe to Abraham Joseph & Louisa nee Fayle and christened there at St Mary's on 31 May 1833. She can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 7 at Ann's Place, Albion Street, Rotherhithe with parents and 2 sisters. As I have said before, the 1851 census record is missing for this family. On 11 Aug 1856 at St Mary the Less church, Lambeth she married George Wooldridge. George made his mark, Louisa signed her name, witnesses were Abraham Joseph & Eliza Catchesides, her father & sister. Louisa gave birth to twins a few weeks later and followed up with 8 more children, although out of 10 births only 6 survived, including Grampy (Henry John, my great grandfather). They lived at 10 Spring Place, Nine Elms (see George on 14th Oct) until 1862, when they moved to Victoria Wharf, nearby. They can be seen there in census of 1871 with 6 children and by 1881 have moved across Battersea to 44 Currie Street, where they can be seen in census return with 3 children & grandson. In 1891 census they can be seen at 98 Union Street (later renamed Fitzalan Street) near where son William was lodging & by 1892 they must have relocated to 20 Clayton Buildings, as that was where George was when he died in 1893. Unfortunately his death meant that Louisa lost her main breadwinner (although Grampy was still with her & he was working and William lived in the same block). She was still on the buildings in 1895 & granddaughter May was born at number 20, but by 1901 census we find her in the workhouse. See 20th Oct for Henry John's (Grampy) segment - I suggested there that she may have needed specialist medical care, as she was there for at least 15 years, possibly 20. She had been moved out of the area to Essex, but then a lot of parishes did this to spread the load of the poor - and Lambeth may well have had more than its fair share of destitutes. She is still there in 1911 & she died there in 1915 aged 82.

Finding out this information was strange and quite shocking to me. Firstly I was shocked that she couldn't be taken in by one of her children or circulated amongst them, as we have seen so often. But when I settled to study her in more detail, especially in the 1911 census, I found that she had lived for some years - and then died - only yards away from my place of work in the 1980s! In the 1911 census she is listed with a group of other inmates, living in the part of Leyton Workhouse known as Forest House. This was on the estate at Leytonstone which was purchased to build a branch of the workhouse with infirmary in 1903. As many did all over the country, the infirmary became a hospital (Whipps Cross) when the National Health Service was created in 1948 and I worked there in the pathology department in 1981-3. Forest House was demolished in 1964, but I remember a big ornate fireplace from there in the hospital entrance hall and some pieces of wall incorporated into the buildings I was fully aware of & passed every day! We worked in a converted ward and it isn't impossible that I worked in the very room in which she died!

Monday 9th December 2013

John Thomas Catchesides was born 24 Jan 1809 in Rotherhithe to Robert & Ann nee Warr and christened there at St Mary's on 31 Oct 1810 (oddly, he also appears to have been christened there on 15 Feb 1809, but maybe this was wrong/cancelled & was never corrected). On 8 Sep 1833 at St Giles, Camberwell he married Charlotte Crew. They had 10 children, but as with his own siblings, out of these ten 4 died (in this case one aged 7 & 3 in infancy). He can be seen on 1841 census return at Silver Street, Rotherhithe with 2 children [now modern buildings & renamed Silver Walk], also in 1851 at the same place with 5 children. Unfortunately in 1857 Charlotte had baby Eliza on 13 Jun (at 13 Commercial Place, I am told), but died on 8 Aug (possibly of some complication of childbirth) and the baby died 3 months later. The 1861 census finds John at 7 Chilton Street, Rotherhithe with 4 children, 1.5 miles away across Rotherhithe near what is now Greenland Quay. He was always a Rope Maker, as were many of his neighbours, probably working at the Rope Works on Angel Wharf a mile to the West. By 1871 he has moved in with his daughter Sophia & her family, also bringing his youngest 2 daughters with him. They are at 16 Plough Road, which is a parallel lane to Chilton Street [Sutton Dwellings were built here in 1914]. He died there in Jan 1875 aged 63.

Thursday 5th December 2013

Jane Elizabeth Catchesides was born Feb 1812 in Rotherhithe to Abraham & Sarah nee Pratt and christened there at St Mary's on 15 Mar 1812. On Boxing Day 1832 at St Mary's, Newington she married Thomas Beckwith, painter (& later plumber) and settled at 2 Grosvenor Place, Walworth [now the site of the Heygate Estate, Elephant] and had 5 children there. She can be seen in census return of 1841 census, staying at 58 Skinner Street, St Sepulchre, with her in-laws William & Elizabeth Beckwith & 2 children & 2 servants (one Mary Ann Pratt, probably a relative of her mother). Thomas is not at home. This is an interesting address - Skinner Street was a road leading from Newgate Street to Holborn and William was listed there as a gun manufacturer. I found a reference to the street online: "in front of number 58 the sailor Cashman was hung in 1817, for plundering a gunsmith's shop". I looked into this and found a transcription of a follow-up trial to this one, which was interesting in that it showed that it was indeed William's shop, and his staff appeared and were cross-examined - including himself. Apparently there were mobs running riot, protesting against the king and several gunshops were targeted. A man was shot in Mr Beckwith's shop & the story reads like sensational fiction (which contrasts oddly with the ponderous wording of the court process). The rioter, James Watson came into the shop, stamped his foot & demanded arms at gunpoint, then shot & wounded a customer who got in his way. But when the shop manager called for a surgeon he announced that he was one & proceeded to take his victim upstairs & treat him, leaving his tools there at the scene - and they were engraved with his name! Meanwhile the mob broke the shop windows and looted the shop, taking all the guns from the window and a lot of ammunition etc. James Watson was tried for treason, but was found Not Guilty. The neighbours were interesting too. The Godwin family at number 41 nearby were authors & ran a bookshop. William Godwin was author, publisher and shopkeeper dealing with children's books, his wife was Mary Wollstonecraft, a writer of books about and fervent supporter of women's rights. Their daughter was Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, author of the Frankenstein books. By 1851 Jane can be seen widowed, still at 2 Gloucester Place, Walworth with 4 children (the eldest was in service), working as a laundress. I cannot find them in 1861 but by 1871 she is staying with her daughter Hannah & her family (she married William Pow, lighterman). In 1881 she can be seen at 4 Branch Buildings, Camberwell with her niece & granddaughter, both laundresses & in Oct 1890 she died in Camberwell aged 79.

Monday 2nd December 2013

A note to regular readers before we move on. If anybody was thinking of buying Vic Cox's book from Plowright Press, unfortunately they have just gone into liquidation & stocks are being held by Jill Wohlgemuth, but will no longer be published. Please contact her on jill.wohlgemuth@yahoo.co.uk
Costs will only be charged to cover postage.

Eliza Mary Catchesides was born 19 Sep 1836 at Albion Street, Rotherhithe to Abraham Joseph & Louisa nee Fayle and christened there at St Mary's 9 Oct 1836 (see Thursday for photo). She can be seen on census return of 1841 at Albion Street aged 5 with parents & sibs, but again I cannot find them in 1851. On 29 Mar 1859 at St Mary, Lambeth she married William Moorhouse, auctioneer from Doncaster. They can be seen in census return of 1861 at 6 York Street, Marylebone with 1-year-old son William (with lots of other families). The census for 1871 is again missing for them but we know they were in Battersea around that time as son Charles was christened at St George the Martyr church on 12 Jan 1873, along with Eliza Caroline Wooldridge (see 17 Sep) and several others, giving home address of 19 Arden Street (possibly opposite the Wooldridges at number 26). In 1881 Eliza can be seen at 4 Arden Street with 4 children & 4month old granddaughter Frances (who died shortly after the census). By 1891 William has died, although I cannot find a record, and Eliza is listed as widow at 153 New Road, Battersea with son William, daughter Annie Nurthen & her son Willie Nurthen. Again 1901 is missing but in 1911 she is still living with Annie & 5 grandchildren at 12 Leverson Street, Streatham. Annie had married Henry Dudfield Nurthen, chemist, in 1885 but I cannot see him at home in any records, although they had 6 children so he must have been around some time! By 1914, however, he had emigrated to Victoria, Australia & died there in 1947. Eliza died in Wandsworth in Jul 1912 and Annie in 1919.

Sunday 1st December 2013

All we know for sure about Cathrine (sic) Margaret Catchesides is that she was born 22 May 1798 to Edward & Sarah and christened at St Anne's, Limehouse on 8 Jul 1798. There is a marriage record for 3 Aug 1822 at St Mary, Rotherhithe to George Dawes Cooper but has no fathers' names, so I cannot be sure.

Dorian & Jane Catchesides were twins, born 6 Jan 1764 to William & Margaret nee Willett. As I have said before, having twins was dangerous as only the most basic of medical help was available, and they often died, as these did aged 2 days and they are buried at St Anne's. I cannot find a baptism/christening so they may have died before one could be arranged.

Dorothy Catchesides was their sister, born 25 Mar 1765 and christened 28 Apr 1765 at Christ Church, Spitalfields. On 3 Oct 1784 she returned to the same church and married Thomas Cluer. They settled in Limehouse and had 11 offspring, although 3 of them died as children. Thomas was a bit of a rogue, it seems. He was tangled up in a case that went to the Old Bailey on Christmas Eve 1793. He was a waterman with a warehouse on Narrow Street, Limehouse , right on the water and a man called Thomas Finch was arrested & charged with stealing an anchor & chain from a barge moored there on 13 Dec and selling it to Thomas Cluer. He in turn was charged with receiving stolen goods. In the court transcript there are many character-references swearing Thomas Cluer to be a good & honest man, but they had to admit he had been in some trouble several times, including something that had caused him to lose his licence the previous year. But they claimed that these were minor misdemeanors only - basically, he had been up for assault but that was nothing (of course larceny was taken very seriously in those days). And anyway, he was a good & loyal husband & father to his large family, and brought them up well. Thomas Finch was fined and sent to join the Army, but Thomas Cluer was found Not Guilty. He died in Mar 1810 & was buried 18 Mar 1810 at St Pancras Old Church. Dorothy was also an entrepreneur. After Thomas's death she can be seen in City Directories, running a tobacco-pipe-making business with her son John. It can't have been very lucrative, however, as when he died in 1862 he left less than £50 to his sister Ann. Dorothy died 31 May 1835 aged 70 and was buried at St Anne's.

Thursday 28th November 2013

I thought this name would be great, but I am having trouble with it, as search engines are just not picking it up!

Abraham's son Abraham Joseph Catchesides, my 3xgreat grandfather, was born 2 Jan 1804 in Rotherhithe and christenend there at St Mary's on 15 Jan 1804. On 9 Sep 1828 he returned there and married local girl Louisa Fayle, witnesses were George Pratt & Elizabeth Fayle (relatives of groom's mother & bride, no doubt). Abraham was a shipwright, as were a lot of his neighbours. They had 7 children, but 4 of them died in infancy. They can be seen in 1841 census at Ann's Place, Albion Street, Rotherhithe, but I cannot find them in 1851. By 1861 they have moved to 7 Nine Elms Row, Battersea, right next to where Grampy was born (Abe's eldest daughter Louisa was his mother & evidently returned to her birthplace to have children) where the power station now stands. In Feb 1867 they were living ar Haines Street, Battersea when Abraham died aged 63 [demolished in the 1960s when Covent Garden Market was rebuilt there] and he was buried at St George the Martyr churchyard on 1 Mar 1867. Again I cannot find Louisa in 1871, but when she died 2 years later, aged 70, she was at 24 Harding Street. She was buried on 4 Oct at St Mary's, Battersea (too many churches by that name if you ask me!) St George's was being enlarged at the time, so maybe the churchyard was closed (seems unfair that she couldn't be with Abraham though, if this is the case).
[This church is very familiar to we fans of the film Melody - and many others]

Caroline Amelia Catchesides was their youngest child, born Mar 1845 & christened 30 Mar at St Mary's Rotherhithe. In 1861 census returns she can be seen at 7 Nine Elms Row, aged 16, with her parents, but the census of 1871 was taken on 2 April, her wedding night. They evidently had not gone on honeymoon, as she can be seen in Ham Street with new husband John Sadgrove junior, widowed dairyman. In 1881 they can be seen at Tome Row, Ham a few houses from Charles & Charlotte Wooldridge & family, with 5 children, John listed as Ag Lab, Caroline as laundress. John died in Jan 1890 at Ham & was buried there at St Andrew's on 7 Feb 1891. On 1891 census return Caroline can be seen at 38 Cambridge Road, Kingston [now modern blocks] with 5 children, both she & eldest daughter Annie listed as laundress. Unfortunately they are missing again in 1901 & Caroline died in Ham in Jul 1908.

Monday 25th November 2013

William Isaac Wooldridge was born 7 Mar 1860 at Nine Elms, Battersea to George & Louisa nee Catchesides and christened there at St George the Martyr church on 25 Mar 1860. As I have said before about this family, the 1861 census is missing, which is a shame because he would have been a baby. He can be seen on census return of 1871 (aged 17 for some reason - but all the ages are incorrect on that one) at Downey's Dock Road, Battersea with parents & sibs (including Grampy my great grandfather - see 20th Oct). At the time of the 1881 census he was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy & can be seen on board HMS Orontes at sea, aged 22. This was a troopship which carried troops to South Africa & the West Indies (and incidentally was the ship bringing John Watson back to Britain to convalesce in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novel A Study In Scarlet). By 1891 William is home, lodging at 3 Tracey Street, near the rest of the family, and working as a cab driver. On Christmas Day 1892 at St Paul's, Lorrimore Square, in the parish of St Mary Newington, he married Ellen Guyatt, originally from Hampshire but working in London as a Cook (in 1891 in the household of a University College London master). They moved into number 20 Clayton Buildings and had 2 daughters there, then in 1900 moved to number 11 & had a further 6 children. Unfortunately of 9 children, 6 died before 1911 - one even before christening, which was rare. This could include two sets of twins in 1902 & 1905 (obviously medical help, even this close to St Thomas's, was basic in those days). In Jul 1905 William himself died aged 45 and Ellen can be seen in 1911 census, still at 11 Clayton Buildings, working as a hospital ward maid, living with her 3 remaining daughters & a lodger. The eldest daughter May is helping out by working as a sweet-packer. Electoral roll records show Ellen remained at number 11 until at least 1921, but at this point I lose track of her. She may have married or died, and there are several records that could be hers.

The remaining Williams, William Isaac junior and William John are babies of William Isaac senior, who died in infancy, so I will not include them here in detail.

I have now completed the Wooldridges and wish to move on to Grampy's mother's family, the Catchesides. This is such an unusual name it should be good to work with.

Abraham Catchesides was born Dec 1760 in (Great) Yarmouth, Norfolk to William & Margaret Willett and baprised at the Old Meeting House in Gaol Street. (This was built in 1733 to cater for the breakaway dissenters - so was fairly new at this time - but was demolished in 1869 as they had by then become Unitarians). The family evidently shortly moved to London, as Abraham's sister was born there in 1762. On 27 Jun 1790 he married Sarah Pratt in St Dunstan's, Stepney. On the record it is noted that they are both from the "Hamlet of Rat"(cliff) [now the part of Tower Hamlets south of Stepney] - as much a hamlet as Mile End (see 22nd November)! They lived in Limehouse for a while and had their first child there, but by 1801 had moved to Rotherhithe and had 6 children there. When Abraham died aged 63 in Aug 1823 they lived in Bell Alley and he was buried on 7 Sep 1823 at St Mary's, Rotherhithe. When Sarah died in 1853 aged 85 she lived in Church Street, so when buried with him on 13 Mar 1853, she didn't have to go far!

Sunday 24th November 2013

We are on the final straight with the Wooldridges. On to the Willams.

William Wooldridge 1 was never sure of his age and gave a different number in every document. For simplicity I am going to assume that they followed the normal procedure and had him christened as an infant, and thus he was born early in 1813 in East Horsley, Surrey to James & Ann nee Chuter and christened there on 11 Apr 1813. On 2 Oct 1838 at St John's, Merrow he married Hannah Freeland. They lived in Merrow for a few years and had their first 3 children there. They can be seen there on census return of 1841 with 2 children, then in 1845 they moved to Ham and had 3 more. In 1851 census they are at Ham Common, living with his father & brother Henry and 5 children, William listed as Farm Labourer. In 1861 the address is Queen's Bench, Ham Common and there are 3 children at home. William died aged about 50 in Jul 1863, as did Hannah.

William Wooldridge 2 is an enigma, really. He appears in 1841 census at the end of a list of children of William 3 (see below) & Ann nee Martin. However, as 1841 sheets gave no relationships and he was born 7 years after the previous sibling (he was number 11), and his "mother" would have been 54 at his birth, I have my doubts. He may be a grandchild, nephew etc. There is no christening to link him to the "parents" above and the trail I followed led me to a document which stated his father's name was Samuel. As I do not know a Samuel I will leave him there.

William Wooldridge 3 was born Aug 1778 in West Horsley to John & Elizabeth nee Crouch & christened there at St Mary's on 27 Sep 1778. On 3 Jul 1804 he returned to St Mary's to marry Ann Martin from Esher and 6 weeks later a daughter Mary was born. I think she died, as 11 years later they used the name for a subsequent daughter. As above, I suspect they had a further 9 children, so the 1841 census shows William & Ann in Ockham with their youngest 3 children & a possible grandchild (William2). William is listed as a carpenter. In 1851 census they are still in Ockham with widowed daughter Mary & her son Charles Carter. In Jan 1853 William died & was buried at All Saints on 21 Feb 1853. Ann lived another 18 years. In 1861 census she can be seen still in Ockham aged 70 & deaf. She died Jan 1871.

Their son William Wooldridge 4 was born Aug 1812 at West Horsley & christened there at St Mary's on 27 Sep 1812 (the anniversary of his father's christening). I had assumed that he must have died before 1835 as they used the name again, but as explained above this need not be the case if William2 was not a son but a grandson. This one could be the Will Wooldridge at 8 Bond Street, Lambeth but may not and I cannot find any other links.

William Henry Wooldridge was born Jan 1886 in Ham, Surrey to Charles & Charlotte nee Newman and christened there at St Andrew's 14 Mar 1886. He can be seen in census return of 1891 aged 6 at Ham Street with parents & sibs, then in 1901 at 1 Evelyn Cottages listed as a Market Gardener's Labourer. In Jul 1909 in the Kingston area he married Alice Mabel Hubbard from Battersea and in 1911 census they can be seen at 1 Lock Cottage, New Road, Ham, William listed as a Cowman. At that time they declared they had no children but by 1920 they had 3. William Henry died on 1 Mar 1966 and was buried in Kingston Cemetery. Alice joined him in 1975.

Saturday 23rd November 2013

There are three Walter Charles Wooldridges on this tree - a 3-generation stem - and as usual for clarity I shall number them.

Walter Charles Wooldridge 1 was born 29 May 1841 at Great Bookham, Surrey to Charles & Elizabeth nee Woods and christened there on 27 Jun 1841. He can be seen in census return of 1841 aged 1 week at Eastwicke Street, Great Bookham - as N/K (not known) as he was as yet unnamed - with his mother & Ann Grey, who may be a midwife. Father is staying with his in-laws. In 1851 census Walter is aged 10 , living in Ealing with his parents & 2 sisters. On 8 Mar 1858 at Westminster he joined the army as a private in the 20th Foot Regiment. He lied about his age (he was 16 & claimed to be 18) but age was not an issue until the 1916 Military Service Act. The Crimean War had not long been over, and no doubt fired his enthusiasm. On 23 Oct 1866 he volunteered to join 107th Foot Regiment (the Bengal Light Infantry) and 10 Nov 1867 was sent to Allahabad, India. On 5 Mar 1879 at Aldershot he was discharged after 21 years service (18 of those in India) to his parents' home at 4 Askew Road, Hammersmith. As I have said before, Army records are very detailed and I know that he was a labourer, 5 ft 8 ins tall, with fresh complexion, grey eyes & light brown hair, he obtained four good conduct badges & a silver medal for long service, awarded on 7 Dec 1876. On 22 Apr 1880 at Oatlands St Mary church he married Mary Anne Lunn, who lived in Oatlands (near Weybridge). They can be seen on census return of 1881 with baby son & nurse at 2 Keith Place, Victoria Road, Hammersmith, Walter a Chelsea Pensioner [nowadays an industrial estate]. Unfortunately Mary Anne died on Jul 1885 aged 43. As was the custom those days, especially with young children, Walter remarried within the year - in Jul 1886 at St Luke's, Shepherds Bush he married Elizabeth Palmer, 10 years his senior, who lived locally. In census of 1891 they can be seen at 26 Station Road, Hammersmith (near Willesden Junction) with his two children & lodger, Walter listed as Army Pensioner. They moved Up North in about 1892, as Elizabeth died in West Derby, Lancashire in Oct 1893. The children remained in London, or else returned there, as when 1901 census was taken Walter junior was boarding in Shepherds Bush (see later) and daughter Eleanor was in hospital at Fulham Infirmary. Walter senior can be seen visiting/working in Askew Road, Hammersmith (near his parents' old home), listed as a brickie's labourer, but when he died aged 65 in Oct 1906 it was in West Derby.

His son Walter Charles Wooldridge 2 was born 1 Apr 1881 in Hammersmith and christened at St Luke's on 8 May 1881. He can be seen on census return of 1881 aged 2 days at 2 Keith Place & 1891 aged 10 at 26 Station Road. In 1901 census he can be seen boarding at 11 Mardale Street, Hammersmith, working as a cheesemonger. In Oct 1904 he married Caroline Emily Lines and, as his parents did, had one son & one daughter. Their son Walter was born in 1905 in Hammersmith, but by the time daughter Grace was born they had moved to Kent. In 1911 census they can be seen with both children at 18 Stanley Road, Cheriton, Folkestone, Kent. Walter is employed at a local laundry, as a laundry assistant, as is their lodger. Walter & Caroline must have moved to Cuckfield, Sussex, as they died there, Walter in 1947 aged 64 & Caroline in 1968 aged 87.

His son Walter Charles Wooldridge 3 was born 3 Dec 1905 in Hammersmith at 20 Colvin Street and was christened there at St John the Evangelist church on 20 Dec 1905. He can be seen aged 5 in 1911 census at 18 Stanley Road, Elham (see above) and it seems that he moved with his parents to the Brighton area. In Jan 1933 in Greenwich he married Florence Rubie Cottrell and they had one daughter Gillian in 1945. Walter died aged 55 on 2 Aug 1961 at 74 Old Shoreham Road, Brighton - I'm not sure why as he lived at 2 Hollingbury Place - leaving £3023 to Florence. Florence died aged 97 in Apr 2002, still in Brighton.

Friday 22nd November 2013

Sarah Wooldridge was born Aug 1780 in West Horsley, Surrey to John & Elizabeth nee Crouch & christened there at St Mary's on 24 Sep 1780. On 10 Apr 1803 at St Andrew's, Cobham, Surrey, she married Henry Ledger (aka Harry) and they settled there. They had 7 children, the first, William, born in West Horsley (where both parents had come from), then the others in Cobham. Harry died aged 44 in Downside, where they lived, and was buried at St Andrew's. In censuses of 1841, 1851 & 1861 Sarah can be seen living in the village of Downside with a selection of her children, in the latter in the household of William & his wife, as she was blind. She died there on 16 Jun 1862 and was buried with Harry at St Andrew's.

The other Sarah Wooldridge was her niece, born May 1828 at West Horsley to William & Ann nee Martin & christened at St Mary's (above) on 29 Jun 1828. She can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 14 in Ockham, Surrey with parents & sibs. She does not appear again & I imagine she must have married out of the area.

Thomas Wooldridge was born Jun 1787 in West Horsley to John & Elizabeth nee Crouch and was christened there at St Mary's on 15 Jul 1787 (no doubt his 7 year old sister Sarah above attended). On 28 Apr 1812 at St Mary's he married Lucy Dorren, the ceremony witnessed by George & Hannah Wooldridge (his brother & sister-in-law) and James Simmonds. All five made their mark as were evidently unable to write. They lived in Surrey at first, then at Langdale Street, Tower Hamlets - can be seen on electoral roll here in 1832-3. They had one daughter Emma, who died aged 15 just after appearing with them in census of 1841 at New Norfolk Street in what was then called the "Hamlet of Mile End Old Town". This made me chuckle as I went to University there in 1970s and it definitely wasn't a hamlet then. Similarly, Thomas is listed as a Cow-Keeper of all things! New Norfolk Street was one of the network of streets behind the London Hospital, shown in the middle of the photo above. Emma was buried in St Martin's, East Horsley, but her parents continued living in the East End. Electoral Rolls show them in New Norfolk Street in 1841, then New Suffolk Street nearby in 1844. However, after this they too disappear from the records. (There are plenty of Mr & Mrs Wooldridge records for example landing at Sydney, Australia around this time, but with nothing else to tie it to, I cannot suggest any of these happened).

Violet May Wooldridge was my great-aunt, born on 5 Jul 1913 to Henry & Carrie nee Woodford. She will have been christened, no doubt at Emmanuel church, but unfortunately I only have access to records up to 1906 at present. In Jul 1935 she married Edward C Harris (Eddie) from West Ham and they lived in Clayton Buildings. I can see electoral roll records for 1945-49 at number 17, then 1950-55 at number 16. They were unable to have children of their own, so they adopted a son Peter. At some point in the 1960s (I think) they moved out of London to the developing estates of leafy Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Auntie Vi was unwell for many years, as she was seriously diabetic, and towards the end of her life went blind. She died in Oct 1976 aged 63. Uncle Eddie remarried, but we lost touch with him and I think he must have since died.

Monday 18th November 2013

Percy John Wooldridge was born Jan 1899 in Esher, Surrey to George & Alice nee Batchelor. He can be seen in census of 1901 aged 2 & 1911 aged 12 at 8 Park Road, Esher with parents & brothers. On 9 Jun 1924 in Hampreston, Wimborne, Dorset he married Ethel Maria White. They had 3 children in Chertsey, Surrey & on 10 Jan 1943 Percy died aged 43 in St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, Paddington (a very famous London hospital - in case you don't know - where Royal Babies are born!). Ethel remarried in 1946 and 2 (possibly all 3) of the children emigrated to Adelaide, Australia.

Philip John Wooldridge was born Apr 1865 at Esher, Surrey to Charles & Ann nee Lewis and christened there on 4 Jun 1865 at St George's. He can be seen with parents & brothers on census return of 1871 aged 6 at High Street, Esher, then in 1881 aged 15 with them at Park Road, Esher, listed as "errand boy to tailor". In 1891 he is not at home & I cannot track him down. In Apr 1896 in Marylebone, London, he married Mabel Lucy Stroud from Sunbury-on-Thames. They settled in Paddington & had 2 children, Lloyd & Hilda. In 1901 census they can be seen at 173 Bravington Road with 2 children & 2 boarders, Philip listed as a "messenger for a bank". Philip died here in Oct 1902 & I have told their subsequent story on Lloy'd & Hilda's segments (see 23rd Oct). Hilda emigrated to USA & married, then her mother followed her to New York. Ethel was last seen in 1940 census, still living with Hilda & her family.

Phoebe Wooldridge was born Jul 1858 in chipstead, Surrey to Henry & Mary Anne nee Harding and christened there at St Margaret's on 25 Jul 1858. She can be seen aged 2 in census return of 1861 at Muglock Cottage, Chipstead with parents & 2 sisters, then with them in 1871 aged 12 at Stoat's Nest, Kingswood. On 20 Dec 1879 at St Margaret's she married Joseph Sams, Ag Lab from Mundon, Essex, who had been living with his uncle in Chipstead and they settled there. they had 9 children in all but one died aged 4 months. In 1891 census return they can be seen at 18 Lancer's Green with 5 children, but by 1901 disaster has struck. Phoebe can be seen in Mogador Road, Kingswood with 8 children, but Joseph is in the Workhouse, alone! The eldest 3 boys found employment as shepherd, "stockman on farm" & "cowman on farm" and by 1911 all seems well again. There are now 3 sons fully employed and 3 daughters at home. Joseph died Oct 1912 and it seems that Phoebe moved to Banstead, as she died there in 1924 and this was where the 3 daughters were married in 1924, 1927 & 1928

Saturday 16th November 2013

Nellie Emma Wooldridge was born Jul 1881 at 2 Cambridge Terrace, Camberwell to John & Fanny nee Cousins and christened at St Saviour, Denmark Hill on 4 Sep 1881. She can be seen in census of 1891 aged 9 at 228 Crystal Palace Road (the corner shop) with parents & sibs, then in 1901 next door at 226. On 11 Apr 1904 at Christ Church, Turnham Green she married civil servant Sidney Clarence Hicks and they settled at Wood Green. Daughter Margery Agnes Gertrude Hicks was born there & christened at Turnham Green, both in 1905. However she was their only child as Nellie died aged 27 in Oct 1908. Sidney remarried in 1910 and can be seen in census return of 1911 with new bride Edith and little Margery, but died himself 19 Aug 1915 aged 37. I suspect Edith married again in 1918.

Percival Joseph Wooldridge was born 12 Jul 1889 at Petersham Road, Ham, Surrey to Charles & Charlotte nee Newman and christened there at St Pater's on 25 Aug 1889.nHe can be seen there on census return of 1891 aged 1 with parents & sibs and 1901 with them at 1 Evelyn Cottages, Ham Street. On 8 Apr 1909 in Richmond he married Amy Sarah Ann Gregory. Son Frederick arrived on 13 Apr, so that was close! They lived with his parents so the 1911 census finds them all at the cottage above, Percival listed as a Nurseryman. On 15 Jan 1915 in Hounslow he enrolled in the Royal Fusiliers, giving his home address as 3 Wiggins Cottages, Ham Street. He gained promotion to Corporal on 10 Apr 1917 & was discharged 6 Oct 1917, having been posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force on two occasions. He returned with 4 medals, but not unscathed, as he had gunshot wounds to the leg. It appears that they had 6 children, although two of these only appeared on his army records and I cannot verify them. The others appeared on the same gravestone. Percival died on 14 Dec 1927 in Kingston aged 38 and was buried at St Andrew's churchyard, Richmond. Later Amy followed in 1969, Percy junior having joined his father in 1936. George, Evelyn & Frederick came along later.

Friday 15th November 2013

Mary Elizabeth Wooldridge was born Mar 1847 in Hayes, Middlesex to Charles & Elizabeth nee Woods and christened there on 18 Apr 1847. She can be seen on census return of 1851 aged 3 in Ealing with parents & sibs, but not in 1861 (she is probably in service somewhere - as I have said before, people were notorously vague/incorrect in the info they provided about their staff). In 1871 she is back with parents & sibs, now living at 4 Askew Road, Hammersmith. On 22 Sep 1872 at St Stephen's, Shepherds Bush she married Thomas Lunn, house painter from Chelsea. In 1881 census they can be seen at 3 Wilton Road, Hammersmith (a turning off Askew Road) with 5 children. By 1891 census this road has become Askew Crescent and they can be seen at number 69 in 1891 and 1901. I have told before (see 11th September) that her father stayed with them in the final years of his life, so he was there on census of 1891 & as he died in 1899 not in 1901. In 1901 the family is just Mary, Thomas & 3 children. I have a newspaper article dated 30 Jul 1891 announcing the results of some music exams. So, she was a pianist! Thomas died aged 52 in Oct 1903 and Mary moved to 25 Dymock Street, Fulham, where she can be seen on electoral roll records 1906-10. Around 1906 daughter Amy moved with her family up to Yorkshire and her brother Harry & his family followed, sister Ethel too and she met & married a Yorkshire lad! Mary must have joined them as that was where she was in September 1927 when she died aged 63. I cannot find her in 1911 census, either with her children or back in the London area.

Thursday 14th November 2013

So sorry for the delays this week. I hope the problems with updates are sorted. I believe they are.
And have I got a story for you!

Mary Agnes Wooldridge was born Nov 1864 at Victoria Wharf, Nine Elms, Battersea to George & Louisa nee Catchesides and christened 11 Dec 1864 at St George the Martyr church. She can be seen at this address on census return of 1871 with parents & sibs (including Grampy - see 20th October - she was 5 years older than him). She is also there in census of 1881 at 44 Currie Street with the family, aged 16 & listed as a Lace Worker. Around this time she met Charles Augustus Carder Horry, a lighterman who worked on the Thames nearby. He is not to be found in census of 1871 & 1881 so may have been on the water. He had married in 1874, at the age of 18, Jemima Rhodes from Dartford, Kent (20 miles down the river), settled in Battersea and in 1880 had a daughter Ellen, christened at the same church as the Wooldridges. However, something went wrong with the marriage and Charles started having children with Mary Agnes. This may be related to the birth of a boy named after him in Lambeth & almost immediate death in Dartford (Jemima's birthplace & possibly her parents' home) at the beginning of 1882. Mary Agnes' first child Sidney (named after Charles' father) was born in Setember of that year and christened in the January. Charles & Mary Agnes lived at 8 Albert House, East Street at the time. This road ran parallel to Union Street (where the rest of the family moved toaround the same time) and was renamed Lollard Street in the 1890s. Clayton Buildings, I have mentioned many times here, was in a cul-de-sac off this road, called Little East Place then changed with its "parent" to Lollard Place. So I was probably within feet of the site of their house many times in my childhood & never knew it! In 1884 they had another son called Charles, but he died in infancy and the following year they had a daughter Louisa. In Jan 1887 a son Douglas was born, while they were living at 25 Caroline Street (very close by). He is worthy of mention as he grew up to run his own working barge (can be seen on census of 1911 moored in the Creek at Stanford-le-Hope, Essex) but died aged only 37. In 1889 they had another daughter Margaret, who died in infancy while they were living in Vauxhall, then in 1890 they moved away from the area to Canning Town, West Ham (10 miles down river on the other bank). In 1891 another boy called Charles was born and Mary Agnes can be seen in census of that year at 77 Lansdown Road, West Ham with 3 children. Charles senior was away at that time again. [Numbering now only goes up to 61, but went to 109 in 1891]. Between 1893 & 1900 they had 4 more children and in 1901 census can be seen at 26 Melbourne Road, East Ham [now modern housing estate] with 6 children. In 1902 & 1905 they had the another two daughters and their final child was named after Charles' mother & sister, Margaretta, but she died aged only 24. Meanwhile Jemima had been living in the Tooting area of Wandsworth with her daughter Ellen. On 8 Jun 1910 she died, in the Wandsworth Workhouse, aged 50 (workhouse records state 56 but this may have been a typo - or she hadn't aged well!) Finally Charles was free to marry and did so in October of that year, in East Ham. Thus in census return of 1911 they can be seen at 45 St Albans Avenue, East Ham with 5 children, Charles listed as a "marriner" (sic) and married for 1 year with no children from this marriage (ironic really, considering they had produced 12!) Electoral Roll records show them in 1918-24 at 203 Eardley Road, Streatham. Charles died aged 70 in the Croydon area. There are records concerning the Watermen & Lightermen of the Thames, showing contracts of "binding" what were in effect apprentices. Charles was Master for some years, and took on several young trainees, the most interesting of which were his sons Sidney & Henry in 1899 & 1908 respectively. the only other record I have relating to Charles is an article from The Evening Telegraph & Post of 11 Aug 1911. He was called as a witness to an affray near the London Docks, and I should imagine it was an exciting phase of his already dramatic life. I suspect Mary Agnes died in Oct 1941 in the Bromley registration area, but cannot find any more details - and as that is merely under the name of Mary A Horry, so I cannot be 100% certain.

Sunday 10th November 2013

Mary Wooldridge was born Jul 1815 in West Horsley to William & Ann nee Martin and christened there at St Mary's on 27 Aug 1815. In Jan 1840 at St Martin's church in East Horsley she married blacksmith James Barnes Carter & then later that year had a son Charles. In 1844 they were living in Chobham, Surrey and had another son William, but misfortune hit poor Mary in 1845. James died aged 32 and was buried on 4 Jul 1845 at St Lawrence, Chobham, so she hurriedly had the baby baptised on 22 Jul, just in time, as he died and was buried with his father on 26 July. The census of 1851 shows Mary & Charles living in Ockham with her parents (Charles is shown as aged 3, but this is an error not repeated elsewhere - it should say 10). On 15 Jun of that year at St Nicolas, Great Bookham she married local lad Thomas Cleveland.

and they settled in Plumstead. They can be seen in census return of 1861 at 18 Upper Villas Road with Charles & their daughter Ann. In 1871 they can be seen at 6 Railway Place with Ann, who is listed as a governess, Charles is married and also lives in Plumstead. Ann soon married & settled nearby too. Thomas died in Jun 1880 aged 55 and was buried 24 Jun 1880 at St Margaret's, Plumstead (demolished in 1970s). I cannot trace Mary in 1881 or 1891 census & she is not with either of her children. However, she turns up again in 1892, as she died aged 72 in Jan in the area and was buried with Thomas on 4 Feb 1892 at St Margaret's.

Saturday 9th November 2013

Mark Henry Wooldridge was born 28 Feb 1912 at 201 Staines Road, Twickenham to John & Emma nee Williams. He can be seen on electoral rolls of 1933-5 at that address with parents & sibs. In Oct 1935 in Twickenham he married Gladys Maud Peacock and can be seen in electoral roll records of 1936-8 at 17a First Cross Road, Twickenham with Arthur Peacock (her father - previously he had been at Kneller Road, Whitton, Twickenham with his wife, but she seems to disappear from the records for the 1930s & 1940s - I cannot tell why). In 1946-57 Mark, Gladys & Arthur lived at 91 Hall Farm Drive, Twickenham [a couple of streets from the famous international rugby ground]. In 1957 Laura & Arthur were both living here with Mark & Gladys when a double wedding took place of daughters Margaret & Barbara. After this Arthur & Laura can be seen at 6 Constance Road, Twickenham and it seems that Mark & Gladys moved to Bournemouth, then in Dorset. Mark died here on 15 Jan 1971 aged 61 & Gladys married James Dodds in Oct 1979 in Bournemouth (oddly, we were married in that month & spent our honeymoon in Dorset!) Gladys died in 1991 at Whitton, Twickenham, so she may have returned to the area when her parents died. Somebody on the Ancestry site has suggested that James went to Australia, but I haven't investigated, as he is not family.

Friday 8th November 2013

Mabel Esther Wooldridge was born 26 Jan 1906 at 2 Rose Place, Twickenham to John & Emma nee Williams and christened there at Holy Trinity on 25 Apr 1906. She can be seen on census return of 1911 at 201 Staines Road with parents & sibs. On Christmas Eve 1934 at the Register Office in Kingston-upon-Thames she married Joseph Henry Victor Wells, they settled nearby & had 3 children. The electoral roll shows them in 1964 & 1965 at 20a Ewell Road, Kingston. Joseph died there in Apr 1971 aged 68 and Mabel in May 1991 aged 91
 
Maria Eliza Wooldridge was born Jul 1867 at Victoria Wharf, Nine Elms, Battersea to George & Louisa nee Catchesides & christened at St George the Martyr church nearby on 8 Sep 1867. She can be seen on census returns of 1871 & 1881 with the family at Downeys Dock Road & Currie Street (see 20th October for her brother Grampy). In Jul 1889 in Lambeth she married Alfred George Gates, who had been born in Dover, Kent but brought up in Lambeth & worked as a servant/labourer to a greengrocer in Camberwell in the 1880s. In 1891 census they are at 70 Milkwood Street, Herne Hill [now an industrial estate] with one daughter Emma (who unfortunately died the following year aged 2) and Alfred is working as a carman. By 1901 they had moved just up the road to 18 Hardess Street [now a railway arch close to Loughborough Junction station] with 4 children and Alfred was working as a bricklayer's labourer. In 1911 census they can be seen at 19 Bowyer Street, Camberwell [now modern flats], Alfred still a builder's labourer, they have 6 children at home - out of 12 births, 5 have died (the youngest child at this point Ernest was born in 1910 in York Road, the maternity department of St Thomas' Hospital, called the Lambeth Lying-In Hospital - and that was where I was born 46 years later!) The electoral roll records tell me that between leaving Hardess Street in 1909 and moving to Bowyer Street, they spent some of 1910 at 28 Cambria Road, just yards from Hardess Street, and that building is actually still there! Alfred died Jul 1914 aged 54. In 1919 Maria can be seen at 60 Sultan Street - the next turning to Bowyer Street - and in 1930 she is still there with her son Robert & his family, but by 1938 & 1939 she is listed with daughter Lilian at 16 Huddersfield House, Sumner Road Estate, Peckham [now a modern housing estate]. In 1948 Lilian can be seen alone in Brigstock House, Lilford Road, Brixton Hill, so I suspect Maria died in 1940 - my doubt is because it is under the name Eliza.

Thursday 7th November 2013

Louisa Margaret Wooldridge (my grandmother) was born 4 Jul 1905 at 27 Clayton Buildings, Lollard Place, Lambeth to Henry & Catherine nee Woodford and christened at Emmanuel Church on 18 Jun 1905. The church was directly behind the buildings, and number 27 was on the 3rd floor and probably looked onto the roof, so couldn't be closer! She can be seen on census return of 1911 aged 5 at this address with her parents & Uncle Charlie. She remained at this address for some years. On 29 May 1929 at Emmanuel church she married Henry Thomas Gamble. Her story was that they grew up on the same buildings (the Gambles lived at number 14) but her family looked down on the Gambles and when they came out to play she had to come in... I can't see any reason for this snobbishness as Isaac Gamble had his own cab business and Grampy was from humble origins in Nine Elms, but there may be more personal reasons - I'd love to know what! Anyway, this ban only piqued their interest in each other and the families eventually came round. Grampy & Uncle Bill (bride's father & groom's brother) were witnesses at the marriage. They had 4 children, my mother Kathleen the eldest surviving child, born at Kings College Hospital while they lived at Camberwell Grove, and I understand they moved back to the buildings on the birth of her brother John in 1935. Carrie had died in 1934, so Nan was at number 30, fairly nearby to keep an eye on Grampy, who still lived at number 27 with Uncle Charlie. In 1945 they can be seen to have moved to number 10 and they remained there for the next 25 years. Unfortunately they had a bad car-crash which hospitalised both and crippled Nan, so they had to leave Clayton buildings (which had no lifts). They were relocated to 1 Evenlode House, Thamesmead, on a huge council development in Abbey Wood, 13 miles down the Thames, which was warden-assisted and they lived there for the rest of their lives. Nan had trained as a court dressmaker but, as was the custom at the time, had left work on marriage. However, she used her skills and all through my childhood (late 1950s & 1960s) I remember the Back Room at number 10 being full of the paraphernalia associated with a thriving dressmaking business. My mum had followed her into the trade and they were always in the middle of at least one wedding order. The room had been a bedroom when the children were younger but then became a workroom. There were always satin bridesmaids' dresses hanging up. chiffon everywhere and pins & threads on the floor! Grandad was originally a lorry-driver, then later in maintenance at Lamson Engineering (see 12th April). Grandad died on 3 Jun 1987 and Nan lived on alone until she died in Dec 1995

Monday 4th November 2013

(Just to clarify in case anyone is confused, this is my Nan's tree. The Wooldridges are her paternal family as this was her maiden-name. I will actually be featuring her in the next segment)

Lewis Richard Wooldridge was born Apr 1895 in Esher, Surrey to George & Alice nee Batchelor and christened there at St George's 30 May 1895. He can be seen on census return of 1901 aged 5 at 8 Park Road with parents & brothers & Uncle Arthur then 1911 with parents, brothers & a boarder, listed as Estate Agent's Clerk. On 28 Oct 1915 he joined the army & was sent to The Somme, France with the 5th London Regiment of London Rifle Brigade. On 9 Oct 1916 aged 21 he was pronounced Missing Presumed Dead and is commemorated on the Thiepval monument in Esher, whose inscription reads

"The Great War 1914-19

Those whom this cross commemorates were numbered among the men who at the call of King and Country left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.

Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten."
(Well, Cousin Lewis, I'm doing my bit!)

Lloyd Philip Wooldridge was born 14 Feb 1897 at 9 Little Titchfield Street, Marylebone, London to Philip & Mabel nee Stroud and christened on 4 Jul 1897 at All Souls, Marylebone. A snippet of information on the address at which he was born was interesting - when Lord Nelson & Lady Hamilton's daughter Horatia was born in 1801, she was looked after by a nurse at this address (being illegitimate of course). [Nowadays this road is made up of offices & buildings of the University of Westminster]. Lloyd can be seen in census return of 1901 aged 4 with parents, baby sister Hilda & 2 boarders at 173 Bravington Road, Paddington. In 1911 he and Hilda can be seen boarding with maternal uncle Frederick Stroud, a brewer's farrier, at 11 Rangemoor Road, Tottenham, as the census says "mother away". I told this story on 23rd October - Hilda & then mother Mabel emigrated to USA. Lloyd remained in Tottenham and in Oct 1928 he married local girl Doris Emily Chessum and they had one son. The only further info I can find is electoral roll records for 1935-9, showing them at 58 Shelbourne Road, Tottenham. Lloyd died Apr 1977 in N Surrey & Doris in Jul 1981 in NW Surrey.

Sunday 3rd November 2013

John William Wooldridge was born 3 Oct 1883 in Camberwell to John 4 (see Friday) and Fanny Cousins and christened at St Saviour's, Denmark Hill on 24 Nov 1883. He can be seen on census return of 1891 aged 7 at 228 Crystal Palace Road, Camberwell with parents & sibs, then in 1901 aged 17 with the family next door, at 226, where he is listed as Insurance Collector. In 1911 the family had moved to 1 Avenue Parade and his parents were running the grocer's shop there, while he was working as a clerk at a rubber brokers. In Jul 1914 at St George's Hanover Square he married Florence Owensmith. They had a son Sydney a year later, then John joined the Army & worked as a driver in the Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in France on 9 Sep 1918 (ie just weeks before the Armistice) and was buried at Vis-en-Artois cemetery.

The other John William Wooldridge was born 17 Dec 1908 in Twickenham to John & Emma nee Williams. He can be seen in census return of 1911 aged 2 at 201 Staines Road, Twickenham with parents & sibs. In Apr 1935 in Twickenham he married Eileen Louise Mary Turner and they settled on the other side of Twickenham, at 48 Beaconsfield Road. By 1938 they can be seen on electoral roll records at 96 Fifth Cross Road, where they remained until records cease in 1963. This is literally "round the corner" from his parents. John died 15 Apr 1982 in Hounslow and Eileen in Jan 2002 in the Richmond area.

Friday 1st November 2013

John Wooldridge 1 was born May 1722 in East Clandon, Surrey to John 2 (below) and christened at St Thomas of Canterbury church in East Clandon on 27 Jun 1722. In 1749 his son John 3 was christened there, so he probably married Ann (maiden name unknown) in the few years prior to this. Records are scant this early, so one has to piece together the stories from very little evidence and it becomes increasingly down to guesswork the further back you progress. I cannot find any sibs for John 3, but John 1 can be seen on Electoral Rolls of 1774 & 1780 in East Clandon, where he died in Apr 1781 and was buried at St Thomas on 18 May.

His father John Wooldridge 2 was born around 1690 and buried 29 Mar 1762 in East Clandon. In between these dates he married (possibly Elizabeth Collins 19 Sep 1712 in Farnham, Surrey) and produced at least 4 children

John Wooldridge 3 was born Oct 1749 in East Clandon to John & Ann and christened there at St Thomas of Canterbury on 21 Oct 1749. On 10 Oct 1770 at St Mary's, West Horsley he married Elizabeth Crouch. They settled in West Horsley, her home town, and had 11 children. John died Jan 1822 aged 73 and was buried at West Horsley on 27 Jan 1822. Elizabeth died Jan 1826 in Cobham, Surrey (probably staying with daughter Sarah) and was buried with her husband in West Horsley on 19 Jan 1826.

John Wooldridge 4 was born 6 Apr 1853 in Ham, Surrey to William & Hannah nee Freeland and christened there at St Andrew's church on 10 April. He can be seen on census return of 1861 aged 8 at Queen's Bench, Ham with parents & sibs. I cannot find him in 1871 but no matter. On 23 Sep 1877 at St Peter's Church, Hammersmith he married Fanny Cousins, who was born in Essex, but had been working as a servant in Leicester. In 1881 they can be seen at 2 Cambridge Terrace, Camberwell with 1 daughter Elizabeth, John listed as a "shopman - grocer", in 1891 at 228 Crystal Palace Road, Camberwell, with 4 children. As I said on 23rd September, John ran it as a corner shop and lived over the shop, letting out 2 rooms to a lodger. In 1901 the Wallis family can be seen at 228, the shop a "grocery & sub Post Office". John & family are next door at 226 and he just "grocer". Daughter Nellie is a telephonist & son John an "insurance collector". In 1911 he has moved to 1 Avenue Parade, Twickenham Road, Isleworth and is evidently running a grocery there helped by his wife Fanny, with daughter Gertrude looking after the house. Fanny died in Oct 1916, aged 56, but by the time John died in Apr 1936 aged 83, he had returned to Surrey - his death was registered in the NE Surrey registration district, which would include his birthplace & childhood home, Ham.

John Wooldridge 5 was born Jan 1874 in Petersham, Surrey to Charles & Charlotte nee Newman and christened there at St Peter's 22 Feb 1874. He can be seen on census return of 1881 with parents & sibs aged 7 at Tome Row, Ham, then in 1891 at Ham Street, listed as a gardener. On 12 Feb 1899 at Holy Trinity, Twickenham he married Emma Elizabeth Williams and settled 2 houses from her parents, at 2 Rose Place, Staines Road, in 1901 listed as a nursery gardener, with 2 children. By 1911 this is 201 Staines Road (his father-in-law still 2 houses away, now widowed) and they have 8 children. They had 11 children in all, all born in Twickenham and all but one living to a ripe old age. John died at 201 Staines Road on 4Mar 1950 aged 76 and left £365 to Harold Rayment Gardiner, baptist minister (not sure why). Emma died Apr 1955 aged 78.

Monday 28th October 2013

Jane Wooldridge was born Jul 1808 in West Horsley, Surrey to William & Ann nee Martin and christened at St Mary's on 28 Aug 1808. She can be seen in census return of 1841 aged 30 at Giles Hill, Ockham (the village where her family had lived since at least 1835) listed as a servant. She seems to drop off the face of the earth for a couple of decades after this, but resurfaces in 1871 census in the Union Workhouse in Kingston, Surrey. She can be seen there in census of 1871, 1881 & 1891. The only death I can find is Oct 1893 in Lincoln, aged 84, so I am not sure of this. A pauper's grave would be unmarked, possibly, and they probably wouldn't transport her home...

Jemima Elizabeth Wooldridge was born Jul 1830 in Esher, Surrey to Charles & Jemima nee Pickard and christened there 8 Aug 1830. She can be seen in census return of 1841 at Esher Street, Esher with parents & brother, but by 1851 she had left home. I cannot find her in 1851 - she may have been in hospital as she died Jan 1854 aged 23 & was buried on 22 Jan 1854 at St George's.

Jessie Mabel Wooldridge was born 22 Apr 1880 at Ham, Surrey to Charles & Charlotte nee Newman. She can be seen on census return of 1881 at Tome Row, Ham with parents & sibs, then in 1891 at Ham Street with them. In 1901 she is also with them at 1 Evelyn Cottages, listed as a worker in a beer factory. In Oct 1902 she married George Carter and had a daughter the following year (apparently also another child who died before 1911). The 1911 census shows them at 22 Warwick Road, Twickenham with one daughter. Jessie died Jul 1970 aged 90 and George in 1973 aged 92.

Friday 25th October 2013

James Wooldridge was born Aug 1782 in West Horsley to John & Elizabeth nee Crouch and christened there on 15 Sep 1782. On 19 Jun 1803 at St John the Evangelist, Merrow, Surrey, witnessed by Robert & Sarah Chuter (all parties "made their mark"). They settled in East Horsley and daughter Mary Ann arrived 10 weeks later. She was followed by 7 further children, but by the 1841 census only one son, George, remained at home. They can be seen at Effingham, James & George working as Ag Labs. Unfortunately, later that year Ann and daughter Emma died aged 54 & 16 respectively and were buried in East Horsley, followed by daughters Mary Ann (aged 38) and Elizabeth (aged 33) the following year. In 1851 census James can be seen living with son William & his family at Ham Common, aged 69 but still working on the farm, along with other son Henry. He died in Mar 1855 aged 75, by which time he had moved in with son Charles in Ealing. He was buried at St Mary's, Ealing on 4 Apr 1855.

James John Wooldridge was born ar 2 Rose Place, Staines Road, Twickenham on 1 Aug 1899 to John & Emma nee Williams and christened at Holy Trinity, Twickenham on 3 Sep 1899. He can be seen there in census of 1901 aged almost 2 with parents & sibs and in 1911 he is at 201 Staines Road with them, aged 11. Electoral Roll records show he remained at this address until he got married in Jul 1933 in Staines, Middlesex to Elizabeth Alma Bolton, who had been born in Staines, but lived in Feltham, working as a servant in the household of a Railway Clerk. James & Elizabeth lived at 27 Chestnut Road, Twickenham (a turning off Staines Road) for a year or so after their marriage but by 1836 had moved to Garfield Street (about a mile away), firstly number 7, then number 18 (1946), then number 6 (1949-1963) [all sadly replaced now with a modern concrete block]. Elizabeth died 30 Aug 1959 and James 24 Mar 1963. He left £524 to his brother John and sister-in-law Florence Beatrice Bolton.

Thursday 24th October 2013

Isabella Wooldridge was born Jun 1810 in West Horsley to William & Ann nee Martin and christened there at St Mary's on 22 Jul 1810. On 11 Sep 1827, also at St Mary's she married local Ag Lab James Sawyers and they settled in the village of Little Bookham, Surrey. They had 9 children in all and the census of 1841 shows them living in Oaken Wood with 5 of these. In 1851 they are at Willis's Buildings, Great Bookham with 7 children and in 1861 at Boswell's Row, Great Bookham with four and 2 grandsons (daughter Ann is staying with her 2 eldest). [Unfortunately I cannot trace these addresses on maps or photos because the addresses are just cottage names]. The 1871 census shows them at Eastend Cottage, Great Bookham with son Ambrose & his family. Isabella died in Oct 1879 aged 69 and James can be seen in census of 1881 still there with Ambrose & family. He died in Guildford in 1885.

Wednesday 23rd October 2013

Hilda Mabel Wooldridge was born Jan 1901 in Paddington, London to Philip & Mabel nee Stroud. She can be seen on census return of 1901 aged 1 month at 173 Bravington Road, Paddington with parents, brother & 2 boarders, also another 2 families (each household had 3 rooms). Her father died in 1902 and in the 1911 census she and her brother Lloyd can be seen boarding with their uncle Frederick Stroud at 11 Rangemoor Road, Tottenham, and it says "mother away". Mabel can be found at 49 Prince's Gate, working as housemaid (one of 12 servants & a companion) to Mrs Blanche Watney, widow of James Watney, brewer and Liberal MP. Mrs Watney died in 1915 & the household broke up. In 1922 the Wooldridges were living at 44 Antill Road, Tottenham. At the age of 19 years 7 months, Hilda sailed from Southampton to New York aboard the SS Covonia (the same ship used by Eliza Ann Woodford in 1912 - you may remember the orphaned twins whose story I told on 19th May). Hilda was listed as a machinist and like Eliza was soon marrying an American resident. In 1922, probably in New York, she married Joseph J Pilus, whose parents (Czech father, Hungarian mother) had arrived in America in 1894/5, set up in business running a mill, and he was born 1901. Joseph & Hilda lived in Newburgh, Orange County, New York for many years. He was also a machinist in a tobacco company in 1930, but by 1940 was a janitor in a State Armory. Hilda had by then gone back to work as a Machine Operator, making ladies' dresses, as her mother had joined them shortly after the marriage (16 Mar 1923 to be precise) and stayed at home, looking after the 3 boys. In 1952 they appeared in a NYC directory, at Ketchum Avenue, Joseph listed as "maintman". As Mabel was not listed, I assume she had died in the meantime. Hilda died in Jul 1981 aged 80 in Mountainville and Joseph in Albany in 1992 aged 84.

Monday 21st October 2013

Herbert Ernest Wooldridge was born 8 Jul 1910 in Twickenham to John & Emma nee Williams. He can be seen on census return of 1911 aged 8 months at 201 Staines Road, Twickenham with parents & sibs. He lived there until in Oct 1949 in the S Middlesex area he married Bertha M Gower and they went to live in an intriguing place, Pope's Villa, Cross Deep, Twickenham. Alexander Pope the famous poet etc had built a lovely mansion here, but after his death it changed hands many times and was demolished in 1808 (much to the annoyance of locals, historians & literati alike). Subsequently another was built on the site in 1842 by tea merchant Thomas Young & during WW1 the WRAC used it. In 1919 the Sisters of Mercy took up residence and ran it as St Catherine's school. I cannot find any evidence that Herbert and/or Bertha was a teacher, but that is not to say this isn't the case. There were 38 adults listed there in the Electoral Roll of 1951, so they may be teaching staff. Bertha died in Jan 1959 and Herbert moved with his sister Florence to 183 Staines Road (see 11th Oct). He died on 14 Dec 1991 aged 81.

Sunday 20th October 2013

Henry Wooldridge was born Apr 1816 in East Horsley, Surrey to James & Ann nee Chuter and christened there at St Martin's on 12 May 1816. He can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 25 at Ham Common, listed as an Ag Lab, and the same on 1851 with brother William & family, also their father. On 27 Jun 1852 in Isleworth (for pic of church see 18 Oct) he married Mary Ann Harding and they lived in Ham for a while, having 2 daughters there (Dinah & Fanny). In about 1858 they moved to Muglock Cottage, Chipstead and had a third daughter there. The 1861 census shows them there, but by 1871 they have moved to Stoat's Nest, Kingswood. By 1881 the girls have all married, although the youngest Phoebe & her husband are with them at Noak Cottage, Chipstead. In 1891 they are shown living at Foulkes Farm, although the census return says Parish Relief & Pensioner". Henry is by then 76 and not in the best of health, as the following January he died. He was buried on 3 Feb 1892 at St Margaret's churchyard. Mary Ann died in Jan 1901, so she may well be there with him.

Henry John Wooldridge, my great grandfather, always known in the family (at least in his mature years) as Grampy was born 21 Sep 1869 at Victoria Wharf, Downey's Dock Road, Nine Elms, Battersea to George & Louisa nee Catchesides and christened at St George the Martyr church, Battersea Park Road on 31 Oct 1869. He can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 2 at Victoria Wharf with parents & sibs. This are is just beside the iconic Battersea Power Station, although that was not there at the time as it was built 1930s-50s. Victoria Wharf was very small, amongst a lot of other wharves and was closed and built on in the early 1900s, first becoming the site of a jam factory, then a "paint & colour works" in the 1930s. It has been a recycling centre for some years and has just closed (Sep 2012) due for redevelopment. As with the whole of the Nine Elms area, plans are very slowly coming together and it will all soon be unrecognisable. This happened to the next place we see him. The 1881 census shows the family living at 44 Currie Street. [This was just across the main road, nowadays an industrial estate with large Post Office depot, the South London Mail Centre. I have just read that this has closed too and will be redeveloped again... this time for the extension of the Underground.] Anyway, by the 1891 census the family had moved again, this time a few miles down the river, to Lambeth and can be seen at 98 Union Street. As I have said previously, this road was renamed Fitzalan Street and was well known to us (was renamed in 1893, just after they moved again). This move was to Clayton Buildings, just a stones-throw away. Unfortunately, George died Nov 1893 & Louisa went into Forest Lodge Workhouse until she died in 1915. She may have needed special medical care the family could not provide, as it was unusual if they weren't destitute. Henry stayed on in Clayton Buildings, boarding at number 11 with brother William & working as a printer's cutter. A couple of weeks after the census on 14 Apr 1901 at St Philip's church (just up the road) he married Catherine Selina Woodford (see 6th May for Carrie), a laundress living with her parents at number 30. (As his father was deceased, his brother William "gave him away" - he was 10 years older than him). They settled into a house in Tracey Street, close by, but when my grandmother was born in 1905, they had moved into number 27 Clayton Buildings, and this is where they lived until Grampy died in 1954. The 1911 census shows them there with her and Uncle Charlie (see 9th May). I have only recently discovered that they had three daughters, the eldest born at Tracey Street but died aged almost 3 on New Year's Day 1906. My great-aunt Violet Wooldridge was born in 1913 and for over a century we thought there were just two sisters. Carrie senior died aged 56 in Jan 1934 and, as I said Grampy on 1 Jul 1954 aged 84 of "coma, cardiac failure & chronic bronchitis". I have no idea where he was buried, as my mother cannot remember the funeral (it was 2 years before I was born, so I didn't attend) and the burial of the London dead is a complicated issue. A Statute was passed in 1853, banning further burials in central London churchyards, and many burial grounds have had to close over the years through overcrowding. Some permit re-burial eg Lambeth Cemetery in Norwood, but others have closed eg the small burial ground near Clayton Buildings closed in 1853 (had opened in 1703), another small one nearby in Paradise Row 1705-1884. St Mary's churchyard had been there since before 1623 (its first expansion) and closed in the early 1850s. St Mary the Less and St Mark's have been non-existant or closed for years. The Necropolis Railway was nearby & was designed to take funerals out of London. Burial took place at Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey and did continue until bombed out in WW2, but I think my mother would have remembered that!

Saturday 19th October 2013

Gladys Mary Wooldridge was born 6 Sep 1913 in Twickenham to John & Emma nee Williams. Electoral Roll records show her between 1935 & 1946 living at home at 201 Staines Road, Twickenham. In Oct 1951 in the South Middlesex aea she married Benjamin Thomas Rake from Woolwich, who had been living at 45 Gould Road, Twickenham with his mother & sister. At his marriage, mother & sister moved across Twickenham to 21 Baronsfield Road, and the couple lived at 45 Gould Road for a while. 1966 finds them at 130 Parkdale Road, Plumstead, but by 1978 they were at 23h Burnt Ash road, Lee, Lewisham, where they lived when Ben died aged 65 the following year [now a modern shopping centre]. Gladys died aged 77 in Feb 1991, still in the Lewisham area.

Grace Hilda Wooldridge was born 4 Feb 1909 at Cheriton, Folkestone, Kent to Walter & Caroline nee Lines. In Jan 1935 at St Mary the Virgin church, Elham, Folkestone she married William Irving O'Flynn and the settled in Elham & had a daughter Mary straight away. They may have had some trouble having children because it was 11 years before they had another, a son Paul. The electoral roll in 1964-5 places them at 79 Sydney Road, Raynes Park with daughter Mary Amblett. William died at this time aged 55 at Wimbledon Hospital, and Grace is not seen again in the records until her death aged 77 in Feb 1987 in Alton, Hampshire, to where she must have retired.

Friday 18th October 2013

Gertrude Florrie Wooldridge was born Feb 1888 in Camberwell to John & Fanny nee Cousins & christened at St Saviour, Denmark Hill on 18 Mar 1888. She can be seen on census return of 1891 aged 3 at 228 Crystal Palace Road, Camberwell with parents & sibs - the corner shop (see 23rd Sep). The census of 1901 records her visiting 48 Woodlands Terrace, Charlton, but in 1911 she is back with parents & sibs, who have now moved to 1 Avenue Parade, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, another grocers shop, presumably. Later that year, on 18th September in St John the Baptist church, Isleworth she married Henry Brackstone Francis, witnesses John William Wooldridge, her brother and Mary Francis. Henry worked on the railways, as did his father, and I have a copy of the accident report from a fall he had in 1905 at Highgate Road Station, (closed 1915) when he was aged 23. He & Gertrude appear to have had no children. In 1922 electoral roll records show them sharing 33 Thorney Hedge Road, Old Brentford with another couple. I have a work-sheet dated Jan 1930 which shows him working at Lancing station, Sussex on the Brighton line, as a labourer and "trolley driver". On 1 Apr 1958 Henry died at St Mary's Hospital, Eastbourne, Sussex aged 75 (home address was 47 Ringwood Road - it is likely they retired there as so many did - and still do).
Gertrude died 6 years later at Hellingly Hospital, Hailsham aka East Sussex Mental Asylum. [This was closed in 1994 & has now been redeveloped]. She left £1052 to her nephew Sydney John Wooldridge, local government officer.

Thursday 17th October 2013

George Wooldridge 2 was born Nov 1820 at West Horsley, Surrey to William & Ann nee Martin and christened there at St Mary's on 17 Dec 1820. (Oddly enough, he appears to also have been christened on 12 Jan 1823 at St Martin's, East Horsley). He can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 20 at Bridge End, Ockham with parents & sibs, listed as an Ag Lab. He died in Jun 1844, aged 23 & was buried on 6 Jul at All Saints, Ockham

George Wooldridge 3 was born Dec 1789 in West Horsley to John & Elizabeth nee Crouch and christened there on 17 Jan 1789. On 18 Nov 1810 at St John the Evangelist church, Wotton, Surrey he married Hannah Stemp from Abinger, and one of the witnesses was his brother James. They lived in West Horsley for a while & had 2 daughters there, then around 1816 they moved to Esher and had three further children there. Unfortunately, George died in early March 1826, by which time they had moved to Hersham (very close to Esher) and he was buried on 16 Mar 1826 at St Mary's, Walton-on-Thames. Hannah can be seen in census returns of 1841 & 1851 in Esher. She died there in 1863 and was buried at St George's, Esher

George Abraham Wooldridge was born 18 Oct 1856 at 10 Spring Place, Lambeth twin (with Louisa) son of George & Louisa nee Catchesides. The twins were evidently born either side of midnight, as Louisa has a birth date of 17 Oct on her records, George 18 Oct. They were christened together on 9 Nov 1856 at St Barnabas, S Lambeth (see Monday for pic of church). He can be seen on census return of1871 at Victoria Wharf, Downeys Dock Road, Battersea, with parents & sibs, listed as a labourer, then 1881 aged 24 at Currie Street with parents & sibs, then 1891at 98 Union Street, Lambeth with parents & sibs, listed as a Coal Porter. His father died in 1893 & his mother went into Leyton workhouse, where she died in 1915. I cannot track George any further - as he never seemed to use his middle name, when he left the family there were several possibilities.

George Richard Wooldridge was born 8 Jun 1863 in Esher, Surrey to Charles & Ann nee Lewis and christened there on 5 Jul 1863 at St George's (see pic above). He can be seen aged 7 in census returns of 1871 at High Street, Esher with parents & brothers, then in 1881 aged 17 at Park Road with mother & brothers (father had died in 1873) & he was a tailor. In Oct 1888 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire he married Annie Rice, a servant in the household of a widowed farmer in Northamptonshire. They settled in Esher and had one son, but Annie died of pulmonary embolism 7 days after his birth and was buried on 16 Dec 1890 at St George's. His mother Ann & his brother Athur moved in with him, also Annie's sister Mary Rice, to help with the baby, and can be seen on census of 1891 at Mole Cottages, Esher. On 4 Apr 1895 in Kingston he married Alice Batchelor from Worcester, cook in the household of an elderly lady in Kingston. They had two more sons and the census returns of 1901 & 1911 shows them with 3 sons & a couple of boarders at 8 Park Road. George died in Jan 1941 aged 77 and Alice in Oct 1951 aged 85 in Northern Surrey.

George Thomas Wooldridge was born 3 Jul 1925 to Percival & Amy nee Gregory, brother of Frederick A J (see 14 Oct), in Richmond. Unfortunately his death & burial on 14 Jun 1976 in St Andrew's church, Richmond is all I can find on him. I suspect he married Joan Spurgeon in Oct 1949 in Northern Surrey, but with no mention of his father's name I cannot be certain.

Monday 14th October 2013

Frederick Alfred J Wooldridge was born 13 Apr 1909 in Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey to Percy & Amy nee Gregory, possibly in 1 Evelyn Terrace, Ham, where he can be seen on census retrn of 1911 aged 2 with his parents. In Apr 1939 in NE Surrey area he married Margaret Fannie Flatman from Brentford. They settled in Richmond & had one daughter there, Susan in 1946. Electoral Roll shows them in 1965 living at 11 Langham Gardens, Richmond. Margaret died in Kensington in 1982 (possibly in hospital) and Frederick on 11 Sep 1989. He was buried in the family plot in St Andrew's Churchyard, Richmond with parents & sibs.

Frederick Charles Wooldridge was born Apr 1883 in Ham, Surrey to Charles & Charlotte nee Newman & christened there at St Andrew's on 10 Jun 1883. He can be seen there on census returns of 1891 & 1901 with parents & sibs, in the latter aged 17, listed as barman. In Oct 1906 in Kingston area he married Louisa Maria Harrison, who had been born in Herne Bay, Kent, but was working as a servant to a milliner in Kingston in 1900 when she had a baby daughter Dorothy and fostered her with a family in Ham. When she married Frederick they brought her back to live with them and in 1911 census they can be seen at 7 York Cottages, Petersham Road, Kingston (right by the churchyard where his brother Percy & family would be buried - see above) with 2 children, Arthur aged 2 & Dorothy now 11. Frederick is listed as a market gardener & all seems rosy (pardon the pun). However, only a matter of weeks later Louisa died aged 31. In April of the following year he married Annie L F McGarrett in Fulham and on 2nd August they all set off for Sydney, Australia on board the "Orsova". Arthur can be seen in Australian records in 1930 & 1936 but I do not have access to the details. Presumably they lived & died there.

George Wooldridge 1, my great great grandfather, was born Dec 1822 in East Horsley, Surrey to James & Ann nee Chuter and christened there on 12 Jan 1823. He can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 20 in Effingham, Surrey with parents & servant, listed as Ag Lab, like his father. I am not sure why I cannot find him in 1851 - he may be in service somewhere or in the army etc (although I should have access to this). He reappears on 11 Aug 1856 at St Mary the Less, Lambeth, marrying Louisa Agnes Catchesides. He is 33, she 23, witnesses are the bride's father & sister. She gave birth to twins a few weeks later and they were christened at St Barnabas church, when the home address was given as 10 Spring Place, Nine Elms. Nine Elms is the area I have referred to recently as being replaced by a huge industrial estate right beside the Battersea Power Station, and all the old roads are gone. So I cannot show you Spring Place, or Victoria Wharf nearby, where they lived 1862 to at least 1871. The census return of 1871 shows them there with 6 children, George listed as coachman. Earlier records show him as a labourer, then in 1862 as a gentleman's servant, then he worked for some years as a coachman. In Jan 1873 when their youngest child Eliza was christened their address was 26 Arden Street (see 17th Sep), then they can be seen in census of 1881 at 44 Currie Street with 5 children, grandson Albert & another family, George back to general labouring. In 1891 they have moved to 98 Union Street and he has taken the classic occupation of the retired (or nearly so) - watchman - as he is by now 69. He died on 4 Nov 1893 aged almost 71 at 20 Clayton Buildings of chronic bronchitis and exhaustion [I know that address well, and I'm not surprised! There's a lot of stairs involved!]

Friday 11th October 2013

Florence Jessie Wooldridge was born 5 Feb 1869 at Ham, Surrey to Charles & Charlotte nee Newman and christened there at St Andrew's on 14 Mar 1869 (see 20th Sep for photo of church). She can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 2 at Ham Street with parents & lodger, then in 1881 at Tome Row, Ham with parents & sibs, aged 12. On 11 Apr 1887 at St John the Evangelist, Waterloo she married Arthur Henry Milan. They moved around a bit in the early years of their marriage, as Arthur did various labouring tasks. 1888-9 they lived at 29 Meyrick Road, Battersea but by the 1891 census had moved to Hampton, near Twickenham, where Arthur had grown up (his family moved to Lambeth in the 1880s). They weren't there long as, although their 2nd son Herbert was born there in 1892, the 3rd son was born, baptised & died in Lambeth in 1893-4. In 1894 they were living at 2 Stangate Street [now built over by St Thomas's Hospital]. In 1895 they were to be found at 17 Springfield Place, and the 2 boys went to Springfield School. By 1900, when their 4th son was born & christened, they lived at 9 John Street, Battersea [nowadays shops] and they can be seen there in census of 1901, Arthur working as a firewood cutter, and the eldest son Arthur died there aged 11 (probably in hospital, as his death was registered in the Chelsea area, and this was the nearest hospital even in the 1950s, when my husband was born there). I cannot locate them in 1911, but the youngest son Charles emigrated to the USA in 1914 & the remaining son Herbert settled in Twickenham after serving in the East Surrey Regiment in WW1. Arthur died in Jan 1947 in Lambeth, aged 82, but I cannot track down a death for Florence.

Florence Martha E Wooldridge was born 27 Mar 1907 in Staines Road, Twickenham to John & Emma nee Williams. She can be seen on census return of 1911 aged 4 with parents & sibs and Electoral Rolls show her in the same roaduntil records end in 1962, mostly at number 201. When brother Herbert was widowed she moved in with him at number 183. She died unmarried on 21 June 1996 in Hounslow, aged 89.

Monday 7th October 2013

I have 3 Emmas in this tree and unfortunately they all died young. Emma Wooldridge 1 was born 1826 in Surrey to Thomas & Lucy nee Dorren and can be seen in 1841 census with parents in New Norfolk Street, Stepney, where she died aged 15 a few weeks later.

Emma Wooldridge 2 was born Jun 1825 in East Horsley, Surrey to James & Ann nee Chuter and christened there at St Martin's on 24 Jul 1825. She died there aged 16 in Aug 1841 and was buried at St Martin's on 2 Sep 1841.

Emma Wooldridge 3 was born Apr 1845 in Ham, Surrey to William & Hannah nee Freeland. She can be seen aged 6 on census return of 1851 in Ham with parents & sibs, grandfather & uncle, then in 1861 aged 16 at Queen's Bench, Ham with parents & sibs. On 29 May 1864 at St Mary Magdalene, Richmond she married John Sadgrove
in 1807. They lived at 11 Rose Villas, Richmond and had 3 daughters there before Emma died there in Feb 1870 aged 24 & was buried on 3 Mar 1870 at St Mary Magdalene (above). As was normal at the time when children were involved, John married quickly. On 2 April the following year he married Caroline Amelia Catchesides, another ancestor of mine (2xg great-aunt) - see later - at St Mary's, Lambeth. They moved to Ham & had 6 more children. John died Jan 1890 & was buried on 7 Feb at St Andrew's, Ham.

Fanny Wooldridge was born Jan 1856 in Ham to Henry & Mary Ann nee Harding and christened at St Mary Magdalen, Richmond (see above). She can be seen on census return of 1861 aged 5 at Muglock Cottage, Chipstead with parents & 2 sisters. In 1871 she is at Ham Common with parents & sisters. On Christmas Day 1874 at St Margaret's, Chipstead she married William George Page, and one of the witnesses was her sister Phoebe. William was a general labourer & they moved around over the years, following work. In 1881 census they can be seen at Buckland Lane, Kingswood with 3 children, in 1891 they have moved to Dean Farm, Merstham, Reigate & have 6 children, William a farm carter. By 1901 census they have settled at 6 Oatlands Road, Burgh Heath, Banstead. They stayed there some years, William working as a farm labourer. Fanny died Oct 1939 aged 83 and William followed soon after, in Jan 1940 aged 85, both in the Surrey Mid-Eastern area.

Sunday 6th October 2013

I'm back!

Nether Street, which used to be called Exchange Row, the two terraces at right-angles, and their daughter Mary Bennett lived there with her family.

Unfortunately I cannot complete this story, as the two most likely death records are in London & Nuneaton and I see no reason he would be in either place.

Thursday 4th July 2013

I am sorry for the hiatus - I have been on holiday in Paris, but will buckle down to some hard work now.

John Woodford 1, central character in this tree & my 3xg grandfather, was born on 18 Jun 1820 in Old Dalby to John & Sarah nee Manton and christened there on 9 Jul 1820. He can be seen aged 20 in census of 1841 in Old Dalby with parents & sibs, listed as an Apprentice Joiner. On 21 Apr 1847 in the Parish Church, Old Dalby he married Louisa Hatton (and her brother married his sister a few weeks later - see 17th June) and she gave birth to a son William 6 weeks later. However, this was one of the "babies who died" that inspired me to undertake this project, and he died aged 8 months of consumption. So at the time of the 1851 census they had one son Reuben & were living with him and John's brother Andrew in Old Dalby. In a separate household but the same house, lived their parents & John's 3 siblings. He was by then an acredited carpenter. On 7 Jan 1854 Louisa gave birth to twins, who were sickly from birth and died shortly afterwards (see Caroline & Hatton) and it seems that John & Louisa took Reuben to live near John's brother William in Broughton, as in 1861 census they can be seen at Upper Broughton, John employing "1 man & 1 boy" in his carpentry business. It may have been the death of his mother Sarah in 1869 that finally pushed them to move right away, as in the next census they can be seen in Westminster, London, living at 32 King Street, St Anne with several other couples. (Reuben had married in 1870). In 1881 they can be seen at 5 East Street, Lambeth - this was just around the corner from Reuben and his family. Unfortunately Louisa died here in 1886 & by the next census, John is boarding with Benjamin Tooth & family in New Street, Newington. He died himself on 17 Sep 1894 of Natural Causes at Reuben's flat 30 Clayton Buildings (where Reuben died 12 years later, 2 doors from where my grandparents lived through my early childhood).

His father, also John Woodford 2, was born in Jan 1794 at Old Dalby to William & Elizabeth nee Parnham and christened there on 9 Feb 1794. On 23 Dec 1816, also at the Parish Church Old Dalby, he married local girl Sarah Manton and by the first census in 1841 they were living in Old Dalby with 8 children. John was a joiner and his son John may have been apprenticed to his father. In 1851 3 of the children were still at home and they lived next door to John junior & family. John senior was farming 62 acres (possibly inherited land from his mother in 1842) and in 1861 census had specialised & was listed as grazier of 12 acres (he was by then 67 years old). Sarah suffered for years with liver disease and in the autumn of 1869 she also developed dropsy (fluid retention & breathlessness signifying a heart condition) and died on 9 Oct 1869. The informant of her death was William Tuckwood, apprentice to their son William, another carpenter. In census of 1871 widowed John senior is listed as a grazier of 32 acres, living with son William & family and William Tuckwood is still with them. When John died on 22 Jan 1879 aged 84 of chronic bronchitis, William T was again informant. He was buried on 27 Jan 1879 in Old Dalby. The closest I can get is his brother-in-law, John Manton.

Thursday 20th June 2013

Jasper Woodford was born in May 1811 at Old Dalby to Thomas & Anne nee Whitacre and christened there on 30 Jun 1811. This appears to be the only record, as it seems he didn't survive until registration began in 1837 and I can find no burial record for him. Shame, it's such a nice unusual name & he would be easy to trace.

Jessie Woodford was born on 10 Mar 1907 in Brandon Lane, Hough, Grantham, Lincolnshire to Thomas & Elizabeth nee Kemp. (Her grandson Richard Woodford has these certs & has given me the details), her mother could not write (as lots in those days) so "made her mark". She can be seen in census return of 1911 in Brandon aged 4 with parents & sibs. She found employment as a servant in Leicester, but in 1928 gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, followed in 1931 by a son, then on 21 Feb 1936 she died in Loughborough. Again her mother signed the death certificate with her mark, and the children went into care.

Job Woodford was born Mar 1838 in Old Dalby to Thomas & Sarah nee Gregory and was chistened there on 13 May 1838. He can be seen there with parents & sibs in census returns of 1841, 1851 & 1861. In Apr 1870 in Old Dalby he married Lucy Goodacre and they settled in Church Lane. Although in service in 1851 to the rector in Weybridge, Surrey, she grew up in Old Dalby & her parents lived not far from his. They can be seen on census return of 1871 with baby daughter Catherine, Job listed as a labourer. They had 2 children that year, but no more after that (unusual). They were there too in 1881, next door to David, but by 1891 they had moved to Main Street, Nether Broughton. They were still there in 1901, Job listed as a gardener, and 1911, when he was a widower living with daughter Catherine (see 6th May). Lucy died on 4 Jan 1908 of cancer, and Job in Oct 1911, both in Nether Broughton. Lucy was buried there on 8 Jan 1908 & Job no doubt followed.

Monday 17th June 2013

James Woodford was born May 1811 in Old Dalby to William & Elizabeth nee Parnham, and christened there on 9 Jun 1811. On 26 Feb 1833 in Willoughby, Notts he married Ann Adams & they settled in Old Dalby, had 5 children & lived in the village all their lives. On census return of 1841 they can be seen with 2 daughters & his mother, recently widowed. James is an Ag Lab, as were most adult males in the area. In 1851 they had 3 children at home. Ann died in late Sep 1857 aged 44 & was buried at Old Dalby on 1 Oct 1857. I'm not sure if I explained the situation regarding burials here. I don't know when it happened but the vast majority of graves in the churchyard have been affected by the (in my opinion scandalous) Health & Safety obsession in recent years and have been torn apart. Many headstones were saved, but either laid flat in the turf or lined up along the borders of the churchyard. Thus the link with burial plot, and I suspect in many cases the entire grave, has been lost. Thus I have no photo of their grave, although the record shows they were there. I suspect that any stones in a less than pristine condition were thrown out. The censuses of 1861 & 1871 show James with daughter Harriett. In 1881 he was blind & living with son Eli & family (see 18th May). James died in Oct 1884 aged 73.

Jane Woodford was born in Sep 1817 at Old Dalby to John & Sarah nee Manton & christened there on 19 Oct 1817. She can be seen on census return of 1841 in Old Dalby with parents & sibs. The Woodfords & the Hattons were close & sister & brother married brother & sister. On 10 Jun 1847 in Old Dalby Jane married William Hatton (a few weeks earlier John - my 4xg grandfather - had married Louisa Hatton). The census of 1851 showed them living in Old Dalby with William's widowed father, a retired grazier. After his death, Jane & her family moved to Nether Broughton & can be seen there in 1861, 1871 & 1881 with 4 children. On 2 Jan 1899 William died aged 78 and was buried in the churchyard shown above. In census of 1891 Jane can be seen living "on her own means" in Dalby Road, Nether Broughton. She did not quite make it to the next census, but died on 4 Mar 1901 (the census was taken on 31 Mar) aged 83 and joined her husband in the grave.

Jane Marriott Woodford was born Jul 1859 in Bingham to Joseph & Elizabeth nee Marriott & christened there on 14 Aug 1859. She can be seen on census return of 1861 at Fairfield Street, Bingham with parents & sibs, but by the 1871 census they have moved to Lambeth. Whether this was related to the same journey taken by her uncle John & the remnants of his family at the same time I am not sure, but they ended up in the same area. In census return of 1871 she can be seen with parents & sibs at 6 China Place, off China Walk, itself off Lambeth Walk (there are a lot of "china" themed street-names around there, due to the proximity to the Royal Doulton Works). On 4 Aug 1879 at St Mary, Lambeth she married Arthur John Mellish, a local boy, a carman. They can be seen on census return of 1881 at 6 Millers Lane, Lambeth with son Arthur (who unfortunately died later that year) and several other families. In 1891 they were at 99 Thomas Street, Lambeth with 3 daughters, then in 1901 at 11 Anderson's Walk with 5 children. All these streets are in the Vauxhall area of Lambeth, within a stones throw of each other. They are all gone now, as the whole are has been redeveloped several times. The sketch above was made in 1932, just before Anderson's Walk was wiped away. In 1911 they lived at 43 Esher Street, again nearby, with 6 children. This road still remains under the name of Aveline Street, but the only remaining building from these times is the youth club - and they didn't live there! Jessie, one of their daughters, had her own household, and she was deaf. No. 44 - possibly next door - was run as a Hotel. The electoral roll gave their address in 1921 & 1923 as 37 Esher Street, but it may just be re-numbering. Arthur died in 1925 & Jane in 1926, both in Lambeth.

Friday 14th June 2013

Hatton Woodford was Caroline's twin, and one of the babies whose death sparked my interest in genealogy (see 6th May). He died aged 12 days, so didn't have much of a life, poor chap.

Herbert Arthur Woodford was born in Jul 1872 in Whitechapel to Reuben & Louisa nee Small (see 6th May for his sister Carrie, my great grandmother). In 1881 census he can be seen aged 8 with parents & sibs at 39 Clayton Buildings, Lambeth then in 1891 at no. 30, aged 18 a print machine minder. On Christmas Day 1894 at St Philip's Lambeth he married Emily Clara Smart, a tailoress. They had 2 daughters (see 30th May for elder daughter Emily) and can be seen on census return of 1901 at 26 Bolwell Street, Lambeth, then in 1911 at 171 Warham Street, Kennington, Herbert listed as Printer's Pressman at a Stationers Printers. The Electoral Roll records show them at Warham Street 1909-1914 then 1918-1923 at 114 Beresford Street, Southwark. On 28 Nov 1940 they were living in Wickford, Essex when Herbert died aged 68, leaving effects worth £488 to Emily. After this, she must have moved back to London to be with her family, as between 1945 & 1957 (when she died aged 83) she is shown living with daughter Louisa & family at 21 Dennetts Road, Deptford & this is where she died on 20 Mar 1957, leaving £31 to Louisa.

Thursday 13th June 2013

Harry Woodford was born in Dec 1871 in Old Dalby to Job & Lucy nee Goodacre and christened there on 13 Jan 1872. He can be seen on census return of 1881 aged 9 with parents, then in 1891 at a house called Craig Le in Llandudno, North Wales [now part of the grounds of an extremely new & modern church] working as a footman. Likewise in 1901 in a household at 23 London Road, Southborough, Kent [now parkland Pennington Grounds]. In Oct 1904 at Old Dalby he married Sarah Elizabeth Jenkinson & settled in Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire. They can be seen there on 1911 census with daughter Lucy. The next child was born - and died aged 6 - in the Melton Mowbray area, so they must have moved back to his home town or nearby. A third child Walter was also born there, Lucy was married there in 1931 and Sarah died there in 1940. When Harry died it was in Nottingham, but he may have been in hospital there & not moved back.

Monday 10th June 2013

Hannah Woodford (aka Ann) was born in 1827 in Radford, Nottinghamshire to David & Ann nee Marchant. She can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 14 at Broad Street, St Mary, Nottingham with parents & sister. In Jul 1850 in Nottingham she married Charles Morley. They lived in Nottingham for 12 years and had 3 children there, but when their 3rd child Charles, died aged 3 they moved to Sheffield, Yorkshire and can be seen there on census return of 1861 lodging at 23 Steelhouse Lane. They had 4 more children here (1871 living off School Lane), but in the 1870s returned to Nottinghamshire with them (although son James returned to Yorkshire to marry) and can be seen in 1881 at 1 Colwick Place, Sneinton, Charles listed as a boiler-maker, Hannah as a laundress. I cannot find them in 1891; although youngest daughter Charlotte is boarding in Nottingham this is not unusual. I understand they both died in Jan 1900 in Nottingham, but know no details.

Another Hannah Woodford was born in May 1831 in Old Dalby to William & Ann nee Burbage and christened there on 26 June 1831. She can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 10 in Sutton Granby, Nottinghamshire with her maternal grandparents, working as a servant. In 1851 she is back in Old Dalby with her parents, sibs & son Edwin, her occupation listed as a "Servant Out Of Place" (obvious why she lost her position, but not uncommon. He was born in Feb 1849 when she was almost 18). On 11 Dec 1854 in Old Dalby she married William Palmer, from Whissendine, Rutland but who had been working as servant in Nether Broughton, very close to Old Dalby. They settled in Whissendine for a while & had 5 children there. They can be seen there with 3 of these in 1861 census then in 1871 at Burton Lazars (at a lovely address of "Cottage-in-the-field"), but they moved back to High Street, Whissendine, possibly at the death of William's mother in 1873 or his father in 1879 and William died there in 1880. In 1881 census return Hannah is there with son Isaac & daughter Alice, working as a knitter. At some point in 1880s she moved to 3 Pinfold Street, Loughborough and lived there for the rest of her life, with son Isaac, sometimes described as seamstress, sometimes as washerwoman. She died there in Jan/Feb 1916 & was buried in Loughborough on 7 Mar 1916

Harriett Woodford was born Nov 1840 in Old Dalby to James & Ann nee Adams & christened there on 13 Dec 1840. She can be seen on census return of 1841 & 1851 with parents & sibs. In 1861 she is there with her widowed father, as his housekeeper & also in 1871 a dressmaker. In Jan 1873 in Leicester she married William Corner & they can be seen in 1881 in Old Dalby with 4 sons. I cannot find her in 1891, although 2 of the children are with their grandfather Joseph Corner. William died in 1899 & in the next census she is living in Burton Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire (daughter Emily Harriett working as a servant nearby and son Alfred married & settled there). In about 1904 son Alfred moved away to Sussex & Harriett moved back to Willoughby, Notts. In Jul 1905 she married Samuel Harding and they can be seen there on census return of 1911. Harriett died there in Apr 1921 aged 80 & Samuel in 1937 aged 97.

Sunday 9th June 2013

Gertrude Woodford was born on 26 Aug 1893 at Stapleford, Nottinghamshire to Edwin & Elizabeth nee Adams. In census return of 1901 she can be seen at Derby Road with parents & sibs (see 18th May for her father Edwin) and in 1911 at 35 Birley Street in which she was listed aged 17 as a Lace Mender. The only other record I could find was a death in Jul 1979 in Nottingham, aged 85, under the name of Woodford, so she evidently didn't marry.

Gertrude Mabel Woodford was born Apr 1882 in Leicester to John & Ellen nee Smithhurst. She can be seen in census return of 1891 aged 8 at 17 Stonebridge Street, Evington with parents (see 3rd Jun) & sibs. In 1901 she was living at Manor House Convent, Holywell, Oxford aged 17, listed as one of 26 laundrymaids. In researching this establishment I have found it was a home for unmarried mothers, so the occupation may well have been a front. I have found no evidence of a child, but this means nothing as Gertrude herself is conspicuous by her absence in 1911, so I cannot tell where in the country to look, or under what name. I do have a death record for Gertrude back in Leicester in Jul 1953 aged 71. [In 1929 the convent was in a deserted state & was purchased by Balliol College, Oxford. It was re-opened as a college, named Holywell Manor in 1932 & is still a Hall of Residence for the University].

Friday 7th June 2013

Frances Burbage Woodford was born in Nov 1828 in Old Dalby to William & Ann nee Burbage & christened there on 7 Dec 1828. She can be seen on census return of 1841 there with parents & sibs. In 1851 she was living at 33 Lower Road, Leamington Priors, Warwickshire working as a servant in the household of an Estate Agent. On 9 Feb 1852 in Old Dalby she married William Keays (from Broughton who had been working as farm servant in Old Dalby). In 1861 they can be seen in Upper Broughton with 4 children, William is a groom, Frances a Lace Worker. In 1871 they are in Broughton Sulney, Frances and 4 children at home and William nearby at the home of an elderly lady, working as a gardener. In 1881 they are together in Upper Broughton with 2 children and a grandson Arthur aged 1. (Although I cannot establish whose child he is without buying the birth cert, I have found that he was born in Jul 1880 was "feeble-minded" and died in Apr 1907 aged 26, living all his life with his grandparents). On the 1891 census return William & Frances are living in Willoughby Road, Upper Broughton with Arthur, a lodger & 2 visitors, in 1901 Bottom Green, Broughton with Arthur & alone in 1911 when Arthur had died (NB it is only a small village & these addresses may well be the same place). William died here in on 19 Jul 1916 aged 87 & Frances on 22 Nov 1921 aged 94

George Henry Woodford (known as Harry) was born Apr 1879 in Lutterworth to Andrew & Ellen nee Miles and can be seen on census return of 1881 aged 2 in Wood Market, Lutterworth with grandfather (who was deaf), parents, sibs & cousin William lodging. In 1891 they were at Regent Street & still in 1901, when he is manager of a Hosiery Factory with his sister Amy. In Jan 1906 at Wigston Magna he married Mabel Maud Gardiner Lewin & settled there with her. They were living there at 38 Gladstone Street at the time of the 1911 census. On 6 Aug 1928 the home address was 13 Leicester Street, Wigston Magna [now a 1960s parade of shops] when George died aged 49 in Leicester Royal Infirmary. He left effects worth £450 to Mabel. When she died in 1971 aged88 she was living in Yorkshire.

Thursday 6th June 2013

Florence Woodford was born Jul 1883 in Barnston, Nottinghamshire to Edwin & Elizabeth nee Adams (see 27 Apr for sister Ada & 2 May for sister Alice). She can be seen at Derby Road, Stapleford in 1891 & 1901 census returns with parents & sibs, in the latter listed as cotton-winder. In Oct 1905 in Long Eaton, Derbyshire she married Frederick Thomas Bratby and they had 3 children. In Apr 1922 aged 38 she died in Mansfield, Notts. It seems that Frederick took the children to USA & remarried to an American girl. I am very concerned about the timescale here though, as he appears with his new wife on the 1920 census in USA when Florence was still alive.... If anyone has any info about this, I would appreciate a quick email. It is such a rare name, I doubt I have the wrong people. As I cannot find any of them on UK 1911 census, or records of them leaving the country, I cannot pin them down. According to the 1920 census, they emigrated in 1911. It seems that Frederick had one more child, then died in 1925 aged 42 in Pennsylvania.

Another Florence Woodford was born in Apr 1877 in Old Dalby to David & Elizabeth nee Brown. She can be seen on census returns of 1881 & 1891 with parents & sibs. In Feb 1901 she had an illegitimate daughter who she called Florrie, and can be seen with her in census return of 1901, visiting her sister Sarah at 9 Stansfield Terrace, Nottingham. Unfortunately the only thing I could find after this was a possible death for the baby 3 months later & 3 possible marriages for Florence, none of which links up with anything else.

Florence Ada Woodford was born in May 1910 in Lambeth to Reuben & Florence nee Wells & can be seen with them & her brother in census return of 1911 at 2 Wood Street, Lambeth (no doubt where she was born) aged 11 months. In Jul 1934 in Southwark she married Henry George Pearson & they had 2 daughters while they were living firstly in Lambeth in the 1930s then they moved to Surrey in the 1940s. Henry died in 1975 in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey as did Florence in Oct 1978.

Monday 3rd June 2013

Ernest Alfred Woodford was born on 13 Dec 1886 in Leicester to John & Ellen nee Smithurst and can be seen in 1891 census return with parents & sibs at 17 Stonebridge Street, Evington, Leicestershire. In 1901 he can be seen aged 14 at 10 Old Mill Lane, Leicester (near Frog Island see Albert Woodford) with father, step-mother & sibs, working as Errand Boy at the Spinning Mills. In 1911 he can be seen with them at 62 Sanvey Gate, Leicester, working as an Insurance Agent. In Jul 1921 at Leicester he married Florence May Hopkins and they had one daughter as Florence died in 1934 aged 35. Ernest may have married again - there is a record of a marriage in Leicester in Apr 1943 to Mary Ludlow, but they do not appear to have had any children so there is no cross-check I can do and when he died in Oct 1975 in Leicester I cannot find a will/probate document either.

Ettie Maud Woodford was born in Jul 1875 in Old Dalby to Arthur & Esther nee Jackson but by 1881 census they had moved to Trysull, Staffordshire (see 5th May) and then in 1891 Bredicot, Worcestershire, in 1901 Shelton, Bedfordshire with widowed father & her brother. In Jul 1903 at St Neots, Huntingdon she married Bertie Charles Tysoe and in 1911 census can be seen with him & her retired father at Tunstead Milton, Whaley Bridge. Unfortunately, as I noted on 5th May, on 27 Apr 1917 Private Tysoe was killed serving with the East Surrey Regiment and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. Ettie died aged 82 in Jan 1958 in Warminster, Wiltshire.

Fanny Woodford was born in Oct 1864 in Broughton, Nottinghamshire to Joseph & Georgiana nee Bakewell (see 3rd May for sister Anna). She can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 6 at Widmerpool, Notts with parents & 3 sisters, but this was not a healthy family, as previously noted, and in 1881 census she is at the District Infirmary, Leicester as an inpatient. She is listed as working in hosiery and when she died aged 18 at The Brand, Woodhouse Eaves (a nursing home) of phthisis (TB) she had had for 2 years, her occupation was given as Factory Hand. This was an occupational hazard in many of the textiles factories in the area, and several of the girls in this family died early, possibly of related conditions. The informant of her death was father Joseph, and she was buried on 12 Mar 1883 at Woodhouse Eaves.

Thursday 30th May 2013

Elizabeth Ann Woodford was born on 4 Jun 1888 in Derby to Joseph & Emma nee Tunnicliffe. She can be seen on census return of 1891 aged 2 at 159 Nottingham Road, Derby with parents, sister & uncle, then the same in 1901 aged 12 & also in 1911 with parents & grandfather. In 1911 she was a dressmaker working from home. In Oct 1916 in Derby she married William H Baker and they had one son William R in Oct 1920. Elizabeth died in Derby in Jan 1983 aged 94, but William Baker was a common name in Derby, so I cannot tell which death belongs to her husband or son.

Emily Elizabeth Woodford was born in Oct 1896 in Lambeth to Herbert & Emily nee Smart & christened at St Mary's on 1 Feb 1899 with her sister Louisa. She can be seen on census return of 1901 aged 4 at Bolwell Street, Lambeth (a turning off Lambeth Walk) with parents & sister, then with them in 1911 at 171 Warham Street aged 14, a dressmaker's apprentice. On 21 Jul 1918 at All Souls, Newington she married William Dobbins, a carpenter and Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery. He had obtained 3 medals in the war, having seen action in France. On 14 Oct 1926 they set off from 114 Beresford Street, Walworth Road, with their 2 daughters & sailed on the SS Beltana from Port of London to Fremantle, Australia. Once there, they settled in Perth and had a further daughter. Their grandson Rod tells me that on 31 Jan 1942 William joined the Australian army by lying about his age (he lowered it rather than raised it), but was discharged when Emily died on 30 November 1942 & he had to return home to care for their daughters. Apparently her death was a tragic accident. He died himself on 13 Feb 1947 and the daughters erected a  gravestone in Perth.

Emma Woodford was born in Jul 1845 in Old Dalby to James and Ann nee Adams and christened there on 31 Aug 1845. She can be seen on census return of 1851 aged 5 with parents & sibs, then in 1851 aged 15 working as a servant in a household at 17 Oxford Street, Leicester. In Jul 1867 in Old Dalby she married Samuel Moore, 18 years her senior & settled in Barkby. In 1871 they can be seen in census return with one son James Woodford Moore, Samuel working as a labourer (previously he had been a servant like Emma) in Brookside, Barkby but by 1881 she has 4 children & is widowed, Samuel having died aged 52 in 1879. She can be seen in 1891 in School Lane, Barkby, which is a move of only a few yards across a little wooden footbridge in the village, working as a charwoman with 3 children. In 1901 she was still there with James & his family. She died aged 57 in Jul 1902 in Leicester & sadly James died only a few years later - in 1918 aged 49.

Thursday 23rd May 2013

Another Elizabeth Woodford was born in 1870 at Willoughby, Nottinghamshire to Thomas & Mary nee Henson. She can be seen on census return of 1871 in Tuckwoods Row aged 1 with parents, then in 1881 aged 11 there with parents & sibs. In 1891 she was working as a servant in the household of a butcher/farmer not far from her parents in Willoughby. In 1901 she can be seen back home with her mother, as her father had not long died, also with a sister, nephew & niece Lottie, deaf & dumb since birth (at least I assume she is niece, but could equally be her daughter, as this scenario occurred a lot with servants). In Apr 1904 in Willoughby she married local boy Thomas Henson Cooper - his middle name is intriguing as he may well be a relative of her mother. In 1911 he has moved in with Elizabeth & her mother, with Lottie now employed as domestic servant. Elizabeth had at that stage given birth to 2 children, who both died (well, that is all she would own up to). In 1912 she had a daughter Gertrude who appears to survive. Elizabeth herself died in Apr 1928 aged 59 but I cannot find death records for Gertrude or Thomas, as I don't know if they moved away or remarried.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Woodford was born in Mar 1850 in Old Dalby to Adam & Sarah nee Williamson and christened there on 30 Jun 1850. She can be seen there in census return of 1851 aged 1 with parents & sibs & in 1861 aged 11 with parents, 2 sisters, nephew & niece. In Oct 1870 at Old Dalby she married William Grimbley & he moved in with them, as can be seen on census of 1871. By the census of 1881 they have moved to 76 Russell Street, Loughborough and have 5 children. William's father George ran a "beer retailer" at number 73, on the other side of the road [unfortunately that end of the road has been redeveloped into flats]. In 1891 they are living at number 69 & George is still selling beer but now at number 65 (and on his 3rd wife!) Both he & his wife died shortly after the census & William the following year, having taken over the pub in the meantime. In 1901 Betsy can be seen at 35 Cardinal Street, Leicester with 2 children & 3 boarders, then in 1911 at 162 Abbey Lane with daughter Elsie & her family & she died there in Apr 1919

I'm afraid I won't be able to work on this for almost a week now. The ancestors here would not know what a DVD marathon involves, or Play-off Finals (although football itself they would recognise well enough, thank goodness) but they would be all too familiar with my third activity - a funeral. All this will keep me busy until Wednesday, so I shall see you then.

Monday 20th May 2013

Elizabeth Woodford was born in Feb 1822 at Old Dalby to John & Sarah nee Manton & christened there on 3 Mar 1822. She can be seen there on census returns of 1841 & 1851 with parents & sibs. On 30 Apr 1855 at Old Dalby she married widower Sampson Gadd & moved in with him at Main Street, Sutton Bonnington. In census return of 1861 they can be seen there with their daughter Emma, then in 1871 & 1881 also with his daughter Ann (his 1st wife Dorothy had died in 1846 leaving 3 daughters). In 1891 he has retired & he died in 1897, so by 1901 census Elizabeth is living with her daughter Emma & family until she died there on 7 Mar 1903 & was buried in Sutton Bonnington churchyard.

The next Elizabeth Woodford was born in Feb 1820 in Old Dalby to William & Ann nee Burbage (the villagers must have known them by "Will's girl" & "John's girl", as I am not aware of them shortening to Liz or Bessie etc) and christened there on 31 Mar 1820. She appears to be missing in the 1841 census, but as I have said before, she could be misspelled anywhere, as she was aged 21 & probably in service. On Christmas Eve 1845 at Old Dalby she married Francis Miller & proceeded to have 8 children over 12 years. In 1851 they can be seen at Hose, Leicestershire (Francis' birthplace) with 2 children & a servant, Francis listed as an Ag Lab, then by 1861 they have moved to Main Street, Long Clawson, Leicestershire & Francis is described as "Occupying 39 acres land & Agent to sell ale & porter". This was where the famous stilton cheese dairy is. In 1871 he is "Farmer 72 acres employing 1 man" (this is his brother John) then in 1881 "Farmer 82 acres" with 2 children & 2 servants. By the census in 1891 they are farming Muston Gorse Farm, Bottesford with daughter Mary & her family, also 3 servants, and still in 1901.
Francis died here in Jul 1903 aged 79 & Elizabeth in Jan 1907 aged 87.

Sunday 19th May 2013

Eliza Ann Woodford was the sister of Clara (see 9th May for their story - or you may remember it; the orphaned sisters sent to Bristol) born on 29 Oct 1868 in Lambeth & christened with her sister on 11 Aug 1869. Once she left the orphanage she joined the household of William Fisher, manufacturing chemist, as domestic servant. She can be seen on census return of 1891 with them at Daisy Bank, then 1901 & 1911 also at 32 Fishpond Road, both in Bristol. She stayed with them until in 1912 she left for the USA. Mr Finch by 1911 was retired, but still a Director of the company. On 20 Jul 1912 she set sail from Liverpool on the SS Caronia (Cunard line) for New York I cannot tell whether she knew Charles (Charly) Flower before she emigrated, but it was likely as he was a local Bristol boy. He had married Sarah Ann Hacker in 1897 in Barton Regis, Somerset & they had emigrated to USA, arriving on 28 Apr 1907. Unfortunately Sarah Ann was very homesick and when they had only been there a month she committed suicide by drinking carbolic acid (!) - well, that's the story! Eliza joined him in 1912 and they were married shortly after, then naturalized on 24 Sep 1914. Eliza, like her sister, was never very sure about her age and Charles gave it to the census enumerator as 2 years younger than he, when she was in fact 6 years older. This was a source of anxiety for me at first, but I think in the bigger picture a lot of it was guesswork in those circumstances. In the census returns of 1920 & 1930 they can be seen living at Maine township, Grundy, Illinois and Charles is farming. On 29 Jun 1935 Eliza died, and when he followed on 28 Nov 1954, Charles joined both his wives in "the family plot" at Braceville-Gardner Cemetery in Grundy County.

Saturday 18th May 2013

Edwin Woodford was born 3 Feb 1849 in Old Dalby, one of those "unexpected occurrences" to Hannah, single mum. He was christened there on 24 Mar 1850 & can be seen on census return of 1851 with mother & grandparents, Hannah listed as "servant Out of Place" ie unemployed. I think this was one of those cases where the "surprise" was brought up by his grandparents, and by 1861 we see him living with them while his mother has married & started her own family. His life was filled with upheaval at this time, as the couple who brought him up (grandparents) both died, in 1861 & 1870. But on 27 May 1874 at the Parish Church, Willoughby he married Elizabeth Adams. They had already had a son William Henry Adams the previous year, and now renamed him William Adam Woodford and followed him with 4 daughters. On the marriage register, incidentally, Edwin named William (his grandfather) as his father, so maybe he never knew he was illegitimate. On the 1881 census, he can be seen with 2 Elizabeths; one wife, one mother-in-law and 2 children, listed as a platelayer (on the railway) in Langer, Nottinghamshire. In 1891 they lived at in Derby Road, Stapleford with 4 children & he was a farm labourer, similarly there in 1901 with 5 children, a builder's carter. By 1911 he can be seen at 35 Birley Street, Stapleford with 3 children, listed as farm labourer. They both lived here until they died, Edwin on 7 Dec 1937, aged 88, leaving £569 to Elizabeth, then she on 23 Jan 1945 aged 93, leaving £758 to daughter Alice Mills & son-in-law Ernest Turland, upholsterer.

Eli Woodford was born in Apr 1843 in Old Dalby to James & Ann nee Adams, and christened there on 25 Jun 1843. He can be seen on the census return of 1851 aged 7 with parents & sisters. I cannot track him down in 1861, he is probably in service somewhere misspelled. In Jul 1869 in Loughborough he married Jemima Line & they settled in Old Dalby. They had one son there and can be seen with him on 1871 census, Eli listed as Ag Lab. In 1881 they can be seen living next to the Hall & Eli's father James is living with them & is blind. Eli is working on the railways as labourer and his son William now 11 at school. As James died in 1884, by 1891 census Jemima & Eli are living on their own, Eli a farm labourer, as he also was in 1901 their address described as High Street, Old Dalby, which I assume is Main Road. Eli died in Old Dalby in Apr 1910 aged 63 & Jemima in Apr 1916 of uterine cancer.

Eliza Woodford was born in Oct 1875 in Woodhouse Eaves to Joseph & Georgiana nee Bakewell. She can be seen on census return of 1881 aged 5 with parents & 3 sisters in Beer House (see 3rd May for sister Anna). We next see her in 1891 aged 15, living at 171 London Road, Leicester as a domestic servant to a lady of means & her daughter. In 1901 she has moved on & is living & is employed as a barmaid in The Balmoral, 190 Belgrave Road, Leicester. Her mother died in 1906 so in the census of 1911 she can be seen back in Woodhouse Eaves, looking after her father & listed as laundress (at home) so she evidently took in washing. As will her sister Anna, I cannot find a marriage or a death I can pin down to her, so have nothing after this point.

Friday 17th May 2013

Edmund Charles Woodford was born in Jan 1870 in Old Dalby to Joseph & Ruth nee Brewin. He can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 1, with widowed father & sibs (his mother had died on 8 Feb a few weeks before) in Old Dalby. He can also be seen there aged 11 in 1881 with father & 2 brothers. By 1891 his father has also died and Edmund can be seen at 2 Union Street, Torquay, a butcher's assistant living at the home of his employer. In Jan 1896 in Babbacombe he married local girl Emma Jane Tucker & they settled there. They had 3 children (see 30th April for Algernon) and they can be seen on census returns of 1901 & 1911 at 5 Redden Hill - now Reddenhill Road. Kelly's Directory gives his home address for the butchery business in 1910. However, by 1923 he is listed as Farmer & Assistant Oversee in Woodland, Devon at Quarry Farm, so changes were afoot. Woodland is not many miles from the Torbay area, but when he died on 15 May 1929 aged 59 he was living at 59 Salisbury Street, Blandford, Dorset - and that definitely looks like it could have been a butcher's shop! He left effects worth £1170 to Emma. When she died in 1964 she was living in Salisbury in Wiltshire aged 92.

Thursday 16th May 2013

Edmund Woodford was born in Jul 1874 in Whitechapel (see 6th May for sister Carrie) to Reuben & Louisa nee Small. He can be seen on census return of 1881 aged 6 at 39 Clayton Buildings with parents & sibs, then 1891 and 1901 at number 30, listed as a carpenter. On 6 Aug 1905 at St Mary, Lambeth he married neighbour Clara Kitson. Her family were at number 37 in 1893 and 19 in 1901, although they came from Manchester. The newly married couple lived at 41 Lambeth Walk for a while, then 24 Lothian Road, Lambeth then moved to Southwark. They had 2 sons born 10 years apart in 1906 & 1916. They lived at 40 Sturgeon Road, Southwark from 1910 to 1913 (at least - those are the years I can see electoral roll records for them there) and can be seen there on census return of 1911, their elder son aged 4 & Edmund listed as carpenter. From 1918 they lived at 49 Camberwell Station Road. [Camberwell Station opened in 1862 but closed to passengers in 1916, then completely in 1964]. In 1924 they either moved next door or the numbering was changed, as from 1924 to 1939 they are listed at no. 47. In 1945 they were at 37 Leander Road, Brixton, where they stayed for the rest of their lives. Charles, the younger son, lived at no. 53, Edmund died at no. 37 on 10 May 1951, leaving £2783 to Clara & son Edmund (why he snubbed son Charles I do not know - maybe they quarrelled, maybe he disputed paternity - who knows?) When Clara herself died in 1955 she was staying at Birdhurst Road, Croydon, oddly enough the same road lived in by Jessie Hatton Gamble (see 15th April), and left £2698 to both her sons.

Edmund Reuben Woodford was the elder son mentioned above, born on 16 May 1906 to Edmund & Clara nee Kitson and christened on 3 Jun 1906 at St Mark's, Kennington (see 5th April for photo). As I said, he was there at 40 Sturgeon Road in 1911 aged 4 & at 47 Camberwell Station Road with his parents. In Jul 1933 in Lambeth he married Winifred Owen from Fulham and they lived at 37 Glenburnie Road, Wandsworth until at least 1965. Here we have another of those odd coincidences, because if you read this blog regularly you will remember David Gamble ending up at the Springfield Hospital (aka Asylum) very close to where my daughter now lives. Well, Glenburnie Road leads from the hospital to Vickie'e Road and she lives 150 yards from no. 37. What makes this more odd is that these 2 trees are not related at all. Edmund was my grandmother's cousin, David was my Grandad's great-uncle. Edmund & Winifred must have retired to Eastbourne, Sussex (as so many did/do) as he died there in Oct 1987 & she in Oct 1988.

Sunday 12th May 2013

Edith Mary Woodford was born in Jan 1879 to Joseph & Georgiana nee Bakewell in Woodhouse Eaves (see 3rd May for her sister Anna). She can be seen in 1881 census at the Beer House, Church Hill, Woodhouse Eaves with parents & 3 sisters, then in 1891 at Brand Hill with parents & niece Constance (just a little further on through the village), then in 1901 in Main Street with her parents (a little further still). In Jan 1902 she married George Savoury from Wiltshire & they had 4 children. In 1911 census they can be seen also in Main Street, Woodhouse Eaves, I counted 26 houses further on from her father. All the children married locally in the 1920s & 1930s. George died in 1958 & Edith in 1966, also locally.

Friday 10th May 2013

There was another David Woodford in this tree, who was born in Old Dalby in Feb 1805 to William & Elizabeth nee Parnham and christened there on 20 Mar 1805. However, when on 27 Jun 1826 he married Ann Marchant from Mansfield, Notts he moved there with her & never returned. They had 2 daughters and can be seen with them in census return of 1841 at Broad Street, Byron, Notts. Now, this was the address given in many directories for his business between 1835 & 1848. He was a timber merchant, turner & joiner in Broad Street, & then throughout the 1860s also incorporated coopering & moved around the corner to Kent Street. In census returns of 1851, 1861 & 1871 they lived at Kent Street, as he presumably worked from home. [No pictures exist as the whole area was redeveloped in the 1980s]. In Jul 1877 he died aged 72 in Southwell, about 15 miles away, to where he must have retired in the 1870s. Ann died 2 years later in 1879 aged 70.

Douglas Edward Woodford was born on 17 Jun 1902 to William & Georgina nee Bird in Carlton-in-the-Willows, Notts & registered in Basford. He can be seen in census return of 1911 aged 9 at The Green, Old Dalby with parents & brother. In Apr 1951 he married Violet Elizabeth Goodman there & they lived there, as far as I can see, all their lives, but had no children. He died in Jul 1982 & Violet in 1994 & were buried in the cemetery.

Edith Elizabeth Woodford was born in Jul 1887 at Old Dalby to William & Elizabeth nee Wells. She can be seen there on census returns of 1891 aged 3 with mother, sibs & servant and 1901 aged 13 with parents, grandfather & sister. In Jul 1910 at Old Dalby she married coal-merchant Harry Brooks from Upper Broughton & they can be seen in 1911 visiting her family (brother, mother & grandmother) there. When she died on 28 Apr 1939 in Nottingham, they were living at The Cedars, Hose, Leicestershire & she left effects worth £850 to her husband. When he died on 30 Jun 1960 at the General Hospital, Nottingham he was living at Ivy Cottage, The Green, Old Dalby & left effects worth £2220 to Samuel Maurice Brooks, probably his brother, born there in 1894.

I've been getting into a pickle with the next ancestor. Edith Ellen Woodford was born in Apr 1867 in Lutterworth to Andrew & Ellen nee Miles. She can be seen with parents & sibs on 1871 census in Bakehouse Lane, Lutterworth, then she goes to live with her aunt & uncle & we see her in 1881 aged 14 at 22 Walnut Street, Leicester. Then in 1891 at 3A West Street, Leicester. In Jan 1899 in Leicester she married Charles Fox, a widower 33 years older than her, farmer & former publican and they had some children (this is where it gets confusing). On census return of 1901 they are living in Regent Street, Lutterworth with one daughter 1 year old called May. By the time of the 1911 census things had gone very wrong and they can be seen in the Union Workhouse, Woodmarket, Lutterworth. The record shows one daughter Kathleen Mary & one son Henry, she has given birth to 2 children, both have survived. So this does not tally with the earlier one May, who would be 11 by now. If she had died there should be a one in that column & a 3 for live births. Well, it was an institution, and the list is long, so maybe mistakes were made. There are 2 births for a Kathleen Mary, one in 1899, so maybe there was another baby who died. (But I think much more likely is the fact that Kathleen Mary/May or whoever was probably born in the same quarter her parents got married....) Anyway, Charles died, finally admitting to 85, in Oct 1915 in Leicester, and Edith also 85 in 1953 also in Leicester.

Another Edith Ellen Woodford was born on 6 Nov 1893 in Peckham to John & Elizabeth nee Gellard. She can be seen with them, her brother & a visitor at 39 Canal Bank, Peckham on census return of 1901, then all of a sudden it all becomes horribly familiar. Both parents died within a year of each other and on the 1911 census return she is in an orphanage the other end of the country! In this instance she can be seen in the West Riding Industrial Home in Wakefield, Yorkshire. Her little brother had already died aged 2. Their elder sister Annie had already moved away (see 5th May) but she also died not long after. 2 further babies had been born & died soon after in 1888 & 1891. Unfortunately, this institution is less friendly as it is supposed to be for "reformation of women who have served their term of imprisonment in the West Riding House of Correction (aka Wakefield Prison)" but it did perform the same function in "giving employment, temporary board & lodging to discharged prisoners". I cannot trace her from this point until her death in 1974 in St Albans. She probably went into service, as she was listed in the home as "housemaid/laundry work" but I cannot trace her through censuses as this story is too recent.

Thursday 9th May 2013

Charles Woodford was born in Jun 1838 at Old Dalby to Adam & Sarah nee Williamson and christened there on 8 Jul 1838. He can be seen on census returns of 1841 aged 3 & 1851 aged 12 with parents & sisters. In 1861 (the time Adam was living at The Hall) Charles was lodging with another gardener at Brown Lane, Beeston, Notts & working as a carpenter. In Jan 1863 he married Amelia Rudkin at Cheltenham, which was her home & they lived there for a few years. On census return of 1871 they can be seen at 15 St Paul's Parade, Cheltenham. By 1881 they can be seen living at 6 Rathbone Place, Leicester with a 4-month-old adopted daughter. After this, however, she seems to disappear without trace - odd! Maybe it didn't work out & she was adopted by someone else & changed her name. Charles & Amelia remained at that address for at least another 4 decades. Amelia died in Oct 1916 & Charles followed in Oct 1918.

Charles James Woodford was the man I knew as Uncle Charlie - I used to go to visit him in his flat & he would give me barley-sugar sticks. It wasn't until I started to work on this family tree that my mother found out he was my Nan's uncle & not hers (she never asked!) He was born in Apr 1888 on Clayton Buildings, Lambeth to Reuben & Louisa nee Small & can be seen at no. 30 on census returns of 1891 & 1901 with parents & sibs. In 1911 he was at no. 27 with Carrie & family, as their parents had died. He was in the Royal Flying Corps & served in France in WW1 & gained 2 medals, one a "Meritorious Service Medal for Home Gallantry". He never married & when I knew him he was in his 70s, living alone in Clayton Buildings. He died in Apr 1962.

Clara Woodford was born in Sep 1866 at 2 Albert Cottages, Ashmore Place, Kennington [near the Oval cricket ground, where now is Ashmole Primary School] to Josiah & Milicent nee Adkins. She was christened on 11 Aug 1869 with baby sister Eliza & they can all be seen on census return of 1871 at 16 Richmond Street. Unfortunately Josiah & Milicent both died shortly after this, within a month of each other, of smallpox & typhoid respectively (London was not a healthy place at this time), leaving the girls alone, so we next see them in 1881 in an orphanage in Bristol. The New Orphan Houses in Ashley Down in Bristol were founded by George Muller 1836-44, funded by donations and by all accounts extremely well-run. The orphans were provided with a uniform, food & an education & before they left (boys 14, girls 17) were found employment locally. So in 1891 Clara is 24, admitting to 22 (probably nobody knew how old she was), living at 27 Ashley Road, Clifton, a general servant [building is now used as a Family Resource Centre]. In 1901 she is 34 admitting to 27, living at 8 Aberdeen Road, again as a general servant in a family household. In Apr 1904 in Bristol she married Albert Wright, a window-cleaner, and settled in one room in 50 Banner Road, off Ashley Road, shared with a family. [Apparently now the home/business of a psychotherapist]. All of these places are within a couple of miles of the Orphanage. Albert died in Jul 1927 aged 63 & Clara in Oct 1942 aged 76.

Cordelia Woodford was born on 7 Jun 1843 at Old Dalby to Adam & Sarah nee Williamson, sister to Charles above, and christened there on 9 Jul 1843. She can be seen there on census returns of 1851 aged 7 with parents & sibs and in 1861 aged 17 with her mother, 3 sisters, nephew & niece, listed as Domestic Servant. In Jan 1864 she married John Haines, a miller from Gaddesby (village 10 miles to the south) & they had one son John Henry. In 1871 they can be seen in Thorpe Satchville (5 miles east of Gaddesby), publicans running The Fox Inn. Her sister Mary & family are visitors at the time of the census. In 1881 Cordelia is visiting her mother & 2 sisters while the two Johns are at home in the pub with Cordelia's niece as servant and a nurse. This may have been because John senior was ill as he died on 23 May 1883, listed as grazier & publican, leaving £356 to Cordelia. In 1891 Cordelia is living at Bunbury Farm, Little End, Gaddesby (this was sold as part of the Gaddesby Estate in 1917), listed as grazier and in 1901 at Gaddesby Lodge (another part of the Estate) with son John & his family, he now the grazier. He had 12 children, so by 1911 she has moved on & is living in Leicester Road, Syston, working as housekeeper for a 38-year-old widower & his 8-year-old daughter. She died on 14 Dec 1911 aged 68, at Gaddesby.

David Woodford was born in 1837 in Old Dalby to William & Ann nee Burbage. In census return of 1841 he can be seen there aged 4 with parents & sibs, then in 1851 aged 15 he was working at Upper Broughton as servant to a farmer. In 1861 he can be seen at Greenbridge Lane, Tarbock, Lancashire, working as an Ag Lab and lodging with sister Sophia & her husband John. In Jan 1864 at Old Dalby he married Elizabeth Brown from Nottingham & they can be seen on census return of 1871 in Church Lane, Old Dalby with 3 children, he is still an Ag Lab. Something important happened to Old Dalby in 1880; the coming of the railway. The Station was opened on the Midland Railway direct route between London & Nottingham, avoiding Leicester. Expresses generally used this line, local traffic was minimal, so Old Dalby station was closed in 1966. This part of the line was then used as a test track, Old Dalby originally the site of the control centre, but eventually even that was moved away. The stationmaster's house is now a private residence, the weighbridge a garage & all that is left are a few sidings & workshops. Anyway, in 1881 David was still living in Church Lane, next door to cousin Job & Lucy with 2 daughters, but he was now working as a railway labourer. In 1891 they had moved to next door to the stationmaster's house (see above), working as a platelayer's labourer with daughter Florence (they had 4 children in all) and a lodger. In 1901 census he has returned to Church Lane, but is still working on the railway & has a Railway Assistant Inspector as boarder. In 1911 he described himself as OAP & died in Jan 1918. Elizabeth died in 1926.

Monday 6th May 2013

Aubrey Cecil D Woodford was born on 20 Nov 1909 to Thomas & Elizabeth nee Kemp in Brandon, Lincolnshire. He can be seen on census return of 1911 aged 2 in Brandon Lane, Grantham with parents & sibs. In Jul 1933 in Lichfield, Staffordshire he married Florence Cope and they had 2 children, John Roy in 1934 & Sophia J in 1938, both in Basford. Florence died there in 1989 & Aubrey in 1990.

Bertha Mary Woodford was born in Jul 1862 in Old Dalby to Sarah Woodford (daughter of Adam - waitress & single mum). She was christened there on 17 Jul 1864 - I'm not quite sure why they waited 2 years, this is most unusual unless "getting several done at once", but maybe Sarah just kept putting it off, as she never did live with her. On census return of 1871 she can be seen in Old Dalby aged 8 with her grandparents & family. This was often the way, as of course it still is today, when an "unexpected event" occurs and provides a new baby for a working girl - granny brings the child up. In the 1881 census she is at 41 Hampden Street, Nottingham, aged 18 & working as general servant in the household of an American lace exporter. In Jan 1884 in Old Dalby she married Henry Hall (also offspring of a single mother, living in Old Dalby) and they settled there & had 3 children. On census return of 1891 they can be seen with the children and 4 lodgers, Henry listed as an "Engine-Driver Tramway". Unfortunately Bertha died in Oct 1894 aged only 32 - oddly in Ormskirk, Lancs, but maybe she had to go away with something like TB (only conjecture unless I pay for the death certificate). Henry re-married in 1897, had several more children & died in 1928.

Bertram John Woodford was born in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire to William & Georgina nee Bird. In census return of 1901 he can be seen aged 4 at 72 Merchant Street, Bulwell, Nottingham, with parents & step-sister. In 1910 his grandfather Eli died so by 1911 Bertram can be seen with his parents & brother in Old Dalby, looking after grandmother Jemima. I don't think he was a permanent resident though, as he lists his occupation as "Grocer's Assistant at Universal Tea Stores, Nottingham". In 1915, at the age of 18, in Melton Mowbray, he enlisted in the army, the Leicestershire Regiment, 2/4 battalion, giving Oakham, Rutland as his home address. He trained with the regiment in Luton in Jan 1915, St Albans in Jul 1915, Ireland in Apr 1916, then Fovant, Salisbury in Jan 1917, then they were shipped out to France to take part in action in the Western European Theatre of war. They landed in France on 24 Feb 1917 & on 24 Mar 1918 aged 21, a lance-corporal, he was killed in action & buried at the Faubourg-D'Amiens Cemetery. He received 2 medals and was featured on the Arras memorial. As everybody knows, the war ended 8 months later.

Caroline Woodford would have been my 3xgreat aunt and was one of the reasons for this project. She and her twin brother Hatton were born on 7 Jan 1854 to John & Louisa nee Hatton at Old Dalby. They were christened there on 16 Jan - only just in time because Hatton died on 19 Jan aged 12 days and Caroline followed on 25 Feb aged 7 weeks. The reason given on the death certificate was "debility from birth" ie they were weak from the start & not likely to thrive, maybe premature, although it doesn't say that. The dates were duly entered into the family bible, added to their brother William, who had died aged 8 months 6 years earlier from consumption. This must have been hard, especially for Louisa, who had lost her father the previous year and no doubt prompted the move to London.

Catherine Emma Woodford was born in Feb 1871 in Old Dalby to Job & Lucy nee Goodacre, no doubt in Church Lane, as that is where the census caught them a few weeks later. She was christened on 12 Mar 1871. By 1881 census she was staying with her great-uncle Robert Goodacre & his daughter Elizabeth (schoolmistress aged 30) in Old Dalby. She can be seen in 1891 census aged 20 at 48 Alexander Road, Southport, Lancashire working as a cook, as she is in 1901 at Grove Hill, Southborogh, Kent. In 1911 she is back home, looking after her widowed father in Nether Broughton (he died there in the October). In Apr 1913 at Old Dalby she married Charles Tyers, and lived with him until he died in 1958 then she followed in 1968 aged 97.

Catherine Selina Woodford was my great grandmother, always known as Carrie. She was born on 14 Apr 1877 at 4 Haydon Square, Whitechapel to Reuben & Louisa nee Small. This area was cleared for the development of the railway, and when Charles Booth made his report on the area there were virtually no houses left, just warehouses. It was investigated in the Jack the Ripper murders and found to be a good place to hide. As the census return of 1881 show, Reuben and his family were re-located to Clayton Buildings, Lambeth and here the trees merge. (He was the last remaining child of John & Louisa, who lost their babies & moved to London). Carrie can be seen aged 4 at no. 39 with her parents & 3 brothers. In 1891 & 1901 she can be seen at no. 30 with parents & sibs, in the latter listed as laundress. On 14 Apr 1901 she married Henry John Wooldridge at St Philips, Lambeth. The census in 1911 found them at no. 27 Clayton Buildings with one daughter - my Nan Louisa - and Carrie's youngest brother Charlie. They had 2 daughters. Carrie died in Jan 1934, so my mother (born in 1932) doesn't remember her, but Henry - or "Grampy" as everyone called him - died in 1954.

Sunday 5th May 2013

Annie Elizabeth Woodford was born in Jun 1882 in Lambeth to John & Elizabeth nee Gellard and christened on 5 Jul 1882 at St Mary the Less [was in Black Prince Road but was demolished in 1967]. She can be seen on census return of 1891 at 12 Aboukir Street, Camberwell aged 8 with parents, and then in 1901 aged 18 working as a barmaid at the Victoria Tavern [now Victoria Inn & much renovated]. In Oct 1905 in Camberwell she married Charles John Jones, a widower 20 years her senior with 8 children (!) and had one child with him. They can be seen in 1911 at 14 Godman Road, Peckham with 4 of the children, Charles was a locksmith with the Bramah company. Unfortunately she died in Jul 1912 aged only 29, and Charles married for a 3rd time, lived at 75 Melbourne Grove, Camberwell for another 2 decades and died there in 1936 aged 73.

Arthur Ernest Woodford was born Apr 1889 in Leicester to Alfred & Priscilla nee Dakin & I told most of his story on 29th April. He was an only child and after he married Alice Page in Jul 1915 in Rugby they had none. As I said before, he trained as an electrical fitter, but when he inherited some money from his parents in 1930s he was a shopkeeper. He died on 27 Jan 1961 at Naseby Cottage, Guilsborough Road, West Haddon, Northants and Alice 10 years later in 1971.

Arthur Fardell Woodford was born in Dec 1850 in Old Dalby to Sarah Woodford (single mum) & was christened there on 12 Jan 1851. He can be seen in census returns of 1851 aged 4 months & 1861 at Old Dalby with mother, aunt & grandmother. He trained as a teacher & in 1871 is living at Christ's Hospital School, Lincoln, working as Assistant Master. In 1872 White's Directory shows him as 3rd Master there. In Oct 1873 at West Ham he married Esther Amelia Jackson, a "pupil teacher" and they spent several decades moving around the country with different teaching posts. They had 4 children, born in Leicestershire, Essex & Worcestershire. On 1881 census return they can be seen living at School House, Trysull, Staffordshire with 2 daughters Ettie & Beatrice. By the time of the 1888 Kelly's Directory when he is listed as Master of the National School at Bredicot, Worcester & "Mrs Woodford the sewing mistress", they also had a son Lonsdale. In the 1891 census they are shown still living in School House, Bredicot and have 4 children, but tragedy struck when both Beatrice & Lonsdale died in 1893 aged 13 & 8 respectively. Esther herself followed in 1896, so by the 1901 census, Arthur is living in School Street, Shelton, Bedfordshire, widowed with 2 children. In 1911 he is retired & living at Tunstead Milton, Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire with Ettie & her husband Bertie Tysoe, a poultryman. Tragedy struck this family again though, as on 27 Apr 1917 Private Tysoe was killed serving with the East Surrey Regiment and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. I am told Arthur died in 1932 aged 81 but I cannot find the record.

Saturday 4th May 2013

Anne Woodford was born Feb 1823 to Thomas & Ann nee Whitacre at Old Dalby & christened there on 30 Mar 1823. She can be seen there on census return of 1841 with parents & sibs, then on 13 Feb 1845 at Old Dalby she married Edward Exon. They settled at Upper Broughton (the next village over to the northeast) & had 3 children there. They can be seen there in census return of 1851, when Edward is listed as one of the ubiquitous Ag Labs (agricultural labourer). In about 1860 they emigrated to Australia and the next child was born there, in Bendigo Victoria to be precise. They all settled there, married, had families & died there. Anne died on 11 Jun 1880 & Edward 28 Jul 1901.

Friday 3rd May 2013

Andrew Woodford was born in Dec 1830 in Old Dalby to John & Sarah nee Manton, brother to John (central figure of this tree, father of the babies who died) and was christened there on 23 Jan 1831. He can be seen on census return of 1841 in Old Dalby with parents & sibs aged 10 and in 1851 aged 20 with parents & sibs, brother John & family, in the latter listed as Apprentice Joiner, possibly to John. In Apr 1860 he married Ellen Miles in Lutterworth - see Monday for church photo - and settled there. In census of 1861 he can be seen in Georges Lane with Ellen's parents & sister, listed as carpenter & joiner, then as previously mentioned (see Alfred on Monday) in 1871 at Bakehouse Lane with 3 children. They had 6 children in all, all born in Lutterworth. In 1881 he is aged 50 at the Wood Market with 4 of the children & his brother William lodging. Andrew died on 18 Oct 1882 aged 51 in Lutterworth and is apparently buried there.

There are lots of Anns in this tree, so I shall have to number them, as I have before.
Ann Woodford 1 was Adam's eldest daughter, born in Jul 1833 at Holwell & christened at St James' Ab Kettleby.
She can be seen in census return of 1841 in Old Dalby with parents & sibs, aged 7. Then in 1851 she is living at Castle Gate, Nottingham, employed as a House Servant to a pawnbroker. On 21 Dec 1852 she married James Monk in St Mary's Wymeswold. They had one daughter Emma but she died aged 9. In census return of 1861 Ann & Emma are visiting Ann's mother & sister in Old Dalby, James is at home in Brook Street, Wymeswold. He is listed as a cotton stocking framework knitter (bless his little cotton socks!) and he & Ann appear in census returns there for the next 3 decades. By 1901 James had left framework knitting and acquired some land in Clay Street, Wymeswold which he worked as grazier, and is still there but retired in 1911. However, he died in Wymeswold in Apr 1914 and Ann followed shortly after in Oct 1915.

Ann Woodford 2 was born May 1865 in Old Dalby to Joseph & Ruth Brewin Underwood and christened there on 18 Jun 1865. She can be seen on census return of 1871 with father & sibs in Old Dalby, but she died there and was buried 8 Aug 1878 aged 13.

Ann Woodford 3 was born in Sep 1861 in Old Dalby to William & Alice nee Shillcock and christened there on 13 Oct 1861. She can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 9 at Deepdale Hill, Old Dalby with parents & sibs [which 142 years later has a different spelling Debdale. In 1881 she was living at Melton Road, Syston as housemaid at the home of a surgeon. She was in service for many years, as she didn't marry. In 1891 census she is at 11 Haverley Street, Nottingham as cook, but her mother died in 1899 & so in 1901 census we see she has returned to Debdale Hill to look after her father, who was 75. She can be seen there along with sister-in-law Maria, listed as domestic servant. Her father died in 1903, so in 1911 she can be seen living with her sister Sarah & family at Bull Farm, Chesterfield Road, Mansfield. But it seems she had not been able to get back into the workplace, as she is listed as "Domestic Out of Work" (she is 48 by now, although cooks were often middle-aged). I lose track of her completely at this point, as there are many deaths that could be hers, as I don't know where she went next.

Ann Woodford 4 was born Jan 1824 in Old Dalby to William & Ann nee Burbage and christened there on 18 Jan 1824. All else is conjecture, as there are lots by that name & I cannot pin her to any with complete certainty.

Ann Emmeline Woodford was born in 1832 in Nottingham to David & Ann nee Marchant. She can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 9 , living in Broad Street with parents & sister. Then in 1851 aged 19 at 17 Kent Street, Nottingham with parents. However, she died in Oct 1854 in Nottingham aged 22.

Anna Maria Woodford was born in Feb 1862 at Markfield, Leicestershire to Joseph & Georgiana nee Bakewell and christened on 16 Mar 1862 at Woodhouse Eaves (as Hannah Mary, evidently a vicar/registrar who was hard of hearing). She can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 9 at Old Cottage Widmerpool with parents & 3 sisters. In 1881 the family have moved to Woodhouse Eaves and are living in Beer House, Church Hill - this appears to be buildings attached to or surrounding the Pear Tree used to make & sell beer. Joseph is a general labourer (don't know if he helps with that) and Anna is a hosiery stitcher. I cannot find her after that, marrying or elsewhere. There is a death in Jan 1892, that may well bee her.

Thursday 2nd May 2013

Alice Woodford was born in Jan 1876 at Langer, Nottinghamshire to Edwin & Elizabeth nee Adams. She can be seen on census returns with parents & sibs in 1881 aged 5 at Langer, then 1891 & 1901 at Derby Road, Stapleford, in the latter listed as a Lever Lace Mender (a lot of lace-related occupations in Nottingham, as I said). However, I cannot find her in 1911: she is not at home and may be mis-spelled or using another name somewhere else. Anyway, she reappeared in Jul 1913, when she got married in Nottingham to John Straw. A Miss Alice Woodford had a Beer Retailing business at 42 Latimer Street, Nottingham and round about this time became Mrs Alice Straw, so I'm reasonably certain this is her, and in Kelly's Directory of 1941 is listed at 52 Northumberland Street. From 1956 to 1962 she is listed at 31 Gordon Street, Ilkeston. There is a death record for a John Alfred Straw at 87 Central Avenue, Beeston on 18 Jun 1958, leaving effects worth £478 to his widow Alice Elizabeth Straw. I have no middle names elsewhere, so I cannot say for certain this is them. Alice died in Jan 1964 in Nottingham.

Alice Kate Woodford (often called Kate) was born Jan 1870 in Lutterworth to Andrew & Ellen nee Miles & can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 1 at Bakehouse Lane with parents & sibs. In 1881 she can be seen aged 11 with parents, grandfather & sibs at the Wood Market, Lutterworth. In 1891 she was lodging with a family at 70 All Saints Road, Blackfriars, Leicester, working as a dressmaker and in Oct 1892 she married Herbert Morley at Selby, Yorkshire, where he lived. They settled there for a while - 3 children were born in Yorkshire, although the first died in infancy. In 1901 they were living at 17 Northcote Road, Hunslet, Yorkshire and Herbert was a maltster but about 1902 they moved back to Leicester as the subsequent 3 children were born there. In 1911 they can be seen at 31 Freeschool Lane, Leicester [nowadays squeezed in between multistorey carparks, and the famous Free Grammar School after which it is named is a restaurant!], Herbert working for a haberdasher as "Van Man". He died in Apr 1938 & Alice follwed him on 6 Dec that year, leaving effects worth £416 to sons Edwin & Frank (maybe eldest John received property etc).

Tuesday 30th April 2013

Algernon Edmund Dalby Woodford had such a lovely name - and he used most of it at all times it seems - that I had high hopes of him. However, he appears not to have made much of a mark on history. He was born on 14 Oct 1900 in Babbacombe, Devon to Edmund & Emma Jane nee Tucker, and can be seen on census return of 1901 aged 6 months with parents & brother at Redden Hill, Babbacombe and the same in 1911 aged 10, when his father had a butcher's shop & worked from home. I can find nothing more (including marriage) until Jul 1982 when he died in Weymouth, Dorset aged 81

Monday 29th April 2013

Albert Woodford was born on 15 Jun 1891 at 22 Abbey Gate, Leicester to Josiah & (Ann) Maria nee Holmes. He can be seen on census return of 1901 aged 9 at 22-24 Frog Island, Leicester, which is close to his birthplace [now unfortunately a run-down industrialized area] with parents, sibs & 2 boarders. In 1911 they have moved back to Abbey Gate & he can be seen at no. 33 with his widowed father, listed as a toy maker. In Oct 1915 he married Nena Trotter and it seems they had one son Donald who died in infancy. I don't know when Albert changed his occupation or whether it was related to the loss of a child, but he gave up toy-making & turned to Dentistry. In 1945-1960 they lived at 87 Jermyn Street, where he was listed as Dental Mechanic (nowadays called Dental Technician), "an artisan who crafted false teeth". It was a lucrative trade, and when he died on 11 Dec 1960 at Leicester General Hospital, he left effects worth £1555 to Nena. When she died in 1964, she was still living there and left £3699 to John Seimes cattle transporter & Donald Law wages clerk (who maybe was named for their son - or vice versa).

Albert Ernest Woodford was born in Jul 1862 in Old Dalby to William & Mary Ann nee Pick. He can be seen in census return of 1871 aged 8 with parents, brothers & cousin, then in 1881 aged 18 with parents, another cousin, servant & apprentice, listed as an apprentice himself to his father, a carpenter. In Oct 1890 he married Frances Ann Rogers at Old Dalby. They can be seen on census returns of 1891 farming with his father, his mother having died in 1885, William was always both joiner and farmer. In 1901 they are joined by 2 nieces, but never had children of their own. I understand Frances kept animals for milk and made Stilton Cheese. In census of 1911 the family can be seen at Goldsmith Grange, Scalford - Albert & Frances, his brother Walter, 4-year-old niece Emily Rogers & a local horseman. Albert died a few months later on 4 Oct 1911 from cancer, leaving effects worth £920 to Frances & William Barnes Johnson, gentleman. Frances herself died in 1948 in Bromley, Kent (near where I grew up, but I don't know why...), having retired to Bourne, Lincolnshire. She left effects worth £2710.

Alfred Miles Woodford was born in Apr 1861 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire to Andrew & Ellen nee Miles. He can be seen on census return of 1871 aged 10 in Bakehouse Lane (now called Church Gate), Lutterworth with parents & 2 sisters. In 1881 he is aged 20, lodging in Leicester while working as a gas fitter. In Jun 1885 at Leicester he married local girl Priscilla Dakin and they had one son. In 1891 he is living at 57 Charnwood Street with son Arthur, sister-in-law Mary Dakin, niece Alice & brother John Woodford. He was listed at this address in Kelly's Directory of that year as "gas fitter, bill hanger & tin-plate worker." He was still a gas-fitter in 1901 living at 212 Syston Street [now an industrial estate], with son Arthur, but in 1911 they have moved to 18 Charlotte Street, Rugby, both Alfred & Arthur working at the electrical works, Alfred as an inspector. Priscilla died on 20 Jun 1929 by which time they were living at 34 Holbrook Avenue, and she left effects worth £431 to Alfred, described as a retired commercial clerk. When he died on 9 Feb 1932 at the same address, effects worth £802 passed to Arthur, shopkeeper.

Saturday 27 Apr 2013

Ada Woodford was born in Apr 1886 to Edwin & Elizabeth nee Adams in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. She can be seen on census returns of 1891 & 1901 at Derby Road, Stapleford with family & sibs, in the latter listed as Lace Drawer. In 1991 she is living at 35 Birley Street, Stapleford, a Lace Jennier. Both of these occupations are classic Nottinghamshire trades, as Nottingham is famous for its lace, and at this time would have been made in workshops on looms. In Jul 1911 she married Ernest Henry Turland, born in Stapleford & living in Long Eaton, Derbyshire. They had 2 children Gwendoline & Kenneth & were still living at 35 Birley Street when Ernest died in 1957, then Ada in 1961. She left effects worth £2826 to Gwendoline & Kenneth.

Adam Woodford was born in Oct 1812 in Old Dalby to Thomas & Ann nee Whitacre and christened there on 29 Nov. On 28 Feb 1833 in Long Clawson. he married Sarah Williamson & they had 8 children. In census returns of 1841 & 1851 they can be seen at Old Dalby, in the village, Adam listed as an Ag Lab (Agricultural Labourer ie farm worker), then in 1861 living at The Hall, where he was working as a gardener. By 1871 they are back in the village with 2 daughters & 2 grandchildren, still a gardener but no longer living at the Hall. Adam died in Apr 1876 in Old Dalby aged 64 & Sarah in 1886

Friday 26th April 2013

I was really quite excited at the news from Ancestry that they had improved the 1911 census & the final column showing "Infirmities" was now released from the censorship blanking we have had has since it was released. Also they have attached maps to it, showing the area concerned. This sounded really fascinating, but most maps turned out to be completely wrong, in totally disparate areas of the country. I have gone through this tree, checking everyone who has entries on the 1911 census, but no infirmities were mentioned, even the guy who was nearly blind 20 years before, and several who I know had disabilities with their hands & feet (a family trait that we have studied but was evidently not mentioned). So, onwards through the branches....

William Marshall Gamble was Isaac's brother, born Jul 1853 in Chiswick and christened on 5 Aug at Mortlake. He can be seen in census return of 1861 aged 7 in Back Street, Barnes (see 17th Apr) and of 1871 at Laurel Cottage, Mortlake aged 17, listed as Carrier. In 1881 he was at 7 Pownall Terrace, Lambeth, a Hackney Carriage Driver, lodging with another cabbie. This terrace is famous for the fact that Charlie Chaplin lived at number 3, but this was 13 years later, as Charlie was not born until 1889. William died in Jan 1884 (well, I assume that is him, I have no proof without buying the death cert) in London, aged 30.

That is the end of my Grandfather's tree (so far - no tree is ever complete).

The reason I have spent the last 8 years doing this was that in March 2005 I was made redundant at about the time I "inherited" a family bible my grandmother had owned for many years. As a lot of these did in those days, it bore an inscription on the flyleaves. It gives details of dates of birth & death of four young children and sparked my interest at a time when I had the leisure to investigate. I was very surprised to find they were born in a village in Leicestershire called Old Dalby & so much of the tree that bloomed from them is centred there. I will now go through the Woodfords (their family) in alphabetical order, as I have the other trees. The children concerned were my grandmother's maternal grandfather & his siblings.

Abraham Woodford was born to Thomas & Sarah nee Gregory in Sep 1833 in Old Dalby, Leicestershire. It is a village near Melton Mowbray, which is famous for its pork pies and the area is famous for Stilton Cheese, quite a chocolate-box village really, aka Dalby-on-the-Wolds. Abraham was christened in the church on 17 Oct 1833. It was Norman originally, but was rebuilt in parts many times, the largest rebuild just after this in 1835 so there probably isn't much left of the original, but church records date from 1272. He can be seen with parents & sibs aged 7 on 1841 census return & 1851 aged 17. He was a baker, but died aged 21 on 19 Nov 1854 of consumption he had suffered with for 5 months. (I hope he was a hygienic worker!) Unfortunately for us, the census-takers in the village over many decades considered "Old Dalby" sufficed as an address, so I can only understand whereabouts they lived by following the route they took around the village (which I did in 2008 but cannot really put across here). But at least I have photos of the graves of some.

Tuesday 23rd April 2013

William Alfred J Gamble (known as Billy in the family - his father William Isaac George was Bill) was my Mum's cousin, born on 9 Oct 1919 in Lambeth. As a small child he lived in the Brixton area with his parents, the electoral roll shows them at 121 Denmark Road, SE5 1924-27, which was evidently a shop at one time (the ER in 1924 notes workshops & railway arches used for storage).From 1945-56 they lived at 11 Montem Road, Forest Hill [now modern flats], but in Apr 1956 Billy married Beatrice J A Smitten in Finsbury. She was always called Betty in the family and came from Solihull, Birmingham. They had 4 children & Billy died in Jan 1982 at Forest Hill. Betty only died fairly recently 24 Apr 2011 in Scotland.

His father William Isaac George Gamble (Uncle Bill) was my Grandad's eldest brother, born 5 Oct 1894 in 12 Clayton Buildings, Lambeth & christened at Emmanuel church on 28 Oct. He started school on 2 Feb 1903, attending Walnut Tree Walk School. He can be seen at 14 Clayton Buildings on census returns of 1901 & 1911 with parents & sibs, in the latter listed as District Messenger. On 21 Aug 1918 St Mary Lambeth he married Margaret French, known in the family as Aunt Mag. At first they lived next door to Isaac in 22 Camberwell Grove, but soon moved to "live over the shop" above. They had 3 children, but unfortunately the 3rd child Iris only lived to the age of 4. Her death was registered in Camberwell, so perhaps they lived part of the time in each place. I cannot find any more on them until Uncle Bill Died in Oct 1959 in Lambeth & Aunt Mag in Jan 1982 in Forest Hill (same place, same time as her son - I must have a word with my Mum....)

Monday 22nd April 2013

Richard Ernest Gamble was born on 27 Apr 1890 in Lambeth to Edward & Mary Ann nee Pitt, and christened on 3 Dec at St Peter's, Vauxhall. He can be seen on the census return of 1891 aged 11 months at 7 Oswald Place with parents & sibs, but they moved to Lollard Street within a couple of years, as he started at Walnut Tree Walk School on 23 Apr 1894 just before his 4th birthday, giving the address as 12 Clayton Buildings. In 1901 he is living at 1 Richmond Cottages, Walnut Tree Walk but by 1911 his mother has died & he is with father & sibs at 8 Walton Terrace, Vauxhall with father & sibs, listed as District Messenger Boy. In Apr 1914 he married Ethel Maud Chilvers and they had a son, but unfortunately Ethel died when the baby was only just over a year old. On 29 Sep 1918 Richard married Edith Maud Blows (he evidently liked the middle name Maud!) at St Stephen's (where his father has married for a second time only 6 months before - for pic see 24th Mar) and they lived at 7 Walton Terrace (no doubt opposite his father) for at least 8 years, and had 2 daughters before Richard died in 1930 aged 40 (at Romford - I'm not sure if they moved or if he was in hospital there).

Thomas Caffyn Gamble was born on 10 Sep 1859 in Mortlake to James & Harriet nee Hawkins and christened there on 30 Oct. (I like to spell his name with a "y" as his christening record is spelled this way, and there was a famous local cricketer at his peak at this time called William Caffyn, although a lot of Thomas' records are spelled Caffin). He can be seen on the census return of 1861 aged 1.5 at Back Street with parents & brothers (see Maria below). In 1871 he is lodging with a ?colleague of his father, Richard day, carrier. In 1881 he is working at 43 Wimpole Street as groom to a stockbroker - a very prestigious address indeed [nowadays the home of several Harley Street private consultants]. In Jul 1884 he married Lucy Woods in Islington and we know from the birthplace of the first 2 children that he worked in Knightsbridge in 1885 & 1888. In 1891 & 1901 census they can be seen at 7 Colestown Street, Battersea, Richard employed as a horse cab-driver, and they had 2 further children here.  In 1903 Lucy died and in Jan 1910 Thomas married Agnes Daley in Wandsworth, subsequently having a daughter later that year, who died in infancy. In 1911 they can be seen at 17 Warriner Gardens, Battersea (Thomas disappears from Colestown Street in 1903 on the electoral roll but I can't follow him as there are several with his name if he doesn't use his middle name. A Thomas Gamble lives at 19 Sharsted Street at one time, as do several members of the family, but he is accompanied by a Christina, who I do not know, so I won't claim it is him). Agnes died here in 1919 aged 56 & Thomas in 1939 in S E Surrey.

Victoria Louisa Gamble was born on 22 Jun 1897 to Edward & Mary Ann nee Pitt in Lambeth & christened on 14 Jul 1897 at St James, Kennington Park Road, along with her cousins, twins Victoria & George Ayress (no photo seems to exist & it was demolished in 1923). She can be seen in census return of 1901 aged 3 at 1 Richmond Corrages, Walnut Tree Walk and she started at Walnut Tree Walk School on 2 Jul 1900 from there. In 1911 she is at 7 Walton Terrace with father & sibs (see brother Richard above) but I cannot find anything else for her. I did thnk I found her emigrating to Canada with husband Albert (love it!) & son Leonard, but of course if her name was still Gamble, she must have married someone by the same name, which is rare (although it happened in the tree I studied last year, if you remember, and they were first cousins). The reason I believed this scenario was her date of birth was EXACTLY the same (and I got that from her school entry). However, her death record shows the wrong parents, so it was a red herring....

Saturday 20th April 2013

The next ancestor is really very interesting - and a new First for me!
Mary Ann Hatton Gamble was born in Aug 1832 in Mortlake to James & Mary Ann Hatton and christened there on 30 Sep 1832. She can be seen on census returns of 1841 aged 8 at High Street Mortlake with parents & brothers, 1851 at Churchfields aged 18 School Teacher, then 1861 at School House with parents & boarders. On 17 Feb 1862 she married James Pearce born 1842 at St Giles Camberwell, and the witnesses were Jonathan Pearce & Ann Edmonds. These are often the Best Man & Chief Bridesmaid, and I suspect Jonathan was a cousin of James. James gave his occupation as Bailiff but on 1871 census they are at High Street Mortlake too & he is listed as a Cow-keeper from Coombe, Devon. In census of 1881 she can be seen at Wandsworth Lane, Putney with a 4-year-old son Ernest and running a Coffee-House. Now, when I was working on this family before - a good couple of years ago - I found another marriage to a J Pearce born 1842 & thought they had Renewed their Vows in 1885. But as soon as I started this week a new record appeared in front of me (courtesy of Ancestry) - that rarest of things in times past - a Divorce! I have a wonderful scan of the hand-scribed document, filed in 1883 and citing one Jonathan Pearce as co-respondent! Apparently she had committed adultery with him on or before Sep 1876 (hence Ernest) and left James on 29 Sep 1877, presumably with 3-month child in tow, to move in with Jonathan. Three addresses are quoted where she may have committed adultery, so there could have been a private investigator involved too. They married in Apr 1885 at Wandsworth (the decree absolute came through in Feb 1885) & can be seen on census return of 1891 at 2 Fields Mews, York Road, Wandsworth with son Ernest & a boarder. Jonathan, who was a tailor, was noted as being "partly blind" - common amongst his trade! In subsequent censuses what I suspect is the same property is called 415 York Road, and Ernest gradually becomes head of household. Jonathan by 1911 is listed as Stall Keeper (presumably in the market) as his eyesight deteriorated, and Ernest a wood-turner & tool-grinder the main bread-winner, Mary Ann is Housekeeper. [The area is now known as Battersea Reach & is made up of futuristic tower blocks]. James died in 1915 in Mortlake, Jonathan 1916 in Wandsworth & Mary Ann in 1921 in Wandsworth aged 89.

Wednesday 17th April 2013

Lucy Maud Gamble was Lilian's sister (see yesterday), born on 16 Sep 1885 also in Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge. She can be seen on census return of 1891 aged 5 at 7 Colestown Street, Battersea and again in 1901 aged 15 & listed as Draper's Assistant. In 1911 she can be seen with their parents at 17 Warriner Place, Battersea. Their mother Lucy had died in 1903 & Thomas had married again. Lucy Maud is still Draper's Assistant. I cannot find further records except some electoral roll ones I cannot be sure are hers (one living in Uxbridge, the other in Hammersmith) and several deaths ditto.

Maria Gamble was born on 25 Mar 1861 in Barnes, Richmond to James & Harriet nee Hawkins, the 6th of Isaac's older siblings. She can be seen on census return of 1861, taken when she was 13 days old, as yet un-named, with parents & brothers at Back Lane, Barnes. There was only one building on this road, so from the 1868 map we can see her birthplace exactly. [The area is now Barn Elm playing fields & wetlands centre, the Manor House Elm Grove having burned down in 1956. Back Lane is now called Rocks Lane and is incidentally very close indeed to the site of Marc Bolan's fatal car crash in 1977. Sorry, but this means a lot to me.] She was registered by her mother on 29 April with the single name of Maria, in the Mortlake registration area. Oddly enough, of all the family's christening records, those of Maria & Isaac are missing. On the 1871 census return, she is 10, living at Laurel Cottage, Mortlake with parents & sibs, listed as Domestic Servant. In 1881 she is at Lowood Lodge with parents & Isaac. On 29 May 1882 she married Henry James Ayress at Lambeth Register Office (their families were neighbours) and gave birth to a son 10 weeks later. They lived at 1 Chester Street at that time, and she had 2 children there, before moving on to 15 Regency Place & 19 Goldens Place for the next 2 (these are both "courts" off Chester Street). Now, they cannot be found in 1891 census, but when you pop out a child every couple of years you are easily traceable! The 5th child was born a few months prior to the census and they were living at the time at 35 Glasshouse Street, Vauxhall. If that address sounds familiar it is because that is where Isaac & his widowed mother were living. I have no idea where this family were on the evening of the census but it's hard for a couple with 5 small children to vanish! Anyway, they had one more child there, then moved back round to Chester Street again for the following 5 children - yes, they had 11 of them! In the 1901 census they are at 4 Regency Place with 6 children (3 died in infancy & the 10th was born 2 weeks after census). Henry died in 1908 aged 46 at St Thomas's Hospital leaving Maria with 8 surviving children. In 1911 census I cannot find her, or 3 of the children. Henry the eldest is married & living in Southwark and one of his brothers is with him. Daughter Lucy is just married & living in Stockwell. the 2 youngest girls are in the Orphans' Home, Austral Street, Southwark. Of course, Maria's mother is by then in the Workhouse. Amazing to think her father used to have such a prestigious job - and the property to go with it! In 1918-21 Maria pops up on the electoral roll at 19 Sharsted Street with son James and may have been there since 1913 (James gave this address as home in his papers for enlistment to the Navy). I am told she died on 2 Jun 1942 at 9 Dore Gardens, Merton, Surrey (which looks like a very nice council estate) of stroke & respiratory failure (although I haven't had sight myself of that death cert), so there's a whole chapter missing ie the last 20 years of her life. I hope there's someone out there who can fill this in (Natalie Dawkins is a name that keeps recurring)

Tuesday 16th April 2013

Joseph Francis Gamble was Edith's brother, the other child of James, who deserted his family & went to Australia. He was born in the Sep quarter of 1881 in Mortlake, thus just missing the 1881 census, and as I have said they are missing in 1891. He can be seen in 1901 aged 19 at 226 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth with mother, widowed sister & 2 nieces, listed as a plumber. In Apr 1902 he married Marion Ada Quinney at Christchurch, Hampshire. They can be seen in census return of 1911 at Pikes Hill, Lyndhurst in the New Forest, with 5 daughters. He was a Plumber & Decorator, with his own business & they had 9 children in all. He died aged 60 on 8 Jun 1942 at Teme Willows, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire and for a while it puzzled me why he was far from home but the probate of his will was dealt with at home in Winchester. But I think he was either staying with daughter Mabel or she had arranged a care home (there are/were a great many of these here) but the puzzle remains how he managed to leave effects worth £34,372 - which was a great deal of money then, apparently almost half a million today - to daughter Edith, son James & William Arthur Roberts, chartered accountant (evidently a good friend!)

Kate Eveline Gamble (always Aunt Kit in the family) was born on 29 Feb 1896 (I think it's a shame she never reached her 21st birthday she was looking forward to in 1980 when she was 84!) and christened on 2 Jul 1896 at Emmanuel church. She was grandad's eldest sister, 4 years older than Em. She can be seen on census returns of 1901 aged 5 and 1911 aged 15 at 14 Clayton Buildings, with parents & sibs, in the latter listed as a flower-maker (ie in a workshop making artificial flowers, all the rage at the time). In Jul 1923 at Camberwell she married Theodore Richard Burrows (Ted) and they had 2 daughters. In 1927 & 1928 they lived in Camden, then in 1929 moved to 19 Sharsted Street, Lambeth where Isaac joined them, but Ted died in 1938 & Kit moved alone to 94 Lucas Road (which my mother thinks was a pre-fab), then in the 1940s to 150 Loughborough Road, Stockwell, shortly to be joined by daughter Kitty & her family. She died in Jul 1972 in North Surrey aged 76 (or 19 as she said).

Lilian Alice Gamble was born on 19 Apr 1888 in Lownedes Square, Knightsbridge, a very up-market address, as her father was working as a groom for a stockbroker. He was Thomas Caffyn Gamble & her mother was Lucy nee Woods. Soon though they had their own place at 7 Colestown Street, Battersea & by the 1891 & 1901 censuses she can be seen there with parents & sibs. In 1911 census she is in service at 28 Egerton Crescent, another very salubrious address, a listed building, also in Kensington. On 22 Apr 1917 she married Frederick George Prior at Holy Trinity, Brompton Road. As far as I can see from electoral roll records (patchy) they lived from 1922 to 1953 at 2 Heysham Road, Tottenham next door to the telephone exchange. In 1960 Lilian was alone in Fulham, so I suspect the death I found for Frederick in 1957 in SW Surrey is correct. She died in Jul 1972 in Hackney, possibly at 32c Sutton Dwellings (the Hackney address on the electoral roll of 1963).

Monday 15th April 2013

James Henry Gamble was my great-uncle Jim, one of Isaac's sons, born on 21 Apr 1902 at 14 Clayton Buildings, Lambeth and christened at Emmanuel church on 4 Sep. He can be seen there with parents & sibs in 1911 census return aged 8. In the 1920s he worked with Vic at the Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych for some years, but he lost track of him when he left. 1925-29 he lived at 6 Portland Place North, off Clapham Road near the Oval cricket ground, then in Jul 1929 he married Ethel Elizabeth Moss at St John the Divine, Kennington. Brother & sister married sister & brother, as Ethel was sister of Alfred "Mick" Moss, who had married Aunt Em (see 4th April) some 6 years previously. They had 2 children, Joan & Peter. Unfortunately the only memory I have of them is that Ethel in particular was slightly eccentric in that they had Christmas decorations up all year round - a great thrill to a small child, visiting them in the early 1960s. They moved out of London to the "countryside" (as most of us did) and lived in Hemel Hempstead (not far from where I live now) until Jim died in 1978 and Ethel in 1990.

James Hugh Gamble was my gg g/f & father of Isaac. He was born in Aug 1825 in Mortlake, Surrey & christened on 25 Sep at St Mary's. He can be seen in census returns of 1841 in High Street, Mortlake with parents & sibs. On 3 Apr 1843 he married Harriet Hawkins at St Andrew, Holborn. He was originally employed as a lithographer (image-printer) and in 1851 was lodging in Mortlake with a green-grocer, next door to his father. Harriet was working in Brighton as a nurse, while son Henry aged 5 was living with his grandparents. But it seems they soon settled down in Barnes, and 7 more children were born, while James changed his occupation and started the family involvement with cabbing. In the 1861 census he is described as a "flyman" meaning he drove a hansom cab (see 8th April), living in Back Lane, Barnes with Harriet & 4 children. In 1871 in Laurel Cottage, Mortlake with 4 children, a "carrier", and in 1881 at Lowood Lodge, Mortlake with 2 children, a cab driver. As I mentioned on Friday, in Isaac's section, they seemed to be doing very well in a well-to-do neighbourhood, but suddenly on his death this changed. Isaac & Harriet moved to Lambeth, but when Isaac married she was alone. In 1901 she can be seen in 17 Regency Place, Kennington, a street that no longer exists, but Charles Booth called "poor". The slide continued, and she ended up in the Workhouse - she can be seen there on 1911 census return & died there aged 82 in 1913.
   
The other James in this tree is James Thomas Gamble, born in Jun 1892 to Edward & Mary Ann nee Pitt in Lambeth and christened at Emmanuel church on 14 Jul 1892. He can be seen on census return of 1901 aged 8 at 1 Richmond Cottages, Walnut Tree Walk (they had no doubt lived there since his birth & he started at Walnut Tree Walk School aged 3 on 6 May 1895). On 1911 census he was at 7 Walton Terrace near Vauxhall Park with father & sibs, listed as District Messenger Boy. On 23 May 1915 he married Annie Elizabeth Dorington at St Paul's, Lorrimor Square (for church pic & info see 15th Feb) when his occupation was listed as "motor driver". A James Thomas Gamble was in France with the army from 1915-1919. I cannot be sure this was him, but it would explain the gap between his first 2 children! He received 3 medals. They had 5 children I can trace. They are registered (electoral roll) at 19 Wheatsheaf Lane, Kennington (with her parents at no 16) until 1927 but then the records run out & I have no idea where they went or when they died.

Jessie Hatton Gamble we met on 29th March. She was born in Apr 1879 at Brentford to David & Jane nee Gard & christened on 25 May at St Laurence's church, New Brentford. She can be seen on census returns of 1881 & 1891 at Park Road, Ealing with parents & sisters, then in 1901 at 14 Hamilton Road, Brentford with mother & sister Clara, listed as a milliner. On 7 Sep 1904 at the church above she married Charles Henry Biscoe, a bank clerk & can be seen with him in 1911 at 39 Beatrice Avenue, Norbury along with sister Clara (see 29th March). In May 1926 Charles sailed to New York, listed as Bank Department Manager, address 37 Birdhurst Avenue, South Croydon and when Jessie died on 27 Nov 1930 (aged 51) it was at this same address & she left effects worth £119 to Charles, now Bank Manager. On 21 Apr 1934 he sailed to New York again, this time on the Aquitania as part of a group described as "Amateur Fencing Team". At 1940 he was still at the same address, but when he died in 1952 he was at Hailsham, Sussex.

Saturday 13th April 2013

James Gamble was born in 1802 in Weymouth, Dorset but I know no more than that about his origins. His father may be called James too, but I cannot find the confirmation. He was married on 10 Jul 1822 at St Mary's, Mortlake to a widow Mary Ann Hatton, but again I cannot find her maiden name or previous marriage. Apparently she was born in St Clements, Oxfordshire in 1796. In 1841 census return they are in High Street, Mortlake & James is listed as an engineer, but in 1851, James is lodging in a pub in Mortlake High Street, listed as School Teacher. Mary Ann is staying elsewhere with daughter Mary Ann, also a school teacher. In 1861 they are all together in School House, High Street, Mortlake with 2 young boarding pupils [now there is a Premier Inn on the site!], and in 1871 with one (young Mary Ann has married). James died on 21 Oct 1871 aged 68 and Mary Ann a few months later aged 76.

James Francis William Gamble was born on 12 Apr 1852 at Chiswick to James Hugh & Harriet nee Hawkins and christened on 30 May 1852 at Mortlake (one of Isaac's 7 siblings). He can be seen aged 8 in the census return of 1861 in Back Street, Barnes with parents & brothers. Then in 1871 aged 18 he is at 6 Globe Street, Newington, lodging whilst employed as a porter In Jan 1877 he married Sarah Rebecca Gates in the Richmond area (possibly Mortlake). In 1881 census they can be seen together at 1 Fuchsia Terrace, Railway street, Barnes and James is working as a coachman (possibly picking people up from the railway beside the house). It may be with hindsight, but I don't think they look compatible and if you remember the story of their daughter Edith, he left them to emigrate to Australia. He sailed from London to Brisbane, aboard the SS Merkara, arriving on 24 Nov 1889. I hope for his sake he wasn't the J. Gamble working in a Queensland slaughterhouse, but you never know! He died in Newtown, NSW aged 74 in 1926, and to confirm this unlikely story the death record gives both his middle initials and also his mother's name, so there you go! Sarah moved with the children to Bournemouth (see Edith on 4th Apr) and lived there until she died in Jan 1940.

Friday 12th April 2013

OK, on to the pivotal point in this tree - my grandfather. Henry Thomas Gamble was born on 29 Apr 1904 in Lambeth at 14 Clayton Buildings, where he can be seen on 1911 census aged 6 with parents & sibs. He was christened on 1 Sep 1904 at Emmanuel Church, just behind the buildings. On 18 May 1929 he married my grandmother Louisa Margaret Wooldridge. She always told the story of their childhood that they lived in flats on the same block but her family didn't approve of his & forbade her from seeing him. So, of course, they did... Their first child was stillborn, so when my mother was born, it was in King's College Hospital, in case the same should happen again (this was repeated a generation later and I was born in St Thomas's Hospital for the same reason).
They had 4 children in all, at first in Camberwell Grove, then at 30 Clayton Buildings, then at 10 Clayton Buildings where they lived until 1967, when following a car accident which crippled my Nan, they moved to Thamesmead, Abbey Wood, in a sheltered warden-assisted flat. Grandad was a lorry-driver on Mum's birth certificate in 1932, working for a fruiterer. He must have trained as an engineer later, as he worked for Lamson Engineering (?1937 - this may be why they returned from Camberwell) for many years, installing the pneumatic cash system for transporting cash about shops, offices etc before the days of electronic tills. One thing I remember vividly is that he always had an Austin Seven car (had several through the years) he called Nellybelle - after the jeep in Roy Rogers I now understand. He died on 3 Jun 1987 at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup from complications of arteriosclerosis. Nan lived on until 1995 on her own.

His father Isaac Gamble was born in Oct 1868 at Kew, Surrey. In 1871 census he can be seen aged 2 at Laurel Cottage, Mortlake [this area has been built over & is no longer recognisable] with parents & sibs, and again in 1881 at Lowood Lodge, Upper Richmond Road [again much changed] aged 12. These are quite up-market addresses and his father seems to do well with his carrier/cabman business, but it was when he died that the family moved to Lambeth. I cannot track down a will, but hope to one day - and this may explain it all. In 1891 Isaac is living at 35 Glasshouse Street, Vauxhall with his mother, listed as a Master Cabman, so he obviously had his own cab at this point - possibly his father's, probably still horse-drawn (see Monday's "epistle"). There were quite a lot of cabbies in his street, and the road was situated near to Vauxhall gardens. The pub on the corner mow called the Black Dog was known as the Lavender, as there are lavender plots still in the gardens, so maybe keeping horses was particularly suitable. On 10 Jul 1892 at St Mary Newington he married Eliza Jane Cox (Lizzie) - see 15th Feb. They had 5 children, and my grandfather was the youngest. In 1901 census and 1911 they were at 14 Clayton Buildings, as discussed under Henry Charles on Wednesday. They did move around a bit - 1893-5 they were at 12 Clayton Buildings, then 1898-1900 at 2 Richmond Cottages, 1901 to at least 1915 14 Clayton buildings. In 1918 they were at 24 Camberwell Grove with William, and this was where Lizzie died in 1923, and still in 1925. In 1929 on my grandparents' marriage the address was given as 118 Camberwell Grove, but then Isaac spent 1931-3 at Sharsted Street, Lambeth. I understand from my mother that he spent the final years of his life living alone in a caravan on the Pilgrim's Way, and finally died there, so his death was registered in Apr 1951 at Maidstone, Kent (this had puzzled me for some while).

Thursday 11th April 2013

I have been struggling with the other Henry Charles Gamble, father of the one dealt with on Monday. He starts off all right, born on 11 Jul 1845 to James Hugh & Harriet nee Hawkins in Mortlake & christened there on 17 Aug 1845 (for church pic see 24th Mar). He can be seen on 1841 census return aged 5 at Vineyard Cottage, Mortlake with his grandparents Hawkins. In 1851 he was staying with James Caird, shoemaker at the time of the census, to whom he was apprenticed. In Jan 1866 he married Esther Walker and this is where the problems begin. In 1871 they are at 6 Industry Place, Mortlake & he is a shoemaker. Little Alice is 5 & her mother is Esther, a "mangle woman" (ie she took in laundry) from Gloucester born 1843. Now, although I said in Alice's section (see 24th Mar) that the family were at home at 11 Brook Road, I cannot track them down there until 1891. I don't know what was going on in the family, but if it was true that Alice was sent away to school it could be anything. It seems that Henry was alone in 1889 & 1890 living in Distillery Road, Brentford. Then back to census returns, in 1891 at 11 Brook Road, Ealing, the wife is called Elisa born in 1849 in Torquay, Devon. This, combined with the 10-year gap between the last 2 boys, suggests to me that these are not errors & that he has re-married. However, I can find neither a marriage to Eliza nor a death of Esther. In 1901 Henry is boarding with a bootmaker, listed as a widower & descibed as a laundryman. He appears to have lost not only another wife but also his trade. I cannot find any more details until his death in Oct 1907. There are more questions than answers in this one...

Monday 8th April 2013

Frances Annie Gamble was born on 14 Sep 1870 in Hounslow to David & Jane nee Gard and christened on 21 Oct 1870 at St George's, Old Brentford (the old church was demolished in 1886, so no pic available). She can be seen in census returns of 1871 & 1881 in Park Road, Ealing, then 1891 Boston Park Road (see 29th Mar). On the latter she is listed as "2nd class clerk in Civil Service". In 1901 she is with mother, sister & a boarder in 14 Hamilton Road, Brentford. On 19 May 1903 at St Laurence, New Brentford (the parish that replaced St George's) she married Colin Spencer Lyddon Pring, son of a wool merchant. On the census of 1911 they can be seen with their 2 daughters Marjorie & Doris, her mother & a servant. at 121 Norbury Crescent, Melfort Road, Norbury. Frances died in Jan 1941 aged 70. Her elder daughter Marjorie appears to have an interesting story, so I shall digress here a little:
Marjorie Ellen Pring was a teacher, and in 1931 when the headmistress of St Mary's School in Kuala Lumpur, India retired, she replaced her. In 1939 a House sytem was introduced with 4 houses; Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor & Perak Houses. Marjorie went on what was known as furloughs - long trips abroad - on several occasions, and another teacher stood in for her. In 1942-3 the school was closed temporarily to be used as a military hospital and she went on furlough. Unfortunately she had an accident, a tragic fall, in Kashmir and died on 28 Jun 1943, a few days after her 39th birthday. She has a plot in Pahalgam graveyard, Kashmir. She left effects worth £7689 to her sister Doris Mary, also a teacher, living in Kew. In 1949 Perak House was renamed Pring House.

Henry Charles Gamble we have met before (11th March). He was born in 1872-73. I can't be sure when because I cannot find him until the age of 18 on census return of 1891, when he was working as a servant in Kew to a family called Pring - no doubt related to those discussed above. In 1901 & 1911 he can be seen with his uncle Isaac & family (my ggfather) at 14 Clayton Buildings, Lambeth. He is a horsekeeper/groom in 1901 & 1911 a cabman, like his uncle. Ike had his own taxi cab & they probably worked together. I have looked into the history of cabbying & hope you don't mind another digression (it's one of those days):
Horse-drawn Hackney carriages were around from the early 17th century - the first recorded was in 1621 in Hackney, London (hence the name). Apparently those for hire were often old ones from private estates, with the family crest painted out. In 1636 the number was growing & was limited to 50 licenses. The first taxi stand was set up in The Strand in London for 4 cabs. Joseph Hansom, an architect from York, developed & tested his horse-drawn carriage in Hinckley, Leicestershire - with a low centre of gravity for stability, flaps folding over the legs & later curved roof/windows - known as a Hansom cabriolet . They replaced Hackneys & were used in UK until 1908, with up to 7500 in use at the height of their popularity. They spread to other cities in UK, Paris, Berlin, St Petersberg & to New York in 1869. The next step was the introduction of clockwork mechanical meters to measure fares, called taximeters. By the early 1920s petrol-driven taximetered cars were widely accepted & the last licence for a horse-drawn vehicle was relinquished in 1947. Harry Nathaniel Allen of New York Taxicab Co. imported the first 600 NY motor cabs from France & coined the term taxicab as a contraction of Taximetered Cabriolet (thankfully!)
So Isaac & Harry went with the flow & moved from horses to motorised cabs between 1901 & 1911. On 28 Feb 1915 Harry married Sarah Ann Cox (see 11th March) and they moved to 277 Kennington Road, a stone's throw from uncle Ike & family. They lived there until Tal died in 1931, when he moved to 28 Thompson Avenue, Camberwell [now gone, replaced by modern tower blocks] until he died there himself in Oct 1938.

Friday 5th April 2013

Edward William Gamble was son of Edward Isaac discussed yesterday and Mary Ann nee Pitt. He was born in Dec 1885 in Lambeth and christened on 10 Jan 1886 at St Philip's (where my parents were married - see 10th Feb for pic). He can be seen on census return of 1891 aged 5 at 7 Oswald Place with father & sibs, then in 1901 at 1 Richmond Cottages, listed as District Messenger Boy. In Apr 1911 he is working as a clerk & boarding at 17 Beresford Street, Southwark - an interesting point here is his description of what kind of company he works for says "district messenger theatre company ltd" which is intriguing... That September he married at St Mary's (see pic 10th Feb) neighbour Caroline Amy Josiah (known as Amy - whose father was also a taxi-driver). They had 2 sons & Edward died aged 79 in Jan 1965, Amy followed in 1969.

Elizabeth Eliza Gamble was his sister, born on 9 Oct 1887 at 144 Vauxhall Street, christened at St Mark's, Kennington on 30 Oct. She can be seen aged 3 on census return of 1891 at St Oswald Place with father & brothers, then in 1901 at 1 Richmond Cottages, Walnut Tree Walk with parents & sibs. (On 18 Feb 1895 aged 7 she enrolled at Walnut Tree Walk School). In 1911 she can be seen working at 9 Walnut tree Walk as a servant & on 16 Apr (Easter Day) that year she married Michael Hayes, a Leading Seaman Royal Navy on HMS Formidable. They had one son Charles the following year, but I cannot find any more. Unfortunately HMS Formidable was the first ship of WW1 to be torpedoed & sunk in 1914. I cannot see Michael's name on the list, but there is no further sign of him, so I'm not sure. Elizabeth's may well be the death in Jul 1967 in Kingston-upon-Thames aged 80, but again I cannot tell.

The next family-member was the lady we all knew of as Aunt Em, my Granddad's sister Emily Sarah Gamble. She was born on 23 Aug 1900 at 14 Clayton Buildings, Lambeth, and christened on 23 Sep at Emmanuel Church, just behind the buildings in Distin Street. She can be seen in censuses of 1901 and 1911 aged 7 months & 10 respectively, with parents & sibs. In Apr 1923 she married Alfred Henry Moss, always known in the family as Mick (for some reason, well his father was also called Alfred). They had one daughter Vera and lived at 67 Warham Street, near the Oval cricket ground in the 1920s & 30s. When Mick died in 1946 they were living in Croydon - he died at the St Helier Hospital, where my mother-in-law worked about 10 years later. Aunt Em died in Nov 1990 in Eastbourne, where they had retired to with Vera & Chuck her husband (not sure when, but some time in the early 1960s, I think. I know they were there in 1977 when they travelled up to my 21st birthday party).

Thursday 4th April 2013

Edith Caroline Gamble (my grandad's cousin) was born on 23 Sep 1878 in Barnes, Surrey to James & Sarah nee Gates and christened on 3 Nov 1878 at Mortlake. She can be seen aged 2 on the census return of 1881 at 1 Frederic Terrace, Railway Street, Barnes with parents & boarders. In 1891 the whole family is missing. This could be due to a number of things, but it appears that her father had emigrated to New South Wales, Australia a couple of years earlier. He later died there, but her mother is in the next census, so either left & subsequently returned, or (as I suspect) never left but cannot be traced. In Oct 1895 Edith married Franz Joseph Walenta, an American born in Austria, 19 years her senior, in Christchurch, Hampshire & settled there. Unfortunately they were only married for 5 years before he died in 1900, but they did have 2 daughters. On the census of 1901 they can be seen in Bournemouth, with her mother Sarah & brother Joseph, at 226 The Albany Temperance Hotel, Old Christchurch Street, Sarah is an upholsteress & James a plumber. That July Edith married Alfred Ernest Clayden and they had 4 children. In 1911 census they can be seen at "Cricklewood", 122 Wolverton Road, Boscombe with 5 of the children.. Alfred died 7 Mar 1950 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe & left effects worth £6738 to Edith. She died on 28 Feb 1958 at Poole General Hospital & left effects worth £13,470 to Henry Rees Evans, solicitor (not sure who he is) & son Colin.

Edward Isaac Gamble (Grandad's uncle) was born in Mar 1866 in Mortlake & christened there on 25 Mar. He can be seen on census return of 1871 at Laurel Cottage, Mortlake, with parents & sibs. 1881 he is not at home, but aged 15 he could be anywhere. On 8 Feb 1885 at St Mary, Newington he married Mary Ann Pitt (see 11 Mar for pic of church). They had 6 children before she died aged 35 in Jul 1901. In census return of 1891 he can be seen at 7 Oswald Place, Lambeth (near Vauxhall) with 3 children, listed as a cabman (as was his brother Isaac, my ggfather) then in 1901 at 1 Richmond Cottages, Walnut Tree Walk with 6 children (where Vic's family lived - of course, Edward's brother Isaac had married Eliza Cox, Vic's auntie, by then & were living in Clayton Buildings, just a few streets away). Mary Ann died shortly after this and on census of 1911 he is at 8 Walton Terrace, South Lambeth (back near Vauxhall) with 4 children & 3 boarders. On 6 Jan 1918 Edward must have surprised his family (to say the least!) by marrying Fanny Cooper at St Stephen's, as he was 51 & she 28! But oddly enough she died 10 years before him in 1941 aged 51, whereas he lived until the age of 85 & died in Oct 1951 in Camberwell, where he had lived with Fanny since their marriage.

Good Friday 29th March 2013

Clara Jane Gamble was born in Oct 1867 to David & Jane nee Gard in Ramsgate, Kent (I suppose they could have been on holiday, because they lived in Ealing). She can be seen on the census return of 1871 aged 3 with parents & sister, at Park Road, Ealing, Middlesex, and then aged 13 at 2 St Margaret's Villas with parents & 2 sisters. By 1891 she is aged 23, still living with parents & sisters but at 42 Boston Park Road & listed as a "Stationer's Shop Woman" [Boston Park Road leads out onto The Great West Road, which would be a shopping street in those days - still is, but Boston Park Road sits under the shadow of the elevated M4 motorway & I suspect no. 42 was demolished to build it]. In Apr 1898 she married William Henry Spurlock Quick (what a wonderful name! His middle names came from his parents Henry Quick & Susannah Spurlock) in Tiverton, Devon (his home). In 1901 census they can be found at 9 Palatine Avenue, Withington, Lancashire with a housemaid. William was a hosiery rep & by 1911 he can be seen in a very nice house in Buxton, Derbyshire [unfortunately on Google Streetview completely invisible behind trees] with a servant & listed as "Wholesale Merchant of hosiery - employer". I couldn't find Clara for ages & had almost given up on her when I found her staying with her sister Jessie in Croydon (transcribed as Clara Jane Spurlock Duick). This also explains why when she died in Oct 1932 it was in Croydon. Unfortunately I cannot complete the story with William's death record, as it could be one of many (strange how many William Quicks there were!)

Her father David Thomas Gamble was born in Jul 1829 at Mortlake, Surrey to James & Mary Ann nee Hatton and christened there on 23 Aug (see pic of church below). He can be seen in census of 1841 at High Street, Mortlake with parents & sibs aged 11. In 1861 he can be seen lodging in Bierlow, Yorkshire, working as a printer's compositor, but by 1866 he was back in Surrey - he married Jane Gard on 23 Dec 1866 at East Sheen - this is probably the same church as the parish is combined. In the census of 1871 they are living at Park Road, Ealing with 2 daughters & he is listed as an "agent" - rep, not spy! In 1881 they are at 2 St Margaret's Villas, Park Road, Ealing with 3 daughters & a boarder. In 1891 they are at 42 Boston Park Road, Ealing (see Clara above). All these addressses could well be the same place, as much development has occurred over the years. Now, in 1900 they were resident at 14 Hamilton Road, Brentford when he was taken mentally ill and admitted to what was then known as Middlesex County Asylum in Wandsworth. [In 1888 this asylum, in Surrey, was obtained by the Middlesex County Council & inmates from Middlesex were admitted there. Oddly enough this is now called the Springfield Hospital and is just behind the road my daughter lives in - and she tells me she runs through the grounds!] David died there on 30 Apr 1900 aged 70. Jane remained at Hamilton Road with 2 daughters, then when Frances married moved with them to 121 Norbury Crescent where she can be seen on 1911 census return. She died there in 1929 aged 84.

Sunday 24th March 2013

Let us move on to a very important branch of this tree, the Gambles. My Grandad was a Gamble and this is his family.

Alice Gamble was born on 16 May 1870 to Henry & Esther nee Walker at Mortlake, Surrey and christened there on 3 Jul. She can be seen on census return of 1841 aged 11 months, at 6 Industry Place, Mortlake with her parents. (The child who would have been her sister Hester died 2 years before at the age of 4). Now in 1881 the family are at 11 Brook Road, Brentford, but Alice is not there. There is an Alice Gamble at a paupers' school in Hanwell (where Charlie Chaplin went for a short time incidentally), but the age is given as 13 when she was not yet 11. I am not certain this is she, but it would fit, as in 1891 she is seen at the London Lock Hospital in Harrow Road, Paddington, showing further decline, as this is a STD hospital. However, two months after the census was taken, she married William Stevens at St George the Martyr church, Southwark and settled in Acton. They can be seen on census of 1901 at 50 Osborne Road, Alice working in a laundry & William a "hawker of fruit" ie likely a market stall-holder, and in 1911 at 19 Holland Terrace, when he is described as "Dealer - general" which smacks rather of Delboy! She states on the census return that she has had 2 children, both of which died (which again fits with the condition she very likely had in 1891 leading to a hospital admission.) I cannot pin down these children, or follow what happened to the family, as Stevens is a very common name and there were many in the vicinity.

Amy Ethel Gamble was born on 8 Apr 1891 at 7 Colestown Street, Battersea to Thomas Caffyn Gamble and his first wife Lucy nee Woods and christened at St Stephens on 18 Jun 1891 (when the church was only a few years old - built in 1887). She can be seen on 1901 census at the same address with parents & sibs. In the census of 1911 she is boarding at 19a Gambetta Street (across Wandsworth), listed as an embroidress. In Jul 1915 she married Frederick Lewis Lockyer and they had a son & a daughter. On 28 Sep 1955 Frederick died at Bolingbroke Hospital, while living at 54 Gayville Road, Wandsworth. Amy died in Oct 1977 also in Wandsworth.

Saturday 23rd March 2013

John Dance was born in Jul 1832 at Vernham Dean, Hants to John & Mary nee Sexton, brother to Dewey & Elizabeth, and christened there on 29 Jul. He can be seen on the census return of 1851 aged 20 living with Barnard Cox & family (his sister's father-in-law) as he was apprenticed to him to learn blacksmithing, in Farley, Surrey. On 13 Dec 1853 he married Hannah Gibbs at St John the Baptist, Shoreditch - she was from London - and they moved to 2 Lawson Street, Newington, where they can be seen on 1861 census with 4 children. John was a blacksmith employing one lad then, but by the next census in 1871 they are at 31 Standard Street, Newington [this may be the same place, with the streets renamed - nowadays is all modern King's College halls of residence buildings] and he is employed as a "Steel Mill Bill Maker" - apparently a Mill Bill is a "chisel-ended tool used for dressing or sharpening the grinding surface of a millstone" with 6 children. In 1881 census they can be seen at 8 Rust Square, Camberwell with son Robert, daughter-in-law & daughter Mary [no 8 has now gone - ?bomb damage] In 1891 they are at 27 South Island Place, Lambeth with daughter Mary, then next door at 29 in 1901 with daughter Hannah & her family, also Mary (a barmaid at dining rooms), John now retired.

His son John junior is living at no 27 with his family, he is now mill bill maker. John senior died just a few weeks later, and Hannah can be seen in 1911 census still living at no 29 with Mary, now a tea packer at tea stores. She died in 1920 in Whitechapel - I don't know why there, unless she was in The London Hospital.

Sarah Dance was his eldest sister, born 27 Jul 1788 at Vernham Dean & christened there 3 Aug. She married on 3 Aug too in 1813 to Thomas Randall. They lived at Vernahm Dean all their lives, thomas was a carpenter, and they had 8 children. In 1841 census they are a few houses from sister Susannah & family with 3 children, in 1851 with 2 sons. Thomas died in Oct 1853 aged 60, so in 1861 she was shown as widow, still living there with son George & granddaughter Ellen.

Susannah Dance was the eldest sister, born 27 Jun 1798 (my birthday too 3xg aunt!) at Vernham Dean and christened there 1 Jul. Then on 9 Nov 1830 she married William Smart there too and they can be seen there in censuses of 1841 & 1851 with her father & 4 children. William died in 1855 aged only 49 and Susannah followed in Apr 1857.

Thomas Dance was their father, born on 5 Apr 1762 at Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire, not far from Vernham Dean to John & Mary nee Hawkins and christened there on 12 Apr. On 26 Dec 1785 he married Sarah Skates & they had 6 children before Sarah died aged 40 in Jan 1805. Thomas can be seen living with his daughter Sarah & her family in 1841 & 1851, but it is intriguing as to who brought up the children in the 50 years between the parents' deaths.

Thomas Dance was the last remaining sibling, born on 16 Sep 1790 at Hurstbourne Tarrant & christened there on 26 Sep - they must have been staying with Thomas' parents as all the other children were born at Vernhams Dean. On 17 Dec 1811 he married Louisa Coleman at Vernham Dean and they had 3 children before Thomas died in 1817 aged only 27. Louisa then re-married on 30 Dec 1820 to John Hailstone at Vernham Dean. (She may then have died in 1831 but if so, the age is wrong - not uncommon)

Thursday 21st March 2013

OK, let's dance off along the branch of my favourite-named ancestor & great-great-grandmother:
Dewey Dance was born in Dec 1825 at Vernham Dean, Hampshire & christened there at St Mary the Virgin church on Christmas Day, She was the eldest daughter of John & Mary nee Sexton. This surname was a difficult one to work with, as census-takers & transcribers tended not to believe it & use any number of alternatives. Thus finding them is hard. So in 1841 census, when her father John had just died, the family may well have been scattered and I can only find her brother John and grandfather Thomas in Vernham Dean. On 12 Jan 1848 she married my great great grandfather George William Cox at Vernham Dean church. In the census return of 1851 she can be seen with George at 15 Matthew Street, St Leonards, Shoreditch, evidently 8 months pregnant, as Emily was born 4 weeks later. As I have mentioned before, the census of 1861 cannot be found for the family, but we know they lived in Swan Street, Newington through Charles' baptism record, at that time with 3 children and Charles imminent. They were also there in 1871 with 5 children, then in 1881 with 2 sons at 117 Long Lane, Bermondsey. Dewey died on 13 Feb 1888 aged 62. (For what George did after her death see 22 Feb).

Elizabeth Dance was her sister, born in March 1829 at Vernham Dean and christened there on 29th March. See above for the early years. She can be seen on the census return of 1851 for High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire, working as a servant to a landowner. In 1851/2 she married her first-cousin Thomas Dance (son of her uncle George) - although I cannot track down the index, unless she was listed as Elizabeth Bowley (which fits all other details). In 1861 census they can be seen living in a cottage in Linkenholt, where Thomas came from, with 3 sons & a servant. In 1871 they are still there, 3 cottages from his parents & next door to her brother & his family, with 7 children. By 1881 they have moved to Little Down, half way between Linkenholt & Vernham Dean, where Thomas is working as a gamekeeper, with 3 children. They are still there in 1891 & 1901, when son Hiram is now also Gamekeeper. [The pub next door, The Boot only burned down in 2010]. Thomas died aged 72 on 2 Jul 1906, leaving £55 effects to his daughter Bertha, who had moved back home from Bexhill, where she had been working as a Cook, to look after them. Elizabeth & Bertha are still there in 1911 & Elizabeth died in 1915 aged 85.

Monday 18th March 2013

The final Cox is Winifred Alice Cox, Vic's eldest sister, born to Ted & Annie nee Taylor on 29 Mar 1894 (10 months after her parents' wedding) & christened on 13 May 1894 at St Matthew, Newington (see 4th Mar, her cousin Lil was christened there the year before). Her admission paper to Walnut Tree Walk school is dated 1898, when she was 4. She can be seen on census return of 1901 aged 7 at Hungerford Road, Lambourn, staying with her grandparents & uncles, with brother Harry. In 1911 she is back with parents & bros at 84 Kennington Road, aged 17. On 21 Feb 1920 at St Mary's she married Albert William Bowsher (who had recently arrived from Canada) & produced a daughter on 21 Apr. They only had the one child though, as Bert died aged 39. He was a fireman & I have no idea if this was related to his early death (and Vic doesn't say). Unfortunately the daughter Jean also died young & suddenly at the same age. Win lived with Vic & Lil in the early 1960s in Woodbury but in 1965 was admitted to Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading with cancer & died there. The registration index says 1970, but Vic says 1965 in his book & she was buried in Upper Lambourn Cemetery.

Sunday 17th March 2013 (Top o' the mornin' to ye)

Victor Frank Cox was born in Mar 1898 in Bracton Road, Rotherhithe to Charles & Ada nee Snuggs and christened at St Barnabas on 17 Apr 1898. He can be seen there in 1901 & 1911 census returns with parents & sibs (also in 1911 with gramdmother) aged 3 & 13 respectively. In Jul 1926 he married a local lady by one of my favourite names Parthenia Elizabeth Stevens (as was her mother). He died aged 64 in Oct 1962 in Thanet, Kent as did she in 1973 aged 75.

William Cox was born on 17 May 1827 at Inkpen, Berkshire to Barnard & Eliza nee Spanswick. He can be seen on census return of 1841 at Farley Green, with parents & sibs, where his father was blacksmith. In 1851 he can be seen lodging in London, at 1 Brewer Street, Bloomsbury [this is an old part of London, but the current building dates from 1892, so is far too recent. I have no idea what was there in 1851, so don't know where he was working, fellow lodgers had all kinds of trades]. On 28 Sep 1854 he married Emily Smart at Holy Trinity Newington and they moved into the Forge at Oxted, Surrey (now called Old Oxted). [This is a very interesting building, as it was apparently built in the 15th Century, but has been added to over the years and is now several cottages, one still called Forge House]. They can be seen there in census returns of 1861, 1871, 1881 & 1891, where he is listed as blacksmith/farrier, with some of their 8 children. Emily died in 1896 and he is shown as widowed in 1911 census, still living at the forge, with daughter Emily. He died 22 Jul 1910 aged 82.

Saturday 16th March 2013

There are four generations of Thomas Cox, but it won't take long to give all the info I have, as it is very sparse:
Thomas Cox 1 was born in approx 1700, and was married in approx 1719 to a girl called Elizabeth. They produced 3 sons (that I know of), while living in Fyfield, Berks in the 1720s.

Thomas Cox 2 was the middle son, born in Nov 1725 and christened on 21 Nov at St Nicholas' church there. He also married an Elizabeth in approx 1750 and they settled in West Hanney, producing 7 children before Thomas died on 4 Mar 1776 aged 49.

Thomas Cox 3 was the eldest of these children, born in Nov 1751 in West Hanney (for photo of church see 2nd Feb entry) and christened there on 8 Dec 1751. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Spindler on 30 Nov 1776 in the same church (with her father's consent as she was under-age) and had 13 children, the youngest of which was my 3g grandfather Barnard. Elizabeth died in 1834 & Thomas in 1836 in West Hanney, having lived there all their lives.

Thomas Cox 4 was the 5th of these 13 children, born in Aug 1785 in West Hanney & christened there on 18 Sep. However, that is all I can find of him... (unless he was the Thomas Cox of Berkshire who was sentenced to death in 1811 for sodomy - but that would be too much to hope for, if you'll excuse the expression - we always hope for the exciting stories in our trees, please forgive).

Victor Allerton Cox was my first cousin twice removed, and the author I often quote. He was born on 2 Sep 1909 at 84 Kennington Road, Lambeth to Ted & Annie nee Taylor, the 6th of their 7 children. In 1912 on the birth of Gert, they moved next door to No. 86 and in 1914 Vic started school at Walnut Tree Walk, just behind their house, and played with the children from Richmond Street. He says in his book (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox. Plowright Press) "Most of the stall-holders (in Lambeth Walk) knew us, as they did most of the other children. And along with others of my age, I think I knew practically every stall holder and the shop people....The main thing was that everybody seemed to know everybody else." It was quite happy and friendly I remember this myself up until the 1970s, when it was all torn apart and redeveloped. At Christmas 1923 Vic left school & started work at a light engineering works in Kennington Road, a job called "Odd Boy". I think he quite enjoyed it but in 1926 he moved onto better things, a job as commis waiter at the Waldorf Hotel Grill Room. In his book there are lots of anecdotes about this job and he worked with my great-uncle Jim Gamble for a while (he was Vic's cousin). At the start of WW2 he received call-up papers and he enlisted at Guildford into the Queen's Royal Regiment.He spent time in Caerphilly Wales, Iceland, Algiers & Tunisia Africa then obtained a position as Storesman in Didcot, Oxfordshire. He & Gert travelled over from Lambourn on army transport as she had a job nearby. In 1953 they moved into Deacon's Cottage, Lambourn very close to many family members, then in 1956 he took a 4-bedroomed house in Woodbury. He retired in 1974 and wrote his book in 2000. Unfortunately I never got to speak to him, in person or by email, as I only discovered his book in 2008 when he had already been dead 5 years. He died on 13 Jun 2003 at Savernake Hospital, Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Friday 15th March 2013 (beware!)

Sidney George Cox was Vic's brother, born on 11 Nov 1902 in Kennington, London to Edward & Harriet (Annie) nee Taylor, and christened at St Mary's, Lambeth on 12 Apr 1903. He can be seen on census return of 1911 at 84 Kennington Road, with parents & sibs, aged 8. On 8 Dec 1935 at St Mary's, Lambeth he married May Lilian Fitzgerald (Vic tells us in his book that Sid was out of work for some time after the company he worked for in the City closed down, and spent a lot of time with his Dad in the Off Licence he ran. The Fitzgeralds lived opposite & he became friendly with them. Charlie, May's twin brother, married their sister Gert in 1937). Vic said: (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox. Plowright Press) "It was in December 1935 when my brother Sid got married to May Fitzgerald. It was quite a nice wedding. They were married in what I always call our church, which was St Mary's Old Lambeth. They had a nice reception and managed to secure a flat in Southwark, quite near May's home". He also tells of a visit he paid to them in 1940, when they lived in Clapham, and of a trip to the milliner's where May worked part-time, including the fact that the Queen Mother used to buy their hats when she was Duchess of York, and of a holiday in Brighton they spent together. In 1954 the company Sid worked for moved fom Walthamstow to Stevenage, so they relocated to Hertfordshire (very close to where I am now). They took May's sister Cis with them, so both she & May had to give their jobs up in London. May decided she would stay at home and enjoy the house and garden at the back... Cis found herself a job at the Nivea factory in Welwyn Garden City. In March 1971 Sid was admitted to hospital in Potter's Bar, where he died on 2 May aged 68. "The funeral was at Luton crematorium, afterwards his ashes were interred in the same grave as our sister Win in Upper Lambourn cemetery. One thing about May, since sh'd been in Stevenage, she'd made quite a few friends. (In about 1984) my sister-in-law May and her sister Cis had given up their house and moved into a residential home in another part of Stevenage. Cis was very frail and May was getting rather forgetful, so it suited them... In the spring (1989) we received news that...May at Stevenage had been taken into hospital. She was 80 and it was only a short while later she died. The funeral was at Luton crematorium". (Vic and his nephew Jimmy tried to attend, but the car broke down and they didn't make it in time).

Monday 11th March 2013

Louisa Elizabeth Cox was born in Jun 1872 in Croydon to Charles & Sarah nee Challis and christened there on 30 Jun at St Peter's church. She can be seen on census returns of 1881 & 1891 at 7 Parker Road (see her brother Albert 1st Feb), in the latter listed as a dressmaker aged 18. On 22 Feb 1898 she was married at St Peter's to (John) George Chapman and in the census of 1901 they are at 31 West Street, Croydon with 2 daughters, then in 1911 at 18 Laud Street, Croydon with 5 children. (They had six in all but in 1911 Gwendoline was with her grandparents Charles & Sarah Cox). Louisa's granddaughter has said that George was so unreliable and had (& lost) so many jobs that she had to do dressmaking to make ends meet, travelling all over Surrey & Sussex & further afield to do so, right up to her death. George died on 14 Nov 1940 aged 72 and was apparently the first person to be cremated at Croydon Crematorium. Louisa had a stroke in 1955 and died with the week on 6 Oct 1955 aged 83.

Maria Mary Cox was her sister, born on 27 Oct 1879 in Croydon (no doubt at 7 Parker Road) and christened on 28 Dec 1879 at St Peter's. She can be seen in censuses of 1881, 1891 & 1901, then in 1911 at 2 Aberdeen Road, Croydon, with parents & sibs, generally called Minnie, listed as a dressmaker. She never married, and died aged 76 in Oct 1955 in Croydon.

Richard Cox was born in May 1758 in West Hanney, Berkshire to Thomas & Elizabeth nee Spanswick and christened there at St James' (see 2nd Feb for photos). On 25 Sep 1813 he married Sarah Ralph, also at St James' and they can be seen on census of 1841 in West Hanney, Richard listed as a shoemaker. He died in Jan 1845 in West Hanney, and Sarah can be seen there in census of 1851 with her sister Mary Ralph, both listed as Agricultural Labourers (Ag Labs). In 1861 she is aged 73 ("previous farm labourer") in an Almshouse in Lyford, Berks, where she died aged 80 in Apr 1869.

Sarah Ann Cox (known in the family as Tal) was Vic's auntie and my great great-aunt. she was born in Feb 1858 in Newington (possibly Swan Street) to George & Dewey nee Dance and christened on 14 Mar 1858 at Holy Trinity, Newington with her brother George (see 22 Feb). She can be seen on census return of 1871 at 8 Swan Street, with parents & sibs, then in 1881 she is living with employers at Ravenstone, Camberwell where she is a General Servant aged 20. At some point in the 1880s she married William J Cavanagh from Bléré, Indre-et-Loire, France, probably in his home town (I don't have access to French records). In census return of 1891 they are living near her family at 24 Abbey Street, Bermondsey, with a "parochial nurse & a labourer" possibly lodgers. In 1901 they are at 6 Horrends Cottages, Lambeth (near Vic's family), but by the 1911 census she had been widowed & was alone at 18 Pratt Street, just around the corner. I do know that she married my great great-uncle Henry Charles Gamble on 28 Feb 1915 at St Mary Newington. [The church concerned was badly damaged in WW2 & the main part of the church rebuilt]. She was 15 years older than him, but they were a lovely fun-loving couple apparently, as Vic tells many stories in his book (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox. Plowright Press) about their antics, as they liked a drink... "They often came to visit, bringing their gramophone, and had a great time". Tal died aged 73 on 31 Oct 1931 and Harry followed her in 1938 aged 66

Monday 4th March 2013

Lilian Ada Cox was born in Feb 1890 in Rotherhithe, London to Charles & Ada nee Snuggs & christened at St Barnabas on 11 Mar 1890. She can be seen on census returns of 1891, 1901 & 1911 at 49 Bracton Road, Rotherhithe aged 1, 11 & 21 respectively & in the latter listed as "mantle machinist" (see her brothers on 9th & 11th Feb). On 16 Mar 1918 at St Katharine's, Rotherhithe she married Harry Wood, who had enlisted in the Coldstream Guards and been sent to France in 1915 - evidently he had come home on leave & they were married. They moved into a house on the same street as her parents, 32 Bracton Road. Unfortunately he was sent straight to Belgium, where he was killed on 13 April 1918. He is commemorated on Panel 1 of the Ploegsteert Memorial. Lilian died on 18 Dec 1936 aged 46 in Bermondsey.

The other Lilian in this tree is Lilian Annie Cox, Vic's cousin and niece of my great grandmother Lizzie. She was born on 28 Sep 1893 at 68 Sayer Street, Lambeth to George & Bessie nee King and christened on 25 Oct 1893 at St Matthew, Newington. She can be seen on 1901 census aged 7 with parents & brother at 42 Walnut Tree Walk, and her admission papers to Walnut Tree Walk school are dated 1899. By 1911 she can be seen living with her uncle Ted & family and her father. In 1920 she was listed as a "bookfolder". On 19 Nov 1922 she married Sydney Reading at Holy Trinity Church, Woolwich, given away by her uncle Ted, as previously mentioned, because her father George couldn't bear to lose his last remaining child (see 22nd Feb). Syd had been a soldier in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry but by then had left the army & was working as a bus driver. Vic said in his book: (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox Plowright Press) "Uncle George's daughter Lil and her husband Syd Reading still occupied the big room in the top part of the house, doing their bit of cooking on a stove on the landing. Their son Arthur was born in 1924".....In 1930 the council demolished the estate and built new blocks, so the family had to move. By then "Syd and Lil Reading had been living upstairs with us with their two children Arthur & Joyce, had obtained No. 39 (Wedgewood House) next door.. with two bedrooms upstairs." The children were evacuated to the West Country during WW2 but Syd & Lil remained in London then joined the family in Lambourn. Syd died in Oct 1953 in London, but Lil went on to 91, eventually dying on Christmas Day 1984 in Orpington Hospital (a mile or so from where I grew up!)

Sunday 3rd March 2013

Jemima Cox was born Mar 1832 to Barnard & Eliza nee Spanswick at Inkpen, Berkshire & christened there on 29 Apr 1832. The 1841 census page for this family is pretty much illegible, but she is there aged 9 in Hungerford, with parents & sibs, then again in 1851 at Farley Green. In 1861 she is seen with sister Esther as cook in the household of landowner John Bennet, in Haydon Lane, Wimbledon (see 16th Feb). On 23 Sep 1862 she married Edward Saunders Stroud in St Mary's Battersea, where her sister Eliza was later buried (see 15th Feb). Edward was listed as a builder on the marriage certificate, but his mother ran the White Horse Inn at Sunbury, and by 1871 he & Jemima have their own pub & brewery, the Red Lion in Hanworth Road, Twickenham, also 3 sons & a servant. In 1881 they are running the Unicorn Hotel, Deddington, Oxford again seen with 3 children & a servant, and still brewing too. In 1891 Edward's mother was 74 and evidently frail, as Jemima was living with her as companion, along with daughter Elsie and 2 young nieces, at 5 Apsley Villas, Twickenham Green. I cannot find Edward anywhere but by 1901 he is back with Jemima, living in Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames, where he is a brewery storekeeper. I think he died in 1917 in Chertsey, Surrey, but the transcribers do terrible things with his name.... I cannot find a death for Jemima for the same reason (especially as after her marriage she invariably called herself Jane).

Sunday 24th February 2013

Henry Cox was born in Nov 1792 in West Hanney, Berkshire to Thomas & Elizabeth nee Spindler (brother of my 3g g/f Barnard) and christened there on 16 Dec 1792. On 18 Apr 1814 he married Miriam Ferres in her home town of Wantage, 3 miles from West Hanney. They had 13 children (and Henry himself was one of 13). In census returns of 1841 & 1851 they can be seen with 11 of the children, at Woodlands, Lambourn, where Henry is blacksmith (the family trade, it seems!). Miriam died in Feb 1861, was buried at St Michael & All Angels, Lambourn on 28 Feb 1861, so in the census 6 weeks later, Henry appears as widower, living at London Lane, Lambourn with son, 2 daughters & nephew. He himself died about 6 weeks after this, on 24 May 1861 & was buried with Miriam on 28 May 1861

Henry Thomas Cox was born 23 Dec 1899 at Kennington, Lambeth to Edward & Harriet nee Taylor, one of Vic's older brothers. He was always known in the family as "Lal", a mystery I never got to the bottom of (and neither did Vic) as my granddad, Henry Thomas Gamble was also called Lal. In the 1901 census he can be seen at Hungerford Road, Lambourn aged 2 with his grandparents & 3 uncles. In 1911 census he is back at 85 Kennington Road, Lambeth with parents & sibs aged 12. I have his school admission aged 3 at Walnut Tree Walk School, Lambeth, which is evidently why he returned to London. In 1914 he started work for Faulkners, Blackfriars Road, tobacco factory. On 11 Sep 1914 he joined the Cadet Corps, from which he was put in the Army Reserve & then posted to France in Oct 1917. In Sep 1918 he suffered gunshot wounds to hands & shoulders & was returned to England. He received 2 medals (British War Medal & Victory Medal). On 8 Sep 1929 in Kew, Surrey he married Doris (Dolly) See and they had a son, Peter In 1939 they were relocated to Liverpool, due to a merger of Faulkners with Ogdens. In Jun 1959 Lal died of cancer aged 60 (not a healthy trade to be in!) and was cremated in Liverpool. Dolly lived on there to the age of 81. In Vic's book (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox Plowright Press) he said "My brother Sid, May & myself went to Liverpool to attend the funeral. We met quite a few members from the firm & they all mentioned how popular Lal was. We travelled up by train to Lime Street and it was Lal's son Peter & my cousin Cecil from Kew who were both waiting to meet us...Peter was married to Maureen, who we found was quite a nice girl... During the summer after Lal died, Sid, May & myself arranged to go to Liverpool for a week to take Dolly for trips out.....After Lal died she carried on in the same house on her own"

Hester Cox was born in Feb 1791 at West Hanney, Berks to Thomas & Elizabeth nee Spindler and was christened ther on 4 Mar 1791. On 2 Dec 1811 she married William Ferres from The Red House, Wantage (was a pub in those days). You may recall this surname, as her brother Henry married William's sister Miriam. Also their brother William Cox married sister Martha Ferres - all different years, but the families were obviously close! They had 6 children before William died in1831 aged 42. He was buried in St Peter & St Paul Church, Wantage on 26 May 1831. Hester can be seen in the 1841 census return ay Grove Street, Wantage with 4 children, listed as Grocer. In 1851 she is living in Headington, Oxfordshire as Cook in the household of a barrister and daughter Elizabeth is with her as housemaid. I cannot track her down in 1861 (the surname has troublesome spellings) but Eizabeth is in Derbyshire ladies maid in the household of a retired brewer. In the census of 1871 we can see Hester & Elizabeth together agin, living in Alms Houses in Wantage, Hester aged 81 is listed as "former shopkeeper", Elizabeth as "servant". Hester died in Jan 1872 aged 81 and was buried on 1 Feb 1872 at St Peter & Paul with William. Elizabeth stayed on at the almshouses for some years, but by the 1891 census she was in the Moulsford Lunatic Asylum in Cholsey, Berks, where she subsequently died aged 76 in Oct 1897. [This was opened in 1870, and closed in 2003, changing its name in 1848 when joining the NHS to Fair Mile Hospital. It is now undergoing renovation into apartments].

Saturday 23rd February 2013

George William Cox III was the son of GWCII below, born in Oct 1882 at Golden Place, Lambeth and christened on 5 Apr 1885 with brother Archibald. He can be seen there in 1891 aged 8 with his parents & sibs, than aged 18 at Walnut Tree Walk in 1901, listed as a Kitchen Porter. On 26 Dec 1904 he married neighbour Eleanor Elizabeth Leach at St George The Martyr church in Southwark and they had 4 daughters. (Interestingly, there is a previous marriage record there dated 18 Sep 1904 marked "Cancelled. Parties did not come") In the 1911 census they can be seen at 172 Scovell Road, Southwark (near the Elephant & Castle) and he is listed as "Barman in Restaurant". As Vic stated in yesterday's quote, he died in WW1 - on 22 Mar 1916, fighting in France for the 6th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery.

Gertrude Louise Taylor Cox was born on 21 Jun 1912 in Kennington, Vic's sister & closest relative, as they were close in age and somewhat younger than the others. In 1937, as Vic says: "After the coronation, in June my sister Gert married Charlie Fitzgerald at our church St Mary's Old Lambeth. I was best man. It was a very nice wedding, with a nice reception afterwards." (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox Plowright Press) and they settled in Brixton. Unfortunately their flat was damaged in Blitz bombing in 1940, so in 1942 they moved to Lambourn, where Gert worked as a Dinner Lady at the Infants School. They had one daughter Jill (my 2nd cousin who helped Vic write his memoirs) in 1938 but unfortunately Charlie was killed in August 1943 fighting in Sicily. Gert died on 28 Nov 1996 at St Catherine Nursing Home, Newbury, Berks and her ashes interred at Upper Lambourn New Year 1997.

Friday 22nd February 2013 (sad as it would have been my Dad's 91st birthday)

Quite central to this tree is a 3-generation "trunk" of George William Coxes. George William Cox I was my gg-grandfather, born in 1824 in Hungerford, Berkshire to Barnard & Eliza nee Spanswick. He can be seen aged 17 in Farley with parents & sibs in 1841 census, with a servant called Fanny Spanswick, no doubt a relative of his mother. On 12 Jan 1848 he married Dewey Dance at the Parish Chapelry, Vernham Dene, Hampshire & he can be seen aged 27 at 15 Matthew Street, Shoreditch, listed as a Smith, like his father. They lived at 8 Swan Street, Newington, then 117 Long Lane, Bermondsey (see Charles, Edward, Eliza & Emily previously featured) with their 6 children. After Dewey died in 1888, he moved to 9 Chapel Place, then in 1901 after he retired, he went to live with Ted & family in 13 Richmond Street. However on 11 Nov 1902 he died, at the Lambeth Workhouse Infirmary, Renfrew Street. Now, when I saw this I was dismayed, but noted the comment "buried by friends". This meant that, although he died at the Workhouse, he was not a pauper, with the attendant disgrace & unsatisfactory unmarked burial, his friends & family had paid for the funeral and he was no doubt placed in a plot already inhabited by Dewey. I cannot track down where this is, as burials in London are not well covered in the archives. I did find admission books for the Workhouse in Renfrew Road, but the first one starts in January 1903, a few weeks later! Previous admission records are for all institutions in the borough, and although I have searched, I cannot track him down. Charlie Chaplin and his mother & brother had been in this workhouse only 6 years before. At this time, prior to the development of the NHS, workhouse infirmaries were often used as hospitals, in fact this one became Lambeth Hospital and I have spoken to many local people who have been born there & had their own children there, in living memory. It closed in 1976, when St Thomas's expanded, and the buildings have mostly been demolished, although some were used until fairly recently, I understand.

George William Cox 2 was his son and consequently Vic's uncle and my great grandmother's brother. He was born in Oct 1854 and christened at Holy Trinity, Newington on 14 Mar 1858 along with baby sister Sarah. As stated previously, I cannot track down the 1861 census for this family, but in 1871 aged 17 he is there with parents & sibs at Swan Street, listed as an undertaker. He evidently didn't take to this, as in 1881 he is also a blacksmith, like his father & grandfather. In Apr 1880 at St Olave's, Southwark he married Elizabeth "Bessie" King and they had 5 children. They lived with his sister Emily & her family, at 5 Golden Place, then when she re-married & moved to West Ham, George & family moved to 42 Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth (1901 census). Bessie died on 19 Nov 1910 so as Vic put it in his book (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox Plowright Press) "Uncle George was living in St Albans Street when his wife died, so he & Lil decided to live with us. Lil's two brothers, George the eldest was married, Arch was a butler in service in St Albans I think with very well known people. Her older sister Dewey had died aged 27 in 1908" So in 1911 census they are at 84 Kennington Road. Unfortunately, his 2 sons George & Archibald were killed in WW1. As son Albert had died in infancy, only one child Lilian was left. In 1922 Lil wanted to get married, but George "refused to (give her away)" so Ted had to.."he liked Syd but having lost his wife & all his other children, he wouldn't give his remaining child to anyone". George himself died in 1939, just before Ted was made redundant, and this was one of the reasons the family made the move back to Lambourn.

Saturday 16th February 2013

Emily Augusta Cox was born on 27 Apr 1851 at 15 Matthew Street, Shoreditch to George & Dewey nee Dance and christened on 11 Jul 1851 at St Giles Cripplegate, London. For some reason the census returns for 1861 & 1871 are missing for this family, but we do know they were at Swan Street, Newington by birth records of her sibs. In Jul 1877 she married Richard James Lloyd at St Saviours, Southwark and they had 5 children & lived at 5 Goldens Place, Lambeth with her brother George & his family. Unfortunately Richard died in 1889 at the age of just 36 and she is noted as widow on census returns of 1891. However on 12 Nov 1893 she married Thomas William Hughes at Emmanuel Church, Lambeth (situated just behind Clayton Buildings, where my grandparents lived). They can be seen together with children from both first marriages in 1901 census at 23 Barnwood Road, West Ham, then 1911 at 14 Barnwood Road. Thomas died in 1930 & Emily on 19 Jan 1933 and both are, I understand, buried in West Ham (although I cannot locate records).

Esther Cox was born in Mar 1842 to Barnard & Eliza nee Spanswick in Farley, Surrey & christened there on 25 Mar 1842. She can be seen in 1851 census at home in Farley Green aged 9 with parents & sibs. In 1861 she is aged 20 & working as a housemaid in Haydon Lane, Wimbledon in the household of a landowner. Her sister Jemima is there too as Cook. In Apr 1868 she married Henry Clements in Farley & they had 3 children. They can be seen in census return of 1871 (although Emily, the youngest, was not born until October of that year) at Crownpits, Godalming, next door to the Three Crowns pub. Unfortunately, she was another young widow, Henry died somewhere in the 1870s as by the next census in 1881 she is a widow, and working again as a servant in Philmore House, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham. In 1891 she is Cook at 10 Anerley Road, Penge, her daughter Elizabeth with her as parlourmaid. In 1901 she is Cook in Manor Road, Wallingford, and in 1911 servant to a fellow widow in Bognor Regis, Sussex. She died in Jul 1917 in Epsom.

Friday 15th February 2013

Eliza Cox was born in May 1835 in Inkpen, Berkshire to Barnard & Eliza nee Spanswick (who we met on 2nd Feb) and was christened there on 14th June 1835. She can be seen at Farley Green in 1841 with parents & sibs, then in 1851 at 16 Clapham Road, Kennington working as a servant to the Appointment Secretary of the Vauxhall Water Company & his family. On 6 Jan 1861 she married William Joseph Eldershaw in Streatham, a carpenter, whose father Joseph was a baker. They settled in Croydon & can be seen in census returns of 1861 & 1871 at 11 St Peters Street, Eliza listed as a dressmaker. They had 7 children before Eliza died in Battersea Oct 1880 & was buried at St Mary's there. [Apparently this was the church in Michael Caine's film "Alfie" where he watched a christening]. In 1892 at this very church William married again, to Ellen Williams nee Westgate & lived in Battersea with her until his death in 1906.

Eliza Jane Cox is the central character in this branch, as she was my great-grandmother, generally known as Lizzie. She was born in Jan 1863 at Swan Street in Newington to George & Dewey nee Dance. She can be seen with them on census of 1871 at Swan Street, then in 1881 at age 19 at 162 Broadwall, Southwark, working as servant to a coal dealer & his family. In 1891 she is seen living back home with her widowed father & her brother, at 9 Chapel Place, Leather Market, Bermondsey, listed as a "domestic". On 10 July 1892 she married my great-grandfather, Master Cabman Isaac Gamble at St Paul's Church, Newington [apparently the church was bombed in WW2 & burned down, the current one is modern]. She lied about her age on the marriage certificate, stating she was 27 (rather than 29) as her groom was only 23, and on census return of 1901 she said she was 32, when in reality 37. They were listed at 14 Clayton Buildings (2 flats along from my Nan's in later decades, where I spent much of my childhood) with 3 children & nephew Henry. Likewise in 1911 with Henry, 5 children & a family of boarders. Due to the fairly recent emergence of the London Electoral Rolls, I can trace them as they moved around. This family seemed to have 2-year rental contracts, and moved around the area quite a lot. 1893-5 they were at 12 Clayton Buildings (next door to what would be my Nan's - see above), then 1896-7 at 2 Cumberland Mews (oddly enough just round the corner from Cleaver Square where my husband's Dad grew up), then 1898-1900 at 2 Richmond Cottages, Walnut Tree Walk (where Vic lived - see later), next door to Isaac's brother Edward. 1901 to at least 1915 they were settled at 14 Clayton Buildings, then 1918 until at least 1925 at 24 Camberwell Grove, where Lizzie died in Jan 1923. [see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00tjp4q for a recent BBC programme about this road]. After this, Isaac lived at 19 Sharsted Street (also near Cleaver Square). Here records currently stop, but he died in 1951, 5 years before I was born.

Monday 11th February 2013

Edward Dance Cox was Vic's father & the brother of my great-grandmother Eliza Cox. He was born on 30 Oct 1869 at 8 Swan Street, Newington to George & Dewey nee Dance and christened at St Alphege, Southwark at the age of 6 (I'm not sure why this age, but it was a small & unusual church). He can be seen there in 1871 census, and then in 1881 at 117 Long Lane, Bermondsey with parents & brother. In 1891 he was at 9 Chapel Place, Bermondsey, with father & sister, listed as a Brewer's Cellarman. Chapel Place was a Court off Long Lane. On 21 May 1893 at St Mary's Newington he married Harriet Annie Taylor, described by Vic in his book thus: "My mother Harriet, generally known by her second name Annie, was born in Berkshire, in the village of Lambourn... where her father was a butcher. She had come to London as a young girl to be in service, and until she married she worked for a family in Queen's Gate near the Royal Albert Hall." (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox Plowright Press). In census returns of 1901 they are at 13 Richmond Street with 2 children, his father & 3 Taylor siblings. Ted is listed as Brewery Tap Manager, and in 1911 as Manager Off Licence. Vic described this: "the off licence which Dad managed for quite a number of years.. The Tap belonged to Jenner's Brewery and was situated alongside the main gates of the brewery in Southwark Bridge Road." The 1911 census shows the family at 84 Kennington Road, Lambeth with Ted's brother George, 5 children & niece Lil. They had 7 children in all. In 1939 Jenner's Brewery was taken over by Charrington's and the off-licence closed down. Ted was dismissed with no pension and was very unhappy. But Vic managed to arrange for his parents to move back to Lambourn at the time many children were being evacuated to the country. However, Ted was never really happy on the farm, and fell ill & died on 3 Sep 1942. Annie stayed on there until she died (in her sleep) in May 1963 aged 92.

Edward John Cox was the son of Charles John (see below) and Ada nee Snuggs, born 27 Apr 1885 at 1 Westlake Road, Rotherhithe (very close to Bracton Road) and christened at St Katharine's on 23 Jun 1885. He can be seen on census records of 1891, 1901 & 1911 at 49 Bracton Road, with parents & sibs. In 1901 he was listed as an Auctioneer's Clerk, then in 1911 a clerk at a Wholesale Draper's. On 10 Apr 1915 he married Gertrude Ellen Cole. They had 3 daughters, and when Edward died in Brighton on 17 Aug 1962 he left his effects to son-in-law Norman Jasper Gardner, who was married to their eldest daughter Helen, then Gertrude went to Wales to live with 2nd daughter Ursula & her husband & died there in 1969.

Sunday 10th February 2013

Charles John Cox was the father of yesterday's Charles Albert, and was born in May 1861 at Swan Street, Newington to George and the bearer of my favourite ancestor's name Dewey Dance (more of her later). He was christened at Holy Trinity Church, very close to home. [Apparently this church was damaged in WW2 & subsequently fire, so was rebuilt as the Henry Wood Hall]. He can be seen in censuses of 1871 & 1881 with parents & sibs at 8 Swan Street [now a big factory] and then 117 Long Lane, Bermondsey [now modern flats & a pizza takeaway on the site]. On 2 Nov 1882 he married Ada Louisa Snuggs at St Mary Magdalene Church, St Olave, Southwark [built 1690 & still there - see above] and moved to Bracton Road, Rotherhithe, where he lived until his death in Dec 1935. Ada died in 1919. Apparently Charles is buried in Nunhead Cemetery (near where I was brought up) but I cannot find a record of this, so cannot see if he is with Ada. He was buried 12 Dec 1935.

I mentioned the name Dewey just now, and evidently other ancestors liked the name too, as two Coxes were named this. The first, Dewey Alice Cox, was born in Jul 1880 in Lambeth to George and Bessie nee King. She was christened on 22 Aug 1880 at St Phillip's Church in Lambeth. This means a lot to me as it is the church where my parents were married in 1952. The church was built in 1863, but demolished in 1976 due to structural problems. (I spent a lot of my childhood in Lambeth, as my grandparents lived just across the road from this church, but they moved away in 1967). There is a modern school there now. She can be seen in censuses of 1881 & 1891 with parents & sibs (also Aunt Emily & family in 1881) at 5 Goldens Place, just behind this church. She appears to be missing in 1901 but may be somewhere miss-spelled.. On 1 Jun 1902 she married William Henry Taylor (Harry) the brother of her Aunt Harriet (who had married her Uncle Ted and was Vic's mother) at St Mary's at Lambeth, a very famous and beautiful church, which is nowadays a Garden Museum. Unfortunately Dewey died aged 27 in Apr 1908 and, as Vic says in his book "her husband, my mother's brother Harry, left London and returned to Lambourn with their three children." (Vic: Lambeth to Lambourn by Victor Cox Plowright Press)

Dewey Florence Cox was born in Dec 1900 at 13 Richmond Street, Lambeth, where she can be seen in the 1901 census aged 4 months, with her parents , brother Ted, grandfather, uncles & aunt. She was Vic's older sister, although he never knew her as she died in Jan 1902, not long after her first birthday.

There are three Edward Coxes on this tree. Edward Albert Cox was Vic's older brother, born in Sep 1897 in Lambeth to Edward and Harriet nee Taylor. He can be seen aged 3 in the census return of 1901 at 13 Richmond Street with parents, sister, grandfather, uncles & aunt, then at 84 Kennington Road in 1911 aged 13 with parents, uncle, sibs & cousin. He enlisted in the army as a rifleman in the 9th Battalion Queen Victoria's Rifles and was sent out to France to fight. In Vic's book there is apicture of a lovely postcard he sent home to his mother, bearing a lovely poem and a message in Sep 1916. He was killed in action 4 months later on 24 Jan 1917 and is buried at Laventie Military Cemetery in France.

Saturday 9th February 2013

I may have found an interesting snippet to add to yesterday's Charles. I found a birth of another Charles just before the marriage, registered in the Godstone area (possibly Farley), who then died in the Croydon are later in the year aged <1 year. Now, this may be just a coincidence, but without buying the certs at £10 a time I cannot tell. So it will remain a tantalising possibility in the mean time...

On to another subject. There is a special Something about this tree in that a relative of mine has written a book about it. His name is Vic Cox and he is related to the branch we are studying at the moment. He wrote the book in 2001 in collaboration with another relative Jill Wohlgemuth and it was published by Plowright Press. {Nov 2013 note: Plowright Press have recently gone into liquidation. To obtain copies of Vic's book please contact jill.wohlgemuth@yahoo.co.uk - charges will only be made to cover postage} I will mention it as we go, and if anybody is interested in buying it please contact Jill. Unfortunately, Vic passed away in 2003, so is no longer available for comment, but I am allowed to insert short quotes from the book here.

I have found out quite a lot of interesting stuff today on Charles Albert Cox. He was born to Charles & Ada nee Snuggs on 31 Jan 1884 in Newington (then Surrey, now London) and christened on 13 Apr 1884 in St Saviour's, Denmark Park, Southwark (likewise). He can be seen in census records of 1891 aged 7 & 1901 aged 17 with parents & sibs at 49 Bracton Road, Rotherhithe. [This area is now under a large swathe of railway lines & Bermondsey Trading Estate.] This was about as far as my records went this morning, but I have found a lot more out now. On 4 Jul 1906 he enlisted in the 1st Surrey Voluntary Rifle Corps in Camberwell, a kind of Territorial Army group, and on 1st Apr 1908 this merged with a lot of other similar bands to form the 21st Battalion County of London as part of the 6th London Brigade. He started as a Private but re-enlisted in subsequent years as Lance Corporal, then Sergeant. He left just before the First World War started, on 5th Apr 1912. On 15 Jul 1911 at St Katharine's Rotherhithe, he married Helene Jager (of German extraction, so it was probably just as well!) Apart from the birth of son Albert in 1913, I have no more. There are deaths in 1947 in Surrey Mid-Eastern, but I cannot prove these are theirs (although what are the odds of a Helene & Charles Cox dying in the same year in the same registration area if not?).

Friday 8th February 2013

Charles Cox is the link between those mentioned so far. He was the son of Barnard and father of Albert & Alice. He was born in Apr quarter of 1844 in Farley (then spelled Farleigh), Surrey when the birth was registered in Godstone district, then christened on 29 Sep 1844 in Farley. He can be seen with parents and sibs in Farley in census returns of 1851 & 1861. In Apr 1868 in Croydon he married Sarah Challis, and they lived at 7 Parker Road for many years (see below 1st Feb) with his parents, 5 children & various other relatives. As stated previously, after he retired from blacksmithing they moved to 2 Aberdeen Road until he died in 1917 & Sarah in 1918. Charles died on 7 Jun 1917 in Croydon General Hospital, aged 73, and left £563 of effects to Sarah.

Saturday 2nd February 2013

Unfortunately Archibald Charles Cox had a fairly short life, and I have only managed to get details about either end of it. He was born in March 1885 in Lambeth to George & Bessie nee King and christened on 5 Apr 1885 at St Mary's along with his 2-year-old brother George. He can be seen on the census return of 1891 with parents & sibs at 5 Goldens Place, Lambeth. Then I only pick him up again at his death, as he died aged 33 on 4 Mar 1919 of broncho-pneumonia, a private in the Royal Army Service Corps in France, and is buried at Etaples military cemetary. The notification gives his father's address in Kennington and mentions a wife Winifred living in Cinderford, Gloucs. I have searched but cannot find a marriage, or censuses of 1901 & 1911, so he may have been abroad... and I don't even know his wife's maiden name.

Barnard Cox was a very important chap here, as he was my 3x great grandfather. He was born on 5 Apr 1801 at East Hanney, Berkshire (others tell me - I do not have the exact date) and was christened at West Hanney. On 18 Aug 1823 he married Eliza Spanswick at Hungerford, Berks. In censuses of 1841-61 they can be seen at Farley Green, Surrey with some of their 10 children & in 1851 an apprentice called John Dance (a name we will return to) Barnard listed as Blacksmith. By 1871 he had retired to Parker Road, Croydon (see below) with his son Charles & family & he was also there in 1881. Eliza died in 1888 and Barnard moved into the Whitgift Alms Houses, South Croydon, which are still there.

Friday 1st February 2013

The next tree is that of my mother's parents and starts with a family called Cox. My maternal grandfather's branch is made up of Gambles and Coxes, as his father Isaac Gamble married Eliza (Lizzie) Cox

Albert Charles Cox was born in May 1870 in Croydon, Surrey to Charles & Sarah nee Challis. The previous notes on this chap ended at the 1891 census at the age of 21. So I was thrilled to find Ancestry.co.uk providing me with the 1911 census, which has come online since I last studied this tree. In 1871-91 he was living with parents & siblings at 7 Parker Road, Croydon. By 1911 he was married to a girl called Elizabeth from Brighton and had 5 children. He was still at the house above and his family had moved to 2 Aberdeen Road, Croydon, not far away (0.2 miles Google Maps tells me). Next I was able to find a marriage between Albert Charles Cox & Elizabeth Colwell in Lewes (near Brighton), Sussex in Jul 1892, and all the previous records relating to her up to her marriage (birth, censuses 1871-91 with her family in Brighton). I would have liked to find out what happened to them in 1901 but the entire family was missing (usually this means a spelling error on the original census sheet and can be most frustrating!) We do know they were still in Croydon as the 4th child Eva Katherine was born there a couple of weeks later. Eva married in 1926 also in Croydon, but unfortunately Cox is too common a name to tell which death records relate to them, as there are many.

Alice Emily Cox was younger sister of the above, born Dec 1882 in 7 Parker Road & can be seen there in census returns of 1891 & 1901. In the latter she is listed as a school teacher & inApr 1908 she married Head Teacher Philip Frank Turner Smith, a widower 18 years older than her with a young daughter. The three of them can be seen at 3 Avenue Road, Wallington in 1911. They must have moved to Lancashire on retirement, as the deaths of both were registered there at a place called Amounderness. Alice died on 6 Apr 1961 and Philip 23 May 1961, both at 6 Lawrence Road, Penwortham, Lancs. Unusually, they both left separate effects to their daughter Doris (Mrs Falla, widow): Philip £628 and Alice £4451

Tuesday 29th January 2013

I have now "completed" the Manhire tree - the only ones left to study are in-laws, so I will not spend time on them here. At the weekend I shall launch into the next tree, which is my first original one i.e that of my mother. It is the one that inspired me to take up this hobby, when I inherited a family bible inscribed with the names & dates of some children who died. More of that story to come at a later date...

Monday 28th January 2013

William Retallick born May 1815 at Bilberry, Roche was son of the William mentioned on Saturday, and was christened at Roche on 26 Jun 1815. Unfortunately his father had just died on 30th May, so is shown on the documentation as deceased. Around 1839 he married Elizabeth (Betsey) Ann Hancock, although I (and fellow researchers) cannot find the registration document. This may be because the Hancocks were Methodists and registration was very new. The first child John was born in Nov 1839, so the marriage is likely to be around Feb 1839. In the census return of 1841 William & Betsey can be seen at Carbis Common with John, and then in 1851 at Tremoderet with 4 children, William listed as a tin miner. On 3 Jan 1855 they (William, Betsey & 6 children) left Plymouth aboard the SS Hooghly and arrived in Adelaide, Australia on 19 Apr. William can be tracked over the next few years in land records: in 1863 he owned title deeds in Maryborough, Victoria, then on 20 Nov 1869 he applied for a land survey for two 20 acre blocks at "Dick the Needles Creek" near Lexton. However his prosperity came to an abrupt halt on 23 May 1873, when a warrant was issued for his incarceration at Mt Mitchell Asylum, Victoria due to "insanity with epilepsy and suicidal properity" (sic). He was reported as being in good health but the fits increased in severity and he became demented. In mid July 1882 his health failed and he took to his bed. By the end of July he coughed & had difficulty breathing and was admitted to the hospital ward, where he did not improve and died of "brain disease" on 7 Aug 1882. Betsey died 4 years later at the age of 63 and was buried in Lexton.

Study of the next William Retallick illustrates a big problem in Family History research that I thought I'd share with you as it is important. I was about to launch into telling his story from my notes when I realised I had two versions of him (and his family) on my tree. You may remember a week or so ago I mentioned the children of two couples by the same name, Richard and Elizabeth. I said one couple (Richard 3 as I called him) had 3 children 9 years apart, and shed doubt on this. Well, the third one was a William born 1809. I looked carefully at the other records and found that he was born & christened in Roche at the time they were living at St Wenn, so have discounted him from their "brood". I have deleted this version from the tree, as the 2nd of four children borne to Richard & Elizabeth nee Lamb in Roche fits more precisely (ie Richard 9). His christening date is 16 Feb 1809, although it doesn't give a birthplace as such, he was christened in Roche. The census of 1841 shows him aged 30 living in Broad Lane, Roche with his parents, and 1851 the same with his sister Grace & her family, also his widowed father, listed (as was brother-in-law William Hancock - not sure if related to the family above) as a tin miner. Later that year on 13 Dec 1851 he married Ann Roberts (10 years his junior aged 32) at Roche. They had two daughters and lived in Broad Lane (Grace & family had moved to larger premises in Tregonhay, close by. The census of 1871 is the same, and in 1881 they care still there, but the girls have gone and Ann's unmarried sister Maria is lodging with them, but is an invalid. William died in Dec 1889 & was buried on 19 Dec in Roche. Ann can be seen in the census return of 1891 at Broad Lane with daughter Annie Kent, who thereafter can be seen in Rotherhithe, London with her family, as Ann died in Apr 1895.

No other "Just Williams" had interesting stories, but William Drew Retallick did. When he was born on 9 Nov 1892, in Livrean, his older brother Martin Drew Retallick had just died aged 23, so his parents gave him the same middle name. He was christened at Treverbyn on 14 Feb 1893 and the census of 1901 shows him with parents & sibs at Bugle, also in 1911 aged 18 listed as China Clay Labourer. With his brothers Elison and Frederick he was diue to sail to America on 26 May 1915, but for some reason their names were crossed out on this list & they sailed on the SS St Louis on 7 Jun instead, from Liverpool to New York. All 3 brothers joined the military in the WW1 draft, William in Macomb, Michigan, but returned to the UK once the war was over. In Oct 1921 he married Millicent Blamey in the St Austell area and had a son Maurice in 1922. I cannot find any more until Millicent died in 1954 and William in 1968.

William Henry Retallick was born Aug 1833 in Luxulyan to John & Ann nee Chapman, and christened on 15 Sep 1833 at St Wenn. He can be seen at Savath with parents & sibs in census records of 1841 & 1851. On 23 Jan 1858 he married at Luxulyan Ann Grose Courtney, and the census of 1861 show them at Trescoll Cottage, Luxulyan with baby son Thomas. I told on Saturday how their eldest Victoria spent her childhood with various other relatives. They had a total of 15 children, 7 of whom died young. William was a tin stream laborer at that time, but in 1871 they lived at Gillys (5 children at home) and he was a turnpike/road labourer, which he seemed to take to & continued for many years. They settled back at Savath (where he was born) on his father's death & remained there until William died on 5 Dec 1914 and Ann 6th May 1919. I featured their grave at Innis Chapel in this blog on 21st October 2012.

Saturday 26th January 2013

I have several Williams to sort out: 10 "Just William"s & 4 with middle names.

William Retallick was born apparently on 22 Oct 1780 to John & Catherine nee Martin, and was christened in Roche on 27 Dec, was married there on 20 Oct 1812 to widow Ann Treveal nee Williams, who had 3 children. They had 2 of there own before William died on 30 May 1815 at Bilberry at the age of 34. He was buried on 1 Jun at Roche.

Another William Retallick was born in Oct 1820 at Bawdens , Roche to John & Jenefer nee Rowse & christened on 30 Oct. He can be seen on the 1841 census at Tremoderet, Roche with parents & sibs aged 20. On 9 Nov 1848 at St Kew he married Jemima Brent & they moved in next door to his Uncle Richard (widower of Christiana) at Burneyhouse, Roche, William listed as an Iron Miner. In censuses of 1861-81 they have moved to Woon Common and can be seen with an assortment of their 9 children and William is farming. In Apr 1886 he died in the County Lunatic Asylum, Bodmin, aged 66 (I must look into this if I can get access to the records) and Jemima died in 1889. The 1891 census shows three of the children running the farm after the death of their parents.

Sunday 20th January 2013

Viole Glanville Retallick was born in Roche on 10 Mar 1900, son of Charles & Margaret nee Rodda. When he was 4 he was listed with his paents on board the SS Campania, sailing on 17 Dec 1904 to New York, where they were to return to Arizona (I told the story on 3rd August 2012). I'm not sure if Viole ever went, or if he was, as I previously suggested, sent home to live with his grandparents when his mother died the following year. Either way, by 1911 he can be seen living at Polsue Farm, St Ewe with his mother's parents. He trained as an ironmonger's apprentice, but on 11 Dec 1918 he enlisted in the 4th battalion Wiltshire Regiment, at Truro, as a private. He did basic training in Durrington Down, Wiltshire 13-26 Apr 1918, then was transferred to Dublin, Ireland. He served a total of 325 days, before being demobbed on 1 Mar 1919. (I have a wealth of medical notes about his skin conditions - army records are a wonderful source!) In Jul 1930 he married Hilda Lugg (who was one of 12 children, unlike Viole, an only child) in Helston. She died in Feb 1961 & was buried at Veryan, and a few weeks later on 11 May Viole joined her.

Saturday 19th January 2013

Victoria Regina Retallick (whose parents were evidently fond of the Queen!) was born in Apr 1859 at Ennisvath, Luxulyan and christened there on 5 May. She can be seen on the census returns of 1861 at Trevellion, Luxulyan with uncle John Courtney & family and 1871 at 1 Chapel Row, Falmouth with her grandmother & uncle Thomas Courtney & his daughter. This was the Jacob's Ladder pub, which is still there. Her grandmother was housekeeper for Uncle Thomas's household until her death in 1885. Meanwhile Victoria herself worked as a general servant for Thomas Trethewey, flour dealer, and can be seen with him & his family in the census of 1881 at Gilley Mills, Roche. In Apr 1882 she married Richard Mewton, but he died 3 years later & she married John George Stockman, who had just lost his wife aged 33 and one of his 4 children (at 13). She moved in with them at Canna, Luxulyan (Canna was a mine at Higher Menadew - see blog entry way back on 23 April 2012) and they can be seen there in census returns of 1891 along with baby Herbert. Victoria had 7 children with John, and in 1901 five of these are with them at Lockengate. One of his earlier children had emigrated, one married and the 2 others died, so in 1911 the census shows Victoria & John have five of their children with them and hire out a room to 2 of the boys - they have a separate census return form. John died in Apr 1930 & Victoria in Jan 1938. I shall look for them next time I visit Luxulyan churchyard.

Monday 14th January 2013

Simon Retallick was born in Mar 1752 at St Issey to Richard 10 & Elizabeth, mentioned yesterday. He was christened on 30 Mar 1752 at St Issey but on 24 Jul 1774 aged 22 he set off on board SS Peggy Stewart from London to USA, listed as an indentured servant/blacksmith. On 24 Jun 1782 in Maryland he married Elizabeth Miles & they had a Son Simon and possibly a daughter Elizabeth, although I cannot find a birth record for her. I have found a document showing he owned a plot of land in Illinois in 1785 & a friend informed me he moved his smithy "from near the Old Churchyard, Church & Green Street to a street fronting the Market House in 1789". He died in Jul 1798 at Anne Arundel, Maryland and in 1802 Elizabeth married William Rawlings, but then died herself in 1808.

Simon Retallick junior was born in 1785 in Maryland and also became a blacksmith. He enlisted in the Army in 1819 in Baltimore at the age of 34 and served at Fort McHenry just a short while after the famous battle there (just guessing, but it may have been this that inspired him to join up to fight against his father's countrymen; it must have been a rousing time as I understand this was the inspiration of the poem that eventually became the Star-spangled Banner). He signed up for 5 years, but I cannot find out what became of him.

Sunday 13th January 2013

Unfortunately I am getting the Richards mixed up already. Richard Retallick 3 was the father of Richard 5, who I started with yesterday. He was born in 1772 in St Wenn, and I suspect his father was John (I have no proof, just two Johns, senior & junior, were witnesses at his marriage). On 16 Feb 1791 he married in Roche a distant relation Elizabeth Retallick, and they had 3 children, each 9 years apart (which was most unusual at the time...). Hwever, there is another couple also called Richard & Elizabeth Retallick living in Roche at the same time, so this is contentious to say the least. I am having trouble pinning down death records, as this Richard may have died in 1852, as the burial record states the right age, but it may just as easily be Richard 9, who also married an Elizabeth, and was born in 1780 - death records often had erroneous ages recorded, as most people didn't know & a guess from appearance at the time of death could of course be way out!

Richard Retallick 1 was born in May 1824 at Bawdens, Roche to John b1791 & Jenifer Rowse, and christened at Roche on 7 Jun 1824. He can be seen in the census return of 1841 at Tremoderet, Roche with parents & sibs. On 1 Sep 1850 he married distant relative Hannah Retallick at St Wenn, her birthplace and they moved next door to his brother William & family at Tremoderet, where he worked as a Tin Miner. On the death of her parents, however, they moved into & ran the family farm, along with her brother John & can be seen there in 1861 & 1871 with 5 children. John retired and died in 1875, and they moved into a smaller home at Churchtown, St Wenn. In the census return of 1881 Richard is listed as Ag Lab & only 2 children a re still at home. By 1891 Richard & Hannah are alone in Churchtown, Richard working as a gardener. In 1901 Hannah is frail and they can be seen in St Wenn Village with daughter Mary returned widowed, with her son Russell Goodman, and their son Thomas, also a gardener. Hannah died the following year and was buried at St Wenn. In the census of 1911 Richard is boarding with his son Thomas & family (listed as a retired farmer) at Hill House, Roche, which is where he died in August of that year. He was buried at St Wenn & if I had found the grave last November they would no doubt have been together.

The same applied to Richard Retallick 6 and his wife Grace, who are more than likely there somewhere too... He was born in St Wenn in 1696 or 1698 or 1693 - I cannot tell as these early records are very thin on detail. He was married on 16 Jun 1718 in Withiel to Grace Brenton, who had been born there in 1700. They had 9 children before Grace died in 1737 aged 36 and Richard in 1746 aged 49, both in St Wenn.

Richard Retallick 4 was born early in 1775 to John & Catherine nee Martin and christened in Roche on 18 Feb 1775 but I have no more info on him.

Richard Retallick 10 was son of Richard 6 above, and was born to him and wife Grace in mid 1723 in St Wenn & christened there on 22 July. Around 1750 he married a lady called Elizabeth, and they had a son Simon who, in 1744 at the age of 22, emigrated to USA & settled in Maryland. More of him at a later date. I cannot assign deaths to Richard & Elizabeth unfortunately.

Richard Retallick 7 was born in May 1756 in St Wenn to John & Elizabeth nee Docken & christened there on 22 May. I'm afraid I have no further info on him.

Richard Retallick 8 was born late in Oct 1754 in St Wenn to Henry & Elizabeth nee Brenton, and christened there on 23 Nov. He married Amelia Prior on 22 Jan 1782 at Tywardreath and they had 8 children over the next 25 years. It seems that they moved in 1793 from the st Austell area to Luxulyan, as the churches for christening the children changed. However, if they are the people I think, their death records in 1822 & 1824 show they returned to St Austell. Richard died "in a fit" and Amelia 2 years later, both towards the east side of St Austell at the ages of 67 and 62.

The remaining one, Richard Retallick 9 was born in Dec 1780 at St Wenn to William & Elizabeth, and christened there on 1 Jan 1781. On 12 Oct 1805 he married Elizabeth Lamb and they had 4 children. In 1841 they can be seen in the census win Broad Lane, Roche with son William, Richard listed as an Ag Lab. As Elizabeth died in 1845 at Broad Lane & was buried at Roche on 18 Mar, the 1851 census showed Richard living with his daughter Grace & family, also William. He is listed as a widowed pauper farm labourer. He died in Sep 1852 & was buried at Roche on 18 Sep.

Saturday 12th January 2013

I have 10 Richard Retallicks to sort out! Here goes...

Richard Retallick 5 was born in Sep 1800 in Roche to Richard b 1772 (i.e Richard 3) & Elizabeth (don't ask why my database program decided to start with number 5, it didn't tell me...). He was christened there on 13 Oct 1800 & married there on 21 Feb 1832 to local girl Christiana Hoskin. They had 4 children before Christiana died in Feb 1838 aged 37. In census returns of 1841, 1851 & 1861 Richard can be seen at Burneyhouse, Roche with some of the children. He died there on 21 Mar 1869 aged 68 & left his effects to sons Richard (2) & James.

Richard 2 was son of the above, born late in 1834 at New House, Roche & christened there on 27 Dec. He can be seen in 1841 with parents, brother & sister Jane (Mary Ann had died aged 4 in 1838) & in 1851 there with father & sibs. He married Amelia Lobb on 20 Jan 1855 in Roche & they settled next door, remaining there until in 1881 they can be seen to have moved to a much larger farm in Withiel (160 acres compared to 18). By 1901 they have retired back to Roche, with daughter Celia & 2 granddaughters. Richard died on 27 Feb 1903 at New House (the house where he was born) and left his effects worth £95 to his widow. Amelia died in 1914.

Monday 7th January 2013

I have found a lot of info on Phoebe Retallick. She was born on 17 Jun 1824 in Luxulyan to Henry & Mary nee Thomas, and christened there on 27 Jun. She can be seen in the census of 1841 on Livrean Moor with parents & sibs, but then it is known that she travelled to Ontario, Canada in 1842, and married fellow Cornishman William Lean in 1844 in Haldimand. They settled there and can be seen there in censuses of 1851-1901, with a selection of their 11 children. William was a farmer, and their 4 sons were brought up to farm. Phoebe died on 8 Oct 1903 of apoplexy and in her will left "an estate valued at $460.00, $35 in cash and a horned cow worth $25". Son Christopher was administrator of this and she left 1/3 share to her husband, the remaining divided into 10 equal parts for her remaining children: William Henry Lean, Christopher Lean, Harriett Heenan, Matilda Hard, Richard Lean, George Lean, Kate Russell, Ermina (Minnie) Nantel, Frances (Fannie) Sharpe & Lucinda (Lucy) Sharpe. William died in 1905.

Saturday 5th January 2013

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All

I need to get back to my research after the extended break.

Peggy Retallick was born in Feb/March 1837 to John & Ann nee Chapman at Rosenannon, St Wenn & christened there on 25 March. She can be seen in census return of 1841 aged 14, with parents & sibs at Savath, Luxulyan. She married Nicholas Ellery Meagor in October 1847 in the Bodmin district, probably at Luxulyan, and can be seen in 1851 with him and 2 children in Withiel. From 1861-1881 censuses they are at Ruthern, St Breock with up to 7 children. Nicholas was both farmer and butcher. Peggy died in Jul 1885 aged 58 & was buried at Withiel, Nicholas followed in 1888, but I cannot find a burial record for him - will have to look for this surname when/if we return to the cemeteries of Cornwall in the future... (incidentally, one of their daughters had the lovely name of Calista - but this was spelled in a variety of ways in her records!)