Inherited Craziness
A place to share all the nuts found on my family tree

Showing posts with label British Army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British Army. Show all posts

Tuesday 5 April 2022

John Robert Penfold and Mary Jane Wilmshurst

Millbank Estate, Erasmus Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Richards - geograph.org.uk/p/2294495
Looking down St Oswulf Street towards Hogarth House, built in 1897-99 by R. Minton Taylor. Grade II* listed. The Millbank Estate was one of the earliest and highest quality public housing projects of the London County Council, built in 1897-1902. The style is Arts and Crafts with touches of Queen Anne, red brick, neat white-painted windows, shaped gables.

John Robert Penfold (b. 1857), son of William Penfold and Mary Ann Charlotte Gunn, married Mary Jane Wilmshurst (b. 1856), daughter of James Wilmshurst a farmer of 26 acres in Heathfield, Hailsham, Sussex and Sarah Prior, in 1878 in the district of Hailsham, perhaps in Heathfield.

John Robert and Mary Jane had five children:
  1. Frederick William Penfold b. 1879, registered in 1880 M Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 270, died 1 Jan 1918 (see below)
  2. Arthur James Penfold b. 1883 D Qtr in CHELSEA Vol 01A Page 321
  3. Charles Edward Penfold b. 1886 M Qtr in CHELSEA Vol 01A Page 341
  4. Mary Jane Penfold b. 1888 J Qtr in CHELSEA Volume 01A Page 3
  5. Mabel Penfold b. 1890 D Qtr in CHELSEA Volume 01A Page 360
In 1881, John R Penfold (23) from Hartfield, Sussex was living at Field Gate, Mitcham, Croydon, Surrey with wife Mary J Penfold (24), brother Charles Penfold (17) Grocer's assistant and son, Fred W Penfold (1).

In 1891, in the Queens Road, Chelsea, London with John R Penfold (33) Boot maker (the Chelsea boot, made popular in that district in 1960's, but the design goes back to Victorian times), Mary J Penfold (34), Arthur J Penfold (7), Charles J Penfold (5), Mary J Penfold (3), Mabel Penfold (0) and Sarah Wilmshurst (68) Widow, Mother-in-law. Frederick William, then 11, is not listed and I've been unable to find him elsewhere either.

In 1901, in Hogarth Buildings, 52, Westminster (Hogarth Buildings, Millbank Estate, Westminster. The Millbank Estate, was planned by the Housing of the Working Classes Branch of the London County Council (LCC) Architect’s Department in 1897) were John R Penfold (43) Shoemaker; Frederick W Penfold (21) Commercial clerk; Arthur J Penfold (17) Student; Charles E Penfold (15) Shoemaker; Mary J Penfold (13) and Mabel Penfold (10). Not listed in the household was wife Mary Jane Penfold, as M J Penfold (45) female patient born in Heathfield, Sussex was listed as a 'Lunatic' in the London County Asylum, The Heath, Dartford. (Heath Asylum, which became Bexley Hospital). Opened in 1898, the first patients moved in before the hospital was completed, initially with 4 male and 3 female ward blocks. All were committed ‘lunatics’, none were there on a voluntary basis.

John Robert had been elected as one of the six Labour members returned for the St. John Ward to Westminster City Council on Monday 9th November 1903 and he served for three years until November 1906. [Source]

Mary Jane Penfold (48) died, in Dartford, Kent on 29th January 1905.

In the 2nd quarter of 1906, John Robert Penfold then remarried to Louisa Morfill in the district St. George Hanover Square. Born Louisa Gamble, she had previously married Thomas Morfill, in Petersfield, Hampshire, in 1881. Or to give him his full name, Wemyss Thomas Cockburn Morfill, born in 1857, in Torrington, Devon, son of James Waugh Morfill a Professor of Music and Elizabeth Green. In 1891, Morfill was in service as a Housekeeper in Ashley Place, Westminster. He had died, at 34, in 1892.) Louisa bought with her two daughters from her previous marriage: May Morfill and Emma Louise Morfill, born in 1882 and 1883, respectively, on Portsea Island, Portsmouth.

Charles Edward Penfold died, aged 21, and was buried on 25 Apr 1907 at Hanwell Cemetery, formerly City of Westminster Cemetery.

In 1911, living at 32 Rampayne Street, Westminster were John Robert Penfold (53) Bootmaker, Louisa Penfold (59), Frederick William Penfold (31) Clerk in tailoring house; May Elisa Morfill (28) Tobacconist; Emma Louise Morfill (27) Tobacconist; Arthur James Penfold (27) Clerk inst civil; Mary Jane Penfold (23) and Mabel Penfold (20) Student. Much can be deduced about their attitudes seeing them listed in order of age, disregarding family or gender and that Mabel is listed as a Student, worthy of further education.

Frederick William Penfold of 17 Chapter Street, Westminster, died, aged 38, on 1 Jan 1918 at the First London General Hospital, Brixton (The 1st London General Hospital in Cormont Road was a school requisitioned by the military wing of St Bart's during World War I.), leaving his effects to his father, John Robert Penfold, Bootmaker. Private Frederick William PenfoldMiddlesex Regiment 33rd Bn., son of John Robert and Mary Jane Penfold, is buried at Brookwood Military CemeteryBrookwood, Surrey (XIII. E. 6.)

John Robert Penfold died, aged 66, on 15th March 1924.

Louisa Penfold of Alver Bank, West Road, Clapham Park (Residential Home) died, at 84, in Wandsworth, London, on 21 Sep 1936, leaving her effects to her daughter, Emma Louise Tapper (wife of William Frans Tapper).

Thursday 31 March 2022

Herbert Joy Tubb and Ada Harriet Bartlett

St Corentine's Church, Cury
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Trevor Harris - geograph.org.uk/p/1817672

Herbert Joy Tubb (b. 1865), son of Edward Tubb and Sarah Elizabeth Joy, married Ada Harriet Bartlett (b. 1870, bap. 8 Jan 1871 in Cury, Cornwall), daughter of John William Ginn Bartlett and Harriet Nanney, in the district of Helston in the 4th quarter of 1892. Baptised in Cury, brought up in Uny-Lelant, Ada was living at Boscawen, Mawgan in Meneage, Helston in 1891, where her father was a Farmer, so likely that was the venue for the marriage, where the parish church is dedicated to St Mauganus, a Welshman.

In 1891, Herbert J Tubb (25) Merchant's Clerk, had been a visitor in the household of Farmer, Samuel Trounson (58) at Penvores, Mawgan in Meneage, which was right next door to the Bartlett household.

Herbert and Ada had two children:
  1. John Bartlett Tubb b. 12 Jul 1893 in HELSTON Volume 05C Page 168
  2. Olive Joy Tubb b. 26 Jun 1898 in HELSTON  Volume 05C Page 169
In 1901, Ada H Tubb (30) was living at Boscawen Cottage, Mawgan in Meneage with son John B Tubb (7) at school and Olive J (2). 

In 1911, the family were living at 4 Athenaeum Street Plymouth. Herbert Joy Tubb (44) Implement and machinery manager, Ada Harriet Tubb (39), John Bartlett Tubb (17) Apprentice Engineer and Olive Joy Tubb (12) at School.

Son, John Bartlett Tubb, Fleet Engineer, of 4 Athenaeum Street Plymouth enlisted in the Territorial Force Royal Engineers, on 18 Sep 1914. At 21, he was 5ft 6in tall with a 36 in chest. In reserve until 23 Mar 1915, he was sent to Gibraltar on 24 Mar 1915, until 11 Nov 1916, where he picked up a dose of Gonorrhea (an occupational hazard?), treated in 1915 - this is well before the introduction of antibiotics that was not until the 1940's. (Gonorrhea: Historical outlook). He was discharged on 9 Jul 1919 at Ripon.

The family, with Herbert, Ada, John and Olive were still in Plymouth in 1921.

Olive Joy Tubb married Richard Donald Broad (b. 2 Feb 1896 in Liskard), son of William Nanscowan Broad and Louise Daniel, in Plymouth, in 1922.
Richard Donald Broad had enlisted in the brand new Royal Air Force (RAF) on 20 Apr 1918 and applied for a Temporary Commission. In Aug/Sep of that year he is listed at RAF & Army Co-Op School as 'Pilot for training'. In Nov 1918 he was assigned to 116 Squadron.
John Bartlett Tubb married Kathleen Margaret Coomb (b. 30 Sep 1896 in Truro, Cornwall), daughter of Arthur Bate Coomb (an Elementary teacher, born in Victoria, Australia) and Lucy Bennett, in Plymouth, in 1925.

Ada H Tubb died, aged 62, in Plymouth in 1932.

In 1939, Herbert Joy Tubb, Agricultural Engineer (Retired), widower, was living in the household of his son-in-law, Richard Donald Broad, Poultry, Pig and Fruit Farmer; daughter, Olive Joy Broad and grandson, David Broad (b. 12 May 1928), at Broadlands, Lifton, Tavistock, Devon. 
Also living at Broadlands, Lifton, in 1939, in the next household was William John Rundle (b. 7 Jun 1909), Agricultural Labourer and his wife. Presumably, Rundle was working for Richard Broad. If this William John Rundle is related to the Rundle clan from Luxulyan, Cornwall - not entirely unlikely given the proximity - then, in another of those monkey puzzle tree branches of my family tree that have ceased to surprise, we could have someone distantly related to my father's mother, working for someone distantly related to my mother's father. God forbid that they could actually be related to each other! 
Meanwhile, John B Tubb, Marine Engine Fitter and Kathleen M Tubb were living at 3 Goldington Avenue, Bedford in 1939.

Herbert Joy Tubb of Broadlands, Lifton, Devon died, aged 74, on 28 May 1940, leaving effects of £1052 3s 11d (circa. £63K in 2022) to Olive Joy Broad, wife of Richard Donald Broad. There was an obituary in the Western Morning News of 30 May 1940 [yet to access].

  • Olive Joy Broad died, in 1971, in Sodbury, Gloucestershire.
  • Richard Donald Broad died, in 1983, in Tavistock, Devon.
  • Kathleen Margaret Tubb died on 17 Mar 1988 in Plymouth.
  • John Bartlett Tubb died, in 1985, in Liskeard, Cornwall.
  • David Broad died, in 2005, also in Liskeard, Cornwall.

Sunday 29 August 2021

Cornelius Walter Jones


Cornelius Walter Jones, born 2 Jan 1893 in Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland, eldest son of David Jones and his second wife, Laura Elizabeth White, was my grandmother's elder brother. We've never been able to find his military record, but know he enlisted in the Army and served during World War I. His first cousin's husband, who was in Queenstown with the US Navy, kept a detailed diary and had written that Cornelius (Con) was leaving for Egypt in 1917

The image above, which I admit I downloaded some years ago (the page no longer exists) [1], is dated 10.11.1917 EGYPT. The taller man (that makes perfect sense too as his grandfather, Thomas Jones, had been 5' 9½", which was tall for his time), second from right, back row, is so much like my father it's literally like looking straight into his eyes. His stance, his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, brow line and, above all, hair, are all identical. It's so close a resemblance that it's eerie and uncanny and, unless someone can prove otherwise, I feel sure this has to be my great-uncle, Cornelius Jones.

Though our cousin had thought that Con didn't return from the war, I now know he did, probably suffering shell-shock, for which one of his younger siblings described him as "daft" - such was the lack of understanding. 

Not expecting to find him there in Ireland, we were quite shocked when we read the listing of his burial at the Old Church Cemetery (Cobh)

Cornelius Jones, late of Rushbrooke, Cork, died on 21 Apr 1926 at the Cork District Hospital (now St. Finbarr's Hospital, with its origins in the Cork Union Workhouse and Infirmary). He was a bachelor, previously employed as a labourer. The record says 30, but he was 33 and died from Pneumonic Phthisis (tuberculosis, also known as consumption), after 8 months in hospital. The informant was Helena Lynch, "Inmate" Cork Union. 

Cornelius Walter Jones was buried on 24 Apr 1926, in the family plot at Old Church Cemetery (Cobh), along with his mother, who had died in 1917.

[1] The file name of the image above, b4croad3 matches the file name of the now defunct page at the former Royal Munster Fusiliers website at http://royalmunsterfusiliers.net/b4croad3.htm (also mentioned here) appertaining to a Private Frederick R Croad, 2nd R. Munster Fus, who I believe is also in the image. We have no record of what unit Cornelius joined or when, however, two Extra Reserve Battalions of the Royal Munster Fusiliers were mobilised at Queenstown (Cobh). The 6th (Service) Battalion certainly sailed on 9 Sep 1917 from Salonika for Alexandria in Egypt.

Thursday 26 August 2021

Charles Ridgeway and Ivy Edna Evans

Fort Regent, Saint Helier, Jersey

Charles Ridgeway (b. 1884), son of Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze, married Ivy Edna Evans (b. 5 Jan 1905), in Tiverton, in 1936. The bridegroom was 52 at the time of their marriage, while the bride was 21 years his junior at 31. Nevertheless, this does seem to be Charles' first marriage. Unable to find Ivy's birth record, I cannot discount that she could have been married before.

On 29 May 1901, Charles Ridgeway, previously a labourer from Uplowman, Devon, had enlisted in the British Army. His age of 18 and 3 months on enlistment, would give a birth year of 1883, so it appears that he added a year to his age to sign up. Certainly not the first or last to do so, and if there were any additional urgency or motivation for doing this, it might have been because the Second Boer War was then in progress. Charles later, was at Fort RegentSaint Helier, Jersey and there transferred to the Royal Tank Corps, having previously been attached to the 3rd Hussars

He was discharged, after 21 years service, on 28 May 1922, at the termination of his period of engagement (Para 392 (xxi) KR), having served right through World War I. His address on discharge was 104, Barrington Street, Tiverton, which was his sister, Bessie Ann Quick's address. 

At some point, Charles had been wounded, which I believe is why he was awarded a pension at a rate of 31½d for life from 29 May 1922. (That's 18s 4½d per week, when 20 shillings = £1 in 1922 is worth £58.29 today.)

In 1939, Charles Ridgeway, Groom, was living at 5 Radcliffe Cottages, St Thomas, Devon. His date of birth on the 1939 Register is given as 24 Feb 1884. This was the date he was baptised, so either he was baptised on the very day he was born, or the actual date of his birth is lost in time. Living with him is his wife, Ivy E Ridgeway. There are then two closed entries, so it's possible that they had children (who may well still be alive).

Charles Ridgeway died at the beginning of 1955, aged 70, in Tiverton.

Ivy Edna Ridgeway died, in Exeter, in 1975, also aged 70.

Friday 20 August 2021

Robert Thomas Bridle and Mary Jane Strange

Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium
WernervcCC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Robert Thomas Bridle (b. 8 Sep 1892), son of Edwin Symons Bridle and Lucy Lindsey, married Mary Jane Strange (b. 1890 in Cholsey, Berkshire), daughter of William James Strange and Mary Jane Freeman, in Wandsworth, in 1915. 

They had one daughter:
  1. Lucy Mary Bridle b. 1 Nov 1915 D Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 1116
On 11 Dec 1915, R T Bridle (24) of 17, Caistor Rd, Balham, enlisted in the East Kent Regiment. However, on 17 Oct 1917, Robert Thomas Bridle (26), 36th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, husband of M. J. Bridle, of 17, Caistor Rd., Balham, London, died of wounds, no doubt sustained during The Third Battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele). Private Robert Thomas Bridle is buried in grave ref XI. I. 18. at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

In 1921, Mary Jane Bridle (30) Widow was living at 19, Caistor Road, Balham with her daughter, Lucy Mary Bridle (5).

In the 4th quarter of 1925, Mary Jane Bridle remarried to Thomas Hartland (b. 1888), son of Joseph Hartland and Fanny Silke Stone, again in Wandsworth. 

They also had one daughter:
  1. Ruby Eileen Hartland b. 1926 D Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 927
In 1939, Thomas and Mary Jane Hartland were living at 16 Chetwode Road, Upper Tooting, Wandsworth

Thomas Hartland died, in Wandsworth, in 1951. Mary Jane, in 1979.

  • In 1938, Lucy Mary Bridle married Leslie Charles Cogger (b. 6 July 1913 in Wandsworth). In 1939, Leslie C Cogger, Shop Assistant Tailoring and Lucy M Cogger, Tailor's Machinist, were living at 54 Templecombe Way, Merton, Surrey. Lucy Mary Cogger died in 1989 and Leslie Charles Cogger, in Merton, in 1990.
  • In 1953, Ruby Eileen Hartland married George Percy Bailey (b. 1926 in St Pancras). George Percy Bailey died in 2015 and Ruby Eileen Bailey in 2016, both in Southampton, Hampshire.

Monday 9 August 2021

William Northcott and Emma Jane Wood

Fore Street, Cullompton with the grade II listed White Hart
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/5497724

William Northcott married Emma Jane Wood (b. 1871), daughter of Henry Wood and Mary Jane Melhuish from Kentisbeare, Devon, in 1896. Five years earlier, in 1891, William Northcott (19) Blacksmith, had been a lodger at The White Hart, Fore Street, Cullompton, but I've not found him before that. 

William and Emma's children included: 
  1. Maud Wood, Emma's illegitimate daughter, b. 1894 and baptised on 19 Feb 1895, when she was 14 months old, in Kentisbeare
  2. William Henry Northcott b. 8 Mar 1897 (not seen after 1911)
  3. Arthina Northcott b. 14 Oct 1898, bap. 2 Nov 1898 in Cullompton
  4. Elizabeth Northcott b. 1900 (died 1900 aged 0)
  5. Charles John Northcott b. 23 Feb 1902, bap. 23 Mar 1902
  6. Albert James Northcott b. 30 Aug 1903, bap. 16 Sep 1903 in Cullompton (died 1904, aged 0)
  7. Florence Northcott b. 25 Oct 1907, Emma's illegitimate daughter

In 1901, William Northcott (31) Blacksmith Journeyman from Branscombe, Devon (not identified relevant birth), wife Emma Jane (30) from Kentisbeare, along with Emma's daughter, Maud Wood (7), William Henry Northcott (4) and Arthenia Northcott (2) were living at Church Cottages, Cullompton.

William Northcott (33) died and was buried on 15 May 1904, in Cullompton.

Charles John Northcott was registered at Elmore School, Tiverton in 1908, with his address as Elmore Workhouse. In 1911, Emma Northcote (sic) (37) Widow, Laundress was living at 7 Rices Court, West Exe South, Tiverton with William (14) Errand Boy, Arthina (12), Charles (9) and Florence (3). 

In 1917, Emma Jane Northcott remarried to Arthur Southcott. What were the chances? Arthur Southcott, born 30 Jul 1883, bap. 9 Aug 1883 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, therefore 12 years younger than his wife, was the son of Frederick Southcott and Eliza Harris

Charles John Northcott (17) joined the Royal Tank Corps on 19 Aug 1919.

In 1921, Arthur Southcott (39) Married, Private in the Army 4th Defence Batt Devon Regt, from Tiverton, Devon was at 5, Homefield Place, Fore Street, Exeter, Devon. Charles John Northcott (19) Army Private was at Hare Park Camp, Curragh, Ireland.

Arthur Southcott died in 1935, in his early 50's.

In 1939, Emma Jane Southcott, Widowed again, was living at 7 Bartows Causeway, Tiverton with Dorothy A Evans (Arthina Northcott married Ernest F J Evans in 1918), Laundress, and Dorothy Florence Northcott (b. 16 Nov 1916, mother's maiden name Northcott, so appears to be Arthina's illegitimate daughter), who worked at the Lace Factory and one other person. 

Emma Jane Southcott died in 1947. 

Monday 2 August 2021

Frederick John Bridle and Florence M L Coleman

Medjez-El-Bab Memorial Verity CridlandCC BY 2.0

Frederick John Bridle, youngest child of John Lucas Bridle and Alice Brewer, married Florence Melita Louisa Coleman, in Bristol, in 1934. 

They had a daughter in 1935. And in 1939, we find them in Wells Road [Totterdown], Bristol, with Frederick working as a "Labourer Arp Shelters". 

Frederick John Bridle (30), Driver, Royal Army Service Corps, son of  J. and Alice Bridle; husband of Florence Melitia Bridle, of Totterdown, Bristol, died on 9 Feb 1943. He is buried at Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, near Majaz al BabTunisia. (Tunisia was the scene of Operation Torch (8 Nov 1942 – 13 May 1943), the Allied invasion of North Africa. CWGC Commonwealth War Graves in Béja & Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia, North Africa.)

Frederick's widow, Florence M L Bridle, died in 1988, at 78, in Bristol.

Thursday 1 July 2021

James Luxton and Anna Maria Hawkins

St John the Evangelist, Lambeth Tom Morris, CC BY-SA 3.0 (interior)

James Luxton (b. 1841 in Taunton, Somerset), son of Charles Luxton and Charlotte Townsend, married Anna Maria Hawkins (b. 20 Aug 1839, bap. 8 Sep 1839, in Tiverton), daughter of James and Susannah Hawkins, on 11 May 1874 at St John the Evangelist, Lambeth. The couple undoubtedly met in Tiverton, perhaps were even childhood sweethearts, as James' parents had moved to Tiverton by 1853, where his younger sister was born that year.

This couple had five children, all baptised at at St Peter’s Church Tiverton.
  1. Charles Frank Luxton, b. 28 Jan 1876 (GRO Reference: 1876 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 451), bap. 12 Feb 1876
  2. Alice Luxton, b. 11 May 1878 (GRO Reference: 1878 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 452), bap. 26 May 1878
  3. Alfred James Massey Luxton, b. 1880 (GRO Reference: 1880 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 470), bap. 18 Apr 1880
  4. Emily Luxton b. 22 Jun 1882, (GRO Reference: 1882 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 433), bap. 9 Jul 1882
  5. Jessie Luxton, b. 27 Jun 1886 (GRO Reference: 1886 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 423), bap. 25 Jul 1886
On 29 Mar 1860, at the age of 19, James Luxton had enlisted in the British Army and served for 13 years, 320 days, in the 10th Reg Of Foot, until 16 Jul 1874, being promoted to Corporal in 1869 and attaining the rank of Sergeant in 1871. During that time, he spent over nine years serving abroad in the Cape of Good HopeSt HelenaJapan, China and the Straits Settlements.

James was discharged from the army in 1874 as he had been found unfit for further service, because of a valve disease of the heart. "Due to a constitutional cause, aggravated by service in hot climates", says the medical report on his service record. It went on to say that it was first noticed at Singapore in Nov 1872, when the patient was under treatment for another complaint. 

"He suffers from a most serious heart disease which he can never recover from. He can contribute to his maintenance by light work only", it concludes. 

On the 1881 census, James Luxton (40), was Grocer (Chelsea Pensioner) in Bampton Street, Tiverton, along with wife listed as Hannah M (40), Charles F (5), Alice (2), Alfred J M (1) and Bessie Hewett (14) Nurse domestic servant.

Unsurprisingly, James Luxton died in 1886, aged just 45. 

In 1891, Maria Luxton, widow, lived in Sewards Court, Leat Street, Tiverton, where she worked as a silk lace mender; Charles F Luxton (15) was a machine boy at the lace factory (Heathcoat Lace Factory, Tiverton, Devon), Alice (12) was employed as a silk winder at the lace factory and Alfred J M (10) was also a machine boy at the lace factory. Emily (8) and Jessie (5) were at school.

By 1901, Hannah M Luxton (59), widow, was still a silk lace mender; Alice Luxton (22) had moved up to silk lace finisher; Alfred Jas M (20) was employed as a cellar man at a wine & spirit merchants; whilst Emily (18) and her younger sister, Jessie (14), had become silk winders, working at the lace factory.

In 1911, Anne Maria Luxton (71) was still in Tiverton, living with her son, Alfred (31) still employed as a cellar man for a wine and spirit merchant.

Hannah Maria Luxton (née Hawkins) died, in Tiverton, in 1912 (GRO Reference: 1912  S Quarter in TIVERTON  Volume 05B  Page 418), aged 72.

Workers' housing and mill, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/2458956

Saturday 19 June 2021

Francis Blazey and Amy Rosa Joslin

Regent's Canal, Bow Common
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Pierre Terre - geograph.org.uk/p/129062

Francis Blazey (bap. 18 Oct 1867), son of Samuel Blazey and Elizabeth Wiggins, married Amy Rosa Joslin (b. 5 Feb 1865 in Kensington), daughter of Robert Hurrell Joslin from Chelmsford, Essex and Ann Graver from Hemsby, Norfolk, on 19 Jun 1892, at Saint John The Evangelist, Golding Street, Saint George in the East, where their marriage service was performed by Daniel Radford, Curate. (The church was closed during the Second World War and demolished in 1964.) Witnesses were Valentine and Caroline Wolf.

Francis and Amy had six children, all born in St George in the East

  1. Hilda Alice Eleanor Blazey b. 1892 S Quarter in ST. GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 370 (Died, aged 1, on 1 Jul 1894 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 205 and was buried at Margravine Cemetery, Hammersmith, Section 8 Letter K No. 7)
  2. Rosalie Hilda Blazey b. 7 May 1895 (1895 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 390)
  3. Alfred Hurrell Blazey b. 28 Jul 1898 (1898 S Quarter in ST GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 366), bap. 14 Aug 1898 at the church of St George in the East, in Cannon Street Road, Stepney.
  4. William Francis Blazey b. 27 Jan 1902 (1902 M Quarter in ST GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 345)
  5. Dorothy Alice Blazey b. 1904 M Quarter in ST. GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 357. (Died 1904 D Quarter Volume 01C Page 243)
  6. Ida Winifred Blazey b. 24 Aug 1907 (1907 S Quarter in ST. GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST Volume 01C Page 325)
Their address at the time of Alfred's baptism was 35 Tarling Street, St George in the East and Francis Blazey's occupation was Dock Labourer. After double-checking through records, it seems he was the only child they had baptised.

In 1901, living in 35, Tillman Street, St George in the East, were Francis Blazey (33) Labourer (civil service), Amy (33), Rosalie (5) and Alfred (2).

By 1911, they had moved to 22 Upper Chapman StSt George in the East. Francis Blazey (44) described as "Leading Man Of Labourers", with wife Amy Blazey (44), Rosalie (16), Alfred (13), William (10) and Ida (4). 

In 1921, still living at 22, Upper Chapman Street, St George in the East, London, were Francis Blazey (54) Charge Man & Labourer employed by the Admiralty; Amy Blazey (53), Rosalie Blazey (25) Clerk; Alfred Blazey (22) Clerk for the Admiralty; William Blazey (19) General Labourer for the Admiralty; Ida Blazey (13) and Annie Wood (24) Cook, Boarder.

Frances Blazey of 22 Chapman Street, E1, died, on 18 Apr 1938, aged 70 and was buried at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Tower Hamlets, London. He left £313 9s 7d (worth £21,610 in 2021) to his widow, Amy Rosa Blazey.

In 1939, Amy was living with her married daughter, Ida Jarvis, at 30 Warren Road, Merton, Surrey. Rosalie Blazey, Coal Merchant's Clerk, was still living at 22 Chapman Street, Shadwell, Tower Hamlets, Stepney.

Amy R Blazey died, in Surrey, on 1 Apr 1941, aged 75. She was also buried at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Tower Hamlets, London.

  • Rosalie Hilda Blazey of 4 Queensbridge DriveHerne Bay, Kent died, on 2 Jul 1981, aged 86. She had never married. 
  • 2nd Lieutenant Alfred Hurrell Blazey served in the The Duke Of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) during World War I and on 21 Feb 1922 was appointed to the Civil Service, Admiralty, as a Writer in HM Dockyards and Naval Establishments. In 1925 Alfred Hurrell Blazey married Violet Catherine Petrie, in Poplar. They appear to have two sons, born 1928 and 1930 (in 1939 could be evacuees). In 1939, Alfred and Violet were living at 4 St James's Avenue, Bromley, Kent. Alfred H Blazey died, at 61, in 1959, in Bromley, Kent. Violet Catherine Blazey (b. 1 Nov 1898), of 4 St James's Avenue, Bromley, Kent, died at 93, on 19 Jan 1991.
  • William Francis Blazey married Lilian Selina Martin (b. 25 May 1898) at St. George in the East, in 1922. They had one daughter, Lilian Ida Blazey (b. 1923 - d. 20 Dec 2016 in Herne Bay, Kent). In 1939, William F Blazey, Crane Driver, his wife and daughter were living at 36 Boundfield Road, Hither Green, Lewisham. Lilian S Blazey died, at 68, in 1966, in Lewisham; William Francis Blazey died, at 66, on 24 Jan 1969, in Bromley, Kent.
  • Ida Winifred Blazey married Herbert James Valentine Jarvis (b. 8 Feb 1910), in 1935, in Stepney. They had a daughter, Doreen Ann Jarvis (b. 22 Dec 1936 - d. 31 Aug 2017) and a son in 1948. In 1939, Herbert J Jarvis, Fishmonger's Shop Assistant, Ida W Jarvis, Doreen A Jarvis and Amy R Blazey, were living at 30 Warren Road, Merton, Surrey. Herbert James V Jarvis died in 1978 and Ida Winifred Jarvis died on 6 Apr 1984, both in Crawley.