History – Page 2 – A little bit of this ~ A little bit of that

Emily Hutchings

February 15, 2021March 7, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

My great great grandmother Emily Hutchings was born in Birmingham on 7 April 1861. Emily was the daughter of William Hutchings and Amelia Underwood. Beginning in 1881 and ending in 1907, Emily is believed to have had thirteen children (see post titled ‘The pommie mafia’.) by the age of 20 she was married and had her first child.

1871

Emily can first be found on the 1871 census, aged ten, living at East Street, St Andrew Priory, Northampton, with her parents. William and Amelia are recorded as tailors but their birth place is not known. Emily is shown to have a sister, Mary J and two brothers, Alfred and William.

1881

In 1881 Emily can be found at 12, William Street, Northampton. Aged 20, she is married to Charles Abram and they have a son named Francis G. Emily is recorded as a shoe fitter.

1891

The Abram family can be found on the 1891 census living at Great Holme Street, Leicester. Emily is now aged 30 and along with Francis G, she now has six other children – Joseph C (my great grandfather), Amelia A, Theresa, William and Albert V.

1901

In 1901, the family are back in Northampton at 75, Lower Hester Street. Another four children have joined the family – Alfred, Louis, Walter and Kathleen.

1911

Emily can be found on the 1911 census at Station Road, Earl’s Barton, Northamptonshire. Another three children have joined the family – Rose, Reginald James and violet May.

1939

Charles and Emily can also be found on the 1939 register, living alone at 77 Station Road, Earls Barton. Emily’s occupation is given as unpaid domestic duties and Charles is recorded as a pensioner.

On paper, Emily’s life may look unspectacular but she lived through significant events such as the invention of television and radio, the suffragette movement, the death of Queen Victoria and her son King Edward VII, the sinking of the Titantic, the Spanish flu, two world wars, the creation of the BBC, women getting the vote, the first talkie, the discovery of penicillin, the Wall Street crash, the first Penguin paperbacks going on sale, the death of George V and the abdication of Edward VIII, the establishment of the NHS, the publication of George Orwell’s 1984, the death of George V and the succession of Elizabeth II. After the second world war, a number of her children emigrated to Australia including her daughter Violet who was just 18 at the time. Emily sent the photo above to Violet many year letter, on the reverse it read, ‘What do you think of a face like this at 90’? She died in 1952 at the grand old age of 91.

Charles Abram

February 15, 2021February 15, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

My great great grandfather Charles Abram was born in Rothwell, Northamptonshire on 8 August 1859. He was the son of Joseph Abram and Ann Cox who were both born in Northamptonshire. Charles’ life can be tracked through census returns.

1861

The 1861 census shows Charles him living at 4, Lower River Terrace, St Sepulchre, Northampton with his parents. Joseph’s occupation is shown as a shoemaker and Charles has two sisters, Emma and Harriett.

1881

In 1881 Charles can be found at 12, William Street, Northampton. Aged 22, he is married to Emily and they have a son named Francis G. Charles is recorded as a shoe finisher and Emily as a shoe fitter.

1891

The Abram family can be found on the 1891 census living at Great Holme Street, Leicester. Charles is aged 31 and his occupation is now recorded as a shoemaker. Along with Francis G, six other children are recorded – Joseph C (my great grandfather), Amelia A, Theresa, William and Albert V.

1901

In 1901, the family are back in Northampton at 75, Lower Hester Street. Another four children have joined the family – Alfred, Louis, Walter and Kathleen.

1911

Charles can be found on the 1911 census at Station Road, Earl’s Barton, Northamptonshire. His occupation is a shoe machine operative. Another three children have joined the family – Rose, Reginald James and violet May.

1939

Charles and Emily can also be found on the 1939 register, living alone at 77 Station Road, Earls Barton. Charles is recorded as a pensioner and Emily’s occupation is given as unpaid domestic duties.

George Brooker and Mary Ann Brooker (nee Darts)

February 14, 2021February 22, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

My great great grandfather George Brooker was born on 14 February 1846. He was the son of James Brooker and Jane Hall. My great great grandmother Mary Ann Darts was born in 1845 and was the daughter of Benjamin Darts* and Ann Hall. George and Mary married in Wrestlingworth in 1867, where they lived throughout their lives.

Census returns

1851

The 1851 census shows George Brooker, aged five at Cambridge Road, Wrestlingworth, Biggleswade. James and Jane are both aged 29 and James is working as a farm labourer. George has one sister, Sarah and a brother Joseph. In 1861 the family can be found at Water End, Wrestlingworth, Biggleswade. George is now 15 and he has three brothers, John, Nineon and Joseph.

I believe I have found the Darts family on the 1851 census too. Benjamin Darts aged 35 is recorded as a farm labourer born in Wrestlingworth. He is living at Potton End and recorded as having a wife named Ann Dort aged 32 and four children – Matilda Dart, Mary Ann Dort, Benjamin Dort and Sarah Dort. However, in 1861, Benjamin aged 44 is recorded as a widower with four children – Matilda, Benjamin, Sarah and Harriett Darts, again living at Water End, Wrestlingworth, Biggleswade. The 1871 census shows Benjamin and daughter Sarah living alone at Fast and Last, Wrestlingworth.

1871

The 1871 census also shows that George is now married to my great great grandmother Mary Ann. They are living at Fast and Last in Wrestlingworth with a daughter, Lucy A Brooker, aged three. In 1881, living at Water End, they have six children – Louisa A, Harriet, Jane, Alice, David (my great grandfather). In 1891 they are recorded with children, David, Arthur, Sam and Alice. In 1901 they are again in Wrestlingworth with children David and Samuel and grandson William, aged two, who was born in Middlesex.

The Brooker and Darts family appear to have been neighbours. The 1861 census shows the Brooker family living at Water End, Wrestlingworth, Biggleswade. The Darts family can be found living there on the same census. The 1871 census shows George and Mary Ann Darts and their daughter Lucy living at Fast and Last, Wrestlingworth, Biggleswade. Benjamin Darts and his daughter Sarah can be found living there too.

The First and Last

The First and Last appears to have been a beer house. Images of the beer house can be found on the Bedfordshire Archives website.

Beer houses were created by the 1830 Beer Act, when the government tried to create a free market in beer and they were controlled by the excise department. As long as a few basic conditions were met, beer house licenses were granted automatically.

Neither George or Benjamin were the licencee of The First and Last beer house. Bedfordshire archives have advised that at the time the census was taken, the beer house appears to have been the last property to have a name of number so this has been continued to following properties. Benjamin and George are both recorded as the head of their household and // indicates the end of a household which shows they lived in separate properties but no street name or property number is given. In 1871 Charles Masters is in fact recorded as the publican in 1871 and again in 1891.

Further information

* A Benjamin Darts, aged 27 and born in 1814 is recorded on the 1841 census at
Wrestlingworth, Biggleswade in the home of Samuel Hall, where he also lives with
with Ann Hall aged 22. Household members include those with the name Darts and
those with the name Hall.

Eleanor, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Ann

February 14, 2021February 14, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

My great grandmother Eleanor Rose Payne was born on 23 August 1892 in Biggleswade. She was the daughter of Charles and Rhoda Payne (nee Brown) who was born in 1860 in Potton, Bedfordshire. Rhoda’s mother was Elizabeth and her mother was Ann. Their lives can be tracked by census returns.

Note:

Bedfordshire County Record Office have advised there were two Rhoda Brown’s born in Stotfold within a year of one another. One was the daughter of Elizabeth, the other the daughter of James. I believe my family is descended from the daughter of Elizabeth.

1861

The 1861 census shows Ann, a widow, aged 65, living at Queen Street, Stotfold, Biggleswade with her daughter Elizabeth, aged 35 (born 1826), who is unmarried. Elizabeth’s daughter Rhoda is living with them and is less than one year old. Ann was born in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, Elizabeth and Rhoda were born in Stotfold.

1871

The 1871 census shows Elizabeth, aged 46 and Rhoda aged 10, at Brook Street, Stotfold, Biggleswade. Elizabeth’s occupation is a straw plaiter.

1881

The 1881 census shows Elizabeth, aged 56, at Meeting Lane, Potton, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England. Her marital status is shown as married, however there is no husband recorded. Elizabeth is working as a char woman. She is living with Rhoda, aged 20, who is working as a domestic servant.

1884

I believe that Rhoda had a daughter called Annie born outside of marriage on 20 June 1884. Rhoda would have been 24 at the time. No details of the father appear on the birth certificate. However Annie appears to be living with Rhoda on the 1901 census and recorded as ‘Annie Paine’.

1891

Rhoda can be found on the 1891 census of Potton, aged 31 and now married to Charles Paine. They have one son called Charles, aged five and a daughter, Ellie, aged two. Elizabeth Brown can also be found on the 1891 census, at Meeting Lane, Potton, Biggleswade, living with with her granddaughter Annie Brown.

1901

The 1901 census show Rhoda and Charles are still at Horselow Street. The family has grown and now comprises six children – Annie (aged 16), Charles, Nelly (aged 8, born 1893), Minnie, Florence and Bertie.

1911

The family are still at Horselow Street on the 1911 census but Eleanor Rose is not with them.

Charles Payne

February 14, 2021February 14, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

My great great grandfather Charles Payne was born in Stotfold, Bedfordshire in 1860. His life can be tracked by census returns.

Note: Although I use the spelling of Payne on this page, historically the surname can also be spelt Paine and Pain

1891

Charles can be found on the 1891 census living at Horselow Street, Potton, aged 32 and married to my great grandmother Rhoda. They have one son named Charles, aged five and a daughter, Ellie, aged two. He is employed as a farm labourer.

1901

The 1901 census show Charles aged 41 and Rhoda are still at Horselow Street. The family has grown and now comprises six children – Annie, Charles, Nelly (aged 8, born 1893), Minnie, Florence and Bertie. Charles is employed as an ordinary agricultural labourer.

1911

The family are still at Horselow Street on the 1911 census, Charles is aged 50. His occupation is given as Gardeners labour.

Ellen Kefford

February 13, 2021February 13, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

Ellen Kefford was born on 25 December 1880 in Sawston, Cambridgeshire. She was the daughter of James Kefford and Harriet Coleman.

The 1881 census shows Ellen, aged less than one year old, living in Sawston with her father James, a shepherd, mother Harriet and four brothers and sisters – John, Rebecca, Thomas and Jane.

Ellen married my great grandfather David Brooker in Biggleswade on 2 December 1903 and the 1911 census shows them living together in Wrestlingworth with a four year old son called David Arthur.

Ellen died suddenly in 1932 at the age of 54, at the Southend Municipal Hospital in Rochford, Essex following an accident. Her death and the inquest that followed was reported in newspapers at the time.

David Brooker

February 13, 2021February 14, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

David Brooker was born on 16 January 1879 in Biggleswade. He was the son of George Brooker and Mary Ann Darts.

The 1881 census shows David aged two, living in Wrestlingworth with his parents and five brothers and sisters – Arthur, Alice, Jane, Harriet and Louisa. In 1891, David aged 13 can still be found living with his parents and working as an agricultural labourer and the same on the 1901 census, aged 22.

David married my great grandmother Ellen Kefford in Biggleswade on 2 December 1903 and the 1911 census shows them living together in Wrestlingworth with a four year old son called David Arthur. The 1939 register shows David to be widowed, living in Biggleswade and working as a horseman on a farm. Living with him are Arthur D Brooker and Ellen Brooker, my great grandmother.

David died in Biggleswade on 3 February 1957, my mum’s birthday.

Louis Bowers Abram

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

Louis Bowers Abram was my grandfather on my fathers side of the family.

During the 1930’s Louis passed exams set by the East Midland Educational Union in Motor in Practical Mathematics, Workshop Science and Principles of Engineering and Engineering (Mechanical). He later worked at S and W Motors Limited where he was indentured as an apprentice from May 1931 to May 1933, as a Motor Engineer at York Ward and Rowlatt from May 1933 to May 1934 and at Gilmour and Vale a company that manufactured engineering components.

He was a Corporal in the Royal Air Force and learnt to fly in a Tiger Moth at Sywell but war broke out on the day he was due to take his test, so he never saw active combat. (Louis is stood at the back on the far left),

He also worked at Vauxhall Motors in Luton, retiring in 1970 after 25 years service having established ‘an excellent reputation in respect of loyalty, conscientiousness and timekeeping’.

I remember visiting my grandparents at their homes in Luton and Chester. My grandad grew tomatoes in a greenhouse and to this day, I can’t smell tomatoes without thinking about him.

More photos

Delia Eileen Clarke

January 18, 2021April 1, 2022 ToniLouisaLeave a comment

My grandmother Deilia Eileen Clarke was the daughter of Albert Edward William Clarke, a Northamptonshire Police Sergeant and Louisa Jane Shortland.

Delia (known as Dids), born in 1916, was one of five children, having four sisters – Dorothy, born 1904, Cecily Mary Clarke (known as Molly) born 1914, Kitty (known as Kitten), born 1920 and one brother Edward Alexander (Teddy), who was born in 1906 and died, aged four, in 1910. However my dad believes that Louisa Jane had a number of miscarriages and if these had not occurred, there may have been 11 or 12 children.

My grandmother married Louis Bowers Abram in 1940 and my father Michael was born in 1944. Oldest sister Dorothy married Henry Grey Faber in 1960. Born in 1914, Cecily Mary Clarke, known as Molly, was the second oldest sister. She suffered with epilepsy and did not marry. Kitty Alexandra was born in 1920 and married Reginald William Jeffery, known as Bill. Together they ran a hairdressers shop in Brackley, Northamptonshire.

I remember visiting my grandparents at their homes in Luton and Chester. My nan I remember would wear more than one pair of glasses at a time and also, back when we had paper money, would use the money as writing paper to work out how much she owed someone or who much they owed her. In writing this, I am surprised at how many photos of my nan I have found where she is standing, as I only really ever remember her with mobility issues – firstly using sticks to get around and later being confined to a wheelchair. Nan’s condition went un-diagnosed during her lifetime but today it seems likely that she may have had centronuclear myopathy like dad and I.