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My
Great, Great, Great Grandfather, Thomas Death, originally came from
Suffolk. He was a gardener by trade and married Sarah Bailey on March
30th 1824, in Chertsey, Surrey and they had at least one son, Charles,
who spelt his name Deeth. Charles moved to Reading and became a
miller. He married Sarah Fear, a baker, in 1846 at St. Giles's church.
Sarah and Charles had nine children, the first three were born in
Reading, then they moved to Hurley, in Berkshire where they had another
three or four, finally moving to Great Marlow, where my Great
Grandfather, Edward Charles was born in 1862. He was the eighth child
and was followed by Herbert. Two of the brothers went to Canada. My
Great Grandfather married a young girl who was in service at the time,
in Great Marlow, Laura Francis Howlett. She was born at the White Lion
hotel, Croxton, Nr. Thetford, Norfolk, to Frederick Howlett and his wife
Maryann. She was the second sister in a family of seven. I knew her as
'Little Gran'. Edward, Laura, Edward Francis and Frederick William,
their sons moved to Coventry, with Edward Sr's brother Henry. They were
all coach builder/painters. They lived close to each other in Brick
Kiln Lane (now Gulson Road) and Henry married Annie Stanton in Coventry,
in 1893.
Grandad
Death met my Grandmother, Florence Emma Pearman, in the mid 1900's but
they didn't get married until 1910 because Florence was looking after
the family, as her Mother, Hannah Maria Pearman was ill for some time.
Both her Mother and her Father, Arthur died in 1908. After they got
married at St. John the Baptist church in Fleet Street they bought a
house at No 2, Norfolk Street. A large family house, with a 'top
shop'. (Watchmaker's) Uncle Len, Nan's brother, also lived there, as he
never married. My Mother, Gwendoline Mary was born on August 26th 1911,
another daughter, Laura, in 1913 and a son, Edward Francis (known as
Frank), in 1915. Grandad fought in W.W.1, so it was up to Nan to bring
up the little ones. Uncle Len had joined the army as well. Thankfully,
both Uncle Len and Grandad returned from the war.
Grandad's
brother, Frederick William had died in 1916, aged 28, from septic
pneumonia.He was engaged to be married . I believe his fiancée died as
well. Unfortunately there is no-one left to check with, so I don't know
the details. Grandad's father died in 1921 and afterwards, Little Gran
came to live in Norfolk Street. Frederick Douglas was born on February
25th 1927, so completing the family. All the children went to St. John's
school in Gloucester Street, just around the corner and I assume that's
where my Mother, Gwen, met my Father, Noel Batchelor because he also
went to the same school. Mum was the first to leave the nest and married
Dad on August 17th 1934. Aunt Laura was next, and then Uncle Frank
married Kathleen Grace Poulter at Baginton church in 1940. I was
Auntie Kath's small bridesmaid. Mum made me a lovely gold satin dress
for the occasion.
Sadly,
the house was bombed by incendiaries in November 14 1940 (see My Story)
and Little Gran and Fred came to stay with us for a while, until Nan and
Grandad could get another house. Uncle Frank joined the army in World
War 2, so Auntie Kath went back to Oak Farm in Baginton, to live with
her parents. She had Lorna in 1942 and Linda a year or two later.
Celia was born in 1947/8 and Frank, their son was born in 1950/51. The
house had been re-built by now, but Nan was settled in Windsor Street,
so Uncle Frank and Auntie Kath moved in, ready to have their little son,
who was born -----at 2, Norfolk Street!!
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