NAMES Archives - Page 3 of 27

A Walsallian Story

Companion post for the Geneageek’s Gems podcast episode:
A Walsallian Story

(The relationship of George Ebbans and Sarah Ann Crossley was also previously discussed in the post: ‘George the Absconder‘.)

In the 1921 census, Sarah Ann Crossley was recorded in the home of her parents on 35 Farringdon Street, Walsall. Her husband was not with her and I was unable to find him elsewhere, despite George being released from military service in 1919.

page from 1921 census — Crossley family on 1921 census: 35 Farringdon Street.

I knew the couple had stayed together because they had two children who went on to have families of their own: a son, George, born in 1922, as well as a daughter, born in 1925.

old birth certificate — 1922 birth certificate of George Ebbans

George junior’s birth certificate stated that he was born at 74 Upper Green Lane, so I began to search the newspapers for that address, and struck gold! Through these newspaper reports, I was able to piece together the ‘tumultuous’ relationship of George and Sarah Ann.

George Ebbans and Sarah Ann Crossley married in Walsall on 14 June 1917, while George was home on leave from serving in the First World War. Their first child, Renee Victoria Ebbans was born 18 July 1919, and all appeared well with the couple. The following day was Peace Day, and George apparently celebrated a bit too hard, came home drunk, and abused his wife, who was still recovering from giving birth the day before. He also made the vile accusation, that little Renee was actually the child of Sarah Ann’s father. The 1920 Walsall Observer article recounts several episodes of George’s abusive behaviour, including an attack on his sister-in-law at George’s mother’s house (this would have been 140 Bridgeman Street). George blamed his lack of financial support for his wife and daughter, on his inability to work regularly due to ill-health.

newspaper clipping — Walsall Observer, 21 Feb 1920, p8, c3

The cycle of abuse, separation, and reunion continued for another five years, with Sarah Ann often taking refuge with her parents at 35 Farringdon Street. During this time, little Renee died (1921), and two sons were born, George (1922) and Sidney (1924) (Sidney died shortly after or at birth). The 1925 Walsall Observer article reported that George would be gaoled (and often) if his refusal to support his wife and child continued.

clipping from newspaper — Walsall Observer, 8 Aug 1925, p5, c2

Sarah Ann had been pregnant at the time of the previous article, and their last child was born in the final quarter of 1925. By February 1926, George had still not given any money to Sarah Ann and was committed to gaol for two months.

The last ‘sighting’ of George was in the 1930 Birmingham Daily Gazette, when he was sentenced to another three months in prison for owing a whopping £174 in maintenance arrears.

The 1920 article gave George’s address as 38 Farringdon Street but he was not there in the 1921 census. Fortunately, I was finally able to locate him by browsing the other Farringdon Street pages/returns. It turns out that in 1921, he was lodging with the Greatrex family at 32 Farringdon Street.

1921 census page — George Ebbans on the 1921 census: 32 Farringdon Street

Where George went, and what he did AFTER 1930 is still a mystery. Any information regarding this would be very welcome (rumours or fact). (Contact Me)

Listen to the episode: A Walsallian Story

Show notes and post-show notes for this episode can be found on the podcast page.

Mary Wilcox – A Minor Mystery Solved

(continued from previous post: Who was Mary Wilcox?)

The first step was to do a ‘blanket search’ for Mary born c1828. There was another Mary Wilcox of a similar age recorded in the 1841 census, however this one was recorded with her parents, so I was able to rule out any record for this daughter of William and Jane Wilcox.

I found a baptism record for Mary of the correct age – born 22 October 1828 (baptised 1832), daughter of snaffle maker John Wilcox and his wife, Mary. This means she was 12 at the time of the 1841 census which matched up neatly with the Mary Wilcox recorded with the Thomasons. But another clue lay in where she was baptised – the ‘Independent’ Bridge Street Chapel, Walsall. This was the same place Hannah Craddock and her brother Samuel had been baptised about two decades before. Samuel Craddock was also a snaffle maker, indicating a possible family trade.

Baptism entry — 1832 Baptism of Mary Wilcox – Bridge Street Chapel, Walsall

But where was the Craddock link?

I searched for the marriage of John and Mary and… BINGO! There was a marriage on 1 November 1824 at West Bromwich of John Wilcox and Mary Craddock. (Unfortunately there was no image.)

I was unable to find a baptism record for Harriet Wilcox, but did find her with parents John and Mary in the 1841 census. This supports my theory that the Harriet Wilcox, also with the Wheeley family on the 1851 census, was the sister of Mary Wilcox.

family entry from 1841 census — Wilcox family on 1841 census – Blue Lane, Walsall

So, there we are – minor mystery solved:

Mary Wilcox was the niece of Hannah Wheeley (nee Craddock); daughter of Hannah’s sister Mary Wilcox (nee Craddock).

We will probably never know if Lydia Thomason (nee Walton) was introduced to Samuel Craddock by Mary or vice versa – but we at least know that connection was there.

However, another minor mystery has emerged…

Mary’s sister, Harriet Wilcox, went on to marry miner James Pearson in 1855 – was he related to Mary’s fellow servant, Sarah Pearson, in the 1841 census? I think I’ll leave that one for ‘another day’.

Who Was Mary Wilcox?

I first came across Mary Wilcox quite a few years ago. She was recorded on the 1881 census, in the home of Thomas Henry Wheeley, as his cousin. At 53, Mary was considerably older than 30-year-old Thomas, but since the term ‘cousin’ could be used rather loosely, this did not necessarily mean they were first cousins. The exact relationship between them was unclear.

1881 census – 36 Garden St, Walsall: Mary as cousin

As I worked backwards through the censuses, Mary kept cropping up. In 1851, 1861, and 1871, she was recorded with Thomas Henry’s parents, Thomas and Hannah Wheeley. In 1851, she was recorded as a 22-year-old japanner and servant to Thomas Wheeley (as was a 17-year-old Harriet Wilcox).

part of 1851 census record — 1851 Census – Garden Walk, Walsall: Mary Wilcox as servant

However, in 1861 and 1871, her relationship was recorded as ‘niece’.

family entry on 1861 census — 1861 census – Garden Street, Walsall: Mary Wilcox as niece

In my experience, relationships to the head of the family, can refer to either the head or his wife, so this Mary Wilcox was the niece of either Thomas Wheeley or his wife, Hannah Craddock – great, good to know – and basically she was put in the ‘for another day’ pile.

Well, that day has arrived!

While extending the Wheeley branches, Mary Wilcox popped up AGAIN in an unexpected place.

Hannah’s brother, Samuel Craddock, married Lydia Thomason (nee Walton) in 1853. Lydia was the widow of Charles Thomason. In the 1841 census Charles and Lydia Thomason were living with their two young children at Potters Lodge (near Full Brook), Walsall. Also there, was 20-year-old japanner Sarah Pearson and 12-year-old servant, MARY WILCOX.

part of 1841 census image — 1841 census – Potters Lodge, Walsall: Mary Wilcox in home of Charles and Lydia Thomason

Does this mean Mary was actually related to Lydia? Or had Lydia met her next husband Samuel via Mary’s relationship to him? Or was this a completely different Mary Wilcox altogether?

Who was Mary Wilcox?

Next post: Mary Wilcox – A Minor Mystery Solved

Five Men Drowned – Connections

PLEASE NOTE: The charts shown on this post have an error. The father of Elisabeth Buchan (b1874) was not a granddaughter of John (Park’s Jockie) Buchan (b1792). Please see the post ‘Five Men Drowned – Connections and Corrections’ for an updated chart and explanation.

In the final post of the series, I mentioned that I had not been able to find any direct link to my family from any of the five men. However, I thought it would probably be a good idea to show the links that are there.

Family chart illustrating the connections between author's family and the victims — How the five men connect to my family (click to enlarge image)

Alexander Ritchie Buchan was my second great-grandfather.

Charles Bruce was the father-in-law of Alexander’s brother Peter.
Andrew Buchan was the cousin of Alexander’s brother-in-law (husband of sister Jessie).
Alexander Strachan and Andrew Strachan were the father-in-law and brother-in-law of Jessie’s husband’s cousin (Elisabeth).
Andrew Bruce does not currently have any known connection to my family.

Please note: these are the closest connections as they currently stand. The families of St Combs were so entwined, there are bound to be other ways they link and less distant connections may be discovered in time.

UPDATE:

Less than a day after posting the above, I was able to connect Andrew Bruce. It turns out that Andrew was actually the nephew of Charles Bruce.

Family chart illustrating the connections between author's family and the victims with new addition — Connection chart updated (click to enlarge)

Apparently though, Andrew is more closely connected to my family via a different route:

This can be expressed in many different ways – none of those being straight forward.

We could say:

My second great grandfather’s uncle married the second cousin of Andrew Bruce.

My third great grandfather’s brother married Andrew Bruce’s second cousin.

Andrew Bruce was the second cousin of my third great grandfather’s sister-in-law.

Andrew Bruce was the second cousin of the wife of Alexander Ritchie Buchan’s uncle.

OR…

… (It could go on and on.)

Whichever way, I’m glad a connection has been made and will be sure to update here when closer ones are found.

Posts in this series:
Five Men Drowned
Five Men Drowned – Two Recovered
Five Men Drowned – Three Buried at Sea
Five Men Drowned – One Survivor

Five Men Drowned

At about 4 o’clock on a winter’s afternoon, off the north east coast of Scotland, a fishing boat was swamped by a heavy wave while returning home from a day’s work. Of the six men aboard, only one survived.

The tragedy occurred on Friday, 9 February 1872, about three miles from land, just north of Rattray Head. All of the crew were from the village of St Combs, in the parish of Lonmay, Aberdeenshire. As can be imagined, the incident had a devastating effect on the inhabitants of this tiny coastal village.

old map showing St Combs and Rattray Head — St Combs and Rattray Head shown on a map c1894

The sole survivor, James Buchan, signed as informant on the death records for his deceased crewmates – Andrew Buchan (34), Andrew Bruce (24), Charles Bruce (40), Alexander Strachan (50), and Andrew Strachan (20). The cause of death was recorded for all as “Drowning caused by the upsetting of a boat about 3 miles off the shore of St Combs”. “Body not found” was added in parentheses to the latter three, whose bodies were not recovered.

In following posts, I hope to share more about the lives of these unfortunate fishermen, and uncover the links, if any, to my own family.

ABERDEENSHIRE BOAT SWAMPED.
FIVE FISHERMEN DROWNED.
About four o’clock on Friday afternoon a fishing boat belonging to St Comb’s, parish of Lonmay, having on board a crew of six fishermen, while returning from the fishing, was swamped by a heavy sea when about four miles off the land, and five of the crew were drowned. The names of the unfortunate men are Charles Bruce, aged 40; Andrew Strachan, 20; Alexander Strachan, 50; Andrew Buchan, 34; Andrew Bruce, 25; all fishermen residing in St Comb’s. The other man, named James Buchan, succeeded in keeping himself afloat by clinging to the oars until a boat which was also returning from the fishing arrived at the scene and rescued him. Two of the bodies were also picked up by the boat, but both were quite dead. The lamentable occurrence has caused a feeling of depression throughout the whole neighbourhood.
Dundee Courier, 12 February 1872, p2, c6

MELANCHOLY OCCURENCE—FIVE MEN DROWNED.—On Friday evening a very melancholy occurrence happened, by which five fishermen were lost at sea. The unfortunate men, who along with another man, had formed a boat’s crew, had been at the white fishing, and were returning homewards when a little to the north of Rattray Head a heavy sea broke over them, and quite overwhelmed the boat. The man who was saved succeeded in keeping himself afloat by means of oars until a neighbouring crew came to his assistance, but the other five, after a struggle in the broken water, were drowned. Some hours afterwards two of the bodies that had become entangled with the buoys and lines were washed ashore, but the other three remain unrecovered. The fishermen all belonged St. Combs, and the following is a list of their names and ages :—Charles Bruce, 40; Andrew Strachan, 20; Alex. Strachan, 50; Andrew Buchan, 34; and Andrew Bruce, 25. Andrew Strachan was unmarried but each of the others has left a widow and a large family. The bodies of Andrew Buchan and Andrew Bruce were taken ashore in the rescuing boat, and the scene of grief which was witnessed when the sad tidings became known cannot be described.
Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser, 16 February 1872, p3, c3

Next post: Five Men Drowned – Two Recovered

Companion post for the Geneageek’s Gems podcast episode: A Walsallian Story

Listen to the episode: A Walsallian Story

Show notes and post-show notes for this episode can be found on the podcast page.

Companion post for the Geneageek’s Gems podcast episode:
A Walsallian Story