Norris - Bristow Marriage Certificate 1918

I have in my possession the marriage certificate of my maternal grandparents William Norris and Lucy Bristow. The certificate provides the following information:

The marriage was solemnized at the Register Office in the District of Southwark in the County of London on the twenty eighth of September 1918. William Herbert Norris is 19 years, a bachelor and a Licensed Victuallers Barman or possibly Barmanager (it is not clear), His address is given as 19 Cooks Road, Kennington Park. His father is Herbert George Norris and his profession is given as House Decorator (Journeyman), Lucy Harrison (?) Bristow is 20 years, a spinster and a Domestic Servant; her address is 64 (?) Claverton Street, Belgravia. Her father is Frederick Bristow and his profession is "Land Farmer". The marriage takes place by licence before the registrar Charles Edward Jones and in the presence of A G Norris and E F Norris. Who are the two witnesses? A G Norris could be my Grandad's older brother George Albert Norris born c 1897, and E F Norris could be his mother Elizabeth Fanny Norris (nee Darby).

A Newspaper Cutting

People get into the newspapers for all sorts of reasons, some good and some bad! This is me in a cutting from the Wiltshire Times, circa early sixties, exact date unknown.

The caption reads: "Heather Day and Colin Edmunds lend a hand in the kitchen at the Holy Trinity Young Wives' group annual party at the Church Hall, Trowbridge, last night".

The Cobern Family

My paternal Grandmother was Ethel Cobern. She married my grandfather, Herbert Edmunds in 1902.

Ethel was born c 1880 in Whiteparish, Wiltshire. Her parents were Henry Cobern - born c 1850  in Whiteparish - and Sarah Sillence born c 1851 in Sherfield, Hampshire.

Henry and Sarah married in 1870 in Romsey, Hampshire.

In the 1881 Census, Henry, aged 31, is working as a Domestic Servant - Coachman, and living in Whiteparish with his wife, and four children: George, Sarah, William and Ethel. Their home is The Stables, Broxmore House.

Broxmore House, Whiteparish

In the 1891 Census the family is living at Portway Road, Stratford Under the Castle, in Aldbury, Wiltshire. Henry, aged 41, is listed as an Agricultural Labourer, Sarah is there aged 40, as are also there children: William (aged 13), Ethel (aged 11), Edith (aged 8), Alice (aged 4), Robert (aged 2).

In the 1901 Census the family is living in Sand Road, Whiteparish. Henry, aged 50, is now employed as an Agricultural Labourer. Along with his wife Sarah (aged 49), their children Laura (aged 5), Robert (aged 12), Stephen (aged 8) and William (aged 23) are there. Also there is a Grandson Charles, who is less than a year old.

In the 1911 Census the family is living in Sand Road, Whiteparish; Henry aged 61 is employed as a Farm Labourer. Sarah is 59 - she and Henry have been married 41 years and have all of their 9 children surviving. Also living at the address are George (aged 38), Stephen (aged 18) and two grand children Charles Cobern (aged 10) and Frederick Targett (aged 5)

All together, Henry and Sarah had 9 children, all of whom were born in Whiteparish, Wiiltshire:

George Cobern (1872 - 1942)

In the 1911 Census, George is aged 38. single, living with his parents and working as a General Labourer on a farm

Sarah Cobern (1875 - 1966)

William Cobern - (1877 - 1951)

In the 1881 Census William is aged 13, living with parents and working as an Errand Boy.

In the 1901 Census, aged 23, William is still living with parents and working as a Groom - with the note "not domestic"

Ethel Cobern  (1880 - 1953) - my Grandmother

In the 1891 Census Ethel, aged 11, is a scholar living in the family home

In the 1901 Census, aged 21 and single, Ethel is living as a domestic cook / housemaid at Copythorne Vicarage, Copythorne in the New Forest, the Vicar being Francis J Ambridge of St Mary's North Elling).

What the 1901 Census doesn't tell us, but other research does, is that back in the family home in Whiteparish Ethel's son Charles is being cared for by her parents.

Edith Cobern (1883 - 1961)

Alice Cobern (1887 - 1966)

Robert Cobern (1888 - 1970)

In the 1901 Census, Robert is aged 12, living with his parents and working as a Boy With Horses on Farm.

Stephen Cobern - born c 1893

In the 1911 Census Stephen is aged 18, single and living with parents. His employment is that of Workman on Farm

Laura Cobern (1896 - 1949)

At Home With the Edmunds' - Barkers Hill

My father was Robert Percy Edmunds. His father was Herbert Edmunds and his mother Ethel Cobern. The family home whilst my father was growing up was Hill Top, Barkers Hill, Semley, Near Shaftesbury, Wiltshire.

My late father left passed-on several memories of this home ...

It was from one of the upper floor windows of this house that my father fell when he was about two years old. Fortunately no lasting damage was done! 

My grandmother one day dropped a pudding on the floor. It fell to pieces but she put it back on the plate to serve it anyway. My grandfather apparently said: "Well that looks a bloody mess dear", upon which she deposited the contents of the plate on his head!

My grandparents ran a small grocery shop from the house. It is listed in Kelly's Directory from 1923; for 1939 it reads, "Edmunds Herbert, Grocer, Barkers Hill". Mention is made of the shop in a discovered childhood memoir by a woman only identified by the initials K.K. "Mrs Edmunds had a little shop at the top of Barkers Hill - just a few groceries and stamps. I often had to run up there when we ran out of tea or sugar".

Click here to read the full memoir of a childhood in Semley

My grandfather apparently had little formal education but was self taught and local people often came to him for advice; my grandmother would often be called upon to attend births and deaths.

My grandfather often said that this cottage would one day be worth a fortune - he was right, today it is probably worth about half-million pounds! Shame it is no longer in the family!

Electoral Register

Looking at the 1925 electoral register, Herbert and Ethel are both there.
On the electoral register for 1934 Herbert and Ethel are both listed as living here, along with their son Albert William Edmunds and his wife Hannah Elizabeth.
The 1939 register mentions Herbert and Ethel, and also my dad's brother Clifford.

Evacuation Register

The Edmunds' home appears on the Evacuation register for 1940.We find there that the house has five habitable rooms and four people ordinarily present. The possible number of persons who could be accommodated is given as one.

To be continued

Military Career of William Arthur Norris (b.1883)

When one finds an ancestor who has voluntarily joined the Military there is always the hope that their is an accompanying story of heroism and endeavour to uncover. The reality is often very different and rather more mundane ...

William Arthur Norris (born c 1883) was a son of Jacob Norris, a brother of my Great Grandfather Herbert George Norris.

In January 1902 William Arthur Norris joined the Lancers of the Line and the Cavalry of the British Army. He took his oath of loyalty in London on January 20th and, having been pronounced physically fit, was given the service number 5606,

William Arthur's Service Record provides us with the following information ...

It tells us that he was born in Vauxhall, London, Surrey; that his age upon entry was 18 years, 11 months and that his occupation was as a printer. The Service Record also indicates that he had previously been living with his father and that he had neither been an apprentice or in prison.

His height is given as 5 feet 7 and 3/4 inches, weight 136 lbs and chest 34-36 inches
His complexion is described as sallow, his hair brown and his eyes blue.One distinguishing mark is identified - a blue mark on the left forearm.

William Arthur's religion is given as Church of England

On the 22nd of January William Arthur was posted to the 12th Lancers and joined his unit in Ballincollig, in Ireland, on the 24th. His service lasted just 57 days. On 17th of March 1902 he was discharged "as not likely to become an efficient soldier"

At the back of his Service Record we find a note of his next of kin. His father Jacob Norris is mentioned first, and his address is given as C/o Mr Reed's Yard, Mill Street Bermondsey. Then three older brothers are mentioned. The first is Sam Norris - address unknown ...! An exciting find as this is the first time we have come across him and so appears to be one of the two children of Jacob & Elizabeth that we had hitherto not been able to find! The other two brothers mentioned are Frederick Norris of 18, Neckenger St, Bermondsey, and Albert George Norris of 24(?) Long Lane, Bermondsey.

John Funnell & Elizabeth Bristow

In the 1911 Census we find that there was a boarder residing in the home of my great grandparents, Frederick and Elizabeth Bristow, and their family. His name was John Funnell. In the 1911 Census his age is given as 10 years and his place of birth as Wivelsfield, Sussex.

John Funnell with Elizabeth Bristow

In 1911 John is living with the Bristows at Old Farm Chailey Green. Lucy Bristow, my grandmother, is also there, aged 12 years. My mum remembers that Frederick and Elizabeth had a very close relationship with John Funnell and that they were like a mum and dad to him.This is rather confirmed by the two photographs here.

Looking at the returns for the 1901 Census we find John living with his parents in Wivelsfield Road, Wivelsfield. His father is John Funnell, a 33 year old Cowman, and his mother Anna, aged 32 years.

If we want to know why John was residing with the Bristows in 1911 we perhaps find the answer in the death records, where we have the death of an Anna Funnel registered at Lewes in the third quarter of 1907.

John Funnell died at Southland Hospital, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex on 28th December 1947.

It is interesting to find that John Funnell's estate of just over £568 was administered by a Ann Esther Ellen Langridge, the wife of Henry Cecil Langridge. The marriage records indicate that Henry Cecil Langridge married Anna E E Funnell in 1937. In the 1911 Census an Ester (sic) Funnell, aged 5, was living with a John and Eva Wright in Wivelsfield. John's occupation is given as Cowman Gardner. John's relationship (as Head) to Ester is given as "nurse child". This leads me to wonder whether John had a sister who, after the death of their mother, went and lived with another family whilst he went and stayed with the Bristows. This sister then administered his estate upon his death.

John Funnell and Elizabeth Bristow

With thanks to Ian Braban for supplying both the photographs on this page!

The Children of Jacob Norris

Jacob was my Great, Great Grandfather. On 1st June 1868, at the age of 21 he married Eliza Hughes, then aged 20, at St Peter and Paul, Kilmersdon, Somerset. In the 1911 Census his wife Eliza is said to have had 10 children, 6 of whom are still living and 4 whom have died. Who are these children? To date these are identified as:

1) William Arthur - born c1883

In the 1911 Census he is living with his parents. He is aged 28, his estimated birth date is 1883 and his place of birth given as Vauxhall. He is employed as a Policeman in the Docks.

In the 1901 Census he appears as William, aged 18; he is living with his parents and his birth place is given as Clapham, London. He is employed as a printer's labourer.

In the 1891 Census he appears as William, aged 8; he is living with his parents and his place of birth is given as Notting Hill.

2) Henry "Harry" Charles - born c 1885

In the 1911 Census he is living with his parents. He is aged 26, his estimated birth date is 1885 and his place of birth is given as Vauxhall. He is employed as a Hatter's Labourer.

In the 1901 Census he appears as Henry, aged 16; he is living with his parents and his place of birth is given as Clapham, London. He is employed as a Van Guard.

In the 1891 Census he appears as Harry, aged 6; he is living with his parents and his place of birth is given as Notting Hill.

3) Margaret Norris - born c 1881

To date I have only found Margaret in the 1881 Census. Here she is living with her parents and she is less than a year old. Her place of birth is given as Notting Hill, Latimer Road. Perhaps she is one of the four children who had died by 1911?

4) Edith G - born c 1880

In the 1891 Census she is living with her parents. She is aged 11, her estimated birth date is 1880 and her place of birth given as Notting Hill.

In the 1881 Census she appears as Edith G., aged 1. She is living with her parents and her place of birth is given as Notting Hill, Clarendon Road.

It is highly likely that Edith G was the Edith Gertrude who married George Albert Hinton in the first quarter of 1900 in the district of St Olave, Southwark. In 1901 they are living at 4 Russell Scott Buildings, St Crispins, Bermondsey. Edith's place of birth is given as Notting Hill London and she is aged 21 years, facts which would both seem to confirm the identification.Husband George is aged 25 in this Census, his place of birth is given as Bermondsey and he is employed as a Labourer in a Flour Mill.

5) Albert J - born c 1876

In the 1891 Census he is living with his parents. He is aged 16, his estimated birth date is 1875 and his place of birth is given as Charlton. He is employed as a Carman's Assistant.

In the 1881 Census he appears as Albert J, aged 5 with an estimated date of birth of 1876. He is living with his parents and his place of birth is given as Marston Beech Lane.

It is extremely likely that Albert J Norris is the same person who appears in the 1911 Census as Albert James Norris. Albert is living with his wife Lydia (38 years, born in Dudley, 1873) at 6 Vauban Street, Bermondsey. Albert works as a Labourer in a Saw Mill, and they have a daughter Edith who is aged 14 and a Factory Hand in a Pickle Factory. The same family appears in the 1901 Census living at 164 Long Lane, Bermondsey. Albert is aged 25 years; he is described as a Carman Out of Employment and his place of birth given  as Somersetshire. In the same Census Edith appears as Edith M and Lydia is spelt Lidia. This, I believe, is the Lydia Bellingham who married an Albert James Norris in the first quarter of 1898 in the registration district of St. Saviour Southwark.

6) Frederick J - born c 1874

In the 1891 Census he living with his parents. He is aged 17, his estimated birth date is 1874 and his place of birth is given as Charlton.

In the 1881 Census he appears as Frederick J, aged 7. He is living with his parents and his place of birth is given as Ferry Hill, Somerset.

It is likely that Frederick J was Frederick John Norris and that he married Rebecca Martha Miller who was from Kent in the final quarter of 1894. This was in the registration district of St Saviour Southwark. In the 1911 Census - which someone made quite a mess completing! - we find Frederick (aged 37) and Rebecca living at 17 Dunlop Place, Bermondsey. Frederick is employed as a Waterside Labourer. The couple have been married 17 years and they have 9 children born alive of whom 8 are still alive. Children living with Frederick and Rebecca in 1911 were:

(1) Frederick John Norris - aged 14, born c 1897 in London Bermondsey, employed as a Mill Boy
(2) William Arthur Norris - aged 12, born c 1899 in London Bermondsey
(3) Henry Searle Norris - aged 10, born c 1901 in London Bermondsey
(4) Ernest George Norris - aged 8, born c 1903 in London Bermondsey
(5) Robert James Norris - aged 2, born c 1909 in London Bermondsey
(6) Rebecca Mary Elizabeth Norris - aged 3 weeks, born c 1911 in London Bermondsey

7) Herbert George - born c 1872

Herbert George was my Great Grandfather. In the 1891 Census he is living with his parents. He is aged 19, his estimated birth date is 1872 and his place of birth is given as Charlton. He is employed as a Machine Painter

In the 1881 Census he appears as Herbert G. and is living with his parents, aged 9. His birth place is again given as Charlton

8) Annie - born c 1870

In the 1881 Census she is living with her parents. She is aged 11, her estimated birth date is 1870 and her place of birth is given as Charlton.

In the 1871 Census neither Annie nor her mother are resident with Jacob at the Toll Gate Buckland Dinham, Kilmersdon, Frome. Instead they appear to be found in the home of Eliza's parents, Matthew and Ann Hughes, at Charlton Village Turnpike Toll House, Kilmersdon, Frome. (Note; Eliza appears as Ellen Norris, aged 22, estimated year of birth 1849; Annie appears as Ann Norris, aged 1, estimated year of birth 1870).

To date 8 of Eliza's ten children have been identified, 2 remain. As always, any thoughts or help will be greatly appreciated!