A Family of Fitzpatricks (July 2008, updated November '08)
Searching for the relatives of my Grandma A on the internet is where I first caught the bug for genealogy, as it was fascinating to me to see that first listing of a whole family living in Tudhoe (Co. Durham) from the 1901 Census. The family continued to live in the village, so that made it the most obvious branch of the family with which to start.
More on the Fitzpatricks
From County Mayo to County Durham?
To fill in a few gaps from a previous post, here is some more about the Fitzpatrick father and two eldest daughters.
To fill in a few gaps from a previous post, here is some more about the Fitzpatrick father and two eldest daughters.
Thomas' family - Fitzpatricks from Tipperary
Very olde family tree blogge
An image is put up here of a VERRY olde document from the Fitzpatrick family, but I have no clues yet about exactly when it was written, by whom, or even what kind of paper it was!
Going back in time for the Fitzpatricks
1891 Census, Tudhoe, County Durham
In the parish of the Holy Innocents, Tudhoe, Durham:
The address is given as Tudhoe Village, and it is described as 2 rooms occupied.
William Fitzpatrick
William Fitzpatrick (1886-1952) was the older son of Thomas and Lizzie Fitzpatrick. He married Dorothy Ritson in 1926, but they had no children.
They lived together in Tudhoe Village, in a bungalow just 3 doors down from his sister Lizzie.
They lived together in Tudhoe Village, in a bungalow just 3 doors down from his sister Lizzie.
Thomas Fitzpatrick
Thomas Fitzpatrick is the second son (born in 1891) of Frances (Ranson) and Thomas Fitzpatrick, of Tudhoe Village.
I know he was living with his parents in the year 1901, and also in 1911 when both he and his father were recorded as Labourers.
Military Records from W.W. I
The picture below shows our very smart Tot as a Corporal (?)
I know he was living with his parents in the year 1901, and also in 1911 when both he and his father were recorded as Labourers.
Military Records from W.W. I
The picture below shows our very smart Tot as a Corporal (?)
Correct an error
Below is a shot where we thought the lady standing was Aunt Nance (Mary Hannah Fitzpatrick, a child of Thomas & Frances) - but it isn't at all. Thanks go to Hilary for correcting this!
Here's a better idea! The lady who married Tot Fitzpatrick was also known as Nance, and had children named Jean & Billy. So you can see how we got confused. OK, so I've put that right now.
Here's a better idea! The lady who married Tot Fitzpatrick was also known as Nance, and had children named Jean & Billy. So you can see how we got confused. OK, so I've put that right now.
Fitzpatricks and Sennetts (September 2008)
This post was written in the week in which Aunty Madge Sennett died, in September 2008. May she rest in peace. I'm sure you'll join me by wishing her family well.
My biggest memory of her from when I was a kid - she loved to wash dishes!
My biggest memory of her from when I was a kid - she loved to wash dishes!
Our Lizzie
Lizzie Sennett (you may have known her as Senny) seems to have been popping up all over the place, so I thought I'd just bring it all together & hopefully make it clearer.
This post will feature some photos I've just received, and they are pretty old!
This post will feature some photos I've just received, and they are pretty old!
Aaaah! Bisto!
Here's a Xmas hamper full of memories, mainly from my Mum and her siblings, about the food cooked by their Mum (Mary Armitage) and Grandmother (Lizzie Sennett).
I will warn you, though... YOU MUST NOT READ ON if you are feeling a bit peckish and the only thing in the house which is instantly edible is half a packet of Jaffa cakes and a dry crust of Wholemeal. Really, I warn you, it's NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Much better to hold off until you have had someone cook you a 3-course Sunday Dinner, and you get to that point where you'd love to offer to wash-up but actually can't move. Instead, have the PC brought to you - log on to TrunkCalls - and THEN read away.
OK
...sure?
I will warn you, though... YOU MUST NOT READ ON if you are feeling a bit peckish and the only thing in the house which is instantly edible is half a packet of Jaffa cakes and a dry crust of Wholemeal. Really, I warn you, it's NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Much better to hold off until you have had someone cook you a 3-course Sunday Dinner, and you get to that point where you'd love to offer to wash-up but actually can't move. Instead, have the PC brought to you - log on to TrunkCalls - and THEN read away.
OK
...sure?
Mary, Mary, Quite the Smasher!
Mary Armitage died in October 2007 and so I have posted this message as a little memorial page for her, with all our love to Grandad Armitage.
Mary Margaret Armitage (nee Sennett), born November 14th 1923 - died October 13th 2007.
Mary Margaret Armitage (nee Sennett), born November 14th 1923 - died October 13th 2007.
Austin & Ivy Sennett
Max - Nuncy - Austin Sennett (1914 - 1991)Austin Sennett was the older son of Elizabeth Fitzpatrick & James Sennett. He was born in Tudhoe Village, Co. Durham, on the 17th of July, 1914... and died aged 76 in 1991.
Ranson Elders - Miners - October 2008
Frances Ranson
Frances Ranson is my maternal grandmother, and all I knew about her was that she was born in the Seaham area.
Frances Ranson is my maternal grandmother, and all I knew about her was that she was born in the Seaham area.
The Ranson Elders get Older
Ooh, that was a cliffhanger wasn't it!!
More now as we move forward in time...
The 1871 National Census.
Ten years has passed, and now we find the family living in number 5 California Row, Seaton Colliery. The other big change is in the Head of the Household
More now as we move forward in time...
The 1871 National Census.
Ten years has passed, and now we find the family living in number 5 California Row, Seaton Colliery. The other big change is in the Head of the Household
Siblings of Frances Ranson in Durham area
WILLIAM RANSON
The eldest child of William & Bridgit was William Ranson Junior, born 1850.
1881 Census
This family of Ransons may be the one we seek from afar...
The eldest child of William & Bridgit was William Ranson Junior, born 1850.
1881 Census
This family of Ransons may be the one we seek from afar...
Murray Mints
After visiting a forum at GENEALOGY.com I found a post from the year 2001 by Hilary, who has thoroughly researched the family tree for many years. I got in touch (the email address was still active even 7-8 years later!) and Hilary has since then generously agreed that I can publish some of it here. You'll see that for the Ranson family branch she has been able to find links back to the time of the Spanish Armada.
Sennett Elders
I've found all this material to be very complicated, and so I have rejigged the post in order to make things simpler. A deal of the interesting story of the treasure hunt has been cut out, but I'm hoping to return elements of it later. Do talk to me if you can't find anything you need.
As always, I'm very grateful to the online community of genealogists for all their help with this material. Some are Sennett cousins, some not - gushing thanks are due to them all. I can particularly mention Cate, Elliot, Heather and Corinne.
First, to recap where we are on our family tree:
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick married my Great Grandfather James Sennett in 1913. Lizzie & James had three children: Jack, Austin, and Mary (my Grandmother - the youngest, born in 1923). James Sennett lived from 1892 to 1958.
James' parents are shown on the right here; the photo has been marked as showing William & Jane Sennett.
As always, I'm very grateful to the online community of genealogists for all their help with this material. Some are Sennett cousins, some not - gushing thanks are due to them all. I can particularly mention Cate, Elliot, Heather and Corinne.
First, to recap where we are on our family tree:
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick married my Great Grandfather James Sennett in 1913. Lizzie & James had three children: Jack, Austin, and Mary (my Grandmother - the youngest, born in 1923). James Sennett lived from 1892 to 1958.
James' parents are shown on the right here; the photo has been marked as showing William & Jane Sennett.William Sennett (1858) - birth certificate
William Sennett was the father of my Great Grandfather James Sennett. Both man were miners in Co. Durham, in the Auckland/Willington area. Read more about his complicated adult life in the next post.
I have a copy of William's birth certificate now, which has told me that he was born on October 26th, in 1858, at Tottenham just SE of Coundon.
His father was a miner, too - named William Sennett
I have a copy of William's birth certificate now, which has told me that he was born on October 26th, in 1858, at Tottenham just SE of Coundon.
His father was a miner, too - named William Sennett
Tottenham and Coundon, County Durham
I found Tottenham listed as the birthplace of an ancestor, William Sennett. It was actually transcribed from the forms as 'Tottingham', but is thought to be Tottenham.
I'd not heard of it before!
Thanks (once more!) to Heather for the tip - Tottenham was near Coundon, Co. Durham. Link here first gave her the tip.
I'd not heard of it before!
Thanks (once more!) to Heather for the tip - Tottenham was near Coundon, Co. Durham. Link here first gave her the tip.
William Sennett (1858) - marriage and children
William Sennett was my great-grandfather, through his middle son James Sennett.
William Sennett was born near Coundon in 1858 (click on to read more about his parents & siblings, or to read more about his birth certificate.)
If you aren't familiar with the towns of Co. Durham, try out my Google Map for this family. I wanted to get some things straight in my head!
William was brought up by James & Margaret Sennett of Willington (1871 census) and became a miner. Certainly at the age of 12 he worked down a mine.
William Sennett was born near Coundon in 1858 (click on to read more about his parents & siblings, or to read more about his birth certificate.)
If you aren't familiar with the towns of Co. Durham, try out my Google Map for this family. I wanted to get some things straight in my head!
William was brought up by James & Margaret Sennett of Willington (1871 census) and became a miner. Certainly at the age of 12 he worked down a mine.
Jane, or Ann, or Emily, or Mary Sennett (nee McGuire)
This post is about a lady who was my great-great-Grandmother. In her later life she seems to have been known as Anne Sennett; earlier records, though, record her name as Emily. Her grandchildren recall(ed) her name as Jane, or Mary. I'm sure she was probably referred to as 'Mam'.
You'll see some more details from this original post on Anne's husband, William Sennett, who was a miner in Coundon & Byers Green, Co. Durham.
You'll see some more details from this original post on Anne's husband, William Sennett, who was a miner in Coundon & Byers Green, Co. Durham.
John William (Jack) Sennett
Our James Sennett had a much older half-brother John (Jack) and sister Jane, whose mother Deborah died when they were very young (see this post for more on that story).
We knew a little about Jack and his family from the records of our Great-Uncle's memories. He recalled Jack as a miner whose wife's name was Nellie. Also that they had many children, including Bob, Russell, Deborah. Three of his sons were bandsmen in the Guards.
We knew a little about Jack and his family from the records of our Great-Uncle's memories. He recalled Jack as a miner whose wife's name was Nellie. Also that they had many children, including Bob, Russell, Deborah. Three of his sons were bandsmen in the Guards.
James' Siblings
My Grt Grandfather was named James Sennett (more on him here).
His brothers and sisters are discussed in this post...First of all his older step-siblings who were mentioned in the post "Sennett Elders". (That post also introduced the parents; William, Deborah and Emily Sennett.) Then I also introduce James' full siblings.
His brothers and sisters are discussed in this post...First of all his older step-siblings who were mentioned in the post "Sennett Elders". (That post also introduced the parents; William, Deborah and Emily Sennett.) Then I also introduce James' full siblings.
James Sennett
Jim Sennett (1891 - 1958)
Jim and Lady the Great Dane.
My Great Grandfather, then was James Sennett. The prayer on his funeral card seems suited to our task here:
Jim and Lady the Great Dane.My Great Grandfather, then was James Sennett. The prayer on his funeral card seems suited to our task here:
"We have loved him in life, let us not forget him in death."
Henry Sennett page 1 (Beginnings and Marriage to Kit)
Henry Sennett (1889 - 1965)
Before we get into this post, I'll warn you that Harry's life got detailed, and that means this is pretty long. One day I'll get round to splitting this up tidily to 3 separate posts, one for each wife... probably. But for now, email me if you have any queries, OK?
Harry was born in 1889, married 3 times and had (we believe) 3 children.
Harry was the older brother of James Sennett, who married Lizzie Fitzpatrick (my Grandma's parents). Harry & James came from the Byers Green area of Co. Durham. More here on their parents and other siblings.Before we get into this post, I'll warn you that Harry's life got detailed, and that means this is pretty long. One day I'll get round to splitting this up tidily to 3 separate posts, one for each wife... probably. But for now, email me if you have any queries, OK?
Harry Sennett, Operatic Tenor in around 1930
My Grandma proudly kept newspaper cuttings about a radio show of her Uncle, Harry Sennett - he was an Operatic Tenor.
Hancock, Hancock & Sennett
I'm writing in this post about the children of Henry (Harry) Sennett. If you need to read more about him or his later wives, his ancestors or his siblings, then please click on the relevant link.
Harry and his first wife Kate Gardner were married young (1912) and had 3 children in the Handsworth, Warwickshire area. They were: John F.W. Sennett (Jack, born 1912), Joan P.G. Sennett (1917) and Kathlyn M. Sennett (1921).
We don't know a lot about their marriage, but we do know that Kate & Harry were legally separated by 1937 (divorce not being an option then).
Kate died in 1943, her death was registered in Birmingham, under her married name of Kate L. Sennett.
Harry married his second wife Keturah a few months later in Wednesbury, and then they moved up to Jesmond, Newcastle - they were certainly living there in 1946 as my Grandma stayed with them for a little while after she was married.
I haven't any real information about whether Harry kept in contact with his 3 adult children after the separation. My instinct is that Harry did have some contact with them, as my Gran's brother (Austin, 1914-1991) knew a little about them.
Austin was the source of much of the family history / gossip! He remembered "Jack, and two girls. The girls later married; one to the Director of the Austin Motor works; another to someone from Jacobs Tailor shops (?) and had a son, Jack" but was a bit sketchy about which was which! It's understandable that he would remember the Austin detail - as it was also his name! But actually, he was an engineer and interested in cars, too.
Anyway - Uncle Austin would only have known of details like this thru what Harry told him, as Austin lived in Durham & they were all in the Midlands (presuming they stayed there?). Harry stayed in Rushall and similar area until around 1945 when he & his second wife moved to live together in Jesmond.
Some possible matches on the marriage registers here (FreeBMD):
1938 - Joan P.G. Sennett marries Rex Hancock in the Bromsgrove district.
1946 - John W. Sennett marries Marjorie I. Worth in the Hinckley district. (No hits for a John F. W. Sennett.)
1949 - Kathleen Sennett marries Noel A.F. Jubb in the Hull district. (Jubb...Jacob...??)
Contact Made
Well, we are gradually getting closer to these children! Thanks once more to Genes Reunited, we are now in contact with a niece of Joan Sennett. So, many thanks are due to Heather for sharing the tale with us (as well as the images below). They were able to confirm for us that we see our relative's daughter in the marriage registers for 1938, as shown above.
{Those of you who have already read the post about our link with Tony Hancock will have said Ooh to yourself when you read the groom's surname?!! No connection, so far as we know... though several of his Hancock family live(d) in the Kings Norton area, where the comedian Tony Hancock was born.}
The young man who was Joan's groom was a farmer, and he was born in 1915. The couple had several children - a few sons, and then a much younger daughter. Heather also confirmed that both Rex & Joan are deceased.
Rex's father, Alfred John Woodgate Hancock, had a rather interesting life - he was a Director of the Austin Motor Company. You can see his picture in this page from the Advocate; the owner's newsletter, in 1926.
See also an advert for Austin cars in a 1921 issue of the BMJ.
The Austin Federation was a useful source for information on the staff for Heather. They pointed out (from a biography of Lord Austin) that Hancock joined Wolseley in 1903 as a draughtsman, and also advises that Hancock was Austin's Chief Designer by 1921. He left the Austin Motor Company in October 1941.
A lovely tale about the early Motor Show - such a contrast with the modern methods.
So now you can read more about Harry Sennett's early life & first marriage; or about his second marriage to Keturah, or his third marriage to Lilian 'Hancock' and in his death in 1965.
Harry and his first wife Kate Gardner were married young (1912) and had 3 children in the Handsworth, Warwickshire area. They were: John F.W. Sennett (Jack, born 1912), Joan P.G. Sennett (1917) and Kathlyn M. Sennett (1921).
We don't know a lot about their marriage, but we do know that Kate & Harry were legally separated by 1937 (divorce not being an option then).
Kate died in 1943, her death was registered in Birmingham, under her married name of Kate L. Sennett.
Harry married his second wife Keturah a few months later in Wednesbury, and then they moved up to Jesmond, Newcastle - they were certainly living there in 1946 as my Grandma stayed with them for a little while after she was married.
I haven't any real information about whether Harry kept in contact with his 3 adult children after the separation. My instinct is that Harry did have some contact with them, as my Gran's brother (Austin, 1914-1991) knew a little about them.
Austin was the source of much of the family history / gossip! He remembered "Jack, and two girls. The girls later married; one to the Director of the Austin Motor works; another to someone from Jacobs Tailor shops (?) and had a son, Jack" but was a bit sketchy about which was which! It's understandable that he would remember the Austin detail - as it was also his name! But actually, he was an engineer and interested in cars, too.
Anyway - Uncle Austin would only have known of details like this thru what Harry told him, as Austin lived in Durham & they were all in the Midlands (presuming they stayed there?). Harry stayed in Rushall and similar area until around 1945 when he & his second wife moved to live together in Jesmond.
Some possible matches on the marriage registers here (FreeBMD):
1938 - Joan P.G. Sennett marries Rex Hancock in the Bromsgrove district.
1946 - John W. Sennett marries Marjorie I. Worth in the Hinckley district. (No hits for a John F. W. Sennett.)
1949 - Kathleen Sennett marries Noel A.F. Jubb in the Hull district. (Jubb...Jacob...??)
Contact Made
Well, we are gradually getting closer to these children! Thanks once more to Genes Reunited, we are now in contact with a niece of Joan Sennett. So, many thanks are due to Heather for sharing the tale with us (as well as the images below). They were able to confirm for us that we see our relative's daughter in the marriage registers for 1938, as shown above.
{Those of you who have already read the post about our link with Tony Hancock will have said Ooh to yourself when you read the groom's surname?!! No connection, so far as we know... though several of his Hancock family live(d) in the Kings Norton area, where the comedian Tony Hancock was born.}
The young man who was Joan's groom was a farmer, and he was born in 1915. The couple had several children - a few sons, and then a much younger daughter. Heather also confirmed that both Rex & Joan are deceased.
Rex's father, Alfred John Woodgate Hancock, had a rather interesting life - he was a Director of the Austin Motor Company. You can see his picture in this page from the Advocate; the owner's newsletter, in 1926.
See also an advert for Austin cars in a 1921 issue of the BMJ.
The Austin Federation was a useful source for information on the staff for Heather. They pointed out (from a biography of Lord Austin) that Hancock joined Wolseley in 1903 as a draughtsman, and also advises that Hancock was Austin's Chief Designer by 1921. He left the Austin Motor Company in October 1941.
A lovely tale about the early Motor Show - such a contrast with the modern methods.
"Mention is also made of Hancock and Davage selling Austin cars from the Du Cross Mercedes Limited stand (No. 42) at the 1905 Motor Show held between 17th and 25th November. Their only selling aids were drawings but they managed to secure a number of orders."
***
So now you can read more about Harry Sennett's early life & first marriage; or about his second marriage to Keturah, or his third marriage to Lilian 'Hancock' and in his death in 1965.
Henry Sennett page 2 (Marriage to Keturah)
Harry's Second Wife: Kunzle Cakes and the Showman.
Harry met Katura Treherne in the Midlands {see below for her true name}. After Harry's separation they lived together in Birmingham & then Jesmond. Katura was her Sunday Best name, but she was known in the family as Aunt 'Jim'. A note on the back of her photo tells us that she was "nee Treherne". I really don't know if Jim was short for Jemima, etc., but I suspect it was a pet name as she had such an unpronounceable/unusual given name. Katura's a pretty rare name; it comes from the Hebrew for incense (link to my source here).We were told her father was a Silversmith, in the Midlands.
From the separation papers for Harry & Kate Sennett, we know that (Keturah) Trehearn was a widow - but I can only presume that her maiden name was Trehearn.
{There is a marriage record from 1928, in the Worcester district between Joyce K Treherne and William T. SUFF. But if he died before 1936, the record for it has not yet been transcribed on FreeBMD. A Joyce Kathleen Treherne was born in 1900 in the Newent district, which borders Worcestershire.
A lady named Joyce could have been known as "Jim"?? - Yes, I know Jemima is much more likely and I'm clutching at straws!}
**LATEST**
511 Coventry Road (where Harry & Katura lived) is now a part of a vehicle hire company?? But I don't see it when I look on Google Street View.
Ah! This was exciting, to turn up this little snippet from the papers!
Thanks to the London Gazette searchable archives, I found an announcement by Keturah of her change of name by deed poll. It's from the paper dated 24th June 1938, so just after his separation was granted.
"I FLORENCE KETURAH SENNETT of 511, Coventry Road, Birmingham in the county of Warwick Widow of no occupation a natural born British subject, heretofore called and known by the name of Florence Keturah Trehearn hereby give notice that I have renounced and abandoned the name of Florence Keturah Trehearn and that I have assumed and intend henceforth on all occasions whatsoever and at all times to sign and use and to be called and known by the name of Florence Keturah Sennett."
So now that I have a good idea of the correct spelling of her name, I can search for other records about her. Keturah, Katurah - it is still a hebrew name meaning incense.
So far - Goggle has brought up this page of MI's from a church in Erdington, Warwickshire. Keturah is on page 90, along with a Percy Edward Trehearn. And a Florence Trehearn of Erdington in the census of year 1901 (but as she was then aged 34 - she can't be our Keturah).
Following on from the discovery that Keturah's first name was Florence, I was able to dig up some dates for her online - not seen all the certificates themselves, so I am assuming they are her at this stage.
Marriage cert for Florence Trehern: there are two possibilities - one in Barnet in 1911, one in South Stoneham in 1900. (There are none recorded in Warwickshire.)
(Her second marriage to Harry) - Marriage cert for Florence K Sennett & Henry Sennett in Wednesbury, Staffs, winter 1943.
Coincidentally in the same year, 1943, Kate L. Sennett died - in Birmingham, aged 57.
Now I have this 1943 certificate & it tells me that the bride's father was a Silversmith, Alfred Eagles. So Florence Keturah Eagles married a Treherne, was widowed, and then met & married our Harry.
Knowing this helped me find a reference on FreeBMD for her 1921 marriage to Percy E. Trehearn, in the Burton-on-Trent area. Ancestry further provided me with their ages (him 36, her 24) and their fathers' names (Harry Trehearn & Alfred Eagles), and that they married on the 19th October, 1921.
Presumably, then - he died between 1921 & 1936??
Indeed, I found him in the year 1929, Birmingham North district, died aged 40.
The info source Ancestry has a wills index in which we can read about poor young Percy:
{Many Thanks to Elliot for digging up this treasure!}
So, from that snippet we learn that he died in a Birmingham Hospital, in March 1929, and that he had left a will naming his wife although he was only 40. We see the address of No 511 confirmed again, and we are fascinated to read the amount of his estate (effects, not property) given as £1930 1s. 1d.
Measuring Worth.com helps us to calculate that amount of money in 1929 to be roughly equivalent to £90,000 in 2008, which helps to explain how Keturah came to be well-off!
In the Trade Directories (olde Yellowe Pages) for the Warwickshire area in 1912 I found a Treherne family business which seems to fit nicely:
Trehearn, P.E. & Co - baker's sundriesmen, at 511 Coventry Rd, Warks.
The 1943 marriage cert also tells me that Harry & Keturah lived in Rushall, at 18 Station Road (Walsall). This address was the home of Harry's sister Mary at that time, I'm assured by her family. {Thanks, Pat!}
Harry's father William was confirmed as still alive, and a retired Colliery Official. Harry himself gives his occupation as Civil Servant in the Ministry of Labour. The witnesses were E. Eagles (a relative of Keturah?) and M. Rogers (Harry's sister Mary).
Since Harry lived in Rushall and worked for the Ministry of Labour, I wonder if he enjoyed the pleasure of this Ministry of Labour office in Bloxwich - it was converted from a Music Hall in 1941. During WW II, the Ministry of Labour dealt with National Service and deployment of reserved occupations, as well as the peace-time Labour Exchange duties.
Eagles family in the Census
A likely match in the 1901 Census for our Florence is a 4yr old living alone with her mother (not widowed) - Keturah Eagles. So her father was away for the night, perhaps a man named Alfred Eagles who working in the potteries?
Alfred Eagles married Keturah Elizabeth Howl in 1896 in the Aston district. Their only child Florence Keturah Eagles was born in Birmingham in the last Q of 1897.
In the 1911 Census, Alfred Eagles (born 1871) was recorded living in a large house at 170 Cheshire Road, Smethwick (Worcestershire) - with Keturah Eagles (born 1872, Wolverhampton), and their child Florence Eagles (aged 13). The extra data in the 1911 form tells us that the couple had been married 14 years (fits with the year 1896) and had had only one child.
Alfred is described as a Stamper, working in the Silversmith industry. He must have been fairly well-paid, as the family of 3 lived in a house of 6 rooms.
Alfred Eagles died aged 51 in the Kings Norton district, in 1922. Keturah Eagles I haven't found in later records - perhaps her name changed, or was badly misspelled.
Percy Trehearn in the Census
In the 1901 census, a 12 year old Percy Trehearn was in his father's house (above the shop) - at 222 High St., Erdington - his father Harry Trehearn (36) managed a Boot shop. His mother's name was Florence {Harry & Florence!!}, and there is a Stafford connection there - both her sons were born in Burton-on-Trent. {RG13/2875/page 9}
Percy appeared in the 1911 Census, aged 22, living in Kings Norton, Worcestershire.
Florence Keturah Eagles, then, was born in Birmingham in 1897 to a silver-worker Alfred Eagles & Keturah Elizabeth Howl...
She married her first husband Percy Treherne in 1921.
Her father died in 1922. Her husband died in March 1929, leaving her almost £2000.
In 1937 she was named in the separation proceedings of Harry Sennett, and then she changed her name by Deed Poll to Sennett in 1938 (so they could live together, presumably?). They finally married in 1943 in Rushall. By 1946 they were living in the Jesmond area of Newcastle.
Keturah died in the late 1950's.
Keturah's work
Ever heard of Kunzle Cakes, or Lyons Showboat Cakes? [Some links here (that's my favourite one!), here, or here, for more info & pictures.]
Well, Great-Great-Aunt Keturah (Aunt Jim) made & supplied the wrappers! She had her own business, with a factory in Coventry - making wrappings for chocolates - and a major customer was Kunzle cakes. She also imported doilies from Czechoslovakia.
She was 'well off'!
My Grandad said,On Ancestry.com, you can actually search through an online database of old phone books. What a fantastic resource, but I wouldn't want to have to sit with a scanner & a vast pile of musty old books! Not so many phone numbers in those days, of course.
'When Uncle Harry came to visit they were always like a race apart from us.' Jim's business was in the Midlands. When Mary and Eric first married (1946) he had to work in Nantwich and lived in digs. When Mary was staying at Jim & Harry's house near Jesmond Dene (Tyneside), Eric enjoyed the rare treat of being able to talk to his new wife, because they had a telephone in the house! When he visited, 'they treated me very well. Had a good meal put on. Mary and Jim were obviously great pals and Mary was well-liked.'
Anyway - living in Wales as I do, with our own sensible government - we can access parts of Ancestry.com from the local Library without paying. Marvellous. So I looked up Harry & Keturah, and found these entries in the Newcastle books for 1948 ish.
A. - found H. Sennett in Gosforth in the 1948 & 1949 Phone Book Archive (BT),
Address: 52, Keyes Gardens, GOSFORTH 53402 {which seems to be near the modern-day Jesmond Dene Tennis Club}
B. - found H. Sennett in Gosforth in the 1950, 1951 & 1952 Phone Book Archive (BT)
Address, 13 Wiseton Court, Benton Park Rd, GOSFORTH 53402 (NB kept same number) {Wiseton Court isn't known by Google maps now - but it seems to be near the Catholic school.}
See map linked from here - marked with A & B. The area could be thought of as 'off Jesmond Dene'.
I did find other H. Sennetts - but they are in Midlands, London books. We are fairly happy that this is an entry for our Harry. We have also a record of an address, 29 Matthew Bank in Jesmond, which is right by the Tennis Club, too.
Two photos of Keturah here - (the first was a photo of Keturah with Harry in costume for a production they took part in) - things that make you say Whoah!!In the second photo; I wonder how old she is, which year? On the back was the tantalising note, Katura, nee Treherne. It seems to be, in fact, that Keturah Treherne was her married name (she was widowed before meeting Harry).
Aunty Jim was a singer, and also a 'wonderful pianist'. Eric remembers, when visiting her at Jesmond, "she brought tears to the eyes as she played the baby grand." She also had a small dog.
When did Keturah die?
Not sure what year Aunt Jim died - sometime in the late 1950's? We are told it wasn't a very long gap before Harry had married again (which was 1960).
Death cert in Northern Durham region, 1957 - Florence Sennett, aged ~65 (so born in approx 1892 and we think our Florence was actually born in 1897). But note that I also found this entry: Death cert in Bournemouth Hampshire, 1960 - Florence K Sennett, aged ~62. This is too close to Harry's third marriage to match up with memories, but it's not impossible, especially as we know for certain he lived in Bournemouth district when he married his third wife.
My Gran also had a rather spooky photo of Aunt Jim which Harry sent out to all the family ... of his wife Jim in her open coffin! This was not considered 'normal', by the way. He loved her a very great deal and was very upset by her passing.
I'll save you all from that photograph, unless you beg!! Perhaps it'd be a good Halloween posting. No respect at all, these young uns...
Let the show go on!
Henry Sennett page 3
Harry's Third Wife
His third marriage was the subject of a bit of interesting detective work - described in this Trunk Calls post; Here's a link to someone famous.Some time after Aunt Jim died, Harry was married to Lucie Lilian (Lily) Hancock - from 1960 until his death in 1965. Lily was the famous Tony Hancock's mother.
Here's the link to someone famous (everyone likes to find one of those!)
Hancock's half hour
I love these questions...
An Aunt of mine once casually asked me to remind her which of her many uncles it was who had married Tony Hancock's mother.
She was assuming {never assume} that I already knew this tale!
You can imagine this piqued my interest... and a quick delve revealed a few details.
I love these questions...
An Aunt of mine once casually asked me to remind her which of her many uncles it was who had married Tony Hancock's mother.
She was assuming {never assume} that I already knew this tale!
You can imagine this piqued my interest... and a quick delve revealed a few details.
Josie
Josephine Sennett was the daughter of Joseph and Annie Sennett. After her father died in a mining accident, she went to live with her Uncle James' family (i.e. with my Grandma Mary & her two brothers). It was a very tiny house that already had a family of three children in it!
Here below we see Josie, Jack and Mary Sennett. As you can imagine, young Mary was very pleased to have a sister to borrow for a while!
Here below we see Josie, Jack and Mary Sennett. As you can imagine, young Mary was very pleased to have a sister to borrow for a while!
Tudhoe Village Views
There are quite a few old images available out there of Tudhoe Village; where many of the Fitzpatricks & Sennetts lived. I would like to see images of Tudhoe Mill, but none yet. A good place to start is the SpennyNews back issues page - it has images such as these below. See also a grand picture of the Tudhoe orphanage (and St Charles' church next to it)
This first image looks towards the river, taken 1958.
This first image looks towards the river, taken 1958.
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