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PeopleMargaret May WHITLEY (1926 - 2003)![]() Margaret May WHITLEY was born on the 9th Sep 1926 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England. She came to Australia with her family on the SS Ormonde, it left England on the 6th Dec 1930 and arrived in Australia in early 1931. She made the trip with her mother, Margaret, and brothers, Frederick John Edward (Jack) WHITLEY and Percy Walter (Perce) WHITLEY. Her father, John had come to Australia in 1928.
Her early years were spent in Bendigo and later moved to the Western Suburbs of Melbourne to the Maidstone area.
During the Second World War, Margaret worked at the Maribyrnong Munitions Factory and was a member of the factory Fire Brigade. In this way she was carrying on a family tradition as many members of her mother’s Rann family from Waltham Abbey worked at the Royal Gun Powder Mills in the 19th Century. She continued to work in heavy industry as a machinery operator after the war until she retired.
She was actively involved in a number of community organisations including local branch of the ALP, the Local History Society and the Women's Advisory Centre.
In the early 1990's she moved to Newcastle, NSW, Australia and remained their until her death. While living there, she was involved with the local ALP branch and the RSL Women's Auxilery.
Maribyrnong Munitions Factory, Grenade Section Fire Brigade Championship Team 1943 Margaret WHITLEY (Highlighted) - Hose Woman
John WHITLEY (1882 - 1956)
On the 18th July 1916 he enlisted in the 47th Base Park Coy of the Royal Engineers at the Central London Recruiting Depot. His Regiment Number was 458066 and his rank was Sapper. He was 32 years old at the time of his enlistment and listed as missing the third finger on his right hand and having two operation scares on his lower abdomen. His profession was listed as Blacksmith. He spent some time overseas and was seconded to 45/56 Field Coy RE and another unit for some period. He served as both a field engineer and in a clerical position. He was posted to Mesopotamia between May 1917 and Dec 1919. He received The British War Medal , 1914-1920 and The Victory Medal, 1914-19 .
I haven't located him in the 1901 census. On the 8th Jun 1920, he married Emily Eliza Margaret RANN at the Church of the Precious Blood, Hertford Road, Lower Edmonton. Witnesses to the ceremony were Sophie RANN (sister of the bride) and Robert WHITLEY (brother of the groom). His occupation was listed as journeyman blacksmith and his residence as 85 St Mary's Road, Edmonton, London, Middlesex, England. This location was only a block away from the home of his wife.
In 1925 the young family were living at 10 Grove Road, West Enfield Wash, Middlesex, England and John had become a fully qualified blacksmith. On the 8th Dec 1928 he left England on the SS Orsova for Australia. In 1931 he is living at 45 Myrtle St, Bendigo, Vic, Australia and is working as a blacksmith. In 1936 he is still in Bendigo, but now at 243 Queen St, Golden Square, Bendigo, Vic, Australia, working as a labourer.
On the 7th Oct 1939 he enlisted in the 3rd Garrison Battalion Reserve Forces stationed at Queenscliff (Army No. V81310) . On his enlistment papers he listed his age as 49 years, his birth date as 24th Aug 1890 and his place of birth as Dublin, Ireland. The papers indicate previous military listed as Mesopotamia Field Coy Engineers. He served until Oct 1941 when he was discharged due to health issues . In 1942 the family were living at 200 Ballarat Rd, Footscray North, Vic , where the family remain inclusive of 1949. He has his profession listed as soldier. His son, Jack is also living at the house, his profession listed as ropemaker. By 1954 the family were living at 184 Ballarat Rd, Footscray North, Vic.
After World War Two, the family moved to the western suburbs of Melbourne to Maidstone. John WHITLEY died on the 25 Apr 1956. John WHITLEY, 3rd Garrison Battalion (1939-1941) Emily Eliza Margaret RANN (1899 - 1971)
On the 8th Jun 1920 she is living at 5 St Mary's Gardens, Edmonton, London, Middlesex, England.
On the 6th Dec 1930 she and her three children left 5 St Mary's Gardens, Edmonton, London, Middlesex, England and boarded the SS Ormonde and headed for Australia. Her husband, John, had come out to Australia 2 years prior in 1928. When they arrived they headed for Bendigo.
In 1931 she is living at 45 Myrtle St, Bendigo, Vic, Australia, with her occupation listed as Home Duties. In 1936 the family were still in Bendigo but at 243 Queen St, Golden Square, Bendigo, Vic, Australia. They were still there when John enlisted in the military in 1939. After the War, the family moved to 184 Maidstone Rd, Maidstone, Vic, Australia.
In 1957 she returned to England to visit her family. She departed England on the 10th August, 1957 on the SS Orcades bound for Melbourne. Stayed and visited family who were still living at 5 St Mary's Gardens, Lower Edmonton.
She died on the 30th July 1971 in Maidstone, Vic, Australia.
Children of John WHITLEY and Emily RANN are:
John WHITLEY (1851 - ?)John WHITLEY was born in Stroud, Middlesex, England in 1851. On 16 Feb 1885 he married Sarah Ann COSTER at St James the Great, Bethnal Green, Middlesex, England. Witnesses were Emma and Elizabeth CLAY. She was a widow with 3 children. They had 5 children together, including John, who was born in Tottenham, Middlesex.
So far I have been unable to find any record of John in the 1861, 1871 or 1881 census records.
On 5 Apr 1891 he is working as a Farm Labourer and living at 22 Town Rd, Edmonton, Middlesex, England. He is living with Sarah, her children and the children they had together.
By 1901 the family are living at 87 St Marys Road, Edmonton, Middlesex, England. He is listed as a Marine Store Dealer. Despite the seaside suggestions, these were people who dealt in scrap materials (sometimes of dubious history). In England, Ireland and Australia, specific legislation was passed to control the "marine store dealers" and the petty crime they were seen to encourage. The census form has an "L" in the column symbolising "Lunatic".
On the 9th May 1908, he was convicted at Middlesex Sessions – Westminster of receiving 21ft of stolen lead pipe. This fits in with his occupation as a marine store dealer. He was first sent to Exeter Prison and then sent to Parkhurst on the 27th Jan, 1909.
Sarah Ann LUCAS (1853 - ?)Sarah Ann LUCAS was born about 1853 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. However, each census on which she appears has a different birthplace (1861 -Birmingham, 1871 - Newbold, Warwickshire, 1881 - not located yet, 1891 - Bretby Estate, Derbyshire and 1901, Cornwall).
On 7 April, 1861 she is living with her parents in Newton Solney, Derbyshire, England. This is where a number of her younger siblings were born in the years leading up to this date.
On 2 April, 1871 I believe that Sarah Ann is resident in the Union Lane Workhouse, Chipping Barnet, Hertfordshire, England. Listed with her is a 1 month old called Charles LUCAS. She is unmarried, a pauper whose previous profession is listed as General Domestic Servant. At this time, her parents and siblings are listed as living at East Barnet. This proximity leads me to believe that I've got the right Sarah Ann LUCAS.
In Sep 1873, in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England, she married Henry COSTER and had three children, George Henry COSTER, Alfred John COSTER and James COSTER. Their first son was born in New Barnet, but the last two were born in Southgate, London, indicating that the family had moved during this period. In Sep 1877 Henry COSTER died.
I've been unable to find Sarah Ann LUCAS on the 1881 census. However, I have found a Charles COSTA (10 yrs), George COSTA (6 yrs) and Alfred COSTA (4 yrs) who are resident in the Edmonton Union School. All of this would seem to indicate that Sarah and her young family fell on hard times after the death of Henry and that the children were placed in the Union School while Sarah and her youngest son resided somewhere else, possibly her working in service somewhere.
Children of Sarah LUCAS and Henry COSTER are:
On the 16 Feb 1885 at St James the Great, Middlesex, she married John
WHITLEY. Witnesses to the marriage were Emma CLAY and Elizabeth CLAY. Her father's name was listed as Anthony LUCAS on her marriage certificate. On 5 Apr 1891 she is living with John WHITLEY and their children at 22 Town Rd, Edmonton, Middlesex, England. In 1901 they are at 87 St Marys Road, Edmonton, Middlesex, England.
In 1911 she is living at 87 St Mary's Road, Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, England . Her husband is in prison at HM Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight for an unknown crime. Several of her children are living with her as is her older sister, Elizabeth Jane LUCAS, who was 74 years old at the time.
Children of Sarah LUCAS and John WHITLEY are:
William Edward RANN (1876 - 1925)William Edward RANN was born in 1876 in Waltham Abbey, Essex, England and he died in 1925 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England. On the 3 rd Apr 1881 he is living at 13 The Romeland, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England with his father, George RANN and his mother, Emily BOSWELL and his sister, Elizabeth and his brother, Frederick.
In 1891 he is still living with his parents, at 12 John St, Enfield, Middlesex, England . He is working as a port shop boy.
He is married May BAKER in 1898 and in 1901 he, his wife and his two children, William and Margaret are living at 2 George Cottage, Hoe Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, England . I'm unable to work out his occupation from the census record, it might be something to do with bricklaying or brickmaking, possibly Contract Brickmaker.
In 1911 he and family are living at 5 St Mary’s Garden, Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, England . He is a General Labourer.
In 1920 he is listed as a contractor on his daughters marriage certificate. He died in 1925 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England.
Alternate name spellings: RAM in 1881 Census and RONN in 1901 Census. May BAKER (1879 - ?)May BAKER was born in Waltham Cross, Herfordshire, England in 1879. In 1881 she is living with her father, Harry BAKER, her siblings and housekeeper, Ellen ANDREWS. The family are still are Waltham Abbey, Hertfordshire. It appears that her mother, Elizabeth has died as Harry is listed as a widow.
In 1891 she is still living with her family, including her new step-mother Ellen ANDREWS and her six step-siblings. In 1901 she and her family, including new husband, John are living at 2 Hoe Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, England. On 2 Apr 1911 she is living at 5 St Mary's Gardens, Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, England.
Children of William RANN and May BAKER are:
George WHITLEY (1828 - bf. 1885)George WHITLEY was born 1828 in Waltham Abbey, Essex, England and died Bef. 1885 .
Anthony LUCAS (1822 - 1893)Anthony LUCAS was born in about 1822 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, England. In 1841 he is still in Countesthorpe, working as an Agricultural Labourer. On 30 Mar 1851 he is living at Ferrett Lane, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, England and working as an Agricultural Labourer. Living in the house next door are another Lucas family, headed by Thomas (24 yrs old), his wife Jane and their daughters Ann and Phebe.
On 7 Apr 1861 he is living with his wife and family at Newton Solney, Derbyshire, England, working as a wagoner. By April 1871 the family are living at Warwick Road, East Barnet, Hertfordshire, England and he is still working as a labourer. In 1878 his wife, Hannah died and in 1879 he re-marries to widow, Louisa Ann OSBORNE, who was born in Eltree, Hertfordshire, England in approx. 1826.
In 1881, Anthony and Louisa are living with his youngest daughter, Rosina Virginia and her daugther, Louisa Ann Osbourne, who listed Servant as her occupation, at Station Road, Chipping Barnet, Hertfordshire, England . He is working as a Road Labourer. He is still working as such in 1885 according to his daughter Sarah Ann’s marriage certificate.
By 1891 Anthony, Louisa and his second youngest daughter, Emily are living at the East Barnet Valley Board Offices, in New Barnet, Hertfordshire, England probably as a result of his occupation as Foreman of Roads.
Hannah LINES (1825 - 1878)Hannah LINES was born in 1825 in Newbold-Upon-Stour, Warwickshire, England. I'm unable to find her in the 1841 census (there are a couple of options but I can't narrow it down). In 1851 she is living with her husband in Ferrett Lane, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, England. In 1861 she is with her family in Newton Solney, Derbyshire, England and in 1871 the family are in Warwick Road, East Barnet, Hertfordshire, England. She died in 1878 in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England.
Children of Anthony LUCAS and Hannah LINES are:
George RANN (1852 - ?)George RANN was born in 1852 in Waltham Abbey, Essex, England, the son of George RANN and Eliza FRANCIS. In 1861 he is listed as a scholar and is living with his family at Copped Hall Green, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England. In 1871 he is living as a boarder at Green Yard, Waltham Holy Cross,Waltham Abbey, Essex, England and working as a labourer.
On the 14th Nov 1874 at St Giles, Cripplegate, Middlesex, England he married Emily BOSWELL. In 1881 he is living with his wife, Emily and children, William Edward, Eliza Elizabeth and Thomas Frederick at 13 The Romeland, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England . His name is incorrectly listed as RAM. He is working as a Labourer (Bricklayer). His father, mother and a couple of siblings are living just up the road and are listed on the same census page.
Emily BOSWELL (1854 - 1897)Emily BOSWELL was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, England. In 1861 she is living with her parents, Stephen BOSWELL and Sarah BROOKS at the home of her father's uncle, George BOSWELL. Both Stephen and George were working as Victuller's (the name of the establishment is not provided). They are all living at 1 Fore St, Edmonton, Middlesex, England.
On 2 Apr 1871 she is living with her parents at the Towing Path, Edmonton, Middlesex, England and her father is listed as a Beer House Keeper. There is no indication of any profession for Emily. She probably helped her father. The family name is misspelled as ROSWELL.
She married George RANN on 14th Nov 1874.
On 3rd Apr 1881 she and her husband at The Romeland, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England. On 5 Apr 1891 Emily and her family are at 12 John St, Enfield, Middlesex, England, with both her husband and son working. I'm unsure of her death date, as she is listed in the 1901 census as living at 1 Connop Cottages, Connop Road, Enfield, Middlesex, England.
Children of GEORGE RANN and EMILY BOSWELL are:
Henry BAKER (1848 - ?)Henry/Harry BAKER was born in approximately 1848 in Colyton, Devon, England to John BAKER and Mary Ann PARSONS. In 1851 he is living at Sidmouth St, Colyton, Devon, England with his parents and siblings.
In 1861 he, his brother Edward and father, John were living as Boarders at Monmouth St, Topsham, Devon, England in the home of the VIMCONS family and are working as Railway Labourers.
In approximately 1867 he married Elizabeth SAPSFORD in Whitechapel, London, England. On 2 Apr 1871 Harry and family are living and working at the Waltham Cross Sweet Shop & Greengrocer, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England where Harry is working as a Green Grocer.
In 1881 Harry is now a widower living with his children and housekeeper, Ellen ANDREWS. His occpation is listed as Fishmonger. Sometime between 1881 and 1891, Harry and Ellen ANDREWS marry and have several children. In 1891 they are living on the High Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England and Harry is working as a Green Fruiter with his son, Harry as his assistant.
In 1901 he is a Green Grocer - Shopkeeper, still working and living in Chesthunt, at 2 Eleanor Cross Road. There is reference to a "H. Baker, Fruiterer and Greengrocer, Eleanor Cross Road" in the Hertfordshire Trade Directory, 1914.
I've also been in contact with another person who believes that our Henry may have also married into his family. This person believes that Henry married Annie Limbe (Savigar) in Hereford in 1893. Elizabeth SAPSFORD (1846 - 1880)Elizabeth SAPSFORD was born in about 1846 in Great Hallinbury, Essex, England. In 1851 she is living with her parents, Charles SAPSFORD and Amy PRIOR and siblings at the Church End, Great Hallingbury, Essex, England. There are other Sapsfords in the same area. The family has a very large presence n the area.
In 1861 she is living with her parents at New Barns Lane, Great Hallingbury, Essex. All the male members of the family are working as Agricultural Labourers but there is nothing listed for Elizabeth. In around 1867 she married Harry BAKER in Whitechapel, London. In 1871 the family are living at the Waltham Cross Sweet Shop & Greengrocer, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England.
On the 12th Apr 1880 Elizabeth died in Edmonton, Middlesex, England.
Children of Henry BAKER and Elizabeth SAPSFORD are:
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