Ralph’s paternal grandmother was born in Leamington Spa but moved to Coventry with her parents before she was 6 months old. She continued to move frequently for the next sixty years, and spent some time in Cowbridge (South Wales) as a domestic sevant before marrying James Payne in Lozells, Birmingham. They had five children, including Ralph’s father, another James. They lived at numerous locations in Aston and the Jewellery Quarter before James died in 1894 leaving four surviving children aged 10 to 17. Amelia had already become a shopkeeper, and this seems to support herself and her children. She was settled in Mott Street (modern day Hockley) by 1911 and died there in 1930 at the very respectable age of 80.

The details:

Amelia was born on the 8th October 1850 in Chandos Street, Leamington and baptised on 29th December in All Saints Church, Leamington Priors. Her parents were Thomas Beesley and Hannah Brown.

A few months later, at the time of the 1851 censu, Amelia, her parents and her older suster Susan (or Susannah) were lodging with the Brookes family at 19 Chandos Street. Her father was working as a Painter and Glazier, her mother was a Dressmaker.

10 years later, and aged 10, for the 1861 census she was in 5 Court 10, Thomas Street, Coventry with her mother Hannah, older sister Susannah and two younger brothers Thomas and Herbert. Their father is not there, but Hannah’s two unmarried sisters, Emma and Eliza Brown, were. Hannah was a dressmaker, Susannah (aged 12) was an apprentice silk ribbon ??something, Emma and Eliza both silk warpers. Thomas Street was at the heart of Coventry’s silk industry at the time:

Ribbon weaving was Coventry’s main industry from the early 1700s to the 1860s. During this period about half its population made a living from ribbon weaving and Coventry was the main centre of ribbon production in England.

By the 1871 census Amelia was 20 and living in Cowbridge High Street, Glamorgan as a domestic servant to William Thomas, a Bank Accountant, and his family.

The next record we have for her is her marriage to James Payne on 2nd August 1875 in St Silas’ Church Lozells. Aston – how did they meet? Did she move to Birmingham with the Thomas’s or another family?At the time of her marriage she was living at 150 Carpenter Road. James was at St James Place, William Street.

Their eldest child James (Ralph’s father) was born in 1876 followed by Thomas in 1877 and Annie Eliza in 1879. (think Thomas married Elizabeth Weston/Western; had quite a few children, both parents died before 1939? think Annie Eliza married Chatwin & lived in Great Barr / West Brom)

1881 Back to backs Clifton Road (why is this familiar?), Aston Manor. Thomas Beasley (her brother) there.

Later that year her youngest daughter was born on 22nd December (still at Court 6, 5 Clifton Road, Aston Manor. They called her Amelia and she died in the General Hospital, from “membranous laryngitis” and catarrhal pneumonia” aged 5. This was on the 22nd April 1887, and by then they were living at 4 Beaconsfield Avenue, Wharf Street, Park Road.

Four years later 1891 Regent Place (JQ)

(already a tobacconist in 1892 trade directory??)

Husband James dies in 1894

1901 in 4 House, Back of 141Icknield St with two of her sons

1911 in Mott Street with a boarder (5 children, one dead – that agrees) Boarder is Margaret Kerrighan who marries Amelia’s son George in 1925.

(1912 rate book has her in it – unusual for a woman)

1921 still in Mott Street – youngest son George with her (unemployed car worker) she is a “shopkeeper” working from home.

lots of kelly’s directory entries over this time

She died of a Coronary thrombosis / arterial sclerosis on 22nd July 1930, aged 80 and still living at 39 Mott Street. George registered the death. She is burried in Handsworth Cemetery.

There is a minor mystery surrounding her youngest son, George. In 1925 he married Margaert Kerrighan, who had been a lodger with his mother 14 years earlier in the 1911 census. They were living in the Mott Street house for the 1939 register. However in 1921 census when he was there with his mother he is shown as married. Was he? and if so what happened to her? Is George married to Ellen and living in Aberdeen St in 1901 census? Am I nosey enough to get George & Margaret’s marriage certificate?!