Marj’s father, although she had very little contact with him; much the same as her mother Hannah’s sitruation with her father. He was married at 21 to Hannah, aged 34 and “walked out on her and his two daughters when Marj was about 3”. He reappeared in her life in the late 60s/ very early 70s – Andy and Gill both remember him appearing on their door step, and that this was not welcomed by their mother! This would have been after both his wives had died. Bill described a “small but rough” man turning up at both Grove Lane and Craythorne Avenue.

Hannah divorced Ralph, and he marred Kate Shaw in 1959. Hannah had died in 1968, and Ralph himself died in 1972, leaving a number of bequests in his will.

The details:

Ralph was born 27th December 1903, the oldest child of James Payne and Florence Jenkins. He had an older half-brother, Arthur Edwards, from his mother’s first marriage.

By the 1911 census James, Florence, Arthur and Ralph were were living “1 back of 28 Garbett Street”, a street that features a few times in the Payne’s history. There were also three younger children – James, Marion and Florence Amelia. Their youngest child, Lily Mary, was born in August later that year.

Ten years later for the 1921 census everyone apart from Arthur was still in the same house. James senior and Ralph were both out of work; Florence was a charwoman at the Children’s hospital in Steelhouse Lane and James junior was a Billiard maker for Hodgetts of Bull Street.

On Boxing Day 1925 Ralph married Hannah Smith Hoghton at St Matthias’ Church in Newtown, Birmingham; it was the day before his 22nd birthday and she was 34. He was living at 45 Wheeler Street, she had been living in Blackburn until 1923.

One probable connection between them is Garbett Street. Hannah’s Aunt was Amelia Blakemore, who married a Martin David Tovey. For the 1911 census Martin was just up the street from Ralph at 2 back of 41.

In 1927 they were lodging at 2 back 61 Heaton Street, Birmingham with Ralph. Their older daughter Irene Mary was born 25th September 1928. In 1930 they were living at 4 Court 2, Hanley Street, Birmingham with Hannah. Their younger daughter Florence Marjorie was born in Hanley Street on 30th August 1931.

According to family legend he walked out when she was 3, so around 1934. Certainly by the time of the 1939 register he was living alone in at 4/100 Branston Street, occupation Steel Works Labourer.

By 1945 he had moved 4 Vicarage Road, Handsworth; one of eleven adults so possibly a boarding house.

1950 1 back 28 SAINT MARK’S STREET

Divorce???

He married Kate Shaw (a 56 year old “spinster”) when they were both 56, on the 5th September 1959. He was living at 1 back 28 Garbett Street, working as a Metal Washer; she was living at 56 Highfield Road Dudley and working as Nuts and Bolts Sorter. The marriage took place in Birmingham Register Office (Ralph’s marital status was “previous marriage dissolved”) and was witnessed by his brother in law Harry Edge and her sister, Lilian Forsyth.

His first wife, Hannah, died 1968

His second wife, Kate, died 19th March 1969 (obit in Birmingham Evening Mail)(??)

Was this around the time he tried to make contact with his daughter?

By 1972 he was living at 99 Binstead Road. He died on 21st October 1972 in an Erdington Hospice, cause of death “Cardiomatosis” and “Carcinoma of the cardia”. The death was registered by his brother, James Leonard Payne, who descibed Ralph as a “retired factory worker”. He is buried in Handsworth cemetery, opposite our first house in Camp Lane.

His will is interesting – legacies to his second wife’s family plus some church connections.