Ralph’s mother. Her first husband died very shortly after their only child was born; her second marriage lasted longer and they had five children before she was widowed again, aged 68. She appears to have lived, worked and died within a very small area of Birmingham. (insert map) Her brother (Alfred) was posted to India with the Army and died there; her sister Marion emigrated to Canada voluntarily.

The details:

Birth: Florence was born on the 17th September 1879 and baptised 8th October 1879 in St Johns, Ladywood. The family were living in Stour Street; her father Alfred was a bricklayer. She was the 5th of 8 children.

(The oldest, Alfred joined the army, was posted to India where he married, had two children and died in Bangalore. The next two, Thomas and Edward, lived all their lives in Birmingham and are buried in Key Hill. Her older sister Nellie lived in Handsworth. Younger sister, Marion, married Frederick Such who found work in the USA just before WW1; he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and came back to Europe. After the war he settled permanently in Canada where he was joined by Marion and their two children, born in 1914 and 1917… I think there is quite a story there. Youngest sister Gertrude had the daughter who died of sepsis following a cat scratch; youngest brother Leonard died in France in 1914 fighting in WW1.)

1881 census: Florence was 2 and living at 4 court 8 Stour Street with her parents and five siblings.

1891 census: Florence was 12, now at 17 Stour St with her parents. and all seven siblings aged 17 to 8. The oldest three boys were working.

First marriage: 29th May 1898 she married Arthur Edwards. He claimed to be a 21 year old Press Worker. She was 19; they both gave their address as 6 Mabel Terrace, Clark Street (near Edgbaston reservoir). Her husband became ill with “acute catarrhal pneumonia” in December. Their son Arthur Edwards was born 3rd January 1899. Arthur senior died a few weeks later, on 17th February 1899 now aged 20. (He wouldn’t have been “of full age” when they married and may have needed his parent’s permission??). They were living back of 14 Stour Street.

1901 census: Now widowed, Florence was living with her parents and her son at 15 Stour Street. Florence was working as a French Polisher; her three younger siblings were all working in the jewellery trade and they laso had an 18 year old boarder who was a “pickler” in a Wire Works.

Second marriage: On 5th August 1902 she married James Payne. They both gave their address as 19 Barker Street, which was a few doors down from Florence’s sister Gertrude. The marriage took place in Birminghham Register Office (so either non-conformist ot no religion – probably the former; given where they are later buried??) Her sister Gertrude was a witness at the marriage, along with Gertrude’s future husband Alfred Parry.

Ralph was born 1903

1911 census: 1 back 28 Garbett St with Arthur through to Florence Amelia; James was a Brass Turner, she was a Charwoman.

1921 census: she is a charwoman at the children’s hospital, James is unemploed.

1939 register – 1 rear 28 Garbett St – just her and huband James – he died Q5 1947.

She’s still at 1 back 28 in 1950, now with Ralph.

Death: Died 9th May 1957 aged 78, at 1 Western Road Winson Green = Dudley Road Hospital as was? can’t be workhouse in 1957. cardiovascular degeneration and senility; registerd by James Leonard living at 99 Binstead Road. Buried Jun 1957 Key Hill Cemetery, Icknield Street, Hockley, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Register Number 59442.