Ralph’s maternal grandmother. When Mary Ann Wakelam was born Staffordshire, her father, Thomas, was 29, and her mother, Caroline, was 25. She married Alfred Jenkins on 17 July 1871 in Warwickshire. They had eight children in 10 years. She died in October 1919 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, at the age of 67.

The details

Birth – She was born on 28 November 1851 in Gornal Wood, Lower Gornal, Sedgely. Her parents, Thomas Akelam and Caroline Tighe, had been married for xx years and had two sons, David And Joseph.

1861 Census – There are now six children – David (15), Joseph (11) Mary Ann (9) plus Eliza (6), John (3) and Thomas (1). Thomas died of diarrhoea later that year.

1871 Census – She’s not with her parents. They have Eliza (16), John (13), James (6) and Georgina (3).

Marriage – Mary Ann married Alfred Jenkins in All Saints church, Birmingham on the 17th July 1871. Her occupation was “Domestic Servant”, his was “Bricklayer”. Both said they were living at Lee Street, Lodge Road. (Hockley)

Add old map

1881 Census – Alfred was working as a Bricklayer and they were living in House 4, Court 8 in Stour Street with five children – Alfred (7), Thomas (6), Edward (4), Ellen (2) and Florence (1). Florence was baptised on 8th October at the Church of St John the Evangelist & St Peter, Darnley.

1891 Census – Now at 17 Stour Street, there were ten of them in three rooms. The three youngest children were Marion (10), Gertrude (8) and Leonard (7). Alfred senior was a Bricklayer, Alfred junior a Roller and Thomas is a Labourer.

1901 Census – Now at 15 Stour Street, Alfred was still a Bricklayer aged 53. Mary Ann was 52. They were living with their four youngest children plus a grandson (Arthur Edwards) and a boarder (Arthur Belcher, aged 18 and a Pickler in a Wire Works) Florence was 21, widowed with her young son Arthur and was working as a French Polisher. Her sister Marion was 19 and a Brass Lacquerer, Gertrude was 18 and Jeweller’s Polisher (Gold) and Leonard was 17 and a Brass Caster. Quite a collection of roles from the Jewellery Trade.

Of the four older children, Alfred joined the army and was posted to India where he married, had three children and eventually died in Bangalore in 1949. (needs a proper look- acting sgt major, FMP) Thomas also had three children and died in 1949 but he stayed much closer to home – in the 1939 register he was living in Hockley (New Spring Street) and doing heavy labour in a Rolling Mill. Edward also stayed close to home – he was in victor Road, off lodge Road in 1939. He had a lot of children, not all of whom survived childhood (and his wife was Ellen/Nellie and they had children called Florence and Leonard which gets confusing). Ellen added to the confusion by marrying another Jenkins – Frederick Charles – and also being known as Nellie. Frederick was a Bailiff for the County Court; they had lots of children and lived in Uplands Road, Handsworth.

1911 Census – Mary Ann was; Alfred was an Inmate at the Birmingham Workhouse, Western Road.

Alfred died aged 64 in the Workhouse Infirmary on 23rd August 1911, cause of death “Mordus Cordis”. Mary Ann notified the death but was not present.

Mary Ann’s daughter Marion married Frederick William Such in 1914, and had a daughter Lillian that year. Frederick went to America (had a relative there) leaving Marion in Unett Road, Smethwick. He signed up for the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WW1. They have a son, Frederick, in 1917 and migrate to Canada after the war. (Frederick senior lived in Heath Street in 1911)

Gertrude married Alfred Parry; they lived in Carver Street and sadly their daughter, Gertrude died of a cat scratch aged 13. Leonard married Rose Bellenger and had three children but was killed in action, 26 Sep 1914.