Ralph’s maternal grandfather had a Dickensian childhood. He was born in rural Castle Bromwich but his father died of consumption when Alfred a was seven. A sister then died of “phthisis” (TB) before he was eleven. His mother found work as a housekeeper, leaving her two surviving children with third cousins and as lodgers. Alfred moved into Birmingham where he worked as a bricklayer, married Mary Ann Wakelam and had eight children before being admitted to the Workhouse aged 63, dying there shortly afterwards. He is buried in Key Hill cemetery..

The Details:

1851 Census – Alfred was four, living with his parents and older sister Jane (aged five) and younger sister Ellen (one) at Bucklnad End. His father, Robert, was a labourer.

Family deaths – Robert died of Consumption aged 40 on 31st August 1854 when Alfred was 7. Robert’s occupation was given as “Husbandman” on the death certificate. Five years later Jane died aged 13 on 27th April 1859 of phthisis (TB). Jane was living in Buckland End at the time; her mother Ann was living and working in Nechells Green.

1861 Census – Ann was keeping house for William Grey and his son Elijah in Trinity street, Deritend. Alfred was 14, working as a Brickmaker’s labourer and lodging with a Laundress in Washwood Heath. (are the Leake family a few doors down relatives?) His younger sister Ellen was 11 and living with Ann Cooper, her third cousin in Buckland End who was a “Fund Holder” – straight out of Dickens.

1871 Census – Ann and her children were back together Buckland End. They were all listed with the third cousin, Ann Cooper. Ann and Ellen were described as Visitors, Alfred was a Lodger and working as a Labourer. In 1878 Ellen married a widower, Joseph Powers; Elijah Grey was one of the witnesses. I haven’t found Ann Jenkins after this census entry.

Marriage – latter in 1871 on 17th July Alfred married Mary Ann Wakelam in All Saints church, Birmingham. His occupation is “Bricklayer”, Mary Ann’s is “Domestic Servant”. Both say they are 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 is 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. He was living with his wife, Mary Ann, 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 – Alfred was an Inmate at the Birmingham Workhouse, Western Road.

Death – He 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. He was buried Key Hill Cemetery, Icknield Street (Section L : Grave Number 204).

Alfred’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.