Notes on Mrs Edie Brown, nee Hawkes
For interviews with her, see tapes 5, 6, 8 and 54
Born
8 December 1895 (census, below, has wrong age) About ten children in family, she was in younger lot, so when she was about ten she had brothers working and a sister married.
Siblings included George, Ted, Fred, Bill, Emily, older ones, then John, Edie, Alice (born January 1897), Lil and Esmond. (youngest, b c 1904).
Parents
Father George a carpenter, worked for Lewis’s in Newland Street (backing onto Coach House Way. Mother Jane was a Shelley before she married, died either during First World War.
Work
c 1907? White Hart hotel (lived at home).(school leaving age then 12)
c 1908 onwards Servant at various places including the Rounds at Avenue House (4 Newland Street) (lived at home).
Pinkham’s glove factory briefly [sacked for answering back when blamed for getting oil on gloves]
About 1911 Cooper Taber seed warehouse, Avenue Road, sorting peas..
1914 Munitions at what is now Baird’s maltings near the station, unloading trucks, cleaning rust off shells etc. [sacked for staying away to long when visiting husband]
Up to 1918 Hoffman’s at Chelmsford.
About 1930 – sorting peas at home for Cullen, pea picking in fields
Married
During First World War to Thomas Stanley Brown (Stan) of Sunderland and went to live there after War. When they came back to Witham he did odd jobs for six months and then worked at Crittall’s for 32½ or 33½ years.
Children
Five? Include: Edie born October 1924 [lived Pitt Avenue]. Jean born c 1926, had osteomyeltis when nine, died aged 20. Son born about 1928 [lived Nottingham]. Son born c 1931 [One is Cyril] Cyril. Keith born c 1938.
Residences
Trafalgar Square, Maldon Road, as a child, in a double house, two knocked into one, because of large family.
Lodgings with friend of mothers for a time when older.
Sunderland when first married, back to Witham when Edie 8 months old (1925-26), no work in Sunderland.
Then at 108 Church Street where her father was living. Stayed there after he died.
Extracts from relevant documents
1891 census
RG 12/1425, f.16, p.2, Chaplin’s yard, Newland Street, Witham
George Hawkes Head M 31 General labourer born Essex, Witham
Jane Hawkes Wife M 30 born Essex, Rivenhall
George Hawkes Son 11 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Edward Hawkes Son 8 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Emily Hawkes Dau 6 Scholar born Essex, Witham
William Hawkes Son 3 born Essex, Witham
Frederick Hawkes Son 2 born Essex, Witham
1901 census
RG 13/1725, f.29, p.20, schedule 120, Trafalgar Square, Maldon Road, Witham
George Hawkes Head M 40 Carpenter born Essex, Witham
Jane Hawkes Wife M 39 born Essex, Rivenhall
George Hawkes Son S 21 Blacksmith born Essex, Witham
William Hawkes Son S 13 Agricultural labourer born Essex, Witham
Frederick Hawkes Son S 12 born Essex, Witham
Edith Hawkes Dau 9 born Essex, Witham
John Hawkes Son 4 born Essex, Witham
Alice Hawkes Dau 2 born Essex, Witham
Lily Hawkes Dau 8 mo born Essex, Witham
1930 electoral register, 108 Church Street
Brown, Thomas Stanley
Brown, Edith May
______________________________________________
Notes on Mrs Grace Springett, nee Bishop
Born
April 1895 at Feering
Work
Left school at 14 (c.1909)
c 1910 Housemaid at Inworth Hall, family of Lawrence[?], also occasionally to their house in Belsize Avenue, London, to be kitchen maid.
c 1912 Housemaid then cook at Bramstons, 16 Chipping Hill, Witham, for Cullen family
c 1920? Cook at Briefly cook at Miss Hunt’s children’s home at Horwood House, 59 Newland Street, Witham.
About 1930 – sorting peas. pea picking
Married
1920 to Thomas Springett, painter and decorator for Dean’s builders and then Adams and Mortimer took over (in White Horse Lane).
Residences
At Feering till married. With brother for three months after marriage, then to one of Mr Dean’s houses at 106 Church Street, Witham where lived 1920-1977.
Children
Born January 1925 and 1928, first one Cecil (known as Bill).
Died
18 May 1986, aged 91.
Extracts from relevant documents
1901 census, RG 13/1724, ED1, page 10, schedule 69, Gore Pit, Feering
James Bishop Head Mar 31 Stockman on farm born Suffolk, Belstead
Eliza Bishop Wife Mar 31 born Essex, Feering
Frederick Bishop Son S 10 born Essex, Feering
Gracie Bishop Dau S 5 born Essex, Feering
Bertie Bishop Son S 1 born Essex, Feering
John Newman Boarder Widr 60 Ordinary agricultural labourer born Essex, Lexden
1930 electoral register, Witham, 106 Church Street.
Springett, Thomas Stanley
Springett, Grace Emily
Bishop, Mildred Lilian