Notes on Mrs Mabel Nicol
For interviews with Mrs Nicol, see tapes 15, 16 and 43.
Parents
After 1901
Frederick and Rose Newman went to farm at Gable House, Sandon, when they left the shop. Were Peculiars and went to G Baddow chapel from Sandon. Then to Chelmsford
By 1909, Frederick was in Canada, working in mines (probably gold mines) with a view to family following.
Before 1914: Rose and her parents, Robert and Elizabeth, i.e. Mabel’s grandparents, moved to Witham. Grandfather Robert died and grandmother Elizabeth moved to Guithavon Street with Mabel’s aunt Elizabeth (for whom see below) because Mabel’s mother Rose expected to go to Canada (grandmother lived till she was 95).
1914 or soon after, father Frederick came back from Canada because his wife wouldn’t join him there in view of the War.
Part of 1914-1918: in Witham, in bungalow in Maldon Road while Frederick worked at Billy[?] Evitt’s fruit farm in Maldon Road [probably Lound]
Part of 1914-1918: they ran Co-op at Earls Colne.
After 1918 on: caretaker and cook at De Crespigny’s house on Northey Island. [De crespigny sold Northey to Norman Angell MP, in the 1920s, according to Maldon DC Blackwater trail leaflet, 2003]
Brothers and sisters:
Stanley: sixteen months older than Mabel (so born 1893 or 1894). Journalist, first with Essex Chronicle, then Glamorgan Gazette. Killed in First World War.
Francis: born c.1905. First World War worked at Afford’s stationers and printers at 70 Newland Street, Witham. When first married, had one of the flats over Spurge’s shop (42 Newland Street). She lost touch with him since their father died.
School:
Sandon village school
British School at the Friars, Chelmsford
Married
December 1922, Wickham Bishops, Bob Nicol
Children:
Four. First born about 1925. Another before 1932. Another c.1932-34. Last c.1935. They were Betty, David, Malcolm, and Mary.
Residences
c.1895 to ???, Sandon, village shop
? to ?, Gable House, Sandon
??? to 1913, Chelmsford ? – ?
1913 (when 17) -1922: Witham, 11 Guithavon Street, with aunt, Mrs Elizabeth Cooper (same as business) (rented)
Also, during the latter time, during War:
One year approx lodging with aunt in Springfield Road, Chelmsford (while working at Bolingbroke’s)
Some time at Earls Colne (while helping parents in Co-op shop)
1922 (when married) to c.1924, Scotland, 11 miles from Edinburgh.
1924 to 1935, back to Witham, 11 Guithavon Street, with husband and aunt.
1930
Electoral register has Elizabeth Cooper (Rw, Ow), Robert MacAlister Nicol (R, O), Mabel Rose Nicol (Rw, Dw) at Guithavon Street.
1935 to c.1970, 92 Highfields Road, rented.
c.1970 to c. 1975, Pattisson Close (i.e. after death of husband)
c.1975 onwards, 11 Rex Mott Court, Guithavon Street (sheltered flat)
Jobs
1909 (at 14) to 1913, with Mrs Cant, dressmakers’ in Chelmsford (probably Mrs Frances Cant, 132 New London Road, Chelmsford (from 1912 Kelly’s directory). Apprenticed 2 years and improver one year.
1913, with Mr and Mrs Bryant, Hoddesdon, supposed to be looking after child (for one month).
1913 (at 17) to 1920, with aunt, Mrs Elizabeth Cooper, dressmaker in Witham, 11 Guithavon Street (same as home)
Also, during the latter time, during War:
One year approx at Bolingbroke’s, Chelmsford, dressmaker in workroom.bwt 1985 dec 19 mrs nicol obit
Some time at Earls Colne to help parents in Co-op shop
1920 to 1922, took over aunt’s business
1922, didn’t officially work after marriage but did odd jobs for people and still did in 1977.
Died: 9 December 1985 aged 89 (see the obituary below).
Mabel’s husband, Bob Nicol
Lived 11 miles from Edinburgh. She met him on a visit there with one of her assistants to visit the latter’s sister who had married a Scotsman she met in Witham in the First World War.
His mother was a midwife and he had two sisters and a brother John.
He was a shale miner in Scotland.
Two years in Scotland after marriage (1922-1924) and then back to Witham where he got a job at Crittall’s 1 April 1925[?]and was there 40 years (to c.1965). Except when it closed for 18 months in 1932 during the Slump.
Died c.1970
Extracts from relevant documents
1881 census returns, Great Baddow, RG 11/1766, folio 94, page 26, schedule 140 [no address]
Alfred Newman Head Mar 47 Laborer born Essex, Great Baddow
Hannah A Newman Wife Mar 46 born Essex, Aythorpe Roding
Frederick Newman Son 10 Scholar born Essex, Great Baddow
1881 census returns, Sandon, RG 11/1767, folio36, page 20, schedule 118, Village
Robert Card Head Mar 52 Agl labourer born Essex, Sandon
Elizabeth Card Wife Mar 54 born Essex, West Bergholt
Lydia Card Dau Unm 24 Dressmaker born Essex, Sandon
Ruth Card Dau Unm 22 Dressmaker born Essex, Sandon
Rose Card Dau 10 Scholar born Essex, Sandon
Bertha Hills 12 Dressmaker apprentice born Essex, Rayleigh
1881 census returns, Rayleigh, RG 11/1768, folio 30, page 14, schedule 74, Castle Lane
Thomas Partner Head Mar 47 Agric lab born Essex, Thundersley
M A Partner Wife Mar 57 born Essex, Rochford
Elizth Card Visitor Unm 26 Dressmaker born Essex, Sandon
1891 census returns, Sandon, RG 12/1389, folio 11, page 15, schedule 100, The Stores, and 101, Coffee House, Sandon Green
Robert Card Head Mar 63 Grocer born Essex, Sandon
Elizabeth J Card Wife Mar 64 born Essex, West Bergholt
Elizabeth Card Daur Single 36 Grocer’s assistant and dressmaker born Essex, Sandon
Rose M Card Daur Single 20 Grocer’s assistant and dressmaker born Essex, Sandon
Alice Collins App Single 15 Dressmaker apprentice born Essex, Danbury
Ada F Card Servant 12 Gen servant and dressmaker born Essex, Great Baddow
//
Samuel Card Head Mar 39 Gardener domestic servant born Essex, Great Baddow
Emma Card Wife Mar 48 born Essex, Boreham
Herbert Card Son Single 17 Agricultural labourer born Essex, Chelmsford
Thomas Card Son 15 Agricultural labourer born Essex, Chelmsford
Robert Card Son 12 Groom, post boy born Essex, Sandon
Augusta Root Visitor 25 born Essex, Chelmsford
1901 census returns, Sandon, RG 13/1675, folio 35 page 15, schedule 96, The Village
Robert Card Head M 72 Grocer (own account, at home) born Essex, Sandon
Elizabeth Card Wife M 74 born Essex, W Bergholt
Frederick Newman S in law M 30 Dairyman (own account, at home) born Essex, Great Baddow
Rose M Newman Dau M 30 born Essex, Sandon
Frederick S Newman G’son 6 born Essex, Sandon
Rose M Newman G’dau 5 born Essex, Sandon
Samuel Card’s family still next door.
This was the village shop in Sandon. Frederick and Rose ran it for Rose’s parents who also lived there; Rose only allowed to marry if she stayed at home and worked in shop (MN)
Elizabeth Cooper, nee Card, Mabel’s aunt
Married Mr Cooper, a widower, when about 40. He was a Witham man who worked in the tanyard at Mill Lane before they married (MN)
1881 census returns, Witham, RG 11/1809, folio 70, page 2, schedule 7, Garretts Cottages
James Cooper Head M 36 Fellmonger born Essex, Witham
Mary A Cooper Wife M 42 born Essex, Witham
James Cooper Son 11 Shoemaker’s apprentice born Essex, Witham
Mary Cooper Dau 10 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Emma Cooper Dau 7 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Arthur Cooper Son 5 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Directories
1886 Cooper James, jun. boot ma. 5 Avon ter
1890 Cooper James, jun. boot ma. 5 Avon ter
1891 census returns, Witham, RG 12/1425, folio 41, page 22, schedule 151, Mill Lane
[probably Avon Terrace]
James Cooper Head M [sic] 46 French man in leather trade born Essex, Witham
Emma Cooper Daur S 17 Housekeeper born Essex, Witham
Arthur Cooper Son S 15 Fellmonger’s laborer born Essex, Witham
John Cooper Son 9 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Samuel Cooper Son 7 Scholar born Essex, Witham1898 Electoral register
Occupation voters include James Cooper, of Mill Lane, Witham, qualified by dwelling house, i.e. cottage in Avon Terrace [latter is in Mill Lane]
1890s
After marriage, Elizabeth Cooper came to Witham and they set up pork butcher’s business in Newland Street. Mr Cooper’s son helped (MN)
1901 census returns, Witham, RG 13/1725, folio 22, page 5, schedule 29, Newland Street
James Cooper Head M 56 Pork butcher (own account) born Essex, Witham
Elizabeth Cooper Wife M 46 born Essex, Sandon
Samuel Cooper Son S 17 Cabinet maker (worker) born Essex, Witham
1902 Cooper J. & E. pork butchers, High st
Photo M308 shows Coopers at 33 Newland Street
1904
Mr Cooper died and Elizabeth returned to Sandon to family temporarily (MN)
1906
Elizabeth back to Witham at 9 or 13 Guithavon Street, and then at 11 Guithavon Street, to set up dressmaking business. Rented rooms out to the men who started Heddles’ business of travelling clothes salesmen (clothes on credit) (MN)
1913
Had companion with her who leaving to get married. So Mabel went to live there and help her in the business. There were four or five girls working there including her. Four soldiers billeted there in First World War (MN)
1920
Mabel took over the business (MN)
1935
Elizabeth Cooper died. She attended the Peculiars’ chapel and was very strict (MN).