Notes on Raven, Mrs Edith, nee Turner
For interviews with Mrs Raven, see tapes 10, 11, 12 and 13
John, Edith’s father
Horseman at Powershall. See tapes. In additional conversation, January 1978, she said she remembered him getting up at 2 or 3 in the morning to get horses back from other farms, when they had got out because others were careless (ER).
John and Harriet’s children according to ER
Edith said she had six brothers and one sister, which matches with the 1891 and 1901 census returns put together. A younger brother was Percy so this is probably the baby in 1901.
Bill (William on the census) (to sea) (second eldest)
[Braintree and Witham Times, 21 November 1930, page 5. Death of Percy Turner. His employer said ‘he was the best man I ever had, he was the most trustworthy, everyone knew him in Witham, and everyone liked him’. This from Herbert Charles Everitt, of Spring Lodge, his employer. Percy was only 29. Worked for Mr E as a milk roundsman and cowman for 14 years. Caught chill and flu and died. Widow and sons of 5 and 3. Father John Turner suffers from paralysis. Wreaths etc.]
A bro to Australia c.1906.
A bro to Canning Town.
A bro killed Hatfield in road accident.
A bro to work for Rev Galpin at Faulkbourne Hall and killed 1st world War. Probably George, as the only Turner on Witham roll of honour is Corporal G H Turner of the 12th Lancers (killed 30 March 1918 according to cwgc web site, no info on parentage given there). There is a Private James A Turner on the Faulkbourne war memorial, 4th Suffolk Regiment, but no James in the Witham family]
Sister Madge (Margaret on the census), worked for Brights at Maldon, then to 68 Princess Square, Bayswater, London after mother died (c.1909). Died c.1969
Percy, youngest brother lived in cottage at top of wall when married and later in bungalow next to lane to Faulkbourne, that father built after retired [probably 7 Powershall End, since demolished], and later near roundabout. Worked for Mr Everett [Spring Lodge] in milk business. Died after getting soaked in milk float in a storm; left 2 children
School: Chipping Hill infants, then at 22 Church Street; National girl’s, Guithavon Street
Married c.1917: William Raven (on his first leave from War). See separate document for his details.
Children: two sons and one daughter (May, later Mrs Ralling of Glebe Crescent – Mr Ralling was brother of Charlie, shoemaker). One of sons killed during Second World War.
Residences
1893-c.1906 Cottage in Powershall End as girl (next to present no. 127)
c.1906 – c.1914 Lived in as servant in several places (see below under ‘jobs’); also c. 3 years back in Powershall End with father
c.1917-c.1919 With husbands’ grandparents in Maldon Road for 2 years after marriage while husband in war (since demolished, site now part of 30 Maldon Road). First child born there
c.1919-1925 Cottage in Mill Lane near tanyard (since demolished)
1925 onwards 9 Cressing Road (new Council house)
Jobs:
c.1906, aged 13 In unrecorded conversation of Jan 1978, Mrs Raven said her first job was in service with Greatrex, the butchers [6 Church Street or 8 Church Street]. Tapes don’t mention this, they say Mrs Cullen was first job.
Between 1906 and c 1916 Servant, Mrs Cullen, 16 Chipping Hill, Witham (lived in)
Between 1906 and c 1916 Servant, Langford (brief, no food, father fetched her home) (lived in)
Between 1906 and c 1916 General servant, Mr and Mrs Pinkham, Albert Road, also perhaps Collingwood Road, Witham (lived in)
Between 1906 and c 1916 Under housemaid, Harmsworth family, Messing Park (lived in; there when mother died c.1909. About 20 servants there)
Between 1906 and c 1916 Servant, Mrs Ainsworth, Chelmsford (lived in) (then three years at home looking after father till he remarried)
Between 1906 and c 1916 Servant, Mrs Nelthorpe, 32 Newland Street, Witham (lived in) (note: Essex Weekly News 4 January 1918, page 2, had advert. ‘General; steady, respectable girl, not under 18, good ref; one lady. – Mrs Nelthorpe, Witham’). Met future husband whilst there
First World War Munitions factory, supposedly Crittalls, Witham [C wasn’t open in Witham then, perhaps at Harrison Gray where shells probably checked for the Braintree Crittalls]. Married while there.
After marriage, c.1917, during or just after First War Cook, Misses Pattisson at 16 Collingwood Road, Witham (took son there as baby)
After First World War, while married Many others part-time including: stone picking in fields, pea picking, fruit picking, scrubbing floors of new houses for Adams and Mortimer, taking in washing, going out cooking dinners for rich families who were entertaining.
Second World War Ministry of Food at Chelmsford, head cook in canteen, went on train from Chelmsford
Since Second World War Made cakes for friends.
Died: 4 August 1978.
Obituary and funeral
Braintree and Witham Times, 24 August. ‘Well-known Witham resident Mrs Edith Raven, of 9 Cressing Road, Witham, died peacefully at her home on August 4, 1978, aged 84 years. Mrs Raven was born at Powers Hall End, she married a Witham baker and had two sons and a daughter (losing one son in the last war) and has lived in Witham all her life. During the First World War she worked on munitions and during the last war she worked as manageress of the Ministry of Health canteen in Chelmsford and commended by that department for her work. Mrs Raven was widely known for her cake making and many women in many parts of the world have cause to remember her for making their wedding cakes. She leaves a son and a daughter, five granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren. …funeral … among those present … were Mr and Mrs W Raven, son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs E Ralling, daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs A Christian, granddaughter and husband, Mr and Mrs K Raven, granddaughter and husband …’
Photos
Copies of Mrs Raven’s photos are M134-M140.
Extracts from relevant documents etc
1861 census returns, RG 9.1107, f.92, p.7, schedule 36, Church Street
Thomas Turner Head M 27 Ag labr born Essex, Rayne
Maria Turner Wife M 25 born Essex, Braintree
Mary A Turner Dau U 9 Scholar born Essex, Braintree
William Turner Son 6 Scholar born Essex, Braintree
Arthur Turner Son 5 Scholar born Essex, Black Notley
Thomas Turner Son 3 Scholar born Essex, Faulkbourne
Louisa Turner Dau 1 born Essex, Faulkbourne
1864
19 November 1864, Witham parish church, baptism of John and Lucy Turner, children of Thomas, labourer, and Maria (John must have been a toddler by then).
1871 census returns, RG 10/1695, folio 78, page 14, schedule 65, Post Hall End
Thomas Turner Head M 39 Ag lab born Essex, Rayne
Maria Turner Wife M 37 born Essex, Braintree
William Turner Son U 16 Ag lab born Essex, Braintree
Arthur Turner Son 15 Page boy born Essex, Black Notley
Thomas Turner Son 14 Ag lab born Essex, Faulkbourne
Louisa Turner Dau 11 born Essex, Faulkbourne
John Turner Son 9 Ag lab born Essex, Witham
Lucy Turner Dau 7 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Annie Maria Turner Dau 4 Scholar born Essex, Witham
George Turner Son 9 mo born Essex, Witham
11 September 1880 at All Saints
John Turner, 20, bach, labourer, of Witham, son of Thomas Turner, labourer
Harriet Cranmer, 20, spinster, of Witham, daughter of Robert Cranmer, labourer
Witnesses William Turner, Mary Ann Woodward)
1881
3 April 1881, Witham parish church, baptism of Arthur, son of John and Harriet Turner (born 20 December 1880).
1881 census returns, RG 11/1809, folio 73, page 7, schedules 34-37, Post Hall End
John Turner Head M 19 Ag lab born Essex, Witham
Harriet Turner Wife M 20 born Essex, Rivenhall
Arthur Turner Son 3 mo born Essex, Witham
//
Eliza Claydon Head U 42 Dressmaker born Essex, Witham
// 1 unoccupied
//
Thomas Turner Head M 50 Ag lab born Essex, Rayne
Maria Turner Wife M 45 born Essex, Braintree
Annie Turner Dau 14 Genl servant born Essex, Witham
George Turner Son 12 Scholar born Essex, Witham
Emily Turner Dau 9 Scholar born Essex, Witham
John Turner’s house was on north side of road, next to what is now number 127 Powershall End; he lived there for 56 years altogether. (ER)
Thomas Turner’s house was on south side of road, one of three cottages up a slope (ER). Probably the site later number 90 Powershall End.
1883
5 June 1883, Witham parish church, baptism of William, son of John and Harriet Turner (born 6 May 1883).
1881-1891
Thomas Turner died, and his widow Maria married Mr Everett (ER).
1891 census returns, RG 12/1425, folio 70, page 16, schedule 107, Post Hall End
James Everett Head M 53 Labourer agric born Essex, Witham
Maria Everett [i.e. formerly Maria Turner] Wife M 55 born Essex, Braintree
Alfred Everett Son 14 Bark chopper cork born Essex, Witham
Alice Everett Dau 11 born Essex, Witham
George Turner Son in law 21 Laborer agric [actually step-son probably] born Essex, Witham
Maria lived at tiny cottage near Spring Lodge, Powershall End, when widowed, and remarried Mr Everett. Went to Peculiars every Sunday – Edith took her in hired three wheeled chair.
1891 census returns, RG 12/1425, folios 70-71, pages 16-17, schedule 11, Post Hall End
John Turner Head Mar 31 Agricultural labourer born Essex, Witham
Harriet Turner Wife Mar 31 born Essex, Kelvedon
Arthur Turner Son 10 born Essex, Witham
William Turner Son 8 born Essex, Witham
Joseph Turner Son 6 born Essex, Witham
Margaret Turner Dau 2 born Essex, Witham
1893
18 December 1893, Witham parish church, baptism of Edith, daughter of John and Harriet Turner (also born 1893 (ER)).
1901 census returns, RG 13/1725, folio 76, page 6, schedule 34, Chipping Hill
James Everett Head M 63 Ordinary agricultural labourer (worker) born Essex, Witham
Maria Everett Wife M 68 born Essex, Braintree
1901 census returns, RG 13/1725, folio 78, page 9, schedule 62, Powershall End
John Turner Head M 39 Ordinary agricultural labourer (worker) born Essex, Witham
Harriott Turner Wife M 40 born Essex, Kelvedon
Arthur Turner Son S 20 Corn merchant’s carman (worker) born Essex, Witham
Joseph Turner Son S 15 Horselad (domestic) born Essex, Witham
Margaret Turner Dau S 12 born Essex, Witham`
Thomas Turner Son S 9 born Essex, Witham
Edith Turner Dau S 7 born Essex, Witham
George Turner Son S 5 born Essex, Witham
— Turner Son S 1 day born Essex, Witham
1901 census
Looked for William c 18; the nearest is a 21-year old at West Ham, a cowman (servant) with Arthur Low and family, cowkeeper in Balaam Street, West Ham (RG 13/1574, f.31, p.54)
1904
21 March 1904, Witham parish church, baptism of Margaret, daughter of John and Harriet Turner (adult baptism)
c 1909
Harriet Turner died (ER)
1909-1914
John Turner remarried. Then lived in bungalow Powershall End next to lane to Faulkbourne. Then bought house in Braintree Road next to 13 Braintree Road (probably by saving payments sent for son killed in war).
1911 electoral register
Turner, John, lived Terling Road.
1920 electoral register (in name order, no street numbers)
In Powers Hall End:
Turner, John
Turner, Elizabeth Mary
Turner, William
1930 electoral register (just looked in Powershall End)
At number 7 [probably on the corner of the track to Faulkbourne, not there when road renumbered in 1970]:
Turner, Percy
Turner, Beatrice Annie
At number 22 [renumbered in 1970 as 55]:
Turner, John
Turner, Elizabeth Mary
1938 electoral register (just looked in Powershall End)
At number 7 [probably on the corner of the track to Faulkbourne, not there when road renumbered in 1970]
Turner, Henry
At number 22 [renumbered in 1970 as 55]:
Turner, Elizabeth Mary, 22