The 12th child born to my 2xgreat grandparents, Rose grew up in her father's home village of Redbourn, where he was a master baker. She worked as a skilled waterproof clothing machinist with her older sister. I made a cardinal error marrying her off to the wrong man, tracing their lives without double checking the … Continue reading Rose Ephgrave (1892-1969): Family ties (almost a mistake!)
Bedfordshire
Ellen Ephgrave (1889-1969): Wars and Waterproofs
My 2xgreat grandparents suffered the loss of two baby daughters before Ellen, their 11th child, was born. She grew up in Redbourn, and worked as a machinist in a waterproof clothing factory in nearby St Albans, Hertfordshire. War seems to have been a backdrop to much of her family life. WW1 saw her marry and … Continue reading Ellen Ephgrave (1889-1969): Wars and Waterproofs
Clara Ephgrave (1880-1941): In service before a late marriage
After the birth of five sons, one of whom had died, my 2xgreat grandparents Jesse and Harriet Ephgrave must have been pleased at the birth of a healthy daughter. Clara spent at least a decade working as a domestic servant for a small family involved in the hat business in Luton. She married in her … Continue reading Clara Ephgrave (1880-1941): In service before a late marriage
William Ephgrave (1878-1949): Lifelong milkman, intriguing in-laws
Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, William spent his adult life in London, where he worked as a milkman in the same dairy business as my great grandfather, his brother. William's marriage to Annie Looker led me to research her intriguing, much-married father, a coffee house keeper of London and later a publican. I believe William … Continue reading William Ephgrave (1878-1949): Lifelong milkman, intriguing in-laws
Arthur Ephgrave (1876-1943): Family puzzles
The fourth of my great grandparents' 13 children, Arthur grew up in St Alban's but raised his own much smaller family in Luton following a brief stay in London. He worked in two of Luton's major industries before and after WW1 service, but finished his working life at Vauxhall's Motor Works. Intriguingly, his wife appears … Continue reading Arthur Ephgrave (1876-1943): Family puzzles
Benjamin Looker (1831-1906): An intriguing side-shoot
I am often distracted from my research by people tangential to my family history. One such is Benjamin Looker, father-in-law of my great grand uncle William Ephgrave. He was a much-married London coffee house keeper, Hertfordshire publican and son of a London 'ruby hole maker' (watch jeweller). I became rather obsessed with trying to fill … Continue reading Benjamin Looker (1831-1906): An intriguing side-shoot
Harriet Scrivener (1851-1931): Hattie in hat town
My 2xgreat grandmother was born and grew up in Luton, in Bedfordshire, joining many thousands of others working in the booming straw hat industry, probably from a young age. She would have earned good money, which may be why she didn't immediately marry the father of her first child. What would Hattie's formative years in … Continue reading Harriet Scrivener (1851-1931): Hattie in hat town
Jesse Ephgrave (1852-1926): Losses and legacies
My 2xgreat grandfather was born in Redbourn, a small historic town in Hertfordshire. His father, a baker, died when he was six and he was brought up by his mother and stepfather - also a baker. He followed the same often financially precarious trade for at least 50 years; but what was his childhood like? … Continue reading Jesse Ephgrave (1852-1926): Losses and legacies
Jesse & Harriet Ephgrave: A baker’s dozen
My 2xgreat grandfather Jesse Ephgrave was a master baker. He had 13 children - a baker's dozen - with Harriet Scrivener. Their first son, my great grandfather, was illegitimate and their second was born only a few months after their marriage. Times were hard for them, with the loss of four children in infancy, and … Continue reading Jesse & Harriet Ephgrave: A baker’s dozen
Charley Brown: A Herts childhood
My great grandfather Charles (Charley/Charlie) Brown served 12 years as a soldier with the British Army in India before marrying cook, Lavinia Seaby, in Cambridgeshire in 1893. His residence at the time was Girtford in Sandy, Bedfordshire, where they spent their short married life. It took a while to trace his birth, and the home … Continue reading Charley Brown: A Herts childhood
My Stocking Roots 