Reuben Wheatley

Reuben was the youngest son of Reuben and Elizabeth Wheatley (née Warner).

Both his parents were born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. Reuben was born in 1858 (reg. JFM Biggleswade) the son of Robert and Jane Wheatley (née Cooper). In 1871 Robert, an agricultural worker, and Jane were living in Biggleswade with their children Fanny, a straw plaiter, Reuben a doctor's physic boy and Sarah Jane (10). Elizabeth Warner gave her age as 23 on her marriage, and she was probably born in 1855 (reg. JFM Biggleswade); she has not yet been traced on the 1871 Census.

The couple were married at Nottingham St Andrew on 6 January 1878. Reuben (22), a policeman, was living in Lenton; his father Robert's occupation was given as labourer. Elizabeth Warner (23) was living on Cranmer Street, Nottingham, no occupation given, father not named. Elizabeth signed the marriage register with her mark as did Jane Wheatley, one of the two witnesses.

The couple had nine children, one of whom, Florence, died in early childhood: Minnie b. 1879, Albert birth registered 1881 (JFM) and Ada b. 1882 who were born in Lenton, and Florence birth registered 1884 (b. 25 January) death registered 1886 (JFM), Robert Charles birth registered 1888 (JFM), Clifford b. 1889, Ethel Elizabeth b. 1891, Reuben birth registered 1893 (JFM) and Vincent birth registered 1897 (JFM) who were born in Nottingham.

Baptismal records have been traced for six of their nine children: Ada was baptised in Biggleswade on 15 August 1883, Florence at Nottingham St Nicholas on 26 November 1884 and Robert Charles, Clifford, Ethel Elizabeth and Reuben at Meadows St Saviour on 25 October 1893.

Reuben, a police officer, his wife and their two children, Minnie and Albert, were living at 6 Priory Place, Lenton, in 1881. Reuben's occupation was given on subsequent census as either police officer or police constable.

Reuben and Elizabeth were living at 12 Walnut Tree Lane when their daughter Florence was baptised in November 1884 but had moved to 3 Bell Terrace, Bell Street, by 1891 where they were recorded with their five surviving children, Minnie, Albert, Ada, Robert and Clifford. Also in the household on the night of the census was Reuben's niece, Hannah Mee (10, b. Arnold). Their daughter Ethel was born later that year.

The family was living at 13 Eugene Street, Nottingham, in 1901: Reuben, Elizabeth and Minnie a frilling machinist (lace manufacturer), Albert a drayman (lace manufacturer), Ada also a frilling machinist, Robert working at a station book stall, Clifford, Ethel and Reuben who were school age, and Vincent who was four years old.

By the time of the 1911 Census Reuben and Elizabeth were living at 9 Brand Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, with five of their eight surviving children; Robert a Corporation labourer (City Council), Clifford a railway carriage cleaner, Ethel a frilling machinist, Reuben a cardboard box maker and Vincent a glue hand (glue and (?) makers/bone works). Three of the children, Minnie, Albert and Ada, were now married.

Albert married Agnes Poole (b. Church Greasley, Derbyshire) at Greasley St George & St Mary in 1904 and in 1911, Albert, a fitters' labourer, his wife and their children, Kathleen Estelle and Leonard Charles, were living at 370 Meadow Lane, Nottingham. A second son, Kenneth, was born in 1923. Described on the census as 'boarders, Albert and his family were living with his married sister, Ada, her husband George William White (m. 1905), a shunter (railway), and their son John William (birth reg. 1907 JFM). A daughter, Winifred Irene Millicent, was born in 1920.

Minnie had married Arthur Parker, an engineering machinist/tool maker, in 1910 and were living on Holme Street, Meadow Lane, with their son Horace Edmund (b. 1910 JAS d. 1928). Their daughter Edna was born in 1913 and her sister Nellie in 1916. Minnie died aged 38 in June 1918.

Reuben's wife Elizabeth died on 4 September 1911 aged 57.

Several records indicate that her husband was still living at 9 Brand Street when their two sons were killed in the early years of the war and it is also Vincent's parents' address on his CWGC record. However, a Naval casualties record gives Vincent's father's address as 19 Ryhill Cottages, Kirkwhite Street, Nottingham, which in 1921 was the address of his married daughter, Ada White; it is the same address given for Reuben in a notice of his death in a local paper in 1915. Reuben's CWGC record gives his parents' address as 'Peters Row, Nottingham Rd., Daybrook, Notts.'

Robert Charles married Lily Fox in 1912 (JAS) and they had at least one child, Robert Sidney (b. 1920) although there may have been another son, John (birth reg. 1915 JFM Wheatley/Fox, no other record traced). Robert, who was working for Nottingham Corporation at its Eastcroft Depot, his wife and son Robert were living at 3 Carlton Terrace, Meadow Lane, in 1921. They and their son, a packer (textile company), were still at the same address in 1939. Robert died in February 1963.

Clifford married Margaret Hunt in 1912 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled Clifford, a railway carriage and wagon examiner, his wife and their son John (b. 1920) were living at 26 Brand Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham. Clifford died aged 50 in 1939 (reg. OND).

Ethel Elizabeth married Joseph Varney in 1913 and in 1939 they were living at 6 Hertford Street, Nottingham. Her husband was a tailor and also an ARP warden/casualty first aid. Ethel died on 21 May 1953 following a road accident in Nottingham; she was then living at 11 Hertford Street. (Nottingham Evening Post, 25 May, 4 & 5 June). Joseph probably married his widowed sister-in-law, Ada White (née Wheatley) in 1960 (reg. Nottingham); he died in 1969.

Ada White, her husband George, a leading shunter (Midland Railway), and their two children, John and Winifred, were living at 19 Rye Hill Cottage, Kirk White Street, in 1921. By 1939 Ada, her husband George, now a traffic inspector (London Midland Scottish Railway), and their daughter Winifred were living at 140 Honey-hill Road, Bedford. George White died in November 1950 (Probate, address 140 Honey-hill Road). Ada died in 1967, predeceasing her second husband, Joseph Varney (see above).

The eldest son, Albert, died in 1935 and his widow Agnes married John W Toulson, a widower, in 1937. In 1939 Agnes, her husband, a farmer, four of his children and her son Kenneth Victor (b. 1923 d. 2 February 1940) were living at Assarts Farm, Nuthall, Nottingham. Agnes's two older children were married, Kathleen to Albert Oakland in 1925 and Leonard to Antoinette Drusilla Hall in 1937. Agnes died in 1977.

Reuben Wheatley snr. died aged 81 in 1939 (JAS Basford) before the 1939 Register was compiled.

Five of his children, Florence, Vincent, Reuben, Minnie and Albert had predeceased him, and he was survived by Ada (d. 1967), Robert Charles (d. 1963), Clifford (who died later that year, reg. OND) and Ethel Elizabeth (d. 1953).