John Arthur Randall Archer

John Arthur Randall was the son of Thomas and Martha Archer (née Tomlinson)

His father Thomas was born in Mercaston, Derbyshire, in about 1853 and his mother Martha was born in Shipley, Derbyshire, in May 1856. Thomas ('full age'), a farmer, and Martha (19) were married at Cotmanhay parish church, Derbyshire, on 14 July 1875.

Thomas and Martha had twelve children, two of whom had died in infancy or early childhood (ref. 1911 Census). Eleven children have been traced from birth/baptismal registrations and census records. Mary Amy [Ann] was born in Shipley in 1877 OND; her siblings were born in Lambley: Thomas Daniel b. 1879 JAS, Ada Adelaide b. 1880 OND, Alice Maud birth registered 1882 JFM, John James b. 1884 JAS death registered 1885 JFM, Margaret Miriam birth registred 1886 JFM, Charles Frederick birth registered 1888 JFM, John Arthur Randall b. 1889 OND, Rhoda Edna Errol b. 1891 AMJ, Walter b. 1892 OND and William Henry b. 1894 JAS.

Mary Amy was baptised at Cotmanhay parish church on 25 December 1877 as was her sister Ada Adelaide on 17 November 1880. Their siblings were baptised at Lambley Holy Trinity: Thomas Daniel 7 September 1879, Alice Maud 30 April 1882, John James 7 September 1884, Margaret Miriam 28 February 1886, Charles Frederick 26 February 1888, John Arthur Randall 14 November 1889, Rhoda Edna Errol 28 June 1891, Walter 26 February 1893 and William Henry 30 September 1894.

In 1881 Thomas, a farmer, and his wife were living on Park Lane, Lambley, probably at Willow Grange farm (77 acres) where, from census records, they lived until at least 1921. In the home on the night of the census were their three children, Mary (3), Thomas Daniel (1) and Ada Adelaide (u/1y), and also two indoor farm servants and a general domestic servant. Their son John James was born three years later but died before his first birthday.

The couple had seven children by 1891: Mary, Thomas, Ada, Alice (9), Margaret (5), Charles (3) and John Arthur Randall (1). Thomas employed one farm servant and a general domestic servant.

By 1901 the eldest son, Thomas, was assisting his father on the farm, and his sisters Alice and Margaret were school teachers (County Council); Margaret, who was 15, was probably a pupil teacher. Two of the older daughters, Mary and Ada, were probably assisting with household duties, while the younger children, Charles, John [Arthur], Rhoda (9), Walter (8) and William (6) were school age.

Seven of the ten children were still living at home in 1911: Mary and Edna [Rhoda] were dairy workers, Charles, Arthur and Henry [William] were also assisting their father on the farm, Miriam [Margaret] was an elementary school teacher and Walter an apprentice estate agent.

Ada Adelaide, resident Lambley, had married Percy Smith McInness (20 b. 3 May 1888, Hull), farmer, resident Lowick, at the parish church of Lowick, Northamptonshire, on 8 September 1908. In 1911 Ada was living with her parents-in-law, William McInnes, a retired sea captain, and his wife Elizabeth Anne, at the Limes, Duffield, Yorkshire. Her husband may have already emigrated to Canada.

Thomas Daniel had married Florence Gertrude Shelton in 1909 (reg. JFM) and in 1911 they and their son Thomas Charles (b. March 1911) were living on Town Street, Lambley. Thomas was a farmer's labourer and may have been working on his father's farm.

Alice Maud, an elementary school teacher (County Council) was living on Dean Road, Whiteparish, Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1911. She was a boarder in the household of Josiah Lockyer (70), a widower, and his unmarried daughter, Rose (34).

Thomas Archer snr., farmer, and his wife were living at Willow Grange Farm, Lambley, in 1921. Four of their children were still living at home. Mary, occupation 'home duties', Miriam [Margaret] a school teacher (Nottinghamshire Education Committee), and Walter and Henry [William] who were assisting their father on the farm.

The CWGC record (date not known) gives Arthur's parents' address as South Glade Farm, Bestwood Park, Bulwell, Nottingham.

Mary Amy, their oldest child, married William Thompson Smith, a farmer, at Emmanuel church, Bestwood Park, on 4 May 1922. There were three witnesses to the marriage including Mary's siblings Walter and Margaret.

Thomas snr. of Bestwood Park, died on 12 February 1930.

In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, his widow Martha, 'farmer', was living at Grasscroft Farm, Kimberley, with her married daughter Mary Smith and son-in-law William, a cowman.

Martha died in November 1947. The probate record gave her address as Grasscroft Farm; probate was awarded to her son, Charles Frederick, a farmer.

Of Arthur's surviving siblings:

Mary Amy probably died in 1955 and her husband, William Thompson Smith, in June the same year. Administration of his Will was awarded to Alice Mary Foster, 'wife of Samuel Foster'.

Thomas Daniel died in 1925 (OND) aged 46.

Ada Adelaide and her husband Percy, a postal clerk, were living at 1932-28 Street W., Calgary, Alberta, when Percy enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (see 'Extra information'). 'Sgt. Percival Smith McInnes' was buried in the Royal Oak Burial Park Cemetery, Victoria, British Columbia and Ada Adelaide also died in British Columbia (dates of death not known).

Alice Maud was last traced on the 1911 Census when she was an elementary school teacher in Salisbury. However, there are two passenger lists recording an Alice M Archer sailing from St John Canada destination Liverpool on two separate occasions, first sailing in January 1921.

Margaret Miriam married Frederick Elias Foster (b. 1899) at Emmanuel Church, Bestwood Park, in August 1922. In 1939 Frederick, a butcher's general assistant, and Margaret were living at Riverlyn, Russell Yard, Main Street, Lambley. Frederick died in September 1955; the probate record gave his address as Brook House, Lambley. His widow Margaret died in November 1966 and she was buried with Frederick in Lambley Cemetery.

Charles Frederick (25), farmer, married Hannah Elizabeth Turner Radford (b. 1884) at Lambley Holy Trinity Church in January 1913. They were living on Park Lane, (-) Hill, Lambley, in 1921: Charles,who was assisting his father on the farm, Hannah and their sons Frederick (8), Walter (6) and Charles (3). In 1939 Charles, a dairy farmer, his wife and their son Charles, a public works contractor's labourer, were living at Grasscroft Farm, Swingate. Hannah died in 1956; the probate record gave her address as Newdigate Street, Kimberley.

Rhoda Edna Errol probably emigrated to Canada as there is a 'Miss REE Archer (23, occupation illegible) departing Liverpool 23 October 1914 for Quebec (SS Hesperian, Allan Line Steamship Co.). She probably married in Canada: an Edna Bonser was recorded on the 1921 Canada Census, an Edna Bonser (31 b. abt. 1891) departed England 31 August 1922 for Montreal (SS Melita, Canadian Pacific Railway) and a Rhoda Edna Bonser was recorded on the 1931 Canada Census.

Walter, farmer, of South Glade Farm, Bestwood Park, married Florence Goodall (20) of Holly Bank, Eastwood, at Eastwood St Mary in June 1924. The emigrated to Canada and were recorded on the 1931 Canada Census. There is a record of the burial of a Captain Walter Archer MC, Sherwood Foresters BEF (30 October 1892-9 January 1981) who was buried in the National Field of Honour Cemetery Pointe-Claire Montreal Region Quebec.

William Henry attested in the Royal Artillery at Derby on 6 November 1923; place of birth Lambley, occupation farm hand. The record showed previous service of under three months in the Grenadier Guards (No. 17281). William married Edith Ann Burton in 1926 (OND Mansfield) and in 1939 they were living on Broomhill Road, Nottingham; William's occupation was given as crane slinger. The record of one other member of the household remains closed. Edith died in 1974 (reg. Mansfield) and William Henry in December 1985; the probate record gave his address as Seely Hirst House, Mapperley Road, Nottingham.