Robert Merchant

Robert ('Bob') was the son of Samuel and Mary Ann Merchant.

Samuel Merchant was born in Radford in 1862 and he was married in 1880 (reg. JFM Radford). He and his wife had three sons; Samuel (b. 1880 AMJ), William (birth reg. 1882, JFM) and Robert (b. 31 May 1896), who were born in Nottingham.

In 1881 Samuel (20) a baker, his wife Mary (21) and their one-year old son Samuel were boarders in the household of William Challis at 6 Cyprus Street, St Ann's.

By 1891 Samuel, now working as a miner's labourer, and his wife were living at 1 Rumford Street, St Ann's with their sons Samuel and William. Also in the household was a lodger, Mary A Dale (70), a widow.

Samuel, described on the 1901 census as married, was living at 10 Exchange Court, Mount Street, Nottingham, with his two youngest sons, William and Robert (4). Samuel was a bricklayer's labourer and William was in work. Samuel's wife has not yet been traced.

Robert's brother William married Edith Morgan in 1902 and in 1911 they were living at 10 Exchange Court, Mount Street. William was a bricklayer's labourer and Edith was a machinist. They had had four children but only a daughter, Edith (8), had survived.

In 1911 Robert (15) was living with his father at 2 Cranmer's Place, Mount Street, Nottingham. Samuel, now a shopkeeper, completed the census with the information that he had been married for 30 years and had had three children all of whom were still living. Also in his household was Agnes Millwood (44) who was described on the census form, as married; she had had 11 children all of whom were still living. Seven children with the surname 'Millwood' were living with Samuel and Agnes: Florence (20), Amy (15), Agnes (12), Harry (10), Minnie [Miriam Millwood Merchant] (7 b. 1904, AMJ), Ginney [Jennie] (4, b. 1906) and Jim (2, b. 1909). Given Agnes' domestic circumstances (see below) it is probable that Samuel was the father of at least her three youngest children.

Agnes Hannah (nee Daft) had married Herbert Millward (b. 1859) in 1883 (JAS Nottingham). The spelling of their surname varies on official records: Millward, Milwood and Millwood, although by 1901 Agnes was using the spelling 'Millwood'. Herbert and Agnes probably had seven children, Lilian (b. 1883), Alice (b. 1886), Clara (b. 24 September 1888), Florence (birth reg. 1891 JFM), Ernest (b. 1893), Amy (b. 1896) and Agnes (b. 1898). However, Agnes had another child, Harry, in 1901 (birth registered OND) and subsequently three more children, Miriam, Jennie and Jim.

In 1891 Agnes and Herbert were living at 18 Exchange Close, Nottingham. Herbert (34) was a coal dealer. They had four daughters, Lilian (7), Alice (5), Clara (4) and Florence (5 months). There was also a boarder in the household, Leonard Tompkin (21).

Herbert Millward (sic), was admitted as a patient (status 'pauper') to The Borough Asylum (City Lunatic Asylum) on Porchester Road, Mapperley, on 5 October 1899 and appears to have remained there until his death on 30 April 1918.

By the time of the 1901 Census Agnes (34), who was working as a lace clipper, was living at 12 Albion Place, Nottingham, with six of her seven children: Alice, a machinist, Clara, Florence , Ernest, Amy and Agnes. Also in the household was a boarder, Lilian Perkins (18). Agnes senior's son Harry was born later that year.

Agnes's daughter Clara married Thomas Hancock on 31 October 1908 and had two children, Leonard Cyril (b. 19 August 1910) and Florence Lilian Irene (b. 14 October 1913). Thomas had joined the army in 1903 and transferred to the Army Reserve in 1906; he was mobilized on 5 August 1914 and was not demobilised until 6 June 1919. Clara died in 1972 aged 84.

Samuel Merchant was still living at Cranmer Place when Robert was killed in 1916 and continued to live there until his own death on 26 November 1922. He had made a Will and Agnes Millwood was described as his widow although no record has yet been found of their marriage. Agnes died in 1960 aged 92 (buried 19 May 1960).