Thomas Hodgkinson Morris

Thomas Hodgkinson was the eldest son of Thomas and Flora Venables Morris (née Young).

His father Thomas Morris was born in Tollerton, Nottinghamshire, in about 1861. He was a wicker furniture, basketware and pram manufacturer; founder and managing director of Morris, Wilkinson and Co. Ltd. (trademark 'Sirrom') of Victoria Works and Springfield Works, Radford Road, Basford,

His mother, Flora Venables Young, was born in Nottingham, the daughter of Andrew Bates and Ann Young (née Venables, m. 1869 JFM Nottingham), who had nine children, one of whom died in infancy: Andrew Bates b. 1869 (JAS) d. 1869 (JAS), Annie Geraldine birth reg. 1871 (JFM), Gertrude Elizabeth birth reg. 1873, Flora Venables b. 7 September 1874, Marie Claribel b. 1876, Harry Stuart b. 1877, Mabel Louisa birth reg. 1879 (JFM), Ethel Nora birth reg. 1881 (JFM) and Bruce Harold b. July 1884. Gertrude was baptised at Nottingham Holy Trinity in March 1873, Flora, Harry, Ethel and Marie were baptised at Holy Trinity in September 1882, and Bruce at Sneinton St Stephen in September 1885.

Andrew Young, a wholesale milliner and lace merchant (employer, 5 men, 1 boy), was living on Vickers Street, Nottingham, in 1881 with his wife and their seven surviving children. They were still living at the same address when four of their children were baptised in September 1882. Their ninth child, Bruce Harold, was born in July 1884 and his baptismal record in 1885 gave his parents' address as the Milton's Head Hotel, Nottingham.

Annie Young died in 1885 (JAS) aged 39 and her husband Andrew died in Skegness on 10 August 1890. The probate record gave his former address as 14 Vickers Street. Administration of his Will was awarded to Tom Young, a warehouseman of Sherwood Rise, and 'the uncle and guardian' of his late brother's eight children, seven of whom were described as 'minors' and the youngest, Bruce, as an 'infant'.

In 1891, six years after their father's death, the seven older children were living at 27 Watcombe Circus, Carrington: Annie (20), who was head of household, Gertrude (18) and Flora (16) who were Board school pupil teachers, Marie C (15) a milliner's apprentice, Harry (14) a drapers' apprentice and Mabel (12) and Ethel (10) who were at school. Also in the household was a 14-year old general domestic servant. The children's youngest brother, Bruce Harold, has not yet been traced on either the 1891 or 1901 Census.

Thomas Morris and Flora Young were married at Nottingham St Andrew on 27 March 1895. They had four children, Flora Sybil b. February 1896 (AMJ), Thomas Hodgkinson b.7 May 1897, Philip Owen b. 1901 (JAS) and Richard Venables b. 1910 (JAS). Flora and Thomas were living in West Bridgford when their two eldest children were baptised at West Bridgford St Giles; Flora in March 1896 and Thomas on 5 June 1897.

By 1901 Thomas (40), Flora (26) and their two children, Flora (5) and Thomas (3) were living at 8 Alexandra Street, Nottingham. Thomas employed a general servant and a nurse. Also in the household were two of his wife's younger siblings Harry Stuart (23) and Mabel Louise (22) a telegraph clerk. Flora and Thomas's second son, Philip Owen, was born later that year and Richard in 1910.

Flora's eldest sister, Annie Geraldine had married John Morris, a manufacturer, at Carrington St John the Evangelist in April 1893. In 1901 they were living in Bulwell with their three children, Nora (5), Mary (2) and Christopher (1); also in the household was Annie's sister, Ethel (20) and three domestic servants. Annie Morris died in 1911 (burial 3 February).

Two of their sisters, Gertrude (28) a Board teacher and [Marie] Claribel (25) a cookery teacher, were boarders in the household of William Oscroft, a lace manager, and his wife Mary.

Flora's brother, Harry Stuart, a ship's officer in the Merchant service, died from pneumonia on passage to Cape Town (SS Persic) on 2 November 1901 at 5.40pm, aged 24. He was buried at sea (15.02S, 1.54E) and is commemorated on a headstone in Nottingham Church Cemetery: 'died on the voyage to Cape Town and was buried at sea’. Administration of his Will was awarded to his married sister Annie Geraldine Morris.

Three of Flora's sisters married between 1901 and 1908:

Marie Claribel (26) married Thomas Vernon Woodhouse (27), at Basford St Augustine on 5 November 1902. In 1911 they were living on Mona Road, West Bridgford, with their daughter Margery Claribel. Thomas died in February 1934 and was buried in Nottingham Church Cemetery. Administration of his Will was awarded to his widow, Marie, of Selby Road, West Bridgford. Marie died in 1961 (AMJ Basford).

Gertrude Elizabeth (31) married Ernest Duckett Jackson (31), a lace bleacher manager, at Nottingham St Mary on 1 December 1904 and in 1911 were living on Mayo Road, Sherwood Rise, with their son Ernest Venables (5); another child had died in infancy. They were still living at the same address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Gertrude died in 1969; her husband predeceased her.

Ethel Nora (26) married John Robert Green at West Bridgford St Giles on 18 August 1908; they had two daughters, Mary Winifred (b. 1910) and Sheila Ruth (b. 1920). The couple were living in Warwickshire in 1939: John was a company director (textile buyer and departmental manager) and Ethel's occupations were given as 'unpaid domestic duties, certificated teacher and ARP ambulance driver. Their daughter Mary died on war service in 1940 (See 'Extra information'). Ethel died in 1962; she was survived by her husband and daughter Ruth.

Their youngest brother, Bruce Harold, married Mary Smith in 1910 (JAS Nottingham), and had three sons: Robert Bruce (b. Aug. 1911), John Andrew (b. 1914) and Stuart Harold (b. 27 May 1919). In 1911 Bruce, a wholesale dealer in toys, china and general fancy goods (own account), and his wife were living on Pierrepont Road, West Bridgford. In 1921 he was the manager of the Sir Richard Arkwright hotel, 100 Arkwright Street, but was living with his wife Mary and their three sons, at 12 Orston Road, West Bridgford. By 1939 Bruce was the hotel manager of the Royal Beach Hotel, South Parade, Portsmouth. He died in 1946 (JFM reg. Portsmouth). His wife Mary was living with their sons John, an ironmonger's assistant, and Stuart, a shop assistant (Woolworths), at 9 Albert Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire, in 1939. Their son Robert Bruce had married Olive Stoppard in 1935 (AMJ Shardlow) and they had two daughters, Barbara (b. 1935) and Margaret J. (b. 1937). In 1939 Robert and his family were living at 78 Bennett Street, Long Eaton. Robert died in 1972 (JFM Ilkeston). Stuart Harold married Ethel M Degg at Alfreton Wycliffe Congregational Church in 1947 (JFM Belper). He died in 1995 (JFM Derby). John Andrew married Peggy Irene Gardner in 1949 at Breaston St Michael; John died in 1985. Both Robert and Stuart served in the Army in the Second World War. (See 'Extra information')

By 1911 Thomas and Flora Morris were living at Oakfield, Cyprus Road, Nottingham, with their four children, Flora, Thomas, Philip and Richard. Thomas snr. employed a sick nurse, two housemaids and a cook. The family home was still at Cyprus Road when Thomas's medals were claimed in 1920.

Philip Owen died in 1928 (reg. Kingston Surrey) aged 27.

Thomas Morris snr. died on 28 August 1936. Probate was awarded to his widow, and their two surviving children, Richard, a company director, and Flora, 'spinster'.

Flora was living at 52 Richmond Drive, Nottingham, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Also in the home were her daughter Flora, a restaurant manageress and assistant commandant (service illegible), and Richard, a works manager (wicker manufacterer) and also AF, AFS mobile.

Flora Venables Morris of 52 Richmond Drive died in a Nottingham nursing home on 27 June 1959; probate was granted to her daughter, Flora.

Flora Sibyl was living at 2 Hillside, Nottingham, at the time of her death in 1984.

Richard Venables married Denyse MM Dugousset in 1951. They were living at 15 Hartington Road, Sherwood, at the time of Richard's death in 1970. His widow died in November 1911, aged 88.