Samuel Hetterley

Samuel was born in 1892 at Hathern, Leicestershire, the only child of George Frederick [Frederick] Hetterley and his second wife Mary Jane (née Haywood).

His father Frederick was born in 1857 at Sileby and married Elizabeth Watkin Monk (b. Hathern, 1851), the daughter of John Monk, at Hathern parish church on 18 March 1878. The couple had five children who were born in Hathern: George b. 1878 (AMJ), Alice b. 1880, and Harry birth registered 1883 (JFM), who were all baptised at Hathern parish church on 26 March 1884; Ellen b. December 1884 (reg. 1885 JFM) and Samuel b. 1886 (JAS), baptised Hathern parish church 30 April 1886 and who died in 1886 (JAS).

In 1881 Frederick (25) a cotton framework knitter, Elizabeth (30), and their two children, George and Alice, were living on Wide Street, Hathern. Harry was born two years later in 1883 and Ellen in December 1884.

Their fifth child, Samuel, was born in 1886. Elizabeth died shortly after his birth and was buried in Hathern churchyard on 28 April; she was 35 years old. Samuel, who was baptised in the parish church on 30 April, died at the age of 3 months and was buried on 23 July in Hathern churchyard.

Frederick married Mary Jane Haywood in 1888 (AMJ Loughborough) and their son Samuel was born in 1891 (JAS) and baptised at Hathern on 26 June the following year.

Frederick, a wool framework knitter, and Mary were living in Golden Square, Hathern, in 1891. Also in the household were Frederick's three youngest children Alice, Harry and Nellie. George (12) was a brickyard labourer and living with his grandparents, John P Watts, a baker, and his wife Mary on Dovecote Street, Hathern. Also in the household was their granddaughter, Lizzie W Monk (4) b. Hathern.

Their son Samuel was born later that year (1891 JAS), and baptised at Hathern parish church on 26 June 1892.

Mary probably died in 1894 and Frederick's son, Harry, probably died in 1899 aged 16.

In 1901 Frederick and his son Samuel (9) were living in Golden Square, Hathern.

Frederick's son George had joined the Grenadier Guards in 1896 (see 'Extra information'). His daughter Alice had married Arthur Hurt (24) at Hathern parish church on 6 August 1900. Alice and their daughter Evelyn Annie (b. Hathern) were recorded on the 1901 Census in Hathern, visitors in the household of Frank and Florence Kelham. Her husband has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census but by 1911 Arthur, a night watchman (brewery), Alice and their four children, Evelyn, Gerald Arthur, Edna May and Ada Adelaide, were living in Castle Donington. Ellen has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census, but she married John Henry Abel in 1910 (reg. JFM Loughborough) and their daughter Nellie was born in 1913.

By 1911 Samuel, a coal miner/pony driver, was living with his half-sister Nellie [Ellen], and her husband John Abel (25), a coal miner hewer, at 7 King Road, Warsop. Samuel was still living with Nellie and John at the same address when he enlisted in 1914 and he named Nellie as his next of kin.