Harold Mawby Hawkins

Harold Mawby was the youngest son of Benjamin and Harriett Hawkins (née Barrows).

His father Benjamin was born in Carrington, Nottingham, in 1864, the son of William Hawkins, a policeman, and Jane (née Dowse) who were married at a Basford parish church on 24 December 1861. By 1881 William was a county police officer and he, his wife and their six children, including Benjamin (17), a shoe clicker, were living at 2 New Buildings, Mansfield.

His mother Harriett was born in Mansfield in about 1863, the daughter of William and Ann Barrows. She was baptised in Nottingham on 20 September 1863.

Benjamin and Harriett were married in 1885 (reg. JFM Mansfield) and had five children, four of whom were born in Mansfield and one, Harold, in Chesterfield: William b. 1885 (JAS), Florence b. 1887 (OND), Martha Ann b. 1889 (JAS), Benjamin Dowse b. 1891 (AMJ) and Harold Mawby b. 1895 (OND).

Benjamin, a boot clicker, Harriett and their three children, William, Florence and Martha, were living at 38&39 Newgate Lane, Mansfield in 1891. Their second son, Benjamin, was born later that year.

The family had moved from Mansfield to Chesterfield by the time of the birth of their youngest child, Harold, in 1895 and were recorded on the 1901 Census at 63 Foljambe Road, Chesterfield: Benjamin, a boot clicker, Harriett, William a grocer's assistant, Florence a boot eyeletter (presumably working with her father), and Martha, Benjamin and Harold who were school age. When William enlisted in the Army in February 1904 he gave his address as 35 Foljambe Road, Chesterfield, which was also the address of his next of kin, his parents and brother Ben.

Benjamin and his wife may have returned to Nottingham by 1909 when their eldest daughter was married, and were living at 78 Egypt Road in 1911: Benjamin (47) a boot repairer (own account, 'at home'), Harriett (47) and three of their children, Martha Ann (21) a carriage straightener (lace manufacturing), Benjamin Dowse (19) a compositor (printing works) and Harold Mawby a telegraph messenger working for the General Post Office. The following year Harold was recorded in a Postal Services appointment book, January 1912, as '43644. Harold Mawby Hawkins assistant postman, Nottingham'.

Benjamin snr. and Harriett were still living at 78 Egypt Street at the time of Harold's death in 1916 and were recorded at the same address in 1921; Benjamin was still working as a boot repairer.

Their eldest daughter Florence had married Arthur Hooley (b. 1880 Chesterfield) in 1909 (reg. AMJ Nottingham). In 1911 she and her husband, a shop assistant (hatters), together with their daughter Gertrude (1) were living at 15 Fisher Gate, Hyson Green. Arthur, Florence and Gertrude were recorded on the 1921 Census at the same address, but Arthur was now working as a boot repairer (employer Benjamin Hawkins, 78 Egypt Road). Their son Bernard Harold was born in February 1921. The couple were still living at 15 Fisher Gate in 1939 and Arthur was following the same occupation of boot repairer while their son Bernard was a clerk (dyers & finishers). Arthur Hooley died in 1963 and his widow Florence in May 1974.

The eldest son William had married Clara Lizzie Snowdin (b. 1885) in 1909 (reg. JAS Chesterfield) and in 1911 they were living on Heaton Street, Chesterfield, with Clara's parents, James Snowdin, a jobbing gardener, and Eliza. William was a clerk at an estate office. By 1939 William, a manager finance company and book keeper, his wife and their daughter Elsie (b. 1919) a shorthand typist, were living at 66 Foljambe Avenue, Chesterfield. William died in 1952 (reg. AMJ Chesterfield).

Martha Ann married Ernest Cyril Hewitt in 1917 (OND Nottingham). In 1921 Ernest's occupation was given on the census as 'perambulator fitter' (WH Ball & Co.). In 1939 they were living at 248 Radford Road, Nottingham. Ernest was unemployed but Martha's occupation was recorded as 'sweets and tobacco shop'. Martha died on 3 July 1950. The Probate record gave her address as 248 Radford Road; her husband Ernest, a perambulator fitter, was granted Administration of her Will. Ernest died in 1952 (JFM).

Benjamin Dowse married Dorothy Pare in 1918 and in 1921 they were living at 63 Windermere Road, Nottingham'. Benjamin was a boot & shoe dealer & repairer (employer B. Hawkins, boot & shoe dealer, 78 Egypt Road). By 1939 they were living at 78 Egypt Road, Nottingham; Benjamin, a shoe salesman, Dorothy (b. 1891) and their daughters Dora (b. 1924) a typist (hosiery trade) and Molly (b. 1929). Benjamin died on 1 January 1980 and his widow Dorothy on 9 June the same year; they were buried in Northern Cemetery, Bulwell.

Benjamin snr. died on 18 February 1938; the probate record gave his address as 21 Brushfield Street, Hyson Green. Probate was awarded to his son William, an accountant. Harriett died on 25 July 1938, five months after her husband. They were buried in Northern Cemetery, Bulwell.