John William Newman

John William was the eldest child of William and Martha Newman (née Twigger).

His father William was born in 1856 in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, and his mother Martha was born in 1865 in Bedworth, Warwickshire. Martha was living in Killamarsh, Chesterfield, with her parents, Joseph and Rebecca Twigger, and three siblings in 1871 but by 1881 Martha, her mother (head of household) and six siblings had moved to Nottingham and were living on Clifford Street, Radford, Nottingham.

William and Martha were married at Hyson Green St Paul on 12 May 1888 and had five children, two of whom died in infancy: John William b. 1889 (AMJ), Thomas b. 1891 (OND) bap. Hyson Green St Paul 13 December 1892, Elizabeth (Lizzie) b. 1894 (OND) and Emma b. 1897 d. 1898 and William birth registered 1899 (JFM) d. 1899 (OND).

William, a coal miner, Martha and their son John William were living at Paradise Place, 6 Chelsea Street, Basford, in 1891; the second son Thomas was born later that year. Their daughter Elizabeth was born in Hucknall in 1894 and the family was living on Hankin Street by 1898 when the fourth child, Emma, died on 3 April 1898 aged 11 months (Hucknall Morning Star & Advertiser, 8 April 1898). Their third son William was born in 1899 (JFM) but died the same year.

William snr. also died in 1899 (JFM) aged 42. In 1901 his widow Martha, a lace mender, and her three surviving children, John, Thomas and Elizabeth, were living at 11 Swarkestone Terrace, Nottingham.

Martha married Alfred Haslam in 1904 and their son Charles was born the following year.

Her eldest son John married Clara Felmingham in 1908 and had four sons, two of whom died in infancy: John Samuel b. 1909 (reg. 1910 JFM), Samuel b. 1911 (JAS) d. 1912 (AMJ), Joseph b. 1913 (JAS) d. 1913 (JAS) and James b. 1914.

In 1911 John, a dyers' labourer, his wife and their son John Samuel were living at 11 Shipstone Terrace, Basford, Nottingham. Also in the household, and described as boarders, were his mother Martha (Haslam) a plain net mender (at home), his two siblings, Thomas, a dyers' finisher, and Lizzie, also a plain net mender, and his half-brother, Charles Haslam.
His sister Lizzie has not yet been traced after 1911.

John and Clara had three more sons between 1911 and 1914 but only the youngest, James, survived.

Martha Haslam was living with her son Charles, a yarn hand, at 17 Birch's Row, Church Street, Old Basford, in 1921. She had been living at this address from at least 1915 when her son Thomas, who was living with her, enlisted in the Army and he was discharged to the same address in 1918. Martha had moved to 10 Smedley Rise, Nottingham by 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. She died in 1942.

Thomas married Maria Henson in 1918 after he was discharged from the Army (see 'Extra information). The couple had three children, one of whom died in infancy: Annie E b. 1921 (AMJ) d. 1921 (AMJ), Thomas b. May 1922 and John b. December 1923 (reg 1924 JFM). Thomas, a dyers' labourer and his wife were living on Bricks Row, Church Street, Nottingham in 1921. Also in the home were his married sister-in-law, Gertrude Annie Cullen (née Henson) and her two young children. Thomas died in 1924 (reg. JFM) and his widow married Clarence Charlton in 1925. In 1939 they were living on Rosslyn Drive, Nottingham, with their daughter and Maria's two sons, Thomas and John, by her first marriage. The record of one other member of the household remains closed.

John William's widow, Clara, married Alexander Taylor in 1919 and in 1921 she and her husband, a railway goods porter (Midland Railway Company, Carrington Street) and her youngest son James Newman Taylor (sic) were living at 6 Russell Place, Holland Street, Nottingham. Her husband Alexander probably died in 1922.

Clara married Alfred Wells, a widower, at Radford St Michael & All Angels on 10 October 1925; she was then living on Bovill Street and her husband on Bridlington Street, both in Radford. Their son Albert was born in 1927. In 1939 the couple were living at 95 Bridlington Street, the records of two other members of the household remain closed.

Clara Wells died in June 1968; she was living on Sudan Terrace, Hawthorn Street, Meadows. The funeral service was held at Meadows St George. She probably predeceased her husband. The obituary notices included from her four sons, Albert (Wells), Alfred (Alf), John (probably John Samuel Newman) and Bill.

Clara's sons by John William Newman survived her. John Samuel married Clarice M White in 1935 and they were recorded on the 1939 Register at Ewart Street, Nottingham, with their son John. John Samuel died in 1990. James married Elsie (Lovett) in 1936 and in 1939 they were living on Kett Street, Nottingham, with his wife's parents. James died in 1982.