Blanchard William Storr

Blanchard Wiliam Storr, known as 'Blancha'.

Blanchard William was the son of Francis and his first wife, Elizabeth Eliza Storr (née Statham).

Francis Storr was born in Sheffield in 1870 in Sheffield and Elizabeth Eliza Statham was born in Matlock 1870, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Dorothy Statham. Francis and Elizabeth were married in 1889 (reg. OND Nottingham) and had three children who were all born in Nottingham: Elizabeth Dorothy (also Dorothy Elizabeth) b. 1890 baptised Nottingham St Savour 22 March 1890, Francis Christopher b. 1893 baptised St Saviour 16 April 1894, and Blanchard William b. 1895. There may have been another son, John Henry, who died on 4 February 1891 aged two weeks.

Francis and his wife were living at 9 Beardsley Terrace, Meadows, when their daughter was baptised in 1890. A year later, in 1891, they and their daughter were living in Hague Terrace, Orange Street, Meadows, but by 1894 when their son Francis was baptised they had moved to 21 Brussels Terrace, Meadows.

Elizabeth Eliza died in 1896 age 26 and Francis married secondly Sarah Hannah Woolley (b. 1868, Mansfield) in 1898 (JFM).

In 1901 Francis, a builder's carter, and his wife Sarah were living at 21 Brussels Terrace, Bunbury Street, with Francis's three children, Dorothy, Francis and Blanchard. Their son, Ernest Leonard, was born two years later in 1903, a second son, Harold Reginald, in 1908 (JFM) and a daughter, Evelyn May, in 1909.

The family was living at 9 Holgate Road, Meadows, in 1911. All six children were in the home on the night of the census: Dorothy, a machinist (blouse maker), Francis and Blanchard who were seed packers, and Ernest (9), Harold (3) and Evelyn (1).

The information provided on the 1911 Census is unclear as to the number of Francis's children by his two marriages. An entry of seven children born living, four died, was amended to three born/three living and the enumerator added a note 'three children living' referring to the children of the second marriage. However, there is the likelihood of a fourth child, John Henry Storr (b/d. 1891), by Elizabeth Eliza, and there are two birth registrations Storr/Woolley (Nottingham); Alfred Cecil b. 1903 (AMJ) d. 1903 (JAS) and Sidney Allen b. 1906 (JAS) d. 1907 (JAS).

Francis's daughter, Elizabeth Dorothy married Charles Henry Adkin at St Saviour on 5 April 1915, a month before her brother Blanchard was posted to the BEF France.

Francis snr, now working as a furniture remover, and his wife were still living at 9 Holgate Road at the time of the 1921 Census. In the home on the night of the Census were Francis Christopher, a plumber's assistant, Ernest, a paper merchant on his own account (at home), and Harold and Evelyn who were school age.

Francis Christopher has not yet been traced after 1921 although he may have died in 1964 (reg. Nottingham). His half-brother Ernest was still living with his parents at 9 Holgate Road when he married Violet Dorothy Hawker at North Wilford St Faith in September 1928. The marriage certificate gives his father's occupation as theatre attendant [Theatre Royal/Empire Theatre]. Ernest's brother Harold married Florence Annie Green at Nottingham St Andrew three years later on 30 May 1931. His father's occupation was given as fireman, but Francis was probably still employed by the Nottingham theatres.

Francis snr. died at his home, 9 Holgate Road, on 16 February 1937. His daughter, Evelyn married George W Metcalf two years later in 1939. Her widowed mother continued to live at 9 Holgate Road where she died on 5 October 1944.