Arthur Castle

Arthur was the son of Thomas Castle and his second wife, Sarah (née Prentice).

Thomas (b. 1832 baptised 30 August, Nottingham Wesleyan), was the son of William and Sarah Castle. The family was living in Basford in 1851; Thomas was a lace maker.

Thomas, an unemployed bricklayer's labourer, was living at 6 Vernon Place, Basford, in 1861, with Ann Hayes Richards and their son James [Richards]. Ann Richards (bap. 20 January 1833, Basford St Leodegarius), was the daughter of John and Selina Richards.

Thomas and Ann had two children, Ann [Richards] b. 1853 bap. Ann [Castle] at New Romney with Hope, Kent on 4 December 1853 and James (Richards] b. 1856. Both children were born in Nottingham.

The couple were living at 6 Vernon Place, Basford, in 1861: Thomas Castle an unemployed bricklayer's labourer, Ann Richards a lace winder, both recorded as unmarried, and their son James (Richards). Their daughter Ann (Richards) was living with her paternal grandparents, William and Sarah Castle, on Truman Street, Nottingham.

The couple later had seven children, three of whom died young: Selina b. 1863 born Nottingham, and Thomas b. 1866 d. 1866, Sarah b. 1867, Thomas b. 1869 d. 1871, Elizabeth b. 1871, Mary b. 1872 d. 1872 and William b. 1875 (J/A/S) who were all born in the registration district of Wakefield, Yorkshire.

Thomas, a labourer, and Ann were living in Altofts, Wakefield, in 1871 with their six surviving children Ann, James a labourer, Selina, Sarah, Thomas and Elizabeth. Thomas died later that year and William was born four years later.

Thomas and Ann were married in 1876 (reg. Pontefract).

They were still living in the Wakefield area (Normanton) in 1881, but only Selina, Sarah, Elizabeth and William were in the home on the night of the census. Their eldest child, Ann, had married John Williams in 1875 (reg. Pontefract), and in 1881 was recorded with her husband, a time keeper (iron foundry), and their three daughters, Ann, Eunice (all born in Yorkshire) in Southwark, London. James had returned to Nottingham some years earlier and on 1 May 1880 married Louisa Eason at Carrington St John. According to the marriage register, his father was now working as a shopkeeper.

The family may have returned to Nottingham by 1883 as Selina (b. 1865) died in Nottingham in 1883 and was buried in Carrington St John churchyard on 12 November.

Thomas, a general labourer, his wife, Sarah and Elizabeth, both lace hands, and William were living in Clayton's Yard, Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham in 1891. Elizabeth married Ernest George Kirkland at Nottingham St Peter in 1895 and Sarah married Howard Morrell at Nottingham St Saviour in August 1906.

Ann snr.died in 1891 and Thomas married Sarah Prentice in 1893. They had two children, Arthur b. 1894 and Maud b. 1897 who died the same year. Thomas, a general labourer, Sarah (b. abt 1855) a charwoman and Arthur were living in Henry Yard, Henry Street, Nottingham in 1901.

Thomas died in 1908, aged 76. His widow, Sarah, has not been traced after this date and in 1911 her stepson Arthur (17) a steel bar maker, was living with his married half-sister, Elizabeth Kirkland, her husband George, a cabinet maker, and their four children at 19 Westwood Road, Nottingham.

When Arthur enlisted after war was declared he nominated his two surviving half-sisters, Sarah Morrell and Elizabeth Kirkland (d. 1949), as his legatees.