Harold Simons

Simon was the son of James and Elizabeth Simons (née Pierpoint also Pierrepont/Pierrepont).

His father James was born in Moulton, Northamptonshire, in about 1853. His mother Elizabeth was born in about 1854 in Carlton, the daughter of Thomas and Harriet Pierpoint. She was baptised at Gedling All Hallows on 29 October 1854.

James and Elizabeth were married at Gedling All Hallows on 29 March 1880; Elizabeth signed the marriage register with her mark. The couple had four children one of whom had died in early childhood: Thomas birth registered 1883 (JFM) bap. Carlton St Paul 11 August 1888, William birth registered 1885 (JFM), Amelia b. 1886 and Harold b. 1890. All the children were born in Carlton.

James and Elizabeth were living on Beck Street, Carlton, when their son Thomas was baptised at Carlton St Paul in 1888. It is likely that their second son, William, died in March 1890 as there is a record of the burial of a William Simons in Carlton Cemetery on 15 March that year.

James, a bricklayer, his wife and their three surviving children were living on Foxhill Road, Carlton, in 1891 then recorded on the 1901 Census on Elm Avenue, Carlton. Only their two youngest children, Amelia and Harold, who were school age, were in the home on the night of the 1901 Census. The eldest son, Thomas, a navvy, was one of nine boarders living at Corporation Huts, Midhope, Bradfield, Wortley (Yorkshire), in the household of William Taylor, a foreman navvy, and his wife.

Amelia married Charles Bembridge at Netherfield St George on 13 June 1908. They and their two children, William and Lily, were recorded on the 1911 Census at 2 Stavely Street, Edlington, Doncaster.

Thomas, a navvy, and his brother Harold, a miner ('on top loader') were living with their mother, described as head of household, at 3 Elm Avenue, Carlton, in 1911. Also in the household were three male boarders including two colliery workers. James Simons (57), a bricklayer, was recorded as a visitor in the home of Robert and Eliza Brooks at Mill Huts, Common Road, Conisbrough, Yorkshire.

Harold probably emigrated to Australia in 1913; there is a record of a Harold Simons (23), occupation bootmaker, departing London on 4 September 1913 onboard SS Militades (Aberdeen Line), destination Sydney NSW.

His brother Thomas married Rosa (Rose Ann) Tring in 1919 and in 1921 they were living with Elizabeth Simons at 3 Elm Avenue.

Elizabeth died at 3 Elm Avenue in April 1922 aged 67. Her husband James probably died in 1923 (registered JFM Doncaster).

Thomas and his wife were still living at 3 Elm Avenue in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. He died in 1957 (reg. Basford).

His sister Amelia Bembridge died in 1963 (burial Barmburgh St Peter, Yorkshire).