Major Hadley

Major was the son of William and Eliza Hadley (née Philpotts).

His parents were married in 1903 (AMJ Martley Worcestershire) and probably had one child before their marriage: William b. 1902 (AMJ Martley) and then six children: Thomas James b. 1904 (AMJ), Major b. 1907 (AMJ), Gerald b. 1909 (AMJ), Mabel b. 1912 (AMJ), Alfred George b. 1913 (OND) and Mildred birth reg. 1916 (JFM). With the exception of the registration of the births of Alfred and Mildred, which were registered in Worcestershire, the births of their four siblings were registered in Martley, Worcestershire. There are baptismal records, Suckley parish church, for Thomas (1904), Gerald (1909), Mabel (1912) and Alfred George (1913).

William, a farm labourer, his wife and four children, William Stillpots-sic [Philpotts] (8), listed on the census as William's son, Thomas (6), Major (3) and Gerald (1), were living at Yew Tree Cottage, Suckley, Worcestershire, in 1911.

Eliza died in 1918 aged about 38 (res. Yew Tree Cottage, burial Suckley, 9 November).

In 1921 William, a smallholder/farmer, was living at Brookland Farm, Alfrick, Worcester, with his five sons: William and Thomas who were working as farm hands/labourers for JHW Bert (farmer), Major (14) a farm hand assisting his father, and Gerald and Alfred who were school age. Their sister Mabel has not yet been traced on the 1921 Census, but Mildred (5) was living in Stanford, Bishop Bringstye, Worcester, the adopted daughter ('mother dead') of Walter Phillips (58) and his wife Mary (52) who had five children between the ages of 11 and 28 living at home.

By 1939 William snr., a smallholder/general farm worker, was living at Brooklands, Alfrick, Martley, with his son Thomas, who was also a general farm labourer. William probably died in 1958 (OND Martley).

Major had married Eleanor Sigsworth in 1930 (OND, Dartford Kent). They had two children, Stanley G. b. September 1932 (reg. Woolwich London) and Freda b. 1936 (JFM Basford) who died the same year (JFM).

According to information related to the Papplewick War Memorial, Major and Eleanor moved to Papplewick in 1932 to run a dairy in Papplewick Park, owned by Claude Chadburn, and lived at West View House. Eleanor and their son Stanley were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register living at Hall Poultry Farm (later known as Home Farm). Major had probably already enlisted in the Army.

Eleanor has not yet been traced on records after 1939 but her son Stanley probably married in 1958 (reg. East Glamorgan) and died in 2015 (reg. Cardiff).

Of Major's siblings:

William Philpotts (or Hadley) has not yet been traced after 1921.

Thomas James, who was living with his father at Brooklands, Alfrick, Martley, in 1939, died in 1975 (JAS Martley). The probate record gave his address as Brooklands, Alfrick.

Gerald married Elsie Edith Freeman in 1933 (AMJ Bromyard, Herefordshire). Gerald, a farm labourer/cowman & horseman, and his wife were living in Longley Green, Martley, in 1939; the record of one other member of the household remains closed but was probably that of their daughter, Jane B. (b.1936, JAS Bromyard). Elsie died in 1982 and George in 1992.

Mabel married Reginald R Tingey in 1937 (reg. Martley) and in 1939 they were living in Bedford. Mabel died in 1986, her husband had predeceased her.

Alfred married Lily Badham in 1936 (JFM Martley). In 1939 Alfred, a farm labourer, and his wife were living in Longley Green, Martley. Also in the home was their daughter Ann Barbara (b. 1938); the records of two other members of the household remain closed but one may have been that of Ronald G. (b. 1936 OND Martley). They probably had another son, Michael J. who was born in 1948 (JFM Martley, Badham). Alfred died in 1996 (reg. Worcester).

Mildred married Albert J Lloyd in 1935 (OND Martley), and in 1939 were living in Ham Green, Redditch; Albert was a cowman/general farm labourer. Also in the household was their son Robert (b. 1939); one other record remains closed. Mildred died in 1981; her husband had probably predeceased her.

It does not appear that Major's brothers served in the armed forces during the war.