Ernest Augustus Mettam

Ernest Augustus was born in 1886, the son of Seth and Elizabeth Caroline Mettam (née Wallis).

His father Seth was born in 1861 in Whittington, Derbyshire. In 1881 Seth and his brother Constantine, who were both engine cleaners, were living with their brother Charles, a railway fireman, and his wife Anne on Victoria Street, Stapleford.

His mother Elizabeth Caroline was born in 1865 in Stapleford. In 1881 she was a pupil teacher, living at the Chequers Inn, Church Street, Stapleford, with her widowed father, Augustus Wallis, a licensed victualler, and her younger siblings George, Elea and Ernest. Also in the household were her father's married niece, Caroline Smedley, who was his housekeeper, and a female general servant.

Seth and Elizabeth were married at Stapleford St Helen on 29 April 1886 and had ten children, one of whom, Elea, died in infancy: Ernest Augustus b. 1886 and Rose May b. 1888 who were both baptised at St Helen on 18 August 1889; Irene b. 1890 bap. St Helen 20 July 1890; Willis b. 1892; Frank birth reg. 1895 (JFM); Lawrence George birth reg. 1897 (JFM); Emily Elea birth reg. 1899 (JFM) d. 1901 (JFM); Alice birth reg. 1901 (JFM); Seth b. 1903 and Beatrice b. 1905. Note: Irene, who was born in 1890 (AMJ), is probably the 11 month old daughter named as 'Jane' on the 1891 Census.

The family was living at Brookhill, Stapleford, when the first three children were baptised in 1888/89 and were recorded at Mourepos House, Brookhill Road, Stapleford, on the 1891 census: Seth, a railway engine driver, Elizabeth, and their children Ernest, Rose and Jane (sic). Also in the household was Seth's brother, Constantine, a railway engine driver.

The seventh child, Emily Elea, who was born in 1899 had died either in December 1900 or early 1901, before the 1901 census was compiled.

By 1901 Seth and Elizabeth had moved to Bessell Lane, Stapleford, where they were recorded on the census with six of their seven children, Ernest, a railway messenger, Rose, Irene, Willis and Frank who were school age and Alice who had been born earlier that year. On the night of the census, their son Laurence was at Nottingham Road, Stapleford, in the home of his maternal uncle, George Wallis, a cycle fitter, his sister Elea Wallis, a lace worker, and their cousin, Caroline Smedley.

Their fifth son Seth was born in 1903 and their youngest daughter Beatrice in 1905.

Seth, a railway engine driver with the Midland Railway, and Elizabeth were living at Lime Grove, Stapleford, in 1911. Also in the home on the night of the census were Irene, a lace net mender, Wallis and Frank who were colliery gangers, George a nut and bolt maker and Alice, Seth and Beatrice who were school age. Rose, a lace net mender, was living at Lime Grove, Stapleford, with her paternal uncle, Constantine Mettam, a saw engine driver, and her widowed grandmother, Harriett Mettam (84).

Ernest (24), a professional football player with Gainsborough Trinity Football Club, was recorded on the Census as a visitor at 29 Stansfield Street, Old Basford, Nottingham, the home of George James, a coal miner, and his family.

Ernest married Charlotte Jude (b. 13 October 1890) in 1913 (AMJ reg. Nottingham). Their daughter Nora was born in 1914 (reg. JAS Shardlow) but died the following year (reg. OND Nottingham). The couple lived at 43 Miall Street, Radford, Nottingham; Ernest (13th Bn Tank Corps) was recorded at this address on the Absent Voters List (1918).

His widow Charlotte married George Ainley (b. 1890) in 1922 (JFM) and had two children, Audrey (b. Sept. 1922) and Peter G. (birth reg. 1929 JFM). George, a motor inspector, his wife and daughter Audrey, a shorthand typist, were living at 6 Kenslow Avenue, Nottingham, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. The record of one other member of the household remains closed but was probably that of their son, Peter. George Ainley died in 1970 (reg. Nottingham) and his widow in 1986 (reg. JFM Stevenage, Herts).

Ernest's father, Seth, died on 30 December 1921; the Probate record gave his address as Lime Grove, Brookhill, Stapleford. His widow Elizabeth has not yet been traced on the 1939 Register, but she died in 1953 (reg. Basford) aged 88.

Irene Mettam married Ernest Charles Newton on 1 August 1914 and their son Frank was born the following year. Ernest served with the Rifle Brigade and was killed in 1916. (See 'Extra information'.)