Walter Elston

Walter was the son of Walter and Martha Elston. The marriage of Walter Elston and Martha Bricout was registered in Nottingham in 1885 (J/F/M). By the time of the 1911 Census they had been married for 26 years and had had had eleven children of whom only seven survived. Seven children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911: Fanny Selina Rose, Miriam (b. 1886, J/A/S), Alexander Walter known as Alex/Alec (b. 1889, J/A/S), Walter (birth registered 1895 J/F/M), Elizabeth Ann (b. 1896, J/A/S), Alice, and Albert (b. 1905, O/N/D). Although Fanny was recorded as 'Elston' on the census returns she was probably born before her parents' marriage as the only likely record of her birth is that of a Fanny Selina R 'Bricont' (Bricout) in 1879 (registered O/N/D Nottingham). All the children were born in Nottingham. In 1891 Walter (32) a general labourer, and Martha (30) a bootwelter, were living in Nottingham in the area of Mount Street. They had three children, Fanny (11), Miriam (4) and Alexander (1). Also in the household was a boarder, Alexander Bricout (26) a bricklayer's labourer; given the unusual surname, Alexander was probably related to Martha Elston. In 1901 the family was living at 1 West Terrace, Nottingham. Walter now worked as a stone polisher but his wife was still working as a machine welter. They now had six children; Fanny (21) and Miriam (14) who were both working as hosiery winders, and Alex (11), Walter (6), Elizabeth (4) and Alice (1). By 1911 Walter and Martha had moved to 5 Wray Terrace, Clarence Street, Nottingham. Walter was employed as a house painter but Martha was described as 'invalid' on the census. Only five of their children were still living at home; Alex (22) a blouse cutter, Walter (16) a grocer's porter, and Elizabeth (15), Alice (11) and Albert (6) who were all at school. Fanny, the eldest child, had married Albert Yeomans in 1902, marriage registered J/A/S Nottingham. Her surname on the marriage index was given as 'Brickout' (Bricout). She and Albert were living at 6 Willersley Street, Meadows; he was a plate layer's labourer for a railway company and she was still working as a winder (hosiery). They had had two children of whom only one had survived, Alice (8). The death of Martha Elston was registered in 1912 (J/F/M, Nottingham), she was 51 years old. Her husband Walter died the same year aged 53 (death registered O/N/D Nottingham). Walter's sister and legatee, Fanny Yeomans, died on 4 March 1951 aged 71.