James Walters Theaker

John Theaker and Maria Walters married in Retford in 1888. In 1891, they were living at the Great North Road, Sutton on Trent, Notts with two daughters, Ethel and Eveline born 1889 and 1890. They also had a visitor on the census night, 6 year old Lizzie Walters, a niece of Maria’s. John was working as a railway plate layer.The couple had two more children, James Walters Theaker born 1892 and Olga born 1894. John Theaker presumably died shortly after this (no death registration found) as Maria married a Charles Key at Southwell in 1899 and by 1901 they were man and wife bringing up Maria’s children, plus a child, Charles E Key who had been born in 1900 and living at Bilby Lane, Bilby Notts. Over the next decade the Theaker children had moved out and by 1911 Charles and Maria Key had not only moved to Askham near Retford but had also produced four more children. At the same time, Ethel and Olga Theaker were working as servants in Retford. Before going to war, James had left a will in which his mother was to inherit £17 2s 6d.