Alfred James Folkes

Born in 1890 in Islington, Alfred James was the son of Henry James and Rebecca Jane Folkes nee Day. Henry James was born in Yarmouth, Norfolk (1859), and Rebecca Jane in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (abt. 1857). They were married in 1879; the marriage was registered in Apr/May/June in the registration district of Wakefield. According to the 1911 census, Henry and Rebecca had nine children born alive of whom only six were still living at the time of the census. Seven children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911: William Henry, b. 1880, Flush Dyke, Yorkshire, baptised 1 August 1880 (Ossett, York). Alice Louise, b. 1881, Flush Dyke, Yorkshire, baptised 4 September 1881 (Ossett, York). Edith Emily, b. abt. 1883, Flush Dyke, Yorkshire, baptised 7 January 1883 (Ossett, York). Lily Agnes, b. abt. 1885, Colwick, Nottingham, died 1904 aged 19 (death registered Jan/Feb/Mar, Nottingham). Florence Jane, b. abt. 1886, Colwick, Nottingham. Alfred James, b. 13 May 1890, Islington, London, died 11 May 1915. Frederick Ernest, b. 28 November 1898, Netherfield, Nottingham, died 1970 aged 71 (death registered Bingham). In 1881 Henry, who was employed as a railway signalman, was living in Ossett cum Gawthorpe, Yorkshire, with his wife and ten-month old son, William Henry. Their eldest daughters, Alice and Edith, were also born while they were living in Yorkshire. By 1891 the family had moved to 26 Salisbury Road, Tottenham, London, although as two of their growing family had been born in Colwick, Nottingham, about five years previously it is probable that in the period after the 1881 census that they had lived for a time in Nottingham. Henry and Rebecca now had six children; William (11), Alice (9), Edith (8), Lily (6), Florence (5) and Alfred (10 months). Henry was employed as a railway goods guard. By 1901 they had moved back to Nottingham and were living at 47 Curzon Street, Netherfield. Only four children were now living at home; William, Alice, Alfred and their youngest child, Frederick Ernest (2). Their second daughter, Edith (18), was a general domestic servant at 19 Arundel Street, Lenton, in the household of John Lamb who was an architect and civil engineer; the census noted that Edith was 'slightly deaf'. The youngest daughter, Florence (15), was a general domestic servant in the household of Thomas S Ratcliffe at 'Crail', Gedling Road, Carlton in the Willows, Nottingham. Their third daughter, Lily, has not yet been traced on the 1901 census and sadly she died in 1904 at the age of 19. Two years later in 1906 Alfred joined the Royal Navy. By 1911 Henry and Rebecca had moved to 81 Colwick Vale and only William and Frederick were still living at home. Alice and Edith were domestic servants in the household of John Pycroft who was the managing director of a company that built lace machines. Alice was their housemaid and Edith the cook. Florence who had been in service in 1901 has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Alfred was serving at HMS Excellent. Henry and Rebecca eventually moved to Avondale House, 7 Grosvenor Road, Skegness, and they were probably still living in Lincolnshire when Henry died in 1925 at the age of 65 as his death was registered in the Spilsby registration district. Rebecca died in 1938 aged 82; her death was registered in the Basford registration district.

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