Herbert Henry Towle

Herbert Henry was the second son of Herbert Towle and his wife Sarah Ann (née Minkley). His father was born in Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire, in 1872, the son of Thomas and Ann Towle. His mother was born in Nottingham in 1871, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Minkley. Herbert and Sarah Ann were married at Plungar parish church, Leicestershire, where both were living, in June 1892 and had six children: Mabel Elizabeth b. Plungar 1892 and Edward b. 1894 bap. Tithby Holy Trinity 1894, Herbert Henry b. 1896 bap. Holy Trinity June 1897, Cyril b, 1899 bap. Holy Trinity 1899, Horace b. 1902 (reg. 1903 J/F/M) and Albert William b. 1905 who were all born in Cropwell Butler. In 1901 Herbert, a labourer, his wife and their three children, Mabel (8), Edward (6) and Herbert (4), were living in Village Street, Cropwell Butler. Also in the household was a boarder, John Thomas Marston (16), a blacksmith. By 1911 Herbert, a waggoner on a farm, Sarah and five of their six children - Mabel a teacher, Herbert a farm boy, Cyril (11), Horace (8) and Albert (5) - were living at Fern Cottage, Tithby. The eldest son, Edward, was a horseman on a farm ('The Ferns', Tithby), living with the farmer, Mary Newton, a widow, whose daughter and two sons were also employed on the farm. The later CWGC record gave Herbert's parents' address as Cropwell Butler. Herbert snr. died in September 1926; the probate record gave his address as Cropwell Butler. However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, his widow Sarah was living at Harvey Villas, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire, with her unmarried daughter Mabel, an elementary school teacher. Her four surviving sons were married and still living in the local area. Sarah may have died in 1947.