Jesse Colin Towle
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Jesse Colin (known as Colin) was born in 1890 at Kimberley and was the son of Jesse and Mary Towle née Johnson of 87 The Knowle, Kimberley, Nottinghamshire. His father was born in 1850 (J/A/S Basford) at Kimberley and his mother Mary Johnson was born in 1853; she died in December 1889 aged 36 yrs. They were married in 1875; the marriage was recorded in the Nottingham Registration District and according to the 1911 Census they had six children: Sarah Minnie b1875, Elizabeth Gertrude b1877, John Scott b1882, Clara b1884, Martha b. 1887 (d. 20 December 1895) and Jessie Colin b1889 (J/A/S Basford). All the children were born in Kimberley. In 1881 Jesse (31) and Mary (25) had two children: Sarah Minnie (4) and Elizabeth Gertrude (3). In the following eight years they had a further four children; Mary died a few months after the birth of their sixth child, Jesse Colin, in 1889. In 1891, two years after his wife's death, the widowed Jesse (40), a coal miner, was living at The Knowle, Greasley (sic), with five of his six children: Elizabeth (13), John (9), Clara (7), Martha (3) and Jesse Colin (1). The eldest child, Sarah Minnie, who would have been about 15 years old in 1891, has not yet been traced on the census. The youngest daughter, Martha, died four years later on 20 December 1895 (O/N/D Basford). The family was still living at the same address in 1901. In the household on the night of the census were Jesse (49), who was stil working as a coal miner hewer, Elizabeth (23) of no occupation but probably keeping house for her father, John (19) a coal miner hewer, Clara (17) a milliner and Jesse Colin (11) who was still at school. Jesse married Eliza Riley later that year (1901 J/A/S Southwell). In the 1911 census the family are living at The Knowle, Kimberley, and are shown as Jesse (age incorrectly given as 50), a coal miner, who is living with his wife Eliza 49 yrs and his son Colin 21 yrs a joiner. Colin's father, Jesse, probably died in 1921 (A/M/J Basford) aged 70. Colin was engaged to Alice Atherton at the time of his death.
Sapper Jesse Colin Towle enlisted at Kimberley and served with the 130th field company Royal Engineers. He died of his wounds on 24th March 1918 and is buried in St Hilaire Cemetery, Frevent, France (grave reference IV.A.11).
Inscription on family gravestone, Kimberley cemetery: ‘In memory of Mary, the beloved wife of Jesse Towle who died December (-) 1889 aged 36 years. Also of Martha, beloved daughter of the above who died December 20th 1895 aged 8 years. Until the day breaks. Also of their son Sapper Jesse Colin RE, killed in action in France March 24th 1918, aged 28 years. Rest eternal grant unto him O Lord and may light perpetual shine upon him Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 3 April 1918 ‘Towle. Died of wounds on March 24th, Sapper ColinTowle RE of The Knowle, Kimberley. From father, mother, brothers, and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 3 April 1918 ‘Towle. Died of wounds on March 24th, Sapper Colin Towle RE beloved fiance of Alice Atherton. Until the day breaks’.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam, 24 March 1919: ‘Towle. In loving memory of Sapper Colin Towle, RE, son of Jesse Towle, the Knowle, Kimberley, killed in action March 24th 1918.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam, 24 March 1919: ‘Towle. In loving memory of Colin,died of wounds March 24th, 1918. Ever remembered. Alice.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 24 March 1921: ‘Towle. In loving memory of our dear brother Sapper Towle died of wounds March 24th 1918. Ever remembered. Brother, sisters, and Alice.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
