Arthur Rockley

Arthur was the youngest child of John Rockley and his wife Fanny (Frances) nee Smith. John was born in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire, and Fanny in Westhorpe, Southwell, Nottinghamshire. They were married in 1855 (A/M/J Southwell) and probably had nine children: Mary Ann b. Radford Nottingham 1857 (J/A/S Southwell) bap. 3 November 1861 Lowdham, Louisa b. Lowdham 1861 (O/N/D Southwell) bap. 3 November 1861 Lowdham, Elizabeth b.Westhorpe Southwell birth probably registered as Lizzie 1864 (A/M/J Southwell), Martha b. Westhorpe Southwell 1866 (J/A/S Southwell), Fanny b. Westhorpe Southwell 1868 (O/N/D Southwell), Lucy b. Southwell abt 1871, John b. Southwell 14 or 16 October 1874 Willie b. Normanton Southwell and Arthur b. Normanton Southwell. In 1861 John Rockley (25), an agricultural labourer, his wife Fanny (24) and their daughter Mary (4) were living in Westhorpe, Southwell. The family was still in Westhorpe ten years later in 1871. John and Fanny's first child, Mary, was not in the home on the night of the census but four other children were: Louisa (9), Elizabeth (7), Martha (4) and Fanny (2). The family had moved to Normanton, Southwell, by 1881 where John (46) was a farm bailiff. All nine children of their children were in the home on the night of the census: Mary (23), Louisa (19), Elizabeth (17), Martha (14) and Fanny (12) who were all working as domestic servants, and Lucy (10), John (6), Willie (4) and Arthur (2). However, ten years later in 1891 John (54) was again working as an agricultural labourer, and he and Fanny (51) were living in Upton with just two of their children, Fanny (22) who was a housemaid and Arthur (11) who was still at school. John (67) and Fanny (65) were still living in Upton in 1901. John was employed as a farm bailiff by a 'Wesleyan local preacher.' None of their children was in the home on the night of the census. Arthur had married Ellen Coe (b. Upton 1880 J/A/S Southwell) at Southwell Register Office on 26 November 1898 (O/N/D 1898 Southwell). In 1901 they were living on Mansfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield, with their first child, Fanny Watson (b. Upton 2 March 1898). Also in the household was a boarder, Arnold Cox (17) who was a bricklayer's labourer. Arthur's mother, Fanny, died in 1908 (A/M/J Southwell) aged about 74. In 1911 the widowed John (78) had retired as a farm bailiff but was still living in Upton, now with his unmarried daughter, Fanny (42) who was not listed as having an occupation but presumably acting as housekeeper for her father. At the time of the previous census in 1901 Fanny had been a servant in the household of William Smith (61) a widower living at South Scarle, Lincolnshire. Arthur and his wife Ellen were still living at 43 Mansfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield, in 1911 with their two daughters Fanny (12) and Gladys (8, b Sutton in Ashfield 23 May 1902) When Arthur enlisted in 1916 the family was living at 19 Walton Street, Sutton in Ashfield, and still living there immediately after the war. By the time Ellen completed a list of Arthur's surviving blood relatives for the army in 1919 his father had died the previous year on 21 February 1918. Ellen named only herself and her two daughters, Fanny Watson and Gladys, and three of Arthur's siblings: John, William and Fanny, on the form. Arthur's widow, Ellen, probably died in 1963 (June Southwell) aged 82. Arthur's daughter Fanny married Frank Felstead (b. 14 March 1897) in 1920 (A/M/J Mansfield). Frank had served in the Royal Navy from July 1917 until 3 September 1919. In 1939 Frank (b. 14 March 1897) and Fanny were living at 6 Robin Hood Avenue, Southwell, at the time of the national register in 1939. Also in the household was Irene Felstead (b. 30 June 1926) who was probably their daughter. Frank died in 1974 (Spilsby Lincolnshire) and Fanny in 1976 (March Boston). Arthur's youngest daughter, Gladys, has not yet been positively traced after 1919, although she may have married Harold Swann in 1928 (J/A/S Mansfield). Of Arthur's siblings: Mary Ann probably died in 1906 (A/M/J Basford) aged 49. Louisa married John Scrimshaw in 1888 (A/M/J Southwell). In 1911 Louisa (51), who was still married, was a cook in the household of Lucas Brodhurst and his wife at Upton Grange, Southwell. She died in 1913 (A/M/J Southwell) aged about 52. Elizabeth and Martha have not yet been traced after 1881. Fanny was recorded on a form of Arthur's surviving blood relatives completed by her sister-in-law Ellen Rockley in 1919; Fanny was then still living in Upton. Lucy was working as a domestic servant for William Duckmanton at Rawcliffe Hall, Rawcliffe, Lancaster, in 1891; her brother John (16) was a groom at the Hall. John was working as a groom in 1891 in the household of William Duckmanton of Rawcliffe Hall, Rawcliffe, Lancaster; his sister Lucy (20) was a domestic servant at the Hall. John married Mary (b. 4 September 1872) and in 1901 they were living in Nottingham with their son, Claude (2); there were two boarders, Rebecca Watherall (26) and Gertrude Weatherall (19), both hosiery machinists, in the household. John was working as a railway engine stoker. He was still a railway engine stoker in 1911 when he and Mary (38) and their son Claude (12) were living at 8 Mabel Street, Nottingham. This was still their address in 1919 when Ellen Rockley, Arthur's widow, included John's name on a list of Arthur's suriving relatives. However, in 1939 at the time of the national register, John, now a retired railway engine driver, and Mary were living in West Bridgford. Willie was living on Yorke Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, when Arthur's widow, Ellen Rockley, completed a form in 1919 listing her husbands surviving blood relatives.