Charles William Jenkins

Charles William (birth registered 1889 J/F/M Nottingham) was the only surviving son of William James Jenkins and Selina Jenkins nee Shaw. William James Jenkins was born in Nottingham on 3 April 1868 and Selina Shaw in Ruddington on 27 December 1868. They were married in1887 (J/A/S Nottingham) and had five children of whom only Charles (b. abt 1889) and Beatrice Elizabeth (bap. 17 December 1897) survived. Two other sons were named on records of christenings (not sighted), Harold and John Joseph. In 1891 William and Selina and their son Charles (2), were living with William's parents, Charles and Betsy Ann Jenkins, in Glebe Cottages, Wilford. Both William and his father were engine drivers while Selina was employed as a tailoress. By 1901 William and Selina and their two surviving children had moved to Newbridge Street, Meadows. William was employed as a blacksmith's striker. They and their daughter were still living at the same address in 1911 but their son had married Edith Lees in 1909 (Jul/Aug/Sep Nottingham) and was now living with his parents-in-law at 70 Goodhead Street, Meadows, Nottingham. Charles and his wife had a daughter, Edith Matilda who was 9 months old (b. 5 June 1910, A/M/J Nottingham). His parents-in-law, John and Mary Lees, had seven other children still living at home as well as a second grandchild, Francis Joseph Lees (age 2, b. July 1908); a total of 13 people lived in a 6 roomed house. Charles and Edith had a second daughter, Ethel Annie who was born on 1 November 1912 (O/N/D Nottingham). A notice of Charles' death placed by his widow in the local paper in May 1916 gave his address as 11 Castleton Street, Meadows. An 'In Memoriam' notice placed by his parents in 1917 includes the name of 'his little daughter Hilda'. There is a record of the registration of the birth of a Vesta Hilda Jenkins in 1910 (J/F/M Nottingham) but no other records have been found. According to the CWGC record, Edith remarried after Charles' death (Rosenthal) and lived at 3 Park Place, Nottingham. No record has yet been traced of the marriage but a notice placed by Edith in the local paper in 1943 when her youngest daughter, Ethel, died named her husband (referred to as Ethel's father) as 'Robert'. The death of Charles' mother, Selina, was recorded in 1947 (J/F/M Nottingham) and his father, William, also in 1947 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register they were living in Nottingham. Wiliam was working as a billiard table repairer but Selina was described as an 'invalid blind'. Also in the household was Doris S Jenkins (later Brett) b. 8 June 1917, single, whose occupation was given as 'unpaid domestic duties'. Of Charles and Edith's two daughters: Edith Matilda married Thomas Mason (b. 17 November 1909) in 1929 (A/M/J Nottingham). In 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Reigster they were living at 72 Goodhead Street, Meadows. Edith was occupied in 'unpaid domestic duties' while Thomas was a card box cutter (paper). A daughter, Doris I. (later 'Hextall') b. 4 August 1929, was also in the home. Edith died on 21 February 1966 aged 55. Ethel Annie married Cyril Joseph Heap (b. 3 May 1907) in 1934 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1939 they were living at 4 Castleton Street, Meadows. Ethel was occupied in 'unpaid domestic duties while Cyril was a coal miner below ground. Also registered in the household was Kenneth Rosenthal b. 1 August 1926 (links with a birth registration of Kenneth R Jenkins 1926 J/A/S Nottingham, mother's maiden name Jenkins). Ethel died aged 30 on 30 December 1942 (1943 J/F/M Nottingham). Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 1 January 1943. ‘Heap. On December 30th (sic), Ethel Annie, beloved wife of Cyril Joseph, mother of Ken. At rest. Broken-hearted husband.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 January 1943. ‘Heap. December 31st Ethel Annie beloved daughter of Robert (sic) and Edith. At rest, Mam, dad and Ken. Funeral Wednesday 2pm, Wilford churchyard.’. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 January 1943. ‘Heap. December 31st (sic) Ethel Annie. At rest. Grandma and grandad Jenkins, aunt Beatie [Beatrice] and cousin Doris’. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)