Richard Edward Toon

Richard Edward was the son of Edward Toon and his first wife Elizabeth (née Cordin). His father Edward was born in Thringstone, Leicestershire, in 1856 the son of James and Jane Toon (née Halfpenny). The family came from the Coleorton area near Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, but by 1881 had moved to Skegby, Nottinghamshire. His mother Elizabeth Cordin was born in Pye Bridge, Derbyshire, in about 1858. Edward married Elizabeth in 1877 (O/N/D Mansfield) and had at least six children who were born in Skegby: William Henry b. 1878, Ethel Mary b. 1881, Elizabeth b. 1883, Richard Edward b. 9 March 1888, Ernest b. June 1889 and Bertram (Bertie) b. May 1891. In 1881 Edward (24) a coal miner, Elizabeth (22) and their first child, William Henry (2), were living with Edward's parents on Stoneyford Lane, Skegby. Also in the home were five of Edward's siblings Sarah (25), George (21), Amos (18), Alice (17) and John James (6). By 1891 Edward and his wife were living on Sutton Road, Skegby, with their children William, Ethel (9), Elizabeth (7), Richard (3) and Ernest (1). Their sixth child, Bertram, was born later that year. Elizabeth died in 1893 (J/A/S Manfield) and Edward married secondly Elizabeth Coupe, a widow, in 1895 (O/N/D Mansfield. In 1901 Edward and his wife were living on Bowne Street, Sutton in Ashfield, with his youngest sons Ernest (12) and Bertram (10) and three of his wife's children, Frederick Coupe (19) a chair maker, Charles (22) a coal miner and Charlotte (16) a hosiery factory worker. Of Edward's four other children, William had married Lily Parks in 1898 and in 1901 he and Lily (22) were boarders in the household of Charles and Sarah Hickton. Ethel Mary (19) was living at the Post Office, High Street, Skegby, with her maternal aunt, Agnes Stanley (née Toon). Agnes, her father's sister, was the postmistress and living at the post office with her husband William and their children. The second daughter Elizabeth has not yet been traced on the census. Richard (13) was living in Stanbton Hill, Skegby, with his maternal aunt Sarah Ann Stanley (née Toon), his father's sister, her husband Samuel and their three children. Edward died in 1908 aged about 51 and in 1911 his widow was living in Sutton in Ashfield with her married son Charles Coupe and his family. Richard joined the Royal Navy on 30 May 1907 but deserted in 1908 (see 'Military history'). He has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Of Richard's siblings: Wiliam Henry has not been traced after Lily divorced him in 1909 (decree nisi 10 June). Ethel Mary probably married William Henry Bainbridge in 1909 (A/M/J Nottingham). In 1911 they were living on Abthorpe Grove, Basford; William (30) was a stoker. Ethel died in August 1912 (burial 7 August). Elizabeth has not yet been traced after 1891. Ernest joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 7 January 1908 on a 12 year short service engagement (5 years RN, 7 years Royal Fleet Reserve). In 1911 he was a Stoker 1st Class serving in HMS Africa, a first class battleship, which was alongside in HM Dockyard Chatham. Ernest was discharged shore in January 1913 and transferred to RFR Chatham (B9268). He was mobilized on 2 August 1914 and probably served in the UK before being discharged on medical grounds (heart disease) on 3 October 1917. He married Harriet A Stevenson in 1914 (J/F/M Chester le Street Durham) and in 1939 they were living in Chester le Street. Ernest died on 5 March 1944. His wife survived him and the pension record gives her address as Beamish, Durham. Bertram married Fanny Shaw in 1921 (J/F/Mansfield and died on 3 October 1972 (death registered Mansfield).

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