Charles Stimson

Charles was the son of William and Sarah Stimson. William was born in Upton and his wife in Fiskerton, Nottinghamshire, in about 1857. They were probably married in 1879 (William Stimson to Sarah Roberts 1879 A/M/J Southwell) - the 1911 Census records they had been married for 32 years and according to the same census they had 13 children of whom 11 survived. Eleven children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911 although this includes the name 'William' twice. A William named on the 1881 census does not appear again in a later census, nor is there a child of the right age who might later have been called by a different name. Also, the eldest child, 'Samuel Bell', aged 6, born Southwell, who is named on the 1881 census and described as William's son, does not appear in the family home in any of the later census (see 'extra information'). Apart from Samuel who was born in Southwell all the children were born in Upton (Southwell registration district). The names of the eleven children from the census records are: Samuel Bell, William b. 1879 (J/F/M Southwell) or 1880 (A/M/J Southwell), George, possibly b.1882 (J/F/M Southwell), John b. 1884 (A/M/J Southwell, Ellen (Nellie) possibly b. 1885 O/N/D Southwell, Sarah Ann b. 3 September 1887 (O/N/D Southwell), Mary Elizabeth b. 13 August 1889 (J/A/S Southwell), Frank b. 7 October 1891 (O/N/D Southwell), William b. 2 September 1893 (O/N/D Southwell), Charles b. 1896 (J/A/S Southwell) and Ernest possibly b. 1898 O/N/D Southwell. Sarah Stimson completed a list for the Army in May 1919 of Charles' surviving blood relatives and named eight siblings: brothers George (37, living Upton), Jack (John) (35, living North Muskham), Frank (27, living Upton), William (25, living Upton) and Ernest (20, serving RASC BEF France), and sisters Nellie (Ellen, now Marsh, living North Muskham), Sarah Ann (now Parker, living Upton) and Elizabeth (Mary Elizabeth, now Beeston, living Hockerton Southwell). The missing siblings were Samuel Bell (?Roberts) and the first-named William. In 1881 William Stimson (34) a farm labourer, and Sarah (24) were living in Upton with their two sons, Samuel Bell (6) and William (1). By 1891 William was a road labourer for Nottinghamshire County Council. He and Sarah were still living in Upton and had five children living at home: George (9), John (7), Nellie (5), Sarah (3) and Mary (1). Also in the household was William's niece, Mabel A Plumber (4). Still in Upton in 1901, William was now a foreman for the county council. He and Sarah now had six children living at home: George (19) an agricultural labourer, Elizabeth (11), Frank (10) William (8), Charles (4) and Ernest (2). The eldest daughter, Ellen (16), was a kitchen maid in the household of William D Warwick, malster, at Balderton Hall. William (64) was still working as a roadman for the council in 1911. He and Sarah had six children living at home: John (26) a woodman, Sarah Ann (23) 'at home', Elizabeth (21) a cook domestic, Frank (19) nurseryman's gardener, William (17) a cowman and Ernest (12) who was still at school. Also in the home was William and Sarah's one-year old granddaughter, Gladys May Stimson (b. 1909 J/A/S Southwell). At the time of the census Charles (15) was an agricultural worker for George Crampton (34) a farmer of Carr Holt Farm, Lowdham. Ellen had married Samuel Marsh in 1906 (A/M/J Southwell) and in 1911 they were living in North Muskham where Samuel was a wagoner on a farm. They had two daughters, Lois May (3) and Mabel (6 months). George had married Sarah Ann Mabbot in 1901 (O/N/D Southwell). In 1911 he was a woodman/labourer for a timber merchant and living at Averham, Newark, Nottinghamshire, with his wife Sarah Ann (28) and children William Henry (7), Florence Ellen (4), Winifred (2) and John Francis (8 months). They had been married for nine years and had lost one child in infancy. William Stimson died three years later on 28 June 1914 aged 67; he is buried in Upton St Peter churchyard. His widow probably died in 1934 (September Bingham) aged 78. Of Charles' siblings: Ellen was living with her husband Samuel (b. 11 April 1881), a horseman on a farm, on Main Street Southwell at the time of the national register of 1939. They had three daughters living at home: Lois May (b.24 May 1907) a school teacher, Mabel (b. 14 October 1914) a domestic help and Edith (b. 7 November 1917) a shorthand typist. George, a builder's labourer and his wife Sarah (b. 10 March 1881) were living in Southwell in 1939 with their married daughter Florence E Moyns (b. 24 June 1906) and her husband George Moyns (b. 26 May 1903) a foreman joiner and Joan May Stimson (b. 12 March 1926). John died in 1921 (March Newark) aged 37. Sarah Ann married Ernest Parker in 1918 (A/M/J Southwell) and in 1939 she and her husband Ernest (b. 16 May 1884) a sand and gravel worker, were living on Main Street, Southwell, with their sons William E (b. 2 September 1919) an electrical apprentice and Lindon H. (b. 23 September 1923) a baker's apprentice. Mary Elizabeth married Toplis W Beeston in 1918 (O/N/D Southwell). In 1939 she and her husband (b. 21 January 1893) a colliery screen hand, were living at The Moor, Kirklington, Southwell, with their son Toplis (b. 18 January 1924) an engineer's improver. Mary died in1981 (September Newark) aged 92; the probate record gives her address as The Bungalow, The Moor, Kirklington. Frank was married to Mary (b. 1 December 1899) by 1939; they had a daughter who was living at home, Margaret (b. 22 June 1920) a gown cutter. Frank was still working as a gardener. He died in 1970 (June Southwell) aged 78. William married Lily Hemstock in 1934 (A/M/J Southwell) and in 1939 they were living at 28 Cleaveland Square, Newark. William was working as a steel temperer while his wife Lily (b. 2 January 1905) was a tailor's finisher. They had three children living at home; Bernard (b. 25 January 1926), Leonard C (b. 29 March 1927) and Gwendoline (b. 12 March 1932). Ernest Stimpson attested in the Army on 19 March 1917 at the age of 18 years and 1 day. He was still living in Upton, presumably with his widowed mother. He gave his occupation as motor driver's assistant and was transferred to the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport), service number 301806. He was discharged from the Army in October 1919. He married Lily McGowan in 1930 (A/M/J Southwell) and in 1939 he and Lily (b. 11 January 1903) were living at 3 Wilson Street, Newark. Ernest was employed as a lorry driver for a haulage company. He died in 1981 (December Newark). The 1939 Register and the Death Index give his date of birth as 2 October 1897 although the only likely record found for his birth was in 1898 (O/N/D).