Arthur Woolley

Arthur was born in 1895 (A/M/J Nottingham), the son of John and Clara Woolley. Both John and Clara were born in Nottingham. The date of their marriage has not yet been traced although they were married at the time of the 1891 Census but Clara was widowed by the time of the next census in 1901. John Woolley probably died in 1895 aged 35 (death registered J/A/S Nottingham). When Clara completed the 1911 Census she did not include any details about the number of children that she had borne but from census information John and Clara had at least five children; Mary A, John, George, James and Arthur. Mary A. their eldest child only appears on the 1891 Census and it is likely that she was Mary Ann who was born in 1886 (A/M/J Nottingham) and died aged 8 in 1895 (J/F/M Nottingham), the same year that her father died (J/A/S) and that Arthur was born (A/M/J). Clara then had at least two more children, Harry and William, after she was widowed. In 1891 John (31), a foundry labourer, and Clara (26) were living at 3 Leg of Mutton, Millstone Lane, St Ann's, with their three children, Mary A (4), John (2) and George (4 months). By the time of the 1901 Census the widowed Clara was living at 9 Islington Place, Nottingham, in the household of Harry Woodward (48), who was unmarried. With her were her five sons, John (12), George (10), James (8), Arthur (6) and Harry (2). Given the age and name of her youngest son it seems likely that Harry was the son of Harry Woodward. In 1911 Clara (48), still described as a widow and working as a lace finisher, was living at 15 Simon's Terrace, Westminster Street, Nottingham. Harry Woodward (58), who worked as a hawker, was still living with the family and was described as a boarder. Also in the home were Clara's six sons; John (23), George (20) and James (18) who were all working as labourers for a brick maker, Arthur (16) an errand boy, and Henry (Harry) (13) and William (7) who were both at school. Again, it seems likely that William was Harry Woodward's son. The register of parishioners compiled by St Mary's church about the time of the Great War suggests that the family was living at 8 Queen's Terrace, Lotus Street, St Ann's, around the time of Arthur's death. Clara Woolley died aged 82 in 1946 (death registered September, Nottingham).