William Herbert Timmons

William Herbert was the son of Herbert and Ella Timmons. His date of birth is given on his Royal Navy record as 4 February 1891 and his place of birth as Alfreton, but as will be seen from other records he was born in America and his year of birth was probably around 1888. William joined the Royal Navy in July 1913 when, according to a date of birth of February 1891, he would have been 20 years old. However, he would have nothing to gain in giving an age up to three years younger than actual. He may, however, have given his place of birth as England to avoid potential difficulties with a birth place in America, although as the child of British parents (his mother was born in America but of British parentage), he held British citizenship. Herbert Timmins was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire, on 21 October 1862, the son of William and Martha Timmins. He was baptised in Alfreton on 30 November 1862. Herbert's parents moved to America and in 1880 were living in Shamokin, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, where his father was a coal miner. William (40)and Martha (36) had three sons, all born in England: Herbert (17), a coal miner, Edmund (14) a shale picker and Joseph (12) who was at school. The family has not been traced on either the United Kingdom 1891 Census nor the US Federal Census of 1890. However, Herbert probably met his wife Ella while he was living in America as Ella was born in Stoneborough, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of British citizens. By the time of the 1911 UK Census Herbert and William had been married for 29 years, meaning they had married around 1879; their first child, Gertrude, was born in Tibshelf, Derbyshire, in 1884, while their second child, Ada Martha, was born in America two years later in 1886. Herbert and Ella were eventually to have seven children: Gertrude b. 1884, Tibshelf, Derbyshire (J/A/S Mansfield) Ada Martha b. 1886, Stoneborough, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, America America; baptised Whaley Thorns, Derbyshire, 8 March 1901. William Herbert b. abt 1888, Stoneborough, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, America, (RN - 4 February 1891); baptised Elmton- with-Creswell 10 March 1901. Lenore b. abt 1890, Stoneborough, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, America; baptised Whaley Thorns, Derbyshire, 8 March 1901. Edmund b. Tibshelf (possibly 18 October 1892); baptised Whaley Thorns, Derbyshire, 8 March 1901. Winifred Mary b. 1899, Whaley Thorns, Derbyshire (A/M/J Chesterfield); baptised Whaley Thorns 11 June 1899. Cora Ellen b. 1901, Whaley Thorns, Derbyshire (A/M/J Chesterfield). In 1891 Herbert (28), a miner, and Ella (26) were in England, living on High Street, Tibshelf, Derbyshire, with their four children, Gertrude (6), Martha (5), William (3) and Lenore (1). By 1901 Herbert (38) was still working as a miner and he and Ella (35) were now living at Whaley Common, near Bolsover. They now had seven children of whom only six were living at home on the night of the census: Ada (15), William (13), Lenore (11), Edmund (8), Winifred (1) and Cora (3 months). The eldest child, Gertrude (16) was a nurse (domestic) living in Skegby in the household of William Rainsby, a medical practitioner (own account), his wife Kate and their three young children. Gertrude, now 20, married Archie Henry Gill on 9 July 1904; they were both resident in Creswell Model Village. However, by 1911 they were living at 81 Asquith Road, Bentley, Doncaster. Archie Gill (29), a miner, and Gertrude (26) had one child, Albert Herbert (6). Ada Martha married Arthur Russon on 25 December 1906 at Elmton-with-Creswell; she was 20 years old. In 1911 she and Arthur (29) a clerk at a colliery, were living at 13 Skinner Street, Creswell, near Mansfield. Lenore married in 1910 (O/N/D Nottingham) to either Arthur Allen or Andrew E Browne. She has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. In 1911 William (23) was still living with his parents who had moved to Crag Villas, Creswell. Herbert (48) was still working as a coalminer as were his sons, William and Edmund (18). Also in the household on the night of the census were Winifred (11) and Cora (10). When William's mother was notified of her son's death in 1916 her address was given as 171 Elmton Road, Creswell, near Mansfield, and this is the address on the CWGC record. The youngest child, Cora, married Harold Brindy Kearlsey on 14 November 1921 at Creswell (O/N/D Worksop); Cora was 20 years old. Edmund may have married Beatrice A Martin in 1922 (A/M/J Worksop) and died aged 80 in 1972 (December Burton on Trent). Herbert Timmons died at the age of 76 in 1939 (March Chesterfield) and his widow, Ella, in 1954 (September Chesterfield) at the age of 89.