David Leonard Simpson

David Leonard was the son of Richard Headley (also Hedly) and Sarah Agatha Simpson (née Waddington). His father Richard Hedley was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, in about 1856, the son of John and Jane Simpson, and baptised at Boston St Botolph on 20 March 1856. In 1881 Richard (15) was living with an uncle and aunt, Samuel (tailor and hosiery) and Phoebe Belton in the Market Place, Boston. His mother Sarah Agatha was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, in 1860, the daughter of Charles Waddington and his wife Catherine (née Kennedy). Richard and Sarah were married in 1879 (J/F/M Doncaster) and had fourteen children of whom three died in infancy. The children who died young were probably: Frank Leslie b. Nottingham 1893 (J/F/M) d. 1893 (O/N/D) and James and John b. Nottingham 1894 (O/N/D) d. 1894 (O/N/D), birth registrations mother's maiden name Waddington. Their surviving children were: Catherine Louisa (or Louise) b. Harpenden Hertfordshire 1880; Gertrude b. Aslockton Nottinghamshire 1882 (reg. J/F/M); Richard Hedley b. Doncaster Yorkshire 29 October 1883; Ida Jane (or Jean) b. Aslockton 1885; Maud Marie b. Aslockton 1887; David Leonard b. Aslockton 8 May 1889 bap. St Patrick (Anglican) 21 March 1891; Charles William Cecil b 23 February 1891 bap. St Patrick 21 March 1891; Arthur Sidney b. Codnor Park, Derbyshire 1895; John Bernard b. Codnor Park 16 November 1897; Francis (Frank) Guy b. Sutton in Ashfield 30 November 1900 bap. Mansfield St Philip 2 January 1901 and Rose Edna b. Nottingham 24 January 1903 bap. St Barnabus RC 24 January 1904. His father Richard worked for the Great Northern Railway, which explains the children's country-wide places of birth. In 1881 Richard (27) was station master at Carlton on Trent, Nottinghamshire, and living in the station house with his wife and child Catherine (1). Also in the household was his wife's younger sister, Rose Waddington (b. Bradford 1863), of no occupation. Their second child, Gertrude, was born in Aslockton in 1882 but their third, Richard, in Doncaster in 1883. However, by 1885 when Ida was born the family was back in Aslockton where their next four children were born. In 1891 the family was recorded on the census at Aslockton Station House where Richard was the station master: Agatha (30), Catherine (11), Gertrude (10), Richard (7), Ida (5), Maud (3), David (1) and Charles (under one year). They then probably moved to Codnor, Derbyshire, where Arthur and John were born (1895, 1897). Richard snr. was appointed station master at the newly opened station at Sutton in Ashfield, where Francis was born in 1900 and baptised in Mansfield in January 1901. However, by the time of the 1901 census Richard, now a railway clerk, and his wife and family were living at 68 Wallis Street, Basford, Nottingham. Nine of their ten children were in the home on the night of the census: Catherine a milliner, Gertrude a dressmaker and Ida, Maud, David, Charles, Arthur (5), John (3) and Francis (under one year). Their son Richard has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. The youngest child, Rose, was born 2 years later and her parents were living at 222 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, when she was baptised in 1904. Richard snr. died on 9 October 1910 at 60 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. His widow Sarah was still living at the same address in 1911. Nine of her eleven chldren were in the household: Catherine a milliner, Gertrude a dressmaker, Richard a grocer, Charles a butcher, Arthur a shop assistant (tailor and gents. outfitter), John, Francis, Rose (8) and her married daughter Maud Harrop. Maud had married James Frederick Harrop in 1908; they had had one child who had died in infancy. Also in the household was a boarder, Mary Carroll, a school teacher. The third daughter Ida was living in Horley, Surrey, where she was a companion to Emily Drinkwater (70) single, of private means. David was living in Doncaster with his maternal grandparents, Charles and Catherine Waddington, and working as a general cab maker. David went to America the following year where he was a professional footballer but returned in December 1915 to enlist in the army (see 'Extra Information'). David married Beatrice Scarlett (b. 6 July 1892) at Mansfield St John in 1916. Beatrice's father was for a time licensee of the Green Dragon Hotel, Leeming Street, Mansfield. David and Beatrice had one son, Leonard Herbert Simpson (b. 5 October 1916). Beatrice and their son were living with her parents at 43 St John Street, Mansfield, when Leonard was killed. Beatrice married William E Townroe in 1919. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled she was living on Layton Avenue, Mansfield; her occupation was given as general dealer. Beatrice was living at Skerry Hill, Mansfield, when she died on 31 May 1973. David and Beatrice's son married Irene Turner in 1939 (reg. Mansfield). In 1939 Leonard and Irene were living in Luton where he was a radial driller at a motor works. They probably had one child (b. 1940). Leonard died in 1979 (reg. Luton). A report of David's death in the local newspaper in 1917 recorded that four of his brothers were also serving in the Army. Richard attested on 10 December 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve the following day. He was mobilized on 13 January 1917 and served in the Royal Horse & Field Artillery (203868), 1st Depot, C/286th Brigade. John Bernard served with the Sherwood Foresters (3916, 266267 Private). He was captured on the Somme on 1 July 1916 having suffered wounds 'am brust und R. seite' {on the chest and side]. John was held at two camps, Soltau B. and then Hamein. It is possible that Charles and Arthur had emigrated to Canada and served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (William Cecil Simpson and Arthur Sidney Simpson); they have not yet been traced on UK records after 1911. Francis, the youngest son, would only have been 16 years old when David was killed. Sarah Agatha Simpson has been traced on Electoral Registers from 1923 when she was living at 48 Gregory Boulevard, and from 1926 until 1931 when she was living at 184 Woodborough Road, Nottingham. Several of her children lived with her during this period and Francis and Rose were with her in 1931. Of her surviving children: Catherine Louise married James Proctor in 1915 and she was recorded on a 1930 electoral register living in Edgbaston, near Birmingham. Catherine died in 1934. Gertrude probably died in 1965 (reg. Nottingham). Richard Hedley married Daisy Ward (b. 1 January 1888) in 1914 and they had at least two children, Jessie Maria b. 24 April 1914 and Ida J. b. 31 January 1922. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled the family was living on Derby Road, Nottingham: Richard, a grocer's assistant, Daisy and their daughters who were both school teachers. Ida Jane married Aubrey Marshall Parker by licence at Horley St Bartholomew on 11 July 1914. Aubrey (34), the son of a farmer, was a cigar importer and lived in Nottingham. In 1939 Ida was a shopkeeper (confectioner tobacco) and registered at Frank's Sweet Shop, Bloomfield Avenue, Luton, with her brother Frank who was an assistant in the shop. Aubrey Parker has not yet been traced on the 1939 Register, but he was living in Woodthorpe, Nottingham, when he died on 30 April 1949. His brother and widow were awarded administration. Ida may have died in 1967. Maud Marie who had married James Harrop in 1908, probably had two children, Frederick B. b. 1916 and Joan M. b. 16 November 1917, who became a hospital nurse. Maude has not been traced after 1911. John Bernard married Evelyn (b. 19 July 1894). The registration of their marriage has not yet been traced, but in 1923 and 1924 he was recorded on electoral registers in his mother's home at 184 Woodborough Road, Nottingham. In 1939 he was publican of the Cooper's Arms, Bute Street, Luton, and his wife was assisting in the business. John died in 1969. Francis Guy was recorded on electoral rolls at 48 Gregory Boulevard in 1923/1924 and then at 184 Woodborough Road from 1927-1931. However, in 1939 he was a shop assistant living with his sister, Ida Parker, a shopkeeper (confectioner/tobacco) at Frank's Sweet Shop, Bloomfield Avenue, Luton. He died at Nazareth House, Old Lenton, on 6 July 1979. Rose Edna was recorded on the 1929 and 1931 electoral registers living with her mother at 184 Woodborough Road, Nottingham. There is a record of a Rose E Simpson (33, b. 1903) a chiropodist, sailing from Liverpool to Montreal, Canada, on 11 June 1936.