James Arthur Crowson

James Arthur was the son of James and Edith Crowson. James and Edith had five children, one of whom (Susan Ethel) died young: William Henry Crowson b. 14 January 1879 (J/F/M Leeds) baptised 2 April 1879 Kirstall St Stephen, Leeds; Susan Ethel born about 1880, baptised 26 December 1881 Burley St Matthias, Leeds, died 1884 (O/N/D Leeds); and James Arthur b. 14 October 1887, Edith Annie b. 3 February 1883 and George Ernest b. 11 July 1891, who were all baptised at Stanningley St Thomas, Leeds, on 27 September 1891. At the time of the youngest children's baptisms, the family was living at 6 Eldon Place, Burley , Leeds. Their father James was a police officer. By 1901 the family was living on Fitzwilliam Street, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire. James (50) was described on the census as an 'ex-police constable' and was living with his wife Edith (47), and their three youngest children Edith (18) a draper's shop assistant, and James (13) and George (9) who were still at school. Edith married Gordon Leslie Bellman on 3 January 1905 at Mablethorpe St Mary, Lincolnshire, suggesting that her family was still living in Mablethorpe at the time of her marriage. However, by 1911 Edith (28) and Gordon (34), a coastguard (boatman) and a Naval pensioner, were living at 17 Custom House Street, Sutton Bridge, Wisbech, Lincolnshire. They had had three children of whom only two were at home on the night of the census: Edith Irene (3, b. Mablethorpe) and Henry Deuxberry (7 months, b. Anderby Lincolnshire); their oldest child, James Leslie (5), was with his grandparents in Nottingham. Like their daughter, James and Edith had also moved from Mablethorpe and in 1911 were living at 346 Meadow Lane, Nottingham, with their two youngest sons, James (23) who was working as a hairdresser on his own account, and George Ernest (19), an upholsterer. Also in the household on the night of the census was their married daughter's son, James Leslie Bellman (5). The eldest sibling, William Henry, was living with his wife and children at Springstone, Grosvenor Road, Skegness, at the time of the same census. James senior died in Nottingham on 14 February 1914 and his widow and youngest sons appear to have then left Nottingham as when James junior attested in 1915 he was living in Hunstanton, Norfolk, in YMCA accommodation. He was still working as a hairdresser. James named his mother as next of kin when he enlisted by which time she was living in Skegness. James' mother completed a form for the army in May 1919 listing her son's surviving blood relatives: Mother: Edith Crowson, 4 Dorothy Avenue, Skegness, Lincolnshire Brotheres: William Henry (40), 3 Dorothy Avenue, Skegness; George Ernest (26), Roman Bank, Skegness. Sister: Edith Annie Bellman (35), 4 Dorothy Avenue, Skegness. The CWGC record, compiled later, gives his mother's address as Wakefield House, Golf Road, Mablethorpe. Edith Crowson probably died in 1935 (March Spilsby Lincolnshire) aged 80. Edith Bellman died in 1968 (December Grantham) aged 85; her husband predeceased her (1934, September Spilsby).