William Fox

William was born in Nottingham and the only reference to his link with the city apart from this information from his Naval record is an entry on the 1901 Census when he was living on Beresford Street, Old Radford. William was living in the household of Fanny Darby (44, b. Carlton) and her sister Elizabeth Darby (42, b. Carlton). Both women were unmarried and working from home as machinists (shirts and aprons). William Fox (9) was described as 'adopted' and there were two other children in the home who were also adopted, George Fox (12), perhaps William's brother, and Jessie Baldock (9). All three children were born in Nottingham; George probably b. 1889 (J/A/S Nottingham), William b. 7 February 1892 (RN record) and Jessie Baldcock probably b. 1890 (O/N/D Nottingham). Neither William nor George have been traced on the 1911 Census, but a Jessie Baldock (20), lace machinist, was living at 10 Chandos Street, Nottingham, as a lodger in the household of an Edward Dean. William was a seaman before he joined the Royal Navy in 1914. It is likely that he had no contact with his birth family as he gave the name of a friend, Isaac Simpson, as next of kin when he joined the Royal Navy. William's RN record gives Isaac's address as 3 Mill Lane, Bridge Street, Brigg, Lincolnshire. Isaac was the son of Joseph C. and Rhoda Simpson; his father was owner and master of a barge on the River Trent although there was a family home ashore (1891: 12 West Terrace, Scawby, Brigg). At the time of the 1901 Census Isaac (21) was recorded as the owner and Master of the 'Joseph C Rhoda' which at the time of the census was on the River Trent at Glanford Brigg in the parish of Alkborough St John the Baptist. Isaac employed a Mate, a 15 year old boy. It is possible, therefore, that before he joined the Royal Navy William worked for either Isaac or one of the other barge owners on the River Trent working out of Brigg. Isaac Simpson probably died in 1939 (Mar Scunthorpe) aged 59.

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