Albert Scrimshaw

Albert was the son of Francis and Elizabeth Scrimshaw (maiden name on civil documents variously: Albiston/birth & census, Albeston/Abbeston marriage). Francis was born in Nottingham in 1839 (J/F/M Nottingham) while Elizabeth was born in Congleton, Cheshire, in 1841 (A/M/J Congleton Cheshire: Lindop). However, in 1861 Elizabeth and her siblings were living at Havelock Street, Nottingham, with their widowed mother, Sarah; Elizabeth was working as a silk reeler. Francis and Elizabeth were married on 19 June 1865 at St Paul's, Nottingham (A/M/J Nottingham) and five children were named on the census between 1871 and 1891, all of whom except John William who was born in Ripley, Derbyshire, were born in Nottingham: Harriet b. 1869 bap. 28 January 1877 St Nicholas, Nottingham, Arthur b. 1871 (O/N/D Nottingham), John William b. 20 November 1873 (O/N/D Belper Derbyshire), Albert birth registered 1880 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Ethel birth registered 1882 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 10 February 1892 St Catherine's Nottingham. All the registrations have the mother's name as Albiston. There is also a record of the birth of an Ernest Scrimshaw in 1878 (O/N/D Nottingham, Albiston) who probably died in 1881 (J/F/M Nottingham) aged 2. In 1871 Francis (32), a tailor, and Elizabeth (29) were living at Pembridge Place, Mount Street, Nottingham, with their first child, Harriet (1) although by the time of Harriet's baptism in 1877 they were living on Rutland Street, Nottingham, in the parish of St Nicholas. In 1881 the famiiy was living at 6 Portland Place, Cur Lane, Beck Street, Nottingham. Francis (42) was still working as a tailor. He and Elizabeth had four children: Harriet (11), Arthur (9), John (7) and Albert (1). Also in the household on the night of the census were Thomas French, his wife Elizabeth and their two children Annie (2) and Thomas (6 months). Note: Thomas French jnr served in the Mercantile Marine and was killed in 1916, the same year as Annie's son Job (George) Samples and her brother-in-law Henry Samples (see records on this ROH). By 1891 the famiy was living on Brook Street, Nottingham, probably 7 Brook Street as given on Ethel's baptismal record in 1892. Francis was a tailor and Elizabeth (50) was now working as a lace hand. All five children were still living at home: Harriet (21) a lace hand, John William (17) a tailor's apprentice and Albert (11) and Ethel (9) who were still at school. Arthur (19), a tailor, had married Ellen (Nellie) Wragg on 30 March 1890 at St Paul's Nottingham, and they were also living with his parents. John William enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on 23 February 1892 (1847 Private); he gave his age as 17 years 2 months (but DOB November 1873) and his occupation as hairdresser (Taylor, Nottingham). He obtained his discharge by purchase but then attested in the Militia on 24 June 1893, giving his age as 18 years 6 months; his occupation was still that of hairdresser. He was then living at 106 Flewitt Street, Alfred Street, St Ann's, Nottingham. He served from 24 June 1893-19 November 1894 and was present for drills both years. However, on 19 November 1894, while still serving in the Militia (which he declared), he attested in the Sherwood Foresters (4923 Private) on a 12 year short service engagement (5 years with the Colours, 7 years Reserve). He was still employed as a hairdresser and named his father Francis of 21 Platt Street, Nottingham, as his next of kin. He was posted to the 1st Bn on 27 February 1895. However, he was discharged on 10 February 1896 having been convicted by the civil power of felony (theft, sentenced to two calendar months imprisonment). The oldest brother, Arthur, died on 17 April 1897 (A/M/J Nottingham) age 25. He and Ellen had had two sons, Francis William b. 1892 (A/M/J Nottingham) and Thomas b. 1894 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1901 the widowed Ellen (28), a lace mender, was living at 1 Pembroke Place, Nottingham, with her two sons aged 8 and 6 respectively. Elizabeth Scrimshaw died in 1899 (O/N/D Nottingham) age 58. In 1901 the widowed Francis (62) was living at 67 Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green, with his unmarried eldest daughter, Harriet (31). John appears on the same Census living at 8 Chapel Yard, Nottingham, with his wife Mary (29, b. Newark). John was a carriage spring maker (lace machine) and Mary was a lace dresser. They had one child, Charles. (Registration of marriage and birth of child not yet traced.) Albert (20), a dresser (lace), was living at 21 Woodland Street, Nottingham, in 1901 and described as the head of household. The same year the youngest daughter, Ethel (19), a lace joiner, was a boarder at 13 Pipe Street, Nottingham, in the home of Harry West (41), a labourer with Nottingham Corporation, and his wife Mary Ann West (36) (m. 1886 O/N/D Nottingham) and their children. Francis died in 1903 (A/M/J Nottingham) age 64. Albert joined the Army in 1903 and in 1911 was serving in India with the 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters. Harriet was a patient at Mapperley Hospital (an asylum) in 1911; she died in 1917 (O/N/D Nottingham) age 48. John (37) and his wife Mary (38) were living at 7 Lincoln Place, Nottingham, in 1911. John was still working as a carriage spring maker while Mary was a lace clipper (at home). They had been married for 10 years and had had three children of whom only two were still living: John Francis (9, b. 1901 O/N/D Nottingham) and Albert (7). Also in 1911, the youngest child, Ethel, a lace dresser, was a boarder at 10 Island Court, Nottingham, in the home of Harry West (51) described as a widower and a labourer with the Corporation Health Department. Ethel was thirty years old and single but had two children; two children were also in the household: Donald Scrimshaw (7, b. 28 October 1903 O/N/D Nottingham) and Ethel Scrimshaw (1, b. 28 May 1910, J/A/S Nottingham), described as son and daughter although it is not clear from the census return whether this refers to their relationship to Ethel or with the head of household. Although Harry described himself as a widower, there is a record of a Mary Ann West (44) married but head of household, living at 8 Newgate Street, Lenton, with four children including several with the names and relative ages of those on the 1901 Census. Harry died in 1917 (A/M/J Nottingham) age 56. Ethel was her brother Albert's legatee and his personal effects were sent to her in November 1915 at 12 Bingham Court, White Cow Yard, Bellar Gate, Nottingham. Ethel married Alexander Keeton in 1918 (A/M/J Nottingham). However, Ethel was widowed by 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register when she and her daughter Ethel, a tobacco leaf stripper in a factory, were living at 13 Woolpack Lane, Nottingham. Ethel snr. probably died in 1964 (O/N/D Nottingham) age 82.

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