Percy Ewart Downing

Percy Ewart was the youngest child of George Downing and his wife Millicent nee Stendall. George Downing was born in Kidderminster in 1847 (O/N/D Kidderminster). Millicent, the daughter of William and Ann Stendall, was born in Annesley on 2 August 1846 (bap. 30 April 1869). George and Millicent were married in Ironville in the parish of Annesley in December 1869 (O/N/D Basford) and had at least seven children: William Henry b. Westwood 1870 (O/N/D Basford) bap. 5 December 1871 at Zion United Methodist Free Church Riddings Derbyshire, Edith Stendell b. Ironville 24 May 1872 (J/A/S Belper), Minnie Gertrude b. Codnor 19 September 1874 (O/N/D Basford), Alfred George b. Codnor 30 December 1880 (1881 J/F/M Basford), Harold George b. Codnor 1883 (J/A/S Belper), Ethel Eliza b. Codnor birth registered 1886 (J/F/M Belper) and Percy Ewart b. Nottingham birth registered 1889 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1871 George (23), a clerk, and Millicent (24) were living in Ironville, Derbyshire, with their six-month old son, William. They were living at 3 Railway Row, Codnor, in 1881 by which time there were four children: William (10), Edith (8), Minnie (6) and Alfred George (u/1). George (33) was a clerk at an iron works. By 1891 the family had moved to Nottingham and was living at 184 Blue Bell Hill Road. All seven children were in the home with their parents on the night of the census: William (20) a general assistant, Edith (18) who was working in the hosiery trade, Minnie (16) an errand girl. Alfred (10), Harold (7) and Ethel (6) who were still at school and Percy (2). George Downing was admitted to Notts B. Lunatic Asylum on 18 December 1899 and died in the asylum on 17 May 1900 (A/M/J Nottingham) aged 52. The widowed Millicent (54), who was working from home as a hosiery finisher, was living at 42 Hunt Street, St Ann's, in 1901. In the home on the night of the census were four of her seven children: Alfred (20) a grocer's assistant), Harold (17) who was working as a porter in the lace industry, Ethel (15) a cigarette maker and Percy (12) who was still at school. Millicent's three eldest children were married and living independently: William (m. 1895), Edith (m. 1893) and Minnie (m. 1897). Ethel married four years later in 1905. Millicent died aged 62 in 1909 (A/M/J Nottingham). Alfred married Ada Lockwood in 1910 (O/N/D Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living with Ada's parents, Benjamin and Mary Lockwood, at 51 Cobden Street, Old Radford. Alfred (30) was still working as a grocer's assistant. Also in the household was Alfred's brother, Percy (22) a lace warehouseman. Harold (28), the only other unmarried sibling, was probably working as a groom and living in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, in the household of George and Sarah Baker at the time of the same census. Percy married Violet Annie Morrell (b. 13 September 1885) in 1912 (J/A/S Nottingham). Their first child, George H. was born the same year (O/N/D Nottingham) but died before his second birthday (death registered 1914 J/F/M Nottingham). Their second son, Norman Percy, was born on 28 April 1915 (A/M/J Nottingham), a few months before Percy went to France. The family originally lived on Plimsoll Terrace, Denman Street, Nottingham, but at the time of Percy's death in 1916 they were living at 28 Cobden Street, Radford. Violet never remarried and in 1939 she and her surviving son, Norman, a dyer's labourer, were still living at 28 Cobden Street. Violet died on 5 October 1946 (O/N/D Nottingham). Norman probably died in 1990 (Oct Chesterfield) aged 75. Of Percy's siblings: William Henry married Eliza Ward in 1895 (O/N/D Nottingham. In 1911 they were living in Nottingham with their children Edith Millicent (11), Albert Henry (10), John William (8), Leslie (7), Gloadys (5) and Alfred George (2). William was working as a clerk for a lace manufacturer. He died at the age of 52 in November 1922 (O/N/D Nottingham). Edith married Joseph Luther Staples (b. 29 November 1872) in 1893 (O/M/D Basford). At the time of the 1939 England & Wales Register they were living at 1 Rushcliffe Terrace, Nottingham. Edith died on 29 April 1948 (A/M/J Nottingham). Minnie Gertrude married John Henry Grocock (b. 15 April 1874) in 1897 (O/N/D Nottingham. In 1939 they were living at Manor Lane, Bingham, Nottinghamshire. John was a domestic gardener. Minnie, by now a widow, died in Nottingham General Hospital on 2 December 1961; her home was at 80 Rosetta Road, Basford. Alfred George married Ada Lockwood (b. 12 June 1883) in 1910 (O/N/D Nottingham) and in 1911 they and Percy Ewart were living with Ada's parents, Benjamin and Mary Lockwood, at 51 Cobden Street, Radford. Alfred, a labourer at a bakery, and Ada were still living at the same address in 1939. Also in the household was their son John W. (b. 12 December 1920) a counting house clerk. Alfred died aged 74 in 1955 (O/N/D Nottingham). Harold may have died in 1951 (J/F/M Sleaford) aged 67. Ethel Eliza married Percy Birkinshaw (b. Sprotborough, Yorkshire) in 1905 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1911 they were living at 36 Wilford Road, Nottingham, with their three children Leslie (5), Ethel (4) and Edith (2). They later moved to Yorkshire and Ethel died there in 1934 (A/M/J Doncasster Yorkshire West Riding).

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