John Strachan Pearson

John Strachan was born in Beeston on 30th June 1882, the twin son of Henry John and Laura Kate Pearson. His father was a founder of the Beeston Foundry Company. Henry and Laura had seven children; three sons, Stephen Hetley (known as Hetley) and John Strachan who were twins (b. 30 June 1882), Noel Gervis (b. 1884 O/N/D), and four daughters, Eva Winifred (b. 1878 O/N/D), Laura Dorothy (b. 1880 A/M/J, christened Whiteshill Gloucestershire, 12 September 1880), Elizabeth Marjory (b. Dec. 1885, birth registered 1886 J/F/M)and Janet Mary (b. 1891 O/N/D). In 1891 Henry (40) described as a horticultural builder, and his wife Laura (36) were living at The White House, Town Street, Bramcote, with their six children; Eva (12), Laura (11), John (8), Hetley (8), Noel (6) and Elizabeth (5). Also in the household were four staff; Alice Treffry (sic), a governess, Harriet Ward (23) a cook, Sarah Shortland (17) a housemaid, and Fanny Moore (24) a nurse. The family was still living at The White House in 1901 by which time Henry was the chairman of Beeston Foundry Co. Ltd. Five of their children were at home on the night of the census: Laura (21), John (18) a farmer, Hetley (18) an articled chartered accountant, Noel (16) and Mary (9). Also in the household was Henry's widowed mother-in-law, Catherine G Rogers (86), and a visitor, Margaret Bickers (43). Henry now employed five staff; Alice E Tuffey (sic), a governess, Isabella Brown (33) a cook, Sarah Shortland (27) a parlourmaid, Sophia Arnold (21) a housemaid and Mary Paton (20) a kitchen maid. Henry's daughter, Elizabeth (15) was a pupil boarder at a school in Bristol. By the time of the 1911 Census Henry was 'Director of Engineering Ltd' and gave his address as 'Bramcote'. He and Laura (56) had been married for 33 years. Only four of their children were in the home on the night of the census; Hetley (28) and Noel (26) who were also Directors of Engineering Ltd, Elizabeth (27) and Mary (19). There were five live-in servants: Agnes Edith Wilcox (26), Mary Ann Hall (27), Annie Elizabeth Hopkins (28) and Ann Eliza Jennings (17). Henry's two eldest daughters were married by the time of the 1911 Census; Laura (Priestman) who was married in 1909 and Eva (Pattenden) whose marriage was registered in J/F/M 1911. It is probable that John had emigrated to New Zealand some years before. Henry Pearson died in 1913 aged 63 (1850-1913). His wife, Laura Kate, died in 1938 (1855-1938). There are two stained glass window to their memory in the north wall nearest to the chancel in the church of St Michael and All Angels, Bramcote. John's twin, Hetley, who served as a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards, was killed in action on 1 December 1917 aged 35 (Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery Extension). Henry and Laura's youngest son, Noel Gervis Pearson, enlisted in the 9th Sherwood Foresters Regiment at the outbreak of the First World War. He was made Adjutant in January 1915 and served overseas with various units until March 1919. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1916, the Distinguished Service Order in 1918, and was twice Mentioned in Dispatches. Lt Col Noel Pearson married Kathleen Mary Nicolls in 1914 (marriage registered A/M/J Basford). They lost two of their three sons in the Second World War. Pilot Officer Henry Hetley Pearson, RAFVS 10 Squadron, was killed in action on 17 August 1941 aged 21. (Heverlee War Cemetery). Lt Basil John Pearson, Royal Armoured Corps 15th/18th King's Royal Hussars, was killed in action on 10 September 1944 aged 20 (Hasselt Kruisveld Communal Cemetery). Their third son, Mark, the twin of Basil John, served in the same regiment as Basil; he survived the war. There are memorials to Henry Hetley and Basil John in Wollaton St Leonard's Church. Of John's sisters: Eva Winifred married Walter Leslie Pattenden in 1911 (marriage registered J/F/M Shardlow, Derbyshire). She was widowed on 7 November 1932; she and Walter were living at 'The Eyrie', Godalming, Surrey; Administration was awarded to his widow (Effects £1105 13s. 8d). Eva died on 27 November 1958; her home address was 'Cuttings', Newick, Sussex. Probate was awarded to Pauline Elizabeth Pattenden spinster and Marjorie Victoria Baron solicitor. Effects £12781 13s. 8d. Laura Dorothy married Howard Priestman in 1909 (marriage registered O/N/D Shardlow, Derbyshire). Her husband died on 7 December 1931; his home address was Rosset Myddleton, Ilkley, Yorkshire. Administration was awarded to Noel Gervis Pearson engineer and Ronald Mallorie Priestman spinner (Effects £32092 2s. 8d). The only record found so far for Laura after her marriage in 1909 is that her name (Laura Dorothy Priestman) appears on the West Yorkshire electoral register (Rosset, Pudsey & Otley parliamentary division) from 1918 to 1947 when her last address was Oak Gill House, Rosset. Elizabeth Marjory married William Pakenham Walsh William (also 'Williams') on 17 January 1922 in Foochow, South China. She died in 1976 aged 91 in Otara Nursing Home, Kingsley Green, Haslemere, Surrey. The youngest girl, Mary Janet, has not yet been traced after the 1911 Census.