Edwin John Meedy

Edwin John was the son of William John Meedy and his second wife Louisa Alma (neé Holiday). William John married first Sarah Ann Hawkins on 25 December 1867 at Christ Church, Tower Hamlets by whom he had at least seven children who were born in Poplar: Ellen Jessie, Frederick John (registered John Frederick), George David, Minnie Elizabeth, Bertie William, Florence and Robert James. In 1881 William (35), a railway ticket collector, and Sarah (32) were living at West Side, 75 Brunswick Road, Poplar, with their children Ellen (12), Frederick (10), George (8), Minnie (5), Bertie (3) and Florence (1). Their youngest child, Robert, was born two years later. Sarah Ann died in 1886 (J/A/S Poplar) aged about 37 and John William married Louisa Alma Holiday on 8 April 1890 at St Paul, Tower Hamlets). John and Louisa had three children: William Webber b. Stepney bap. Stepney St Dunstan, Edwin John b. Bow 29 September 1894 bap. Bromley St Leonard 21 October 1894 and Rosalie Elizabeth b. Plaistow bap. Plaistow St Mary. In 1891 William (46), a greengrocer, and Louisa (33) were living on Charles Street, Mile End, Old Town, with four of William's children by his first marriage: George (18) an engraver, Minnie (16) a greengrocer's assistant, presumably working for her father, and Bertie (13) and Robert (8) who were at school. Also in the household was a servant, James Tibbett (19), who was a carman and was to marry Minnie Elizabeth at St Paul Tower Hamlets in 1894. John and Louisa's first child, William, was born later that year. John and Louisa were living at 10 Stratford Road, [Plaistow], Essex, when their daughter Rosalie was baptised in 1897; John's occupation was given as carman. However, by 1901 the family was living at 43 St Leonard's Road, Bromley, Poplar, London, and William (46) was now working as picture framer. Only four children were in the home on the night of the census, Robert (18) an office boy (commercial) and William and Louisa's three children, William (9), Edwin (6) and Rosalie (3). Louisa Alma died in 1907 (J/A/S Lambeth London) age about 46. In 1911 the widowed William was still living at 43 St Leonard's Street, Poplar, but only his son William Webber (19), who was a student at the Royal College of Arts, was still at home. Edwin (16) was a school boy and boarder at Kelham Hall, Society of the Sacred Mission. The boys' sister, Rosalie, who would have been about 13 years old has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census and it is possible that she went to live with relatives after her mother's death as there is no record of her dying in childhood. Edwin's father William John died in 1922 (J/F/M Poplar). Edwin's half-brother, Robert James Meedy, the youngest of William John's family by his first marriage, served as an Ordinary Seaman in the Royal Naval Division from 8 December 1915 but transferred to the Royal Navy as a 2nd Class Stoker on 11 May 1916. He was discharged shore (demobilization) on 13 March 1919. Another half-brother, Bertie William, may have served in the Gloucestershire Regiment (46273 Private). Their other brothers, Frederick and George would have been over-age when war broke out.