Albert Towle

Note: Albert joined the Royal Navy in the name of John Towle; his Naval record is annotated that his relatives advised the Royal Navy after his death that he was called 'Albert'. Albert was the son of the John Towle and Lucy Towle nee Spalding who were married in Nottingham in 1873 (A/M/J). Nine children were recorded on the census between 1881 and 1901; Eliza Ann (b. 1875), Samuel (b. abt 1878), Sarah Ann, John (b. abt 1881), Annie Elizabeth, Thomas (b. 1886), Mary Ellen (birth registered J/F/M 1888), Albert (b. 22 October 1888) and Maria (b. 1893) Both John and Lucy probably died in 1908, John's death being recorded in Jan/Feb/Mar and Lucy's in Oct/Nov/Dec. Each was recorded as being 56 years of age. In 1881 John and Lucy were living at 1 [Inn] Yard, Crooked Lane, Basford; John was a coal miner. They had three children; Eliza (6), Samuel (3) and Sarah (1). By 1891 the family was living at 4 Whitemoor Road, Basford. Eight children were in the household on the night of the census; Eliza (16) who was in the clothing trade, Samuel (13) a hosiery presser, Sarah (11) a lace mender, and John (9), Annie (7), Thomas (5), Mary (3) and Albert (1). By 1901 John and Lucy were living at 61 Mill (-), Basford. A daughter, Maria (7), had been born following the previous census and she was one of seven children at home on the night of the census; Samuel (23), John (18), Annie (17), Thomas (14) a packer at a pipe clay works, Mary (13) a sorter at a laundry, Albert (14) and Maria. Also in the household was John and Lucy's grandson, John Charles Towle (3), who was the child of their daughter, Sarah Ann. Albert joined the Royal Navy in December 1907 shortly before his parents' deaths the following year and by 1911 at least three of his siblings were married. Samuel had married Annie Marsden in 1901 (registered J/A/S) and in 1911 they were living at 2 New Market Terrace, Basford. They had lost four of seven children, the three surviving siblings were Sam (6), Annie (3) and Frank (1). Sarah Ann Towle (31) had been married for 10 years to George Crosswell (32) an iron pipe moulder, and they were living at 23 The Pastures, Stapleford. They had had six children of whom only three survived, including John Charles Towle (13), who was living with them and was employed as a collier, and two infants, Hannah Crosswell (2) and Robert Ernest Crosswell (7 months). Annie Elizabeth (27) had married Albert Edward Stenson (30) about four years earlier. Albert was employed by Nottingham Corporation as a tramway car repairer. They lived at 22 Hall Street, Sherwood, and had one child, Albert Edward (1). Living with the family was Annie's youngest sister, Maria (17) who was a laundry hand. The Royal Navy notified a sister, 'Miss Towle', of Albert's death. This was probably his youngest sister, Maria, as her address was given as 'c/o Mr Stenson, 22 Hall Street, Sherwood, Nottingham.'