Edward Randall

Edward was the son of Henry and Maria (or Martha) Randall (née Waite). His father Henry was born in Mansfield in about 1857. In 1881 he was living with his married sister, Ann Shirley and her husband, on Beaumont Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. His mother Maria was born in 1856 in Ashby, Lincolnshire, the daughter of James and Mary Waite. Maria was baptised at Ashby by Partney parish church in July the same year. In 1881 she was probably working as a cook at the Lumley Hotel, Skegness. According to the 1911 Census which was completed by Maria who had been widowed the previous year, she had been married for 23 years (c. 1888), and had had four children. The registration of their marriage has not yet been traced and five children were recorded on the census between 1891-1911: John b. abt 1883/4, Edith b. 1886, Louisa b. 1888, Henry b. 1891 and Edward b. 1898. All the children were born in Nottingham and there are baptismal records for Edith, Louisa and Henry who were baptised at Nottingham St Nicholas. In 1891 Henry, a traveller's porter, and Maria, were living at 7 Exchange Court, Nottingham, with their three children, John, Edith and Louisa. Also in the household were Arthur Morley, a baker, his wife and their two children, who were described as boarders. Henry and Maria had moved to 5 Rutland Place, Granby Street, by the time of Edith's baptism in 1886 and were still at the same address in 1901 when Henry was working as a grocer's porter. Their four youngest children were in the home, Edith a dressmaker, Louisa and Henry who were school age, and Edward, along with two male lodgers. The eldest child, John, has not yet been traced after 1891. Henry snr. died in Nottingham City Asylum in January 1910 (buried 1 February); he had been admitted two days before his death. In 1911 Maria and three of her children Louisa, a blouse machinist, Harry, a grocer's assistant and Edward, were living at 4 Marriott's Row, St James' Street, Nottingham. The eldest daughter, Edith, had married Walter Wright in 1903 and they and their two daughters were living off Colwick Road, Nottingham. Maria Randall was still living at 4 Marriott's Row when she completed a form for the army in September 1919 naming her son's surviving blood relatives: Brother Harry [Henry], 152 Dame Agnes Street, Nottingham. Sisters Edith Wright (address illegible) and Louisa Randall, 4 Marriott's Row. Harry had married Emma Smith at Nottingham St Ann parish church in 1915 and they were still living at 152 Dame Agnes Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Maria Randall died in 1938 (buried 19 May).