52 Ancestors Challenge - Week 11 - Flowers

 

When this theme popped up, I was initially at a loss on what to write about.  Did my ancestors like flowers, grow flowers, or sell flowers?  I have a few photographs of floral tributes from family funerals but thought this was a bit morbid.  My mum loved roses and freesias.  But did I have enough to write about? 

Eventually after mulling this over, I have found one family photograph which shows a relative in her garden with an impressive array of flowers, so I have decided to write about my Great Auntie Liz.

Auntie Liz was my Great -Grandmother Kate’s eldest sister.  They were daughters of George and Sarah Cotton from Hitchin in Hertfordshire.  Elizabeth was born early in 1853 as her birth is registered in the GRO March quarter (GRO 1853 Mar Qtr 3a 223 Hitchin) and she was baptised at St Mary’s church in Hitchin on 4 March 1853.

Elizabeth is recorded in the 1861 census of Hitchin with her parents and siblings.

Census – 1861 – Hitchin Hill, Hitchin

George Cotton                  Head     Mar        29           Shoemaker                         Herts   St Ippollitts

Sarah Cotton                     Wife      Mar        30           Strawplaiter                       Herts   Hitchin

Elizabeth Cotton               Dau                        8            Scholar                              Herts   Hitchin

William Cotton                 Son                         6            Scholar                            Herts   Hitchin

Ellen Cotton                       Dau                      4                                                      Herts   Hitchin

Edward Cotton                  Son                        2                                                      Herts   Hitchin

John Cotton                       Son                        2ms                                                 Herts   Hitchin

 

However, by 1871 she is not living at home and is found lodging a few doors away from her parents and younger siblings.  Perhaps they had run out of room!

You may notice a gap between John and Kate.  There was also a stillborn son born in 1863 who was buried at the council cemetery in Hitchin whom I discovered whilst researching in the grave books at the cemetery many years ago.  Infant mortality did of course touch my family, but most of the many Morgan, Cotton, Moules and Taylor children in Hitchin survived their early years.

Census – 1871 – 1 Bethel Lane, Hitchin

George Cotton                  Head     Mar        39           General Dealer                  Herts  St Ippollitts

Sarah Cotton                     Wife      Mar        40           Straw Plaiter                     Herts  Hitchin

William Cotton                 Son        Unm      16           General Dealer                  Herts  Hitchin

Ellen Cotton                      Dau                      14          Straw Plaiter                      Herts  Hitchin

Edward Cotton                  Son                        12           Labourer                          Herts  Hitchin

John Cotton                       Son                        10           Scholar                            Herts  Hitchin

Kate Cotton                       Dau                        5              Scholar                           Herts  Hitchin

Charles Cotton                  Son                        4                                                       Herts  Hitchin

 

Census – 1871 – 4 Bethel Lane, Hitchin

Robert Douglas                 Head     Mar        39           Whitesmith                  Berwickshire  Coldstream

Margaret Douglas            Wife      Mar        31           Straw Plaiter                 Herts   Hitchin

Robert Douglas                 Son                        2                                                Herts   Hitchin

Annie Douglas                   Dau                      7ms                                             Herts   Hitchin

Elizabeth Cotton               Lodger                  18                                               Herts   Hitchin

 

At No 3 Bethel Lane is living Thomas Cotton, brother of George Cotton and his family. My wider family members all seemed to live next door, a few doors away or in the same area of Hitchin.

Elizabeth married on 6 January 1876 at St Marylebone, London, by Banns.  Her husband was called Edward Cuff who was a coachman¹.   

In the 1881 census, Edward and Elizabeth were found living in Wandsworth in south London, so have moved from the St Marylebone area.

Census – 1881 – St Goar, Stable, Wandsworth

Edward Cuff                       Head     Mar        29           Coachman                           Dorset  Whitchurch

Elizabeth Cuff                    Wife      Mar        28                                                       Herts    Hitchin

 

Edward is still a coachman; I suspect living over the stabling of his employers house with his wife.  This was the usual for coachmen, or later, the chauffeur.

Their son, Edward John Cuff, was born on 28 November 1884 in Putney, London (GRO 1885 Mar Qtr Wandsworth 1d 778).

Edward Cuff senior died on 18 July 1885 at the Union Infirmary in Battersea and Elizabeth was left a widow with a son only a few months old.  Edward jnr was shortly afterwards placed in the care of her sister Mrs Ellen Richardson in Hanwell, Middlesex so that Elizabeth could continue to work.

The next time Elizabeth is found in a census is 1891 where she is working as a Cook in Ealing, Middlesex, northwest of London. 

Census 1891 – The Manor House, 163 Gunnersbury Lane, Ealing

Joseph Flexman(?)          Head     S              61           Living on own means      Bucks  Chesham

Elizabeth                         Sister     S              48                                                    Bucks Chesham

Emily                             Niece    S              25                                                      Australia Melbourne

John                                Nephew S           18                                                        Middx Edmonton

Alice Maberley              Serv       S              24           Housemaid                         Gloucs Cirencester

Elizabeth Cuff               Serv       Wid        31             Cook                                   Herts  Hitchin

 

Edward Cuff is still living with the Richardson’s in the 1891 Census

Census 1891 – 4 Southfield Cottages, Hanwell

Arthur Richardson            Head     M            35           Gardener                            Middx  Acton

Ellen Richardson               Wife      M           34                                                      Herts  Hitchin

Edward Cuff                      Nephew               6              Scholar                             Surrey  Putney

Eliza A. Richardson          Dau                      5              Scholar                             Middx Hanwell

Frank Barnard                    Lodger  S            18           Gardener                            Surrey  Lingfield

 

At 1 Southfield Cottages is living Henry Hearn, a widower with his son Henry, aged 13.

Elizabeth married for a second time on 20 October 1891, at St Mary, Lambeth, by Banns².  Her new husband Henry Hearn a widower, slightly older that Elizabeth, and the same Henry Hearn who lived at 1 Southfield Cottages, a few doors away from Elizabeth’s sister Ellen (Auntie Nell) in Hanwell in the 1891 census.  I suspect this is where they met.  Why they were married in Lambeth is a mystery, maybe Henry was working in that area at the time.  At this time Hanwell was still rural with market gardens and public parks where the husbands of Ellen and Elizabeth, Arthur Richardson and Henry Hearn, both worked. 

Henry and Elizabeth welcomed their daughter Ellen Jane in 1895 (GRO 1895 Mar Qtr Brentford 3a 146) who was baptised 27 Jan 1895 at St Mark, Hanwell.  The family were by this time living at 1 Southfield Cottages, Hanwell, Middlesex, where Elizabeth was to remain until her death. 

Census 1901 – 1 Southfield Cottages, Hanwell, Middlesex

Henry Hearne                    Head     Mar        50           Carter on Farm                  Bucks  NK

Elizabeth Hearne              Wife      Mar        46                                                      Herts  Hitchin

Nellie Hearne                    Dau                        6                                                     Middx  Hanwell

 

Census 1911 – 1 Southfield Cottages, Oakland Road, Hanwell, Middlesex

Henry Hearn                       Head     Mar        62           Carman                             Bucks  Taplow

Elizabeth Hearn                Wife      Mar         58                                                      Herts  Hitchin

Ellen Hearn                         Dau                     16           Laundrymaid                     Middx  Hanwell

 

Henry and Elizabeth’s daughter Ellen (Nellie) was married on 9 February 1918 in Hanwell, Middlesex to Arthur Redman, a sailor, with her half-brother Edward Cuff being one of the witnesses.   Ted Cuff was also in the Royal Navy, in submarines in the First World War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, by the Second World War.  Ted’s youngest son Vernon, named after HMS Vernon at Portsmouth where Uncle Ted and his family lived, and where my mother had many happy holidays with the family prior to the 2WW, has written a memoir of his dad which you may find if interest⁴.

By 1921, the latest census that we in the UK have access to, Elizabeth is again a widow, still living at 1 Southfield Cottages.  Her daughter Ellen and her young family are also in residence.   My Mum was named after Eva Redman.  Young Teddy Redman was one of the few sailors to survive the torpedoing of HMS Edinburgh in the Second World War.

Census 1921 – 1 Southfield Cottages, Hanwell, Middlesex

Elizabeth Hearn                Head     68 4       F   Widow Herts Hitchin                Gen Domestic Servant

Arthur Frederick Redman Son in law 36  M Warwicks, Kidderminster             Admiralty (out of work)

Ellen Jane Redman          Dau  26   Mar F       Middx,Hanwell                           Home Duties

Eva Daphne Redman      G Dau    1 5  F          Middx, Hanwell                          

Edward Alec Redman     G Son     5ms            Middx, Hanwell

 

Elizabeth died in 1938 at the age of 85 (GRO 1938 Mar Qtr Brentford 3a 248).  My Mum, born in 1925, could remember visiting her in Hanwell.

She was buried at Hanwell Cemetery on 5 May 1938 and as this entry in the burial books indicates was still living at 1 Southfield Cottages, Hanwell at the time of her death⁵.

Notes

1.       Edward Cuff was a coachman, son of John Cuff, a coachman.  Elizabeth Cotton was the daughter of George Cotton, a bootmaker.  Both of full age.  Edward Cuff made his mark; Elizabeth Cotton signed her name. Both were living in St Marylebone.

2.     Henry Hearn, 40, Widower, a Carman, of 60 Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth, son of Robert Hearn dec, a Labourer and Elizabeth Cuff, 35, Widow, of 60 Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth, daughter of George Cotton, General Dealer.  Both signed their names.  Witnesses – Arthur Richardson, Ellen Richardson (Elizabeth’s sister).

3.       Arthur Frederick Redman, 33, Sailor, of Southfield Cottages, Hanwell, son of Frederick Redman, dec, Cabinet Maker and Ellen Jane Hearn, 23, or Southfield Cottages, Hanwell, daughter of Henry Hearn, Carman.  Both signed their names.  Witnesses: Edward John Cuff, Lilian Edith May.

4.       Cuff, Vernon  ‘21285 Edward John Cuff RN’ in Kinsman, the journal of the Cuffe Research Centre, No Eleven, 2000

5.  City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Cemetery Registers; Reference: CR/1/1/16