Annie Daykin
Annie Daykin is the eldest child of Richard Birch and Sarah Daykin (nee Bonsall) and is thought to have been born in Ilkeston in the June quarter of 1868 (Ref. Nottingham 7b 268). She first appears on the 1871 census as a three year-old scholar living with her parents and siblings at 63 South Street, and on the 1881 census age thirteen, but with no occupation or status given, still living with her parents and siblings, now at number 62 South Street, Ilkeston.
By the time of the 1891 census she had left home and is believed to have married a George Arbon in 1892 (Ref. Basford 7b 273). There is a record of an Annie Arbon dying in the March quarter 1929, age 56 (Ref Nottingham 7b 645) and a George Arbon dying in the December quarter 1951 age 85 (Ref. Notts. 3c 246) although these records are pure conjecture, they do coincide with their suspected ages at the time.
Thomas Bailey Daykin was the first son and second of eleven children born to Richard Birch and Sarah Ann Daykin (formerly Bonsall) in Ilkeston.
According to his Birth Certificate, Thomas Bailey was born in the Registration District of Basford in the Sub-district of Ilkeston, which is in the County of Derby and Nottingham. He was described as a Boy, the son of Richard Birch Daykin, a Grocer. His mother was Sarah Ann Daykin formerly Bonsall. The birth was registered on the 31st December 1869 by his mother S.A. Daykin, whose residence was given as South Street, Ilkeston.
On the 1871 census the Daykin family consisted of Richard Birch Daykin (Head), his wife Sarah Ann and children Anne aged 3, and Thomas Bailey aged 1 year old, all residing at 63, South Street, Ilkeston.
On the following census in 1881 the family had moved to live at number 62 South Street and “Bayley” as Thomas Bailey is so called was now a 10 year old with seven siblings; sisters; Lissie (6), Edith (9), Jessie (10) and Annie (13); brothers; Henry F. (6 months), Willie (3) and Birch (4). The family had obviously moved up in the social standing as they now employed a servant called Mary Webster, indeed Thomas’s father Richard Birch was now listed as a “Cab Proprietor” employing two men.
Family life was not all that easy for Thomas Bailey Daykin as he apparently received regular beatings from his mother, who was notorious for her foul temper, and also from his uncle (thought to be Henry Frederick Daykin, a Schoolmaster). Thomas Bailey’s father was a drunkard who ended up drinking himself into an early grave in the public house that the Daykin family later ran. Thomas eventually ran away from home as a teenager and went to Liverpool to a family friend who had shipping connections and went to sea as a sailor.
Thomas Bailey is reputed to have sailed around the world as a “Rigger” on the Cutty Sark, undertaking the Australia run a couple of times. There is no entry in the 1891 Census for him as he was probably sailing the seven seas somewhere. He went on to join the (Royal) navy and was recalled from reserves for World War I, serving on “H.M.S. Jupiter”.
Thomas Bailey Daykin married a lady called Julia Grace Jennings (born on the 8th December 1870 in Chepstow) at the Register Office in the District of Poplar in the County of London on the 26th March 1896. According to the information on the marriage certificate Thomas Bailey was a 28 year old Bachelor, a Seaman Merchant Services by profession and his bride to be was Julia Grace a 25 year old Spinster with no apparent profession, and both resided at 72 Sussex Street, Poplar. Thomas’s father, Richard Birch Daykin was described as a Cab Proprietor and Julia’s father was a Musician. The ceremony was witnessed by A.E. Sheffield and a person whose surname looked like “Graveley”.
Thomas and his wife Julia moved to Cardiff, Wales, to live at her father’s house at 125, Tudor Road Cardiff, which is shown in the 1901 census, where Thomas appears as a married man living at the home of his in-laws in Cardiff. The census shows the Head of the house at 125 Tudor Road, Cardiff as being Thomas Jennings (Widower), a 56 year old Musician, his 16 year old son George, who is a Shoemaker, Thomas’ four daughters; Julia Daykin (married to Thomas Bailey), aged 30, Gertrude aged 23, Vesta, an 18 year old Dressmaker, and Alice aged 12. The last member of the family is Thomas Bailey Daykin, (Son-in-law), a 28 year old Rigger (Docks).
The 1911 Census shows the household at 125 Tudor Road comprising of; Thomas B. Daykin, Son-in-Law, 41, Ships Rigger, born Ilkeston; Thomas Jennings, Head, Widower, 66, Musician Theatre, born Lincoln; daughters; Gertrude Jennings, single, 33, Barmaid Theatre; Julia Daykin, married 16 years, 40; both born Blaenavon; Granddaughters; Dorothy Daykin, 14; Alice Daykin, 4; both born Cardiff; Birch Daykin, Grandson, 12, School, born Cardiff.
Thomas and Julia Daykin (nee Jennings) had a family of five children; Dorothy born 24th April 1895, Thomas Birch born 19th July 1898, Alice born 1907, Frank born 17th October 1911 and Julia Ada born 29th July 1914.
Thomas Bailey Daykin died on the 27th January 1952 aged 82. The Death certificate records the information, detailing his death at St. David’s Hospital in Cardiff on the 27th January, describing him as an 82 year old male of 88 Llanfair Road, Cardiff U.D. His occupation had been a Night Watchman (Royal Naval Stores) Retired. The cause of death had been twofold; Pyloric obstruction and Carcinoma of the stomach, (which is a stomach tumor). The death had been registered on the following day, the 28th January 1952. Thomas’s wife Julia Grace lived for nine years following his death, until the 13th February 1961.
Jessie Daykin
Jessie Daykin was the third child and second eldest daughter born to Richard Birch and Sarah Daykin (nee Bonsall), in the June quarter of 1871 in Ilkeston (Ref. Basford 7b 129). She first appeared in the 1881 census living with her parents and siblings at 62 South Street, Ilkeston as a ten year old , then on the 1891 census for the Roebuck Hotel, 134 Solo Hill, Handsworth, Staffordshire, still living with her parents and siblings but now employed as a twenty year-old barmaid.
In the September quarter 1891 Jessie Daykin married a local publican called Thomas Higgs (Ref. West Bromwich 6b 105), and together they moved into the “Coach and Horses” public house on High Street, Stourbridge, before taking over the running of the “White Horse Inn”, which had been built in 1830 on the corner of High Street and Brettell Lane in Amblecote, on the main Stourbridge to Wolverhampton Turnpike Road, where they remained as licensees from 1898 to 1915. The “White Horse Inn” had been purchased by Holt Brewery Co. in 1887 who rebuilt it before they sold it to Thomas Higgs.
Thomas Higgs had been born in Stourbridge in 1852 (Ref. 6c 164), the son of butcher and shop owners, Thomas (Snr.) and Hannah Higgs. In the 1861 Census for Stourbridge he his listed as “son” aged 6 years. In the 1771 Census for Stourbridge Thomas was apparently a boarder in John M. Higgs’s house (age 26), along with James Higgs, 21; Frederick Higgs, 7; all born Stourbridge; Thomas Higgs, 59, and Hannah Higgs, 51; both born Alveley, Salop. and two more boarders; Thomas Luck and Edmond Collis.
In the 1881 census for 35, Coventry Street, Stourbridge, Thomas (Jnr.) is age 26, a skinner by profession, living with his older brother James, age 31 and five other boarders; Henry Stephenson, 46; Ebysher Kettley, 23; Thomas Edge, 27; Joseph Timmins, 40, and William Broome, 34. On the same 1881 Census, Thomas’s father, Thomas Higgs (Snr.) is living in Mill Street, Stourbridge, age 69, born 1812 in Alveley, a butcher by trade, living with his wife, Harriet, age 60, born Alveley, and their son, Frederick, age 17, born Stourbridge.
By 1880 the Higgs clan emerged in local trade directories as publicans, and were not without capital. Thomas’s sister, Elizabeth Higgs was running the Brickmakers Arms in The Lye and he was helping his brother William run the Britannia public house in Coventry Street, a short distance from the family’s butchery (the family’s abattoirs closed due to World War II restrictions).
By 1884 William Higgs was in charge of the Vauxhall Inn at Norton, however in 1892 he was listed at the Coach and Horses in the High Street, where he remained until his arrival at Amblecote.
After Thomas and Jessie Higgs (nee Daykin) were married they took over as licensees of The “White Horse Inn” and employed two servants; Elsie and Annie Chapman, who were both born in Wordsley. Thomas and Jessie had at least six children; Harry Thomas M. Higgs, born March quarter 1894 at Stourbridge (Ref 6c 180); Jessie Milward Higgs, born in the June quarter of 1896 (Ref. Stourbridge 6c 174) who died in the same quarter, age 0, (Ref. 6c 93); Sarah Milward Higgs, born September quarter 1897 at Stourbridge (Ref. 6c 178); Elizabeth Millward Higgs, born March quarter 1901 (Ref. Stourbridge 6c 196), who was baptised at the Holy Trinity Church, Amblecote on the 28th February 1901; Dorothy Higgs, born in the June quarter of 1902 (Ref. Stourbridge 6c 181), also baptised at the Holy Trinity Church, on the 28th May 1902, and Harriet Higgs, born in the June quarter 1907 (Ref. Stourbridge 6c 177), also baptised at the Holy Trinity Church on the 25th April 1907, who died in the same quarter age 0 (Ref. Stourbridge 6c 79). The address given for the last two baptisms was the White Horse Inn, Brettel Lane, Amblecote.
According to the 1901 Census for 1, (White Horse Inn) Coalbournbrook, Amblecote, Thomas Higgs was Head, age 47, born 1854 in Stourbridge, a Publican; Jessie his wife age 29, born 1872 at Ilkeston; their children were Harry T. M. age 7, born 1894; Sarah M. age 3, born 1898; both in Stourbridge; Elizabeth M age 2 months, born Amblecote; and two servants, Elsie Chapman aged 16 and Annie Chapman age 13, both born Wordsley.
The “Milward” Christian name is suspected to be a homage to one of their antecedent’s maiden name, as there is a record of a James Higgs marrying Harriet Milward in the December quarter 1841 (Ref. Worcester 18 665) and each of Thomas and Jessie’s children took “Milward” as one of their middle names, as well as other members of the Higg’s families.
On June 3rd 1904 Thomas Higgs became the third publican from the “White Horse Inn” to appear before the local magistrates. Thomas was charged with… “Delivering beer to a child under 14 in a vessel that was not corked and sealed”…and was fined 25 shillings plus costs. The child was probably sent for essential liquid refreshment by workers in the local glass factory, so the conviction was perhaps harsh. A photograph taken on 1906 of the “White Horse” inn shows a window with the etched slogan… “Home Brewed Ales”… suggesting that Thomas Higgs was brewing up behind the White Horse Inn. This tradition was continued but, by the end of World War II the “White Horse” had been acquired by Mitchell & Butlers brewery.
On the 1911 Census for White Horse Inn, Brettell Lane, Stourbridge; Thomas is Head, age 56, Publican, born 1855 Stourbridge, his wife Jessie age 38, “Mistress”, born 1873 Ilkeston; their children (now the four of them), H.T.M. age 17, a Metal Spinner, born 1894 Stourbridge; S.H. age 13, born 1898 Stourbridge; E.M. age 10, and another daughter, “D” age 9, born 1902; the latter two were both born in Amblecote and all children at School. There was only one servant, M. Halligan age 22, born 1889 Walsall Wood, Stafford. Apparently Jessie and Thomas wanted to set their daughter Betty up in a children’s clothing business but at this point there is no further information on its success, and the younger son suffered severe mental problems due to war experiences and spent a lot of time in hospital where his parents had a caravan in the grounds to enable them to spend time with him.
Jessie Higgs is believed to have died in the June quarter of 1953 age 82 (Ref. Stourbridge 9d 191), but there is no clear indication as to where or when Thomas Higgs died, or where either of them are buried.
Edith Daykin
Edith Emily Daykin was the fourth child and third eldest daughter born to Richard Birch and Sarah Daykin (nee Bonsall) in the December quarter of 1872 in Ilkeston (Ref. Basford 7b 126). She first appears in the 1881 census on the 3rd April living with her parents and siblings at 62 South Street, Ilkeston.
There was a newspaper article printed in the “Derby Mercury” on Wednesday 28th July 1886 which reported the marriage of Amelia, one of James Bonsall’s daughters… “On Tuesday, the wedding of Mr. Thomas Adlington, and Amelia, daughter of Mr. James Bonsall, colliery proprietor, Ilkeston, was celebrated in a manner which attracted much attention. The wedding was solemnised at the Parish Church, Ilkeston, before the Rev. J. F. N. Eyre LLD. vicar. The bridal party were driven to church in carriages with postilions clad in scarlet – quite a novel sight in Ilkeston. The gifts to the bride were very numerous. Mr. and Mrs. Adlington left for London to spend the honeymoon. The bride’s dress was made of fawn Ottoman silk, trimmed with lace and orange blossoms, and she wore a diamond bracelet, the gift of the bridegroom. The bridesmaids were Miss Adlington (Ollerton), Miss Rowley (Derby), Misses Edith, Jessie, and Lizzie Daykin, each of whom wore a gold brooch, the gift of the bridegroom. The bells of the Parish Church rang joyous peals at intervals during the day”…
In the 1891 census on April 5th Edith was living and working as a barmaid at the LMW Railway Hotel, Railway Street, Castle Church, Stafford, along with the manager, his wife and child, eleven other members of staff and two boarders, after this census there is no further information on Edith Daykin.
Lissie Daykin
Lissie Daykin was born Elizabeth Helena Daykin in Ilkeston in June quarter 1875 (Ref. Basford 7b 133), the fifth child and fourth eldest daughter to Richard Birch and Sarah Daykin (nee Bonsall). She first appears in the 1881 census on the 3rd April living with her parents and siblings at 62 South Street, Ilkeston.
Lissie (Elizabeth Eleanor) Daykin married Frank Harris in the September quarter 1896 at the Holy Trinity Church, South Shore, Blackpool, (Ref. B’pool. J/2/271; Fylde 8c 1312) as is shown on the 1901 census living with her in-laws.
1901 census for 173 Belmont Terrace, Badsey, Worcs.; Josiah Harris, Head, Married, 63, Market Gardener, own account, born Lye Worcs.; Eliza, Wife, Married, 61, born Amblecote Worcs.; Agnes, Daughter, Single, 29, Lady’s Maid; Frank, Son, Married 33, Law Clerk; both born Stafford Quarry Bank; Elizabeth, Daughter-in-law, Married, 25, born Derby Ilkeston; Gladys M., Grand daughter, 3, born Staffordshire, Cradley Heath.
By the time of the 1911 census Elizabeth Eleanor Harris (nee Daykin and her family had moved to live at 84 Regent Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, with the household consisting of; Frank Harris, Head, 43, Married, Law Clerk, born Staffs. Quarry Bank; Elizabeth Eleanor, Wife, 36, Married 14 years, 8 children, all alive, born Derby Ilkeston; children; Gladys May, 13, born Cradley Heath, Staffs; Francis Jasper, 11, both at school, born Worcs. Halesowen; Cissey Agnes, 9, born Worcs. Stourbridge; Leslie, 6; Eric, 5; both born Warwick, Henley-in-Arden; Flora, 3; Nina, 2; Edith, 1; all born Staffs. Handsworth; Agnes Huble, Sister, 36, Married, born Staffs. Quarry Bank.
It is quite coincidental that two of Lissie’s children were born in Henley-in-Arden around the time that her mother, Sarah Ann was the licensee of the “Bell Inn”, possibly the family had moved to the town and Lissie assisted he mother with the running of the pub?
Lissie Harris (nee Daykin) was the informant of her mother Sarah Ann Daykin’s (nee Bonsall) death on the 25th March 1921, according to the death certificate… “by E. Harris, daughter, of 45 Soho Hill on the 26th March 1921”…
There is no clear indication as to where or when Lissie and Frank died or where they may be buried, nor of what became of their children apart from a record of Elizabeth E. Harris dying in Birmingham in the March quarter 1961 age 86 (Ref. B’ham 9c 567).
Richard Birch Daykin (Jnr.)
Richard Birch and Sarah Ann’ Daykin’s sixth child and second eldest son Richard Birch Daykin (Jnr.) was born in the March quarter of 1877 (Ref. Basford 7b 146) in Ilkeston.
Richard Birch (Jnr.) first appears in the 1881 census on the 3rd April living with his parents and siblings at 62 South Street, aged 4 years old, but called “Biron” or Birch. In the 1891 census for the Roebuck Hotel, 134 Solo Hill, Handsworth, Staffs, on the 5th April he his called Richard, age 14 years, and still a scholar.
Richard Birch (Jnr.) married a girl called Cecilia Ann Craven on April 17th 1901 at West Bromwich (Ref. 6b 1505). Cecilia had been born in Kendal on June 1st 1879 to John and Mary Craven (nee Donovan). John Craven had been born in Preston on 10th July 1839 and married Mary Donovan in the June quarter of 1861 in Salford (Ref. 8d 84). Mary Donovan had been born c. 1840 in Whitechapel, London.
Richard Birch (Jnr.) and Cecilia had a daughter called Dorothy, born March quarter 1903 (Ref. West Bromwich 6b 824) and in the 1911 Census on the 3rd April for 46 Earlsdon Lane, Coventry, the family consisted of Richard Birch Daykin (Jnr.), listed as Head, aged 35, a Furniture Salesman, born Ilkeston; Cecilia, Wife, married 10 years, aged 30, born Westmorland, Kendal; Dorothy Daykin, daughter, aged 8, at School, born Staffordshire, Handsworth; Mary Craven, Mother-In-Law, married 50 years, aged 71, born Whitechapel London.
During World War I Richard Birch Daykin (Jnr.) appears to have avoided being called up for duty as he makes several appearances for exemptions along with a work colleague. The “Coventry Herald” – Friday 25 August 1916… “Two claims considered next were those of Harold B. Webb, aged 39, of 69, Godiva Street; and Richard B. Daykin, aged 40, of 32, Berkeley Road, Earlsdon, both in the employ of Harrison’s Furnishing Stores, Ltd. Both cases were adjourned for seven days, as one of the men had not been medically examined”…
The “Coventry Evening Telegraph” – Tuesday 30 January 1917… “CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION TILL APRIL 30.- Harold B. Webb, 40, passed for C 3, stock keeper and porter, married with one child, and employed by Harrison’s Furnishing Stores, had his claim considered in conjunction with that of R. B. Daykin, manager, passed for C 3. Conditional exemption till April 30 was allowed in both cases”…
The “Coventry Evening Telegraph” – Friday 11 May 1917… “The Harrison Furnishing Stores Ltd., asked for renewed exemptions for R. B. Daykin, manager, Group 45, C3, and H. B. Webb, porter and fitter, Group 44, C3, and each man was allowed three months”…
The “Coventry Evening Telegraph” – Friday 5 April 1918
… “COVENTRY MILITARY TRIBUNAL YESTERDAY’S LENGTHY LIST OF CASES.- A long list of cases was dealt with by Coventry Military Services Tribunal Yesterday afternoon before Mr. W. J. Wormwell (in the chair), Mr. S. G. Poole, and Mr. E. Victor Dodd, also present being Captain Nelson (Recruiting Officer), Mr. T. Meredith (National Service Representative) and Lieut. G. W. Moore (Clerk). The following are results of the applications…. Richard B. Daykin, 42, C3, Manager, National utility order”…
Richard Birch Daykin (Jnr.) died in Coventry in the September quarter 1941 age 64, (Ref. 6d 896), but it is not known where he was buried, or his wife Cecilia who died in the September quarter 1948, age 69 (Ref. Nuneaton 9c 653).
James William Daykin was born in Ilkeston Derbyshire in the June Qtr. of 1878 (Ref. Basford 7b 159) to Richard Birch and Sarah Ann Daykin (nee Bonsall). He was the third son and the seventh of the eleven children (seven sons and four daughters) all born in Ilkeston and one of three brothers, (Cecil Charles and Septimus Claude being the other two) who eventually married three Ingram Sister from Wootton Wawen, Henley In Arden, Warwickshire.
James William first appears on the 1881 census at 62 South Street, Ilkeston as a young child called “Willie” along with the following family members; Richard B. Daykin (head) aged 30, Sarah A. (wife) 30, Bayley (son) 10, Birch (or Biron) (son) 4, “Willie” (son) 3, Henry F. (son) 6 months, Annie (d’ter) 13, Jessie (d’ter) 10, Edith (d’ter) 9, Lissie (d’ter) 6, and a servant called Mary Webster 23.
By the time of the 1891 census the family had moved to live in The Roebuck Hotel at 134 Solo Hill, Handsworth, Staffordshire, where his father Richard was now the Publican (aged 46?) , his mother Sarah was the Landlady (40), his sister Jessie was a Barmaid (20). His brothers Richard (14), Henry F. (12), George L. (10), and Cecil Ch. (7) were all listed as Scholars, with the youngest family member being Septimus Claude (4).
James William became a Letter Fixer and House Painter by trade. He married Harriet Anne Booth, who originally came from Sheffield, (born March quarter 1879 Ref. 9c 469) in the March quarter of 1899 at Aston (ref. Aston 6d 444). James and Harriet are known to have had three children; the first daughter; Annie Beatrice, was born on the 19th November 1899 (Ref, 6c 454) at 1, The Limes, St. Paul’s Road, Balsall Heath in the Kings Norton district of Worcester, where James William’ trade was described as a house painter (journeyman) when the birth was registered on the 29th December 1899 by his wife H. A. Daykin.
The second daughter to James William and Harriet Ann was called Ethel Winifred and she was born on the 21st of November 1900 (according to the information on her death certificate), also in Kings Norton (ref, 6c 399).
According to the 1901 Census for 114 Perrott Street, Birmingham, in the parish of St. Chrysoston, James William (aged 23) born in Ilkeston lived with his wife Harriet Anne (nee Booth) born in Sheffield (aged 22) along with their children Annie B. Daykin aged 1, born in Warwick. B’ham. and Ethel W. Daykin aged 4 months, also born in Warwick B’ham.
James and Harriet’s third child, Elsie May was born on the January 10th 1902 at 57, Payton Road, Handsworth, Staffs. where her father James William was described as a letter fixer. The birth of Elsie May was registered by her mother H. A. Daykin on the 21st February 1902. Elsie May Daykin was baptised on January 29th 1902 at Handsworth, St. James, Staffordshire (Ref. DRO90/7 561) to James William and Harriet Ann Daykin, 57, Payton Road, father a Letter Fixer, Thomas S. Lowe, Vicar. Harriet Ann Daykin (nee Booth) died aged just 26 years on the 15th January 1905 at 148, Uplands Road , Handsworth, West Bromwich. According to Dr. E. R. Hennessey, who certified her death, she died of “accidental uterine haemorrhage, post partum haemorrhage, and collapse”, which indicated that she probably died during childbirth. On the death certificate James William’s occupation was given as “window cleaner” and he was present at her death.
James William Daykin re-married Clara May Ingram on the 28th June 1906 at King’s Norton Register Office. Clara May was a 22 year old unmarried lady, the third eldest daughter and one of the thirteen children of Joseph Thomas and Mary Clara Ingram (nee Jones) from Henley-In-Harden. At the time of the marriage James was now described as a 28 year old Widower, a “shop fitter” by trade, the son of Richard Birch Daykin, a Licensed Victualler. Both James William and Clara May were living at 190, Cape Hill, Smethwick at the time of the marriage. The witnesses at the marriage ceremony were Thomas Fowler and David Paton.
James William and Clara had two, possibly three children, although the third child still requires clarification. James William Daykin (Junior) was born in the December quarter 1906 (Ref. Kings Norton 6c 422) and Dorothy Clara Daykin was born in the December quarter 1907 (Ref. Kings Norton 6d 22.
According to the 1911 Census for 39 Dugdale Street Birmingham (a house with five rooms), (James) William Daykin was listed as Head. aged 33, a window cleaner from Ilkeston. Clara Daykin, Wife, aged 23, married 5 years, two children in marriage, two still living, born Henley-in-Arden. Daughters; Beatrice, 11; Winifred, 10; Elsie, 9, all at school. Son William aged 4 and another daughter, Dorothy aged 3; all children were born in Birmingham.
The child suspected of being James William and Clara Daykin’s third child was called Helen M. Daykin who was born December quarter 1911 (Ref. Kings Norton 6c 872) and had the mothers maiden name listed as Ingram, and as such is believed to be James Williams seventh child – but this fact still requires clarification.
James William Daykin was a witness at the marriage of his brother Cecil Charles Daykin on the 1st April 1909 at Birmingham Register Office when Cecil Charles married James’s second wife’s elder sister, Ellen Martha Ingram.
James William Daykin joined the army (along with Cecil Charles Daykin and their younger brother Septimus Claude Daykin) at the commencement of the First World War and served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1/5th Battalion – Territorial and was awarded a Campaign Medal on the 22nd March 1915 for action in a Theatre of War, but was tragically killed in action in Flanders on the 26th April 1916.
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he is remembered as Sergeant J.W. Daykin 88, 5th Bn., Royal Warwickshire Regiment, attd. 143rd Bde. Machine Gun Corps (Inf), and is remembered with honour at Foncquevillers Military Cemetery as follows;
… “ In Memory of Serjeant J W Daykin 88, 5th Bn., Royal Warwickshire Regiment, attd. 143rd Bde., Machine Gun Corps (Inf) who died on 26 April 1916 Serjeant DAYKIN”….”
The widow of James William Daykin, Clara May Daykin (nee Ingram) remarried the year after his tragic death during WWI in 1916, after reverting to her maiden name, as a Clara Ingram married Frank Allsop in the June quarter of 1917 (Ref. Birmingham 6d 469). Clara and Frank had a child named Unity G. Allsop in the September quarter 1918 (Ref. Birmingham 6d 311) with the mothers maiden name recorded as being “Ingram”. The child died the following year in the December quarter 1919 (Ref. Birmingham 6d 160) aged 1 year.
Henry Frederick Daykin
Richard Birch and Sarah Daykin’s eighth child and fourth eldest son,
Henry Frederick Daykin, was born in the December quarter of 1880 (Ref. Basford 7b 134) and first appeared in the 1881 census on the 3rd April as a six month old baby, “Henry F.” living with his parents and siblings at 62 South Street, Ilkeston.
By 1891 the family had moved to the Roebuck Hotel, 134 Solo Hill, Handsworth, Staffordshire, where Henry Frederick is listed as a twelve year old scholar. His father had died by the time of the 1901 census and the twenty nine year old Henry Frederick now lived with his widowed mother at 63 Woodlands Road, Handsworth, along with his two younger brothers, Cecil and Septimus.
Henry Frederick Daykin married Kate Louisa Bull in the September quarter of 1904 at West Bromwich (Ref. 6b 1436). Kate was the eldest daughter of James and Annie Bull (nee Baldwin) from Leamington and had been born in the June quarter of 1877 (Ref. Warwick 6d 628) and christened at All Saints Church, Warwick on the 1st July 1877 (Ref. Co4744-3; 1067478).
Kate’s father, James Bull had been christened on the 16th February 1851 (Ref. C04744-7; 1067477) and had lived at 1 Clarendon Street, Leamington when he married Annie Baldwin, the daughter of John Baldwin at Leamington Priors on the 1st November 1873 (Ref. Warwick 6d 918 and M0 4744-5; 1067480).
James Bull’s father (Kate’s grandfather) Thomas Bull, had been christened on the 27th January 1822 in Leamington to Thomas (Snr.) and Catherine Bull (Ref. C047441, 502285). Thomas Bull (Snr.) had married Catherine Keyte at St. Nicolas Warwick on either the 4th or 19th August 1816 (Ref. 554733, 4098774).
Thomas Bull (Jnr.) married Jane Hancock on the 21st November 1847 at All Saints Church, Leamington (Ref. 103070-4; 1067483; Warwick 16 837). There is also a record of another marriage service between James and Jane on the 25th November in Sherborne (Ref. 103070-4; 4291991; 00194), which is where Jane Hancock was born and christened on the 13th of July 1823…
“Jane Hancox christened to Thomas and Hannah Hancox, Sherborne, Warwickshire”… (Ref. C04384-1, 549656, 555352).
Jane Hancock’s (Hancox) father had married Hannah Mulliss on the 2nd of February 1818 in Barford, Warwickshire – a small village a couple of miles from Sherborne (Ref. M03546-1, 548392, 555432).
On the 1881 Census for 38 Brook Street, Leamington Priors, Kate Bull lived with her parents; James Bull, Head, aged 30, “Whitesmith Locksmith & C.”; Annie Bull his wife, aged 29; Kate’s eldest brother, John T. aged 3; Kate herself aged 3, both Scholars, and the youngest child, James P. aged 1; all were born in Leamington.
By 1891 Kate had left home and was living and working at 16 Windsor Street, Leamington Priors with two of her aunts; Ann Baldwin, Head, and her sister Elizabeth Duckett, both widows and laundresses aged 65, both born in Wellesbourne, and Ann’s children; Alfred, a French polisher and Louisa Bambrook, a laundress, both aged 35. Kate Bull was listed as niece, aged 13, a laundress assistant, and all were born in Leamington.
By the 1911 Census Henry Frederick and Kate were now married and had three children. The family (misspelled as “Deakin”) lived at 60 Windmill Lane, Smethwick, where Henry Frederick Deakin was Head, married 8 years, aged 31, a Manager, born Ilkeston. Kate was listed as wife, aged 33, born Leamington, and their children; Annie aged 6, born Handsworth (Annie Kate born March quarter 1905 Ref. West Bromwich 6b 868) who died aged just 9 years in December quarter 1914 (Ref Warwick 6d 927) ; Doris, aged 3, born Ladywood (Ref. Birmingham 6d 11 – Doris Louisa Daykin), and Edna, aged 1, born in the March quarter of 1910 in Smethwick (Ref. Kings Norton 6c 456).
Henry Frederick Daykin died in the December quarter 1913 (Ref. Birmingham 6d 310) and there is a suspicion that his widow Kate Daykin (nee Bull) may have remarried George Young in the December quarter of 1914 (Ref. 6d 1695), and there is a record of a Kate L. Young dying in Stratford-upon -Avon in the March quarter of 1963 aged 85 years (Ref. 9c 1390).
There is no indication at this time as to where either Henry Frederick or Kate’s bodies are buried.
George L. Daykin
George L. Daykin was the ninth child and fifth son born to Richard Birch and Sarah Bonsall (nee Bonsall), although there is a suspicion that the “L.” maybe a misprint from the enumerator on the 1891 census, which is the only census on which George appears with the family, at the Roebuck Hotel, 134 Solo Hill, Handsworth, where he is listed as a ten year old.
There is a George Godfrey Daykin born in Basford in the December quarter of 1879, (Ref. 7b 136) and of the same person dying in the September quarter of 1898, age 18 years, (Ref. Basford 7b 95), which would explain why George L. Daykin never appeared on the 1901 census and there is no record of him ever marrying.
Cecil Charles Daykin– (7/5/1884 – 31/7/1950)was born at Bath Street in Ilkeston, Derbyshire (which is in the registration district of Basford) to Richard Birch and Sarah Ann Daykin (nee Bonsall) on the 7th May 1884 (ref. 7b 141). He was one of three brothers, (James William and Septimus Claude being the other two) who eventually married three Ingram Sister from Wootton Wawen, Henley In Arden, Warwickshire – (Ellen Martha, Clara May and Ada).
Cecil Charles was the second youngest of the eleven children (seven sons and four daughters) all born in Ilkeston. On his birth certificate his name was actually recorded incorrectly and amended as the registrar had written “Birch” (his father’s name) for his middle name instead of Charles. His father Richard Birch Daykin was a Licensed Victualler by profession and the birth had been registered by an illiterate lady called Elizabeth Straw. On the certificate it is written “X, The mark of Elizabeth Straw. Present at the Birth, Ilkeston”. The birth had not been registered until the 20th April 1885, which was nearly twelve months later.
Richard Birch Daykin (his father) had been described in the 1881 Census as a Cab Proprietor (aged 30) employing two men, living at 62 South Street Ilkeston along with his wife Sarah Ann, (also aged 30) who was born in Clay Cross and their eight children ; Lissie (D) aged 6, Edith (D) 9, Jessie (D) 10, Annie (D) 13, Henry F. (S) 6 months, Willie (S) 3, Birch (S) 4, Bayley (S) 10 and a servant called Mary Webster aged 22 from Codnor in Derbyshire.
By 1891 the “Daykin” family had moved to The Roebuck Hotel, 134 Solo Hill, Handsworth Staffordshire where Cecil Charles’s Father Richard Birch was the Publican, (now wrongly listed as being 46 years old), Richard Birch’s wife Sarah Ann (40), their eldest daughter Jessie (20) was a Barmaid, Richard (14), James William (13), Henry F. (12) George L. (10), Cecil Charles (7), all listed as scholars and finally Septimus Claude, the youngest at 4 years old.
Richard Birch Daykin, the head of the household died aged 48 in the presence of his son Thomas on 6th April 1899 at The Globe Hotel, Rugeley of sclerosis of the liver, where the family had now moved to.
In the 1901 Census Richard Birch’s widow Sarah Anne was now listed as head of the household at their new residence at 63 Woodland Road in Handsworth, where she lived with three of her sons, Henry F. (29), Cecil Charles (25) – the age was obviously incorrect, and Septimus Claude (21), who were all defined as Shop Assistants.
Cecil Charles and his Brother Septimus Claude later moved to Coventry and formed a window cleaning business together in Smithville Street Coventry along with Septimus’s two sons Victor and Edward and his Son – in – Law (his Daughter Peggy’s husband) called Lol. Unfortunately Victor was killed in a fall from his ladder onto a set of spiked railings.
Cecil Charles married Ellen Martha Ingram, who had been born on the 11th July 1886 (ref. 6d 619) in Wootton Wawen, Henley – In – Arden, and was the second eldest daughter and the fifth eldest of thirteen children born to Joseph Thomas and Mary Clara Ingram. The marriage took place after they apparently lived together for several years and had two sons. Their first son was Charles Henry Joseph who was born on the 29th July 1907 at 298 Camden Street, Birmingham (although the mother Ellen Martha lived at 39, Dugdale Street at the time), and their second son was James William Cecil, who was born on the 31st October 1908 at 6, Back 50, Browning Street, Ladywood .
The witnesses at the wedding of Cecil and Ellen Martha on the 1st April 1909 (ref 6d 221) at The Register Office in Birmingham were Cecil Charles’s brother James William Daykin and a Mr. Thomas Carter. On the marriage certificate his wife Ellen Martha’s age was given as 22, she was a Spinster, and a Barmaid by profession, living at 5, Back 21 Clark Street in Birmingham. Her father was given as Joseph Thomas Ingram a carpenter. Cecil Charles also lived at the same address and his age was given as 24, a Bachelor and Barman by profession – probably working together with Ellen Martha. Cecil Charles’s father Richard Birch was listed as a “deceased former Licensed Victualler”.
Together Ellen Martha and Cecil Charles had two more sons, Arthur Stanley who was born at 17, Clark Street in Ladywood on the 2nd August 1910, (where Cecil Charles’s profession was now described as “General Labourer”), and Richard Birch Daykin born on the 9th March 1916 at no. 1 Court, 10 St. John Street, in Coventry. They also had two daughters; the first called Grace Ellen was born on the 7th January 1913 at 63, White Friars Lane, Coventry but sadly died a month later on the 12th February 1913. The second daughter called Gladys Ellen, was born on the 14th December 1913 at 37, Much Park Street in Coventry, but she sadly died in infancy on the 13th June 1915 at 14, Grafton Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham aged just 18 months old. On the birth certificate for Gladys Ellen, Cecil Charles’s profession was a window cleaner and the child’s birth was registered by his wife, Ellen Martha on the 23rd January 1914 – some five weeks after the event.
At the commencement of the First World War Cecil Charles enlisted as Private 6977 in the 2nd South Staffs Regiment on the 12th August 1914 along with his brother Septimus Claude (Private 6976). This fact was recorded on the death certificate for his 18 month old daughter Gladys Ellen on the 13th June 1915 where his Occupation was given as “Private 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment – Window Cleaner”. Cecil Charles was ultimately awarded the trio of medals commonly known as “Pip Squeak and Wilfred”, which comprised of:- The 1914 Star – for serving between the 5th August and midnight 22/23 rd November 1914, The British War Medal – for serving overseas between 5th August 1914 to 11th November 1918, The Victory Medal – which was given only to those who served in a theatre of war.
He was also presented with a brass tin of tobacco and cigarettes at Christmas 1914 from Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary Christmas fund 1914 along with a Christmas Card “from the Princess Mary and friends at home”.
His older brother James William was unfortunately killed in action on the 26th April 1916.
Cecil Charles’s wife, Ellen Martha died on the 10th September 1944 and was buried at Utley cemetery on the 15th September in grave W133 purchased by Cecil Charles. Cecil Charles Daykin died on the 31st July 1950 and was buried with his late wife Ellen Martha in Grave W133 at Utley on the 3rd of August 1950.
The burial plot at Utley Cemetery, W133, which contains the bodies of Cecil Charles and his wife Ellen Martha Daykin (nee Ingram) is marked with a headstone made of local stone which has a carved top and a flower etched in the left hand corner and is inscribed as follows :-
…. “In Loving Memory of CECIL CHARLES DAYKIN 1884 – 1950
ELLEN MARTHA his wife 1886 – 1944”….
Septimus Claude Daykin
Richard Birch and Sarah Daykin’s (nee Bonsall) eleventh child, the seventh and youngest son, Septimus Claude Daykin was born on the 15th April 1886 (Ref. Basford 7b 154) at the Rutland Arms Hotel in Ilkeston, where his father was the landlord at the time. Septimus was first mentioned as a 4 year old scholar in the 1891 census for the Roebuck Hotel, 134 Solo Hill, Handsworth, as the youngest family member, and then again on the 1901 census for 63 Woodlands Road, Handsworth, living with his widowed mother and two older brothers, Cecil and Henry, all shop assistants, but now strangely listed as 21 year old; in fact every member of the household had incorrect ages listed.
Septimus Claude Daykin apparently enlisted into the army, joining the South Staffordshire Regiment on the 7th December 1903 in Birmingham as Private 6976. On his army documentation he is described as a “Scale Maker”, aged 18 and 11/12 years; height 5 feet, 5 and 3/4 inches; weight 133 lbs; Chest measurement – minimum 32 inches, maximum 35 inches; no small pox marks, but 4 vaccination marks on his left arm from infancy.
He arrived at Lichfield camp on the 11th December 1903 and transferred to the Curragh Camp in Ireland on the 26th May 1904, arriving the day after on the 27th, where he remained until the 3rd December 1906. During his time at the Curragh camp he was hospitalised on several occasions. The first time was for 17 days, from the 13th June 1904 to the 29th June with what is understood to be Eczema, although the writing is somewhat blurred; the second occasion was to treat an infection, which meant spending 26 days in hospital, from the 14th April 1905 to the 9th May 1905. The final occasion was for a more serious medical condition, to repair a Hernia, which required 36 days in hospital, from the 5th February 1906 to the 12th March 1906, but according to his records was… “discharged cured”… Septimus was found fit to be transferred to the army Reserves on the 14th November 1906.
Septimus Claude Daykin found a new profession as a window cleaning contractor, apparently securing several lucrative contracts with commercial companies in Coventry, as opposed to domestic window cleaning. He married Agnes Mary Ingram in the June quarter of 1909 at Birmingham (Ref. 6d 240), one of a family of seven sisters; his two older brothers Cecil and James William actually married two other sisters). Agnes Ingram (like her sisters) had been born in Henley-in-Arden on August 21st 1883 (Ref. Stratford 6d 607) to Joseph Thomas and Clara Ingram (nee Biddle), whose antecedents are known to have lived around Stratford -on- Avon since the 17th century.
Septimus and Agnes had eight children; Agnes Doris Winifred, their first child was born prior to Septimus’s marriage to Agnes, on the 29th January 1908 in Edgbaston (Ref. Birmingham 6d 193). The second child, a son called Edward Claude was born on July 2nd 1909 also in Edgburton (Ref. Birmingham 6d 158).
The 1911 Census for 22 Park Avenue, Suffrage Street, Smethwick showed Septimus Daykin as Head, aged 25, a Window Cleaning Contractor from Ilkeston; Agnes Mary Daykin, Wife, married 3 years, aged 27, born Henley-in -Arden. Edward Claude Daykin, son aged 1, and Agnes Doris Winnifred Daykin, daughter, aged 3, both children born Edgburton, Birmingham.
A third child, Helen Maisie was born on November 4th 1911 in King’s Norton Worcs. (Ref. 6c 872). The fourth child, and another daughter, Ivy May was born on November 7th 1913 (Ref. Coventry 6d 1499). The fourth daughter, Gladys E. was born in the January quarter of 1914 (Ref. Coventry 6d 1491), but never survived past infancy and died the following year in the April quarter 1915 (Ref. Aston 6d 441).
Septimus and Agnes’s second son, Victor Mons Birch Daykin was born on February 2nd 1915 (Ref. Coventry 6d 1550) but was to die in a tragic fall from a ladder while working with his father in the family window cleaning business in Coventry on August 4th 1932 (Ref. Coventry 6d 602) aged 17.
Prior to the commencement of World War I, Septimus enlisted again in the army, or more probably was recalled as an army reserve, on the 7th December 1913, into the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, but was transferred into the RDC as Private 88097, disembarking on the 12th August 1914 and landing in Le Havre the following day (13th).
According to the South Staffordshire Regiment archives, the 2nd Battalion fought many conflicts during World War I;-
13th August 1914- Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including:
The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, The First Battle of Ypres.
During 1915 – Winter Operations 1914-1915, The Battle of Festubert, The Battle of Loos.
During 1916 – The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of the Ancre, Operations on the Ancre.
During 1917 – The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of Arieux, The Second Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of Cambrai.
During 1918 – The Battle of St. Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras 1918, The Battle of Albert, The Second Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Havrincourt, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The Battle of the Selle.
11th November 1918 ended the war in France, Amfroipret north of Foret de Mormal.
Septimus Claude Daykin earned himself two campaign medals (campaign B.E.F 1914); the Victory and the British for his actions in a theatre of war, but he didn’t escape the conflict unscathed, becoming a casualty on two occasions. He was wounded in action in his left foot in 1914, although the exact nature of the injury is unclear, apart from it being noted a 20% degree of disability at a later date. More seriously though, he was gassed in action, which resulted in 11 days in hospital from the 26th March 1918 to the 6th April, before being transferred to the Convalescent Hospital in Eastbourne for a further 35 days to the 11th May 1918. It is thought that he was discharged from active service on the 1st August 1918, and discharged from the army on the 13th March 1919.
Once back into civilian life following World War I Septimus and Agnes had a seventh child, another daughter, Peggy Lorraine Daykin, who was born in the December quarter 1919 (Ref. Coventry 6d 1516).
Shortly after the birth of Peggy, Septimus appeared before an examination board on the 5th January 1920 to claim for the wounds he suffered during the war and was awarded a pension of 8/- per week, plus a further 9/4d children’s allowance per week in financial assistance. Septimus attempted to claim once again for his injured foot on the 19th January 1921, stating that… “he couldn’t walk properly due to aching pain in his left foot”… However the examining board wasn’t as sympathetic on this occasion. They noted that… “there were scars as previously described, neither of which are tender, a slight hollow ??? with accompanying bunion; old fractures of HT 1 + 2, soundly united with good alignment. Movements of Big toe normal in range but sluggishly performed. All other joints normal and he walks well”…
A later conclusion was added to the medical report on the 9th march 1921 which noted that the impairment was between 6 – 14% and as such was less than 20%, so there was no further award made for his disability.
An eighth child and third son, Frederick Septimus Daykin, was born on 21st August 1921 (Ref. Coventry 6d 1502).
Agnes Daykin (nee Ingram died on November 4th 1959 and Septimus Claude Daykin died on February 16th 1971.
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And now we can continue the walk along the west side of South Street, towards Queen Street …
