Tying the Knot - A Wedding Family Tree 1905-2019

My daughter, Emma Beatrice Turner, married her sweetheart, Edward Thomas Fletcher, 15th June 2019.  During 18 months of the necessary consultations with Pinterest, Emma came across the idea for a 'family tree' of wedding photographs.

The Out Barn wedding venue had the perfect location for our 'tree' & we could use some of the handmade picture frames made by my Great Grandfather, Ted Groom.

Ed's Wedding Family Portraits from his Mum's side (still on the hunt for the Fletcher's!).  Ed's Mum, Karen received the splendid photo of David Waddell and Helen Gilmour  (her father’s parents), via her cousin who lives in Boston.

Olive Cooke & Bertram Rubery

4^th September 1924

(Ed’s maternal great grandparents)

Helen Gilmour & David Waddell

9^th April 1921

(Ed’s maternal great grandparents)

June Rubery & James Waddell

15^th July 1950

(Ed’s maternal grandparents)

Karen Waddell & Tom Fletcher

1^st August 1981

(Ed’s parents)

Emma's Wedding Family Portraits.

Gertrude Fanny Turner & Ted Groom

July 1905

(Emma’s maternal great, great grandparents)

Brenda Gray & Freddy Groom

21^st June 1940

(Emma’s maternal great grandparents)

Edna Beatrice Moss & Samuel Wood

6^th July 1927

(Emma’s maternal great grandparents)

Victoria Groom & Peter Wood

10^th May 1960

(Emma’s maternal grandparents)

Jean Harley & Peter Turner

24^th October 1957

(Emma’s paternal grandparents)

Samantha Wood & John Turner

6^th June 1987

(Us - Emma’s parents)

And so to the present day.....

Helen Fletcher & Jonny Twelvetrees

21^st December 2014

(Ed’s sister & brother in law)

Sarah Burton & Tom Turner

16^th June 2018

(Emma’s brother & sister in law)

Emma Turner & Edward Fletcher

15^th June 2019

Acknowledgements: Kirsten Platt Photography, Delicious Photography & Richmond Framing.

James Wood - 1843-1874 - My Paternal Great Great Grandfather

Some potential stories just niggle, and James Wood has 'niggled' my Mum since she started researching Dad's family tree in greater depth.

THE FACTS:

• James Wood was born in Bolton in 1843.
• In 1861 James' occupation was 'engine smith apprentice' (Census 1861).
• James married Margaret Horrocks of Bolton on 18 January 1864 at the Wesley Chapel, Bradshawgate, Bolton.
• On the 1871 Census, James (an 'engineer fitter at works') & Margaret live at Apple Street, Bolton, with their four children:-  Thomas Holroyd (b.1864), Sarah Harriet (b.1867), Samuel Henry (b.1869) (my great grandfather), James Henry (b.1870). 

All quite straight forward, and yet?....

• Margaret gives birth to another James Wood (no middle name) on 1 March 1872, in Varnes Street, Aylesford, Kent.
• On the 1881 census Margaret and the four children appear back in Bolton at 167 Derby Street, Bolton

THE QUESTIONS:

What happened to James and his son James Henry?  What took James & Margaret 260 miles from Bolton to Kent?  What event made Margaret move back to Bolton?

The answers steadily unraveled this year when Mum made a telephone call to Heaton Cemetery in Bolton, whilst researching the young James Wood (1872, born near Aylesford, died in the Isle of Man and was interred in Liverpool).

Evidence came back in spades, when a helpful chap from Heaton Cemetary not only gave Mum the location of a headstone, but also nipped round in his car later to take a photo.  There upon the splendid headstone it says:-

In Loving Memory of

Dad at Heaton Cemetary - Sept 2017

JAMES WOOD

Died on July 4th. 1874 age 31 yrs.

Interred at Stone Church, Kent.

And MARGARET – his wife.

Died Oct. 1st. 1906 age 65 yrs.

Also JAMES WOOD on April 22nd. 1952

DSO. MRCS. LRCP

Son of the above and

Beloved husband of Betty Wood

After Mum's long years of searching we now have a date of death for James Wood and the knowledge that he is interred at St Mary the Virgin, Stone in Kent, one of the most famous churches in Kent.

The headstone was planned & executed by James ( IOM) & his wife Betty after James (IOM) death in 1952. It is a little sad, as James & Betty died with no children or family to follow their wishes, that Betty's name hasn't been added to the space most likely left for her, but at least she gets her mention.

With more information to hand we were able to request a death certificate for James, which reveals that he died of 'fracture to the skull from accidentally falling from a ladder' at Stone Cement Works in Kent.  There was an inquest on 22 July 1874 with information received from Charles Joseph Carttar, Coroner for Kent.  (Stone Cement Works is now the location of The Bluewater Shopping Centre).  

James Wood death certificate 1874

So the story builds itself, it would seem as though James & Margaret moved to Kent to build a new life with their four children.  Cement was the innovative industry following the Cotton Slump which destroyed Lancashire Mills.  Sadly, young James Henry (b.1870) died, we assume soon after James & Margaret arrived in Kent, and James (IOM) was born there.  

On the 1881 Census, widowed, with four children, Margaret (a stocking knitter) has returned home to Derby Street, Bolton for her Horrock's family support.

Five - Wood

Here comes trouble - with a capital T!

Simple snapshots using rhymes from Tom's baby cards:

L is for the laughter and the love baby grows

O is for the overwhelming joy your family knows

V is for the very special little boy he'll be

E is for each fun-filled day of new discovery


Wood (as well as being my maiden name) is in the form of a heart shaped button. The washing line paper I found in a sale of papers cost 20p!