| Life Story | Childhood | Marriage | Family | Later Life | Children |
Childhood
William Trease was born in Plymouth at 10.25 pm on the evening of Tuesday 9th April 1833 and christened on the 5th May 1833 at the Parish Church of St. Charles, Plymouth. His parents John and Esther were 35 and 28 years old respectively and his paternal grandparents William and Martha were in their mid to late fifties. John and Esther already had a son John aged nearly 6 and a daughter Esther aged nearly 3. They had named their two previous sons William but both had died in infancy so this Williams's birth must have been greeted with some trepidation and subsequent relief when he survived.
William's father John was, like grandfather William Trease before him, following a career in the Excise Service and then an officer in the Plymouth 2nd Division of the Plymouth Collection. When William was about 7, his father was appointed Supervisor at Burton-on-Trent and the family moved there from Plymouth and more children were born. Shortly after moving, George was born. When William was 9, Henry was born but died. When he was 10, another brother called Henry was born, and when he was 12, his sister Ann was born.
William was educated locally in Burton-on-Trent. From ages 12 to 14, he was taught at William Dunwell's Day and Boarding Academy in High Street, Burton-on-Trent, a short walk from his parent's house in Horninglow Street. Some of William's handwriting exercise books from this period indicate that his handwriting was very neat and that he had achieved a high level of proficiency in this skill by the age of 12.
By the time he was 18, William had left home to serve an apprenticeship with Joseph Brunt, a woollen draper and tailor employing about 30 staff. Although William's employer was, like William's school, based in High Street, Burton-on-Trent, William lived on the premises with other member's of his employer's family rather than live at his parent's house. After he finished his apprenticeship, William worked in Leeds possibly with John Barran & Sons, a Leeds based company that pioneered "ready to wear" clothes.
William marries daughter of a retired manager of the Bank of England
On the 4th August 1860, when William was 27, he married Caroline Loft at St. John's Church in Leeds. The marriage may have come somewhat sooner than originally intended, as their first child, a daughter, Annie Loft, was born six months later. The marriage was held by licence, thus obviating the need to call Banns on three successive Sundays prior to the wedding. The marriage was witnessed by Caroline's father and her oldest sister.
William's wife had been born on October 31st 1836 and christened on November 20th 1836 at Portsmouth Parish Church. She came from a large family of 3 boys and 5 girls. Her father, Richard Cook Loft, was a 55 year old retired Bank of England Manager. He and his twin brother Luke Killick Loft were the sons of Luke and Mary Loft and had been christened in Milton, Kent on the 9th December 1804. Richard's wife, Ann, had also been born in Milton. They spent the first few years of married life in the Milton/Gravesend area before moving to Portsmouth in the early part of 1830. In the early part of 1840 the family moved up to Leeds and at the time of her marriage, Caroline Loft was living in St. George's Parish, Leeds.
When he got married, William was living in Cobourg St. and working as a commercial traveller, an occupation which he followed for the rest of his working life. He was almost certainly working in the clothing industry and may already have been at John Barran & Sons, for whom he spent a considerable time working and who appear in an 1857 Leeds Directory as "wholesale clothiers and outfitters with premises at 6 Alfred St. and 1 Brigate". In the same directory, another travelling draper, Robert Frederick Muir, is listed at 15 Cobourg St. In later directories, John Barran & Sons appear as wholesale clothing manufacturers with addresses in St. Paul's St. and Hanover Lane, Leeds. The proprietor, John Barran became an M.P. and lived at Chapel Allerton Hall, Church Lane, Chapel Allerton and at 24 Queen's Gate London.
Family
William and Caroline spent most of their married life in Leeds. The children were born in North West Leeds, in the suburbs of Kirkstall and Headingley. Later, the family moved to Boston Spa, a village about 5 miles to the North East of Leeds.
They had six children, five girls and one boy. Caroline appears to have had some sort of problem with coping with the workload of bringing up the children. The first hint of this appears when their first child, Annie, was born in February 1861. A few months later, the 1861 Census shows that William's sister, Mary, had moved up from Burton-on-Trent to stay with her brother. Subsequent events indicate that Mary was there to assist Caroline with bringing up their first child. William and Caroline's next child, Will, who was to be their only son, was born in July 1862. He appears to have been moved to his grandparent's family for them to bring him up as he was christened in August 1863 in Burton on Trent and in the 1871 census is shown living there with them and Mary Healy, another grandchild of almost the same age as Will, whom they were looking after. William and Caroline had four more daughters Caroline, Minnie, Mary and Louie. By 1871 the situation with the daughters was as follows. Annie, their first daughter, who was by then 10, and Mary, who was 3, were staying with William's recently married brother-in-law, George Loft and his wife Ellen. The other three daughters, Caroline who was 6, Minnie who was 5, and Louie who had only just been born and was barely a month old, were living with William and Caroline at Headingley, Leeds together with a nurse, and a servant.
Daughter Mary was born in 1867 at Midland Road, Headingley, which is only a couple of minutes walk from the cricket ground there. In the 1874 Electoral Register, William is shown as the owner of 10 Midland Rd. By the time of the 1871 census, William had moved to Westfield Terrace, Headingley and 10 Midland Road was occupied by Mrs Berrie, a widow of 49, together with her 7 children and a domestic servant. It seems that William had bought the house at 10 Midland Road, in which he may lived in 1867, and when he moved had decided to retain ownership. It is, of course, also possible that the house he owned in Midland Road was not the one in which he had lived.
The only information we have about the family between the 1871 and 1881 censuses is that on the 9th July 1879 the three daughters, Caroline, Minnie, and Louie, were christened at Boston Spa, Yorks. Unlike some of his family, William may not have been so focussed on Church matters, and the baptism of these three children appears to have been overlooked. What prompted the attention to these late baptisms is unknown but William's sister Jane with whom Minnie and Louie were staying in 1881 was known to be active in the Wesleyan church and would almost certainly have been most concerned had they had not been baptised. Currently we do not know when Louie was baptised but we do know for certain she was active in church matters in later life. The 1881 Census on April 3rd shows that the family had become even more fragmented than in 1871. The two oldest children, Annie and Will, were apprenticed to drapers, almost certainly acquaintances of their father from his work as a commercial traveller in clothing. Carrie, the next oldest child, was visiting her grandparents and aunts at Burton-on-Trent with whom her father William and her sister Polly were then also living. The youngest child, Louie, and her sister Minnie were living with their Aunt Jane, her husband Charles Padmore Brown, and her family in Balsall Heath, Birmingham. William's wife, Caroline, was lodging with Samuel Harrison's family in the village of Greenhill, Derby which is in the Norton district of Sheffield.
On the 6th of June 1882, shortly after William returned to Burton, his father died. William and his brother George were the executors of the estate. On the 26th May 1887, William's wife Caroline died at 340 London Road, Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield. Her daughter Annie, who was by then living with her father in Burton on Trent, was in attendance at her death. It seems strange that William was not present at her death but it may be that he was travelling out and about in his work and couldn't be contacted quickly enough. Caroline was only 50 years old. Her funeral took place two days later on May the 28th and she was buried in Norton Cemetery Sheffield, probably in the same grave as her parents.
Later life
In the latter part of 1896, William's mother, Esther Trease, died. By the terms of his father's will, the property at Horninglow St. where he lived with his daughters and sisters reverted to his sisters Anne and Mary who continued to live there until at least 1900. William was still living there on the 24th May 1897 when he attended his brother Henry's death but by October 17th 1898 he had moved to "Ferndale" Stockfield Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, where he began his retirement.
Late in 1898 he contracted with a neighbour, H.H.West, who was a builder, to build two villas in Malvern Road Acocks Green. These two villas were to be for his two unmarried daughters Mary (Polly) and Louie. One was named "Lyndhurst" and the other was named "Hazelhurst". The property named "Lyndhurst" remained in the family for over 60 years until 1st March 1961 and was the scene of much family activity during that time.
On the 24th October 1901 William drew up a will giving instructions that the two properties in Malvern Road together with his personal belongings were to be bequeathed to his daughters Polly and Louie. The remainder of his estate was to be bequeathed to Annie, Minnie, Carrie, and his son William Henry in equal portions. Annie's husband, Fred Whitehouse and Polly were to be his executors.
William died on March 22nd 1904, aged 70. He died as a result of an illness that caused him much pain and suffering. It seems that his daughter Polly saw to many of the arrangements and notified his former business colleagues. She received several letters of condolencies. One was sent by W.H.Spice from St.Paul's Street Leeds on behalf of himself and partners of the late firm of John Barran and sons expressing respect for her father's memory and his long and faithful service to the firm. Another was sent by A.C.Kellett and his wife of Malvern House, Trafalgar Road, Moseley, and states that he always found her father "a straightforward colleague, who had made many friends amongst his customers, and was held in high estimation by them and I feel sure they will all feel great regret when they hear of his death."
The funeral service was held two days after his death and he was buried in Yardley Cemetery which was to be where many of his family were subsequently buried.
His will was proved at Worcester on the 9th May 1904 for £1818.4s.4d. This sum would have included the three freehold properties, his personal possessions, and savings. It seems a very commendable amount for someone who was not in business on his own account. His thrift was was to ease the financial burden on his children and grandchildren for over 80 years.Children
- Daughter Annie Loft was born in Leeds in 1861. After leaving school, she was apprenticed to a firm of Birmingham drapers. In 1891 she married Fred Whitehouse the son of her uncle Elisha Whitehouse, a brewer. In 1902, they moved to Alcester, where Fred managed a wine and spirit merchants shop but two years later Fred died. In 1909 Annie remarried to Thomas Pitchford, a commercial traveller. When he died three years later, Annie stayed with her sisters in Acocks Green, Birmingham. She died in 1934, aged 73, and was buried in Yardley cemetery in a joint grave with her husband Fred.
- Son William Henry was born in Leeds in 1862. After completing an apprenticeship with a firm of tailors in Leicester, he joined the army for 12 years. He was promoted to Bombardier but, following a court martial for some offence, was demoted to Gunner. After the 12 years was up, he returned to civilian life for a few years. He then rejoined the Army for a further 9 years apparently working throughout as a storeman. He received a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and his 1909 discharge papers stated that his conduct was exemplary. Little is known about what he did between 1909 and 1934. He is thought to have worked in the drapery trade and stayed with his sisters in Birmingham for a while. In 1934 he was admitted into the Royal Hospital Chelsea where he died in 1940. He was buried in Brookwood Cemetery.
- Daughter Caroline, "Carrie", was born in 1864 in Leeds. Nothing more is known of her early life. In 1893, she married Charles Henry Taylor, a builder's clerk, in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire. All that is known of her husband is that he was 23 when they married, and was the son of William Taylor, clerk. They had two daughters, both of whom married, but neither of whom appears to have had surviving children.
Her husband died in Ulverston in 1917, aged 49. It is believed he died of influenza. After his death, Carrie stayed in the Barrow-in-Furness area. In 1934 she married Andrew White, an insurance agent, in Barrow-in-Furness. Her new husband was 65, and a son of the late James White, a farmer. It seems that after a time Andrew and Carrie separated, or possibly he died.
After Carrie's eldest daughter died in 1946, she moved to her sister Minnie's in Acocks Green where she died, the following year, aged 82.
- daughter Minnie Trease was born in 1865 in Leeds. In 1881 she was living with her Aunt Jane and her family in Balsall Heath. In 1900, Minnie married a 44 year old bachelor Sidney Smith who was in the furniture trade. No surviving children have been traced from the marriage. They lived in Handsworth Wood and subsequently moved to Solihull where Sidney died in 1921 aged 65. Minnie then stayed with her sister Polly in Acocks Green and continued living there until her death in 1955.
- daughter, Mary Esther, "Polly", was born in 1867 in Headingley. By 1881 she was living at her grandparents in Burton-on-Trent, with her father and aunts Mary and Anne, who were schoolteachers. After her father died, Polly moved to a house he'd built for her in Malvern Road where she spent the rest of her life. About 1912 and 1913, sister Annie Loft Pitchford and aunt Anne came to live with Polly and Louie who also had paying guests. In 1916, Polly, married her lodger James Arthur Lavell, a company secretary. Sisters Louie and Annie moved into Louie's house next door. About 1921, sister Minnie came to live with Polly, her husband, and Aunt Anne. After Aunt Anne died in 1927, Louie moved back from next door to live with Polly until she, Louie, died in 1934. In 1943 Polly died, 6 months after her husband.
- daughter Louise, "Louie", was born in Headingley in 1871. In 1881, she was living with her Aunt Jane's family in Kings Norton from whence she moved to Burton-on-Trent to stay with her father and subsequently to her father's house in Acocks Green. When her father died, he bequeathed to both her and Polly a house of their own in Malvern Road. In 1911, Louie was recorded living with her sister Mary (aka Polly) in her sister's house "Lyndhurst", together with paying guests. By 1916 when her sister married James Lavell, Louie was living in her own house "Hazelhurst" with her sister Annie. This situation may have continued until 1927 when Aunt Anne, who lived with Polly, died and Louie moved back to stay with her sister Polly next door. In her later life Louie became housebound and she took great pleasure in her embroidery. In 1934 Louie died, aged 63, three months after her sister Annie died.
| William & Caroline Loft | Life Story | Photos | Data | Tree (Generation 21) |
| Daughter - Annie | Childhood | 1st Marriage | Husband's death | 2nd Marriage | Later Life |
Early life
Annie Loft Trease was William and Caroline's first child. She was probably given the middle name "Loft" to distinguish her from her Aunt Anne. She was born in Leeds on Sunday, February 17th 1861 approximately six months after her parents married and was christened at St.George's Church, Leeds 6 weeks later on March 30th. The parish of St. George is where Caroline was living before her marriage and this may indicate that William had moved closer to Caroline's parents.
For the first 10 years of her life, it seems that she lived with her parents in Leeds. When the family split, it is probable that she either went to live with her aunt, Jane Brown, in the St. Paul's area of Birmingham or she may have been sent to a boarding school. After finishing her education she was apprenticed to Henry E Rippon, a firm of Drapers at 40-43 Great King Street in Birmingham where she was living with about a dozen other apprentices, assistants and the like, at the time of the April 1881 census.
After she finished her apprenticeship, it seems that she returned to Horninglow St which she gave as her address on May 26th 1887, when she was present at her mother's death in Sheffield.
Some time after April 1891 she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Jane and Charles Padman Brown at 76 St Pauls Rd. Balsall Heath, which she gave as her address when she married.Marriage to Fred Whitehouse
She was 30 when she married her cousin Fred Whitehouse. The ceremony was held on July 15th 1891 at the Parish Church, Balsall Heath, Worcestershire and was witnessed by Annie's uncle Charles Padmore Brown and Florence Mary Whitehouse (an unidentified relative of Fred's). Fred was born in Bloomfield, Tipton on the 14th October 1861, the same year as Annie was born, and was the son of Elisha Whitehouse, one of Annie's maternal uncles. Elisha and his brother George were both brewers in Tipton. At the time of his marriage Fred was a cashier and was living in Tipton.
By 1895, it appears that Fred may have been running a beer retailing business at 188, Bolton Street, Birmingham. By July 1899, he and Annie were living in Acocks Green and Fred described his occupation as "secretary". At the time of the 1901 census he and Annie are recorded living at Fairholme, Malvern Road. This has been identified as being no 10 Acocks Green, and is next door but one to the pair of semis built by William for Mary (aka Polly) and Louie. It was quite a large house and Fred's brother lodged with them together with a domestic servant to do the housework. In October 1901 Annie and Fred were still living in Malvern Road.
Shortly afterwards, they moved to Henley Street, Alcester where Fred had been appointed as a manager for R.M.Bird & Co, a firm of wine and spirit merchants to run an off-licence there. Alcester (pronounced "Olster") is an attractive small town 8 miles west of Stratford-on-Avon. It dates from Roman times and has many old buildings including some in Henley Street.
A contemporary observation comes from a niece of Annie's, Iva M Brown, who records "Annie married her cousin, Fred Whitehouse, and one of my earliest recollections is of being taken to visit them at Alcester, where they kept a public house. Unfortunately, Fred fell downstairs one night and broke his neck. Annie told Mother that at the inquest she said he had gone down to get her a glass of water!"Fred's fatal accident
A full report of how Fred met his death was given in a local newspaper and is reproduced below.
"It is with much regret that we record the death of Mr. George Frederick Whitehouse, which took place at his residence, Henley Street, Alcester, early on Monday morning. Mr. Whitehouse, nearly two years ago succeeded the late Mr. J.B.Page as manager for Messrs R.M.Bird & Co., wine and spirit merchants, of this town, and his unfailing courtesy and kindness of disposition won the esteem and regard of those with whom he came in contact, both in a business or private capacity. The cause of death was due to a fractured skull the result of an accident which occurred three weeks ago, under very painful circumstances.
During the small hours of Wednesday 19th, Mrs Whitehouse was unwell, and her husband got up tp get her some medicine, which was at first supposed to be in a small chest outside the bedroom door. The medicine (tincture of rhubarb) had, however, been used previously during the day, and was left in the kitchen. Deceased remarked that he would fetch it, but it seems that after leaving his bedroom he dropped the box of matches he was carrying. All around was very dark, and after groping for them deceased started to go forward, when he stepped on his dressing gown, and was precipitated down a steep flight of stairs. Hearing him fall, Mrs Whitehouse went to his assistance, and procuring a light, found her husband unconscious at the bottom of the stairs. He soon regained consciousness and with the assistance of his wife was able to get back to bed.
Mr Whitehouse did not consider his injuries to be at all serious, and refused the following day to allow a doctor to be called in. Some days afterwards Dr Spencer was summoned, and the serious nature of the unfortunate accident was at once apparent. Despite all efforts, deceased grew worse, and on Saturday lost consciousness. Throughout Sunday he gradually sunk, and, as stated above death ensued about three o'clock on Monday morning."
Fred was 43 when he died in the morning of Monday 7th November 1904. He was buried at Yardley Cemetery 3 days later on Thursday the 10th November 1904. In his will, he bequeathed the whole of his estate valued at £469.2s.6d. to Annie apart from a bequest of £50 which he left to his mother Eliza Whitehouse.
Marriage to Thomas Pitchford
5 years later, in the summer of 1909, when Annie was 48, she married again to a Thomas Pitchford who was about 13 years her senior. He was a commercial traveller and they lived at 55 Addison Road, King's Heath close to Annie's cousin Charles Herbert Brown, son of William's sister, Jane Brown (nee Trease). Whilst Annie lived there she often used to visit her cousin Charlie and his family. A contemporary observation comes from one of Charlie's children, Ethel, who was born in 1905. She records "I remember her (Annie) visiting us several times when I was a child. She was a gay old bird - there's no other way of describing her. I believe her husband kept a pub somewhere in Birmingham."
Annie's marriage to Thomas was only to last about three years, as Thomas died aged 64 on 5th March 1912. He left his estate of £122.15s.7d to Annie.
Later life
Annie was 50 when Thomas died. She never married again. It seems that after his death she returned to Acocks Green to live with her sister Louie at Hazelhurst, 14 Malvern Road as she is recorded as living there in November 1916.
In 1927, their Aunt Anne, who was living next door at 16 Malvern Road with their sister Polly and her husband, died. It seems that Louie then moved next door to live with her sister Polly, and sister Annie went to live with a friend. In 1932, when Annie was then 71, she was living at 27 Boden Road, Hall Green, Birmingham and may have shared this house with Miss Lane as an entry in Minnie's address book records a Miss Lane as also living at this address.
In June 1934 Annie died, aged 73. She was buried on the 18th June in Yardley cemetery in the same grave as that of her first husband Fred. She was the oldest of William's children and the first to die.
RETURN to START of LIFE STORY of daughter ANNIE
| William & Caroline Loft | Life Story | Photos | Data | Tree (Generation 21) |
| Son - Will | Childhood | Apprenticeship | Army | Re-enlists | Chelsea Pensioner |
Early life
William Henry Trease was born on Wednesday July 16th 1862 in Leeds. It is probable that the middle name Henry was to differentiate him from his father. His sister Minnie refers to him as "Will" in her address book. Although both he and his elder sister Annie were both born in Leeds and she was baptised at St. George's Church there, William was christened on August 12th 1863, over a year after he was born, at the Wesleyan Chapel in Burton-on-Trent, where his grandparents and some of his aunts and uncles lived. His Aunt Jane appears to have been deeply involved in the work of this chapel, particularly its Sunday School, and it may be she was William Henry's godmother.
The next record of his childhood is the census return for 1871 which shows that, when he was 8, he was living with his grandparents and his aunts Mary and Ann at 63 Horninglow St. For a reason not currently known, he may not have been brought up with his sisters in Leeds.
Apprenticeship to a firm of drapers
In December 1877, when William was 15 years old, he commenced a 5 year apprenticeship with Alfred Adderley and Company, who had a shop at 59 Market Place Leicester where they traded as "linen drapers, silk mercers, mantle, costume makers etc." Alfred Adderley, the proprietor, lived at 33 London Rd., Leicester. It looks likely that the apprenticeship would have been instigated by William Henry's father through his contacts in the clothing trade.
Adderley's seems to have been a fairly large establishment. In 1881 Will was sharing his lodgings at 6, The Crescent, Leicester, with 15 others - all of them draper's assistants, apprentices, etc. Will went on to complete the 5 year apprenticeship but then decided not to pursue this career.
Joins the Royal Artillery
On the 9th December 1884, Will signed up to join the Royal Artillery at Woolwich. It is fairly certain that his father would have organised the drapery apprenticeship for Will and may have been disappointed by his son's decision to leave the trade. Will signed up for 12 years which must have been a very difficult decision with major consequences for him.
He spent the first two years of his service in the UK and then went to Gibraltar for approximately 8 years before returning to the UK in 1894.
Approximately 6 months after joining, he transferred from the Royal Artillery 1st Brigade to the 1st Brigade of Lancashire Division. He was promoted to Bombardier in January 1886 but his promotion was short lived as 4 months later in May 1886 he was court martialled for some offence as a result of which he was demoted back to gunner which was the capacity in which he remained for the rest of his military career.
After his 12 years service was up, he left the army for approximately three and a half years. One may surmise that he went back to being a draper but found he couldn't adjust to civilian life.
In April 1900, he signed up with the army in London for a further 1 year's service. In April 1901, when that year was up, he renewed his service again for a further 4 years at Sheerness and again in April 1905 in Gibraltar for a further 4 years. This 9 years service appears unremarkable. He remained a gunner and throughout the period worked as a storeman. On his discharge papers his conduct is described "Exemplary - No Offence during the last 10 years service - is a hard working and reliable man". In 1908 he was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct medal.
He was discharged at Plymouth on the 24th April 1909, having served a total of exactly 21 years service with the army.
It is not known what became of him between 1909 and 1934. On his discharge papers he indicated that he would carry on the occupation of draper and that he would live with his sister, Polly, at Acocks Green. In the 1911 census he was recorded as a patient at a hospital in Birmingham so it seems likely that he may have returned to live with his sisters in Malvern Road. He was certainly living in the Birmingham area.
In September 1931, he wrote to his sisters at Malvern Rd. from 44 Calton Rd., Edinburgh, but this may have been a temporary address. It is apparent from his sister Louie's reply that he had not been in contact with them for some time.
On the 13th April 1934 he was admitted into the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Minnie's address book has an entry "Will 21 Ward, Chelsea Hospital". He died there on 2nd November 1940 and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery. Less than a week before he died, the Royal Hospital had suffered its first hit in the Second World War when the main staircase to the East Wing was destroyed.RETURN to START of LIFE STORY of son WILL
| William & Caroline Loft | Life Story | Photos | Data | Tree (Generation 21) |
| Daughter - Minnie | Childhood | Marriage | Acocks Green |
Early life
Minnie Trease was born on Sunday September 3rd 1865 in Leeds. She was nicknamed "Ell" by her close friends certainly in her later life.
Like her sisters Mary and Carrie, she appears to have been christened at Boston Spa near Leeds on July 10th 1879. In 1891 she was working as governess for Philip Gilbert and his wife in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Her duties involved looking after their two stepdaughters, Isabel and Grace. She appears to have formed close relationships with at least one of the two children. Certainly in 1911 she is recorded as a visitor in the household of Grace Stirk in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton who is believed to be the same Grace as the girl she looked after. Nothing more is known about her early life until her marriage when she was living in Hagley, Worcestershire.
Marriage
On August 1st 1900, at the age of 34, Minnie married Sidney Smith at Hagley parish Church in Worcester. Sidney, who was ten years her senior, lived at 29 Radnor Road, Handsworth and on the marriage certificate his occupation is described as manufacturer. His father Benjamin Smith is also described as a manufacturer. A John and Benjamin Smith are listed as cabinet makers in an 1880 Birmingham Trade Directory - the reference to Benjamin Smith who is also listed as living at Handsworth is thought to refer to Sidney's father.
Sidney Smith's occupation has been described in various ways in surviving documents - "manufacturer", "retired house furnisher", "antique furniture dealer". It would appear that he was certainly in the furniture trade and perhaps moved from the manufacturing side of the business to the retail side. The late Marjorie Mitchell referred to him as an 'antique dealer".
After their marriage, Minnie and Sidney lived at 61 Church Lane, Handsworth Wood, West Staffs. Subsequently they moved to "Oakdene", Ashleigh Rd., Solihull. Like her sister Annie, Minnie did not have any children. She augmented the family with dogs. The dogs shown accompanying her in photographs seem quite large. In the only photograph found so far that is believed to be her husband, two dogs appear so at some time she may have preferred to keep two. On July 11th 1921, Sidney died at age 65 of chronic arterio-sclerosis and cerebral thrombosis. His sister Frances M. Smith was present at his death and appeared to be living with them. Sidney was buried at Yardley Cemetery on the 14th July.Move to Acocks Green
One year after Sidney's death Minnie was living with her sister Polly at Malvern Road, Acocks Green. It is not known whether she stayed there but she was living there at the time of Polly's death in 1943. Thereafter it was to be her home until her own death on 5th March 1955.
Some of Minnie's letters and personal effects, such as a well thumbed cookery book were kept by the late Marjorie Mitchell. From these it is apparent that Minnie was very interested in the family and kept regular contact with her cousins Florence and Nellie Brown and the Trease family in Nottingham. She also kept a folder of news clippings about exploits of family members such as Reginald Trease DSO, Geoffrey Trease the author, and Professor George Trease but unfortunately this was not kept.
There are two contemporary observations of her. Miss E. Trease of Nottingham says in a letter "She last stayed with us when she was about 84, which seems to me to be a wonderful age to take a journey by train alone. We liked her very much." Her niece, the late Marjorie Mitchell, said of Minnie that she did a lot of local social work, kept a large dog and that she, Marjorie, had been very fond of her.
Examination of the few items that were kept, gives one the impression that "Ell" had many friends and was much loved. She appears to have been intelligent, practical, have a positive attitude and a lot of energy - the sort of person you'd turn to to help you out of a problem.
RETURN to START of LIFE STORY of daughter MINNIE
| William & Caroline Loft | Life Story | Photos | Data | Tree (Generation 21) |
| Daughter - Polly | Childhood | Marriage | Acocks Green |
Early life
Mary Esther Trease was born on Saturday December 27th 1867 in Midland Road Headingley. She was probably given the middle name Esther to distinguish her from her Aunt Mary but it was easier to refer to her by her familiar name "Polly".
Polly was 11 years old when she was christened together with her sisters Minnie and Carrie on July 9th 1879 at Boston Spa.
Her father left Leeds to live with his parents and sisters in Horninglow St., Burton-on-Trent, after she was christened in July 1879 and before the 1881 census, and he brought Polly with him. Grandpa Trease died shortly after in 1882. Until her sister Louie joined her, she was the youngest in the household and probably got much attention from her grandmother and her aunts Anne and Mary who were schoolmistresses. It seems that she lived there until the death of grandma Trease in 1896.
After grandma Trease died, her father left Burton on Trent to retire to a house called "Ferndale" in Stockfield Road, Acocks Green. Polly and her sister Louie are living there with him at the time of the 1901 census. As Polly and Louie were living with their father, it appears that William must have rented out the two houses he had had built in Malvern Road to supplement his income.
When William died in 1904, he bequeathed in his Will the property called Lyndhurst, Malvern Road, to Polly together with a half share in his personal possessions. This was clearly to ease the financial burden on Polly as she had no husband to look after her.
William had made a similar arrangement for his other unmarried daughter, Louie. After he died, Polly and Louie continued to rent out the property called "Hazelhurst", which Louie owned, and Louie moved into Polly's house, Lyndhurst, to live with her. To supplement their income further, Polly had paying guests. In March 1912, their sister Annie Loft Pitchford's husband died and some time before 1916, sister Annie also came to live in Malvern Road. This could have been as early as 1912 shortly after Annie's husband died. In November 1913 Polly's aunt Mary died. Mary had been living with her sister Anne and Polly and Louie agreed that their aunt Anne could come to live with them in Malvern Road. In 1916 the arrangement was that Louie and her sister Annie Loft Pitchford were living at "Hazelhurst" and Polly and her Aunt Annie were living at "Lyndhurst".
Marriage
Polly had taken a lodger called James Arthur Lavell who was the secretary of a limited company. He was often referred to as Arthur rather than James. Polly and Arthur married very late in life when he was 47 and she was 48. It seems they were both Wesleyans as their marriage ceremony was performed according to the rites of Wesleyan Methodists by G. W. Kettleborough of the Acocks Green Wesleyan Chapel. The ceremony was held at Acocks Green Congregational Church on August 22nd 1916 and was witnessed by Polly's sisters Annie and Louie.
For many years until Aunt Anne's death in 1927 Polly and her husband Arthur lived together with Aunt Anne at "Lyndhurst". A contemporary observation comes from a relative Iva M. Brown who records "Polly married late in life a man who had been a paying guest for many years - an accountant, I believe. I used to dread our visits to Acock's Green, because Aunt Anne ... was stone deaf and Polly was also very deaf."
After her sister Minnie's husband died in 1921, it appears that Minnie also came to live with Polly and her husband. Minnie was certainly living there in July 1922.
Sometime, possibly after Anne died and certainly before March 1932, Polly's sister Louie came to live with Polly and Arthur at "Lyndhurst". "Hazelhurst", the other house William had built for Louie, was presumably sold to release some capital.
1934 must have been a very sad year for Polly. Her sister Annie died in June and then a few months later, in September, her sister Louie died.Later Life
On the 20th March 1943 Polly's husband died. He was 74. In May, Polly revised her will to leave everything to her sister, Minnie, "who resides with me". On the 4th October 1943, just 6 months after Arthur died, Polly died. She was 75.
RETURN to START of LIFE STORY of daughter POLLY
| William & Caroline Loft | Life Story | Photos | Data | Tree (Generation 21) |
| Daughter - Louie | Childhood | Birmingham | Later life |
Early life
Louisa's family name was Louie. She was also sometimes known as Louisa. Louie was the youngest of William and Caroline's children. She was born at Westfield Terrace, Headingley on March 22nd 1871. It is not known when she was christened; it appears that she was not christened with her older sisters at Boston Spa in 1879. It seems that she spent the first ten years of her life with both her parents in Birmingham. When her father moved to Burton-on-Trent in 1881/82 it appears that she stayed with her mother in Leeds. She came to Burton later and by 1891 was living there with her father, sisters Polly and Annie (until Annie married in 1891), her grandma and her aunts Anne and Mary.
Move to Birmingham
When her grandma died in 1897, William had a house built for her in Malvern Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham. The house was called "Hazelhurst" and it was next door to "Lyndhurst" the house built for Polly. She was 33 when her father died in 1904 and by the terms of his will she inherited the house. She stayed in Malvern Road for the rest of her life and never married. After the death of her sister Annie's second husband, it seems that Annie made her home with Louie as they are both recorded living at No 14 Malvern Road in November 1916. Sometime after this, Annie left and Louie made her home with her sister Polly next door. On March 25th 1932 she made a will leaving cash sums to her brothers and sisters - £200 to Annie, £250 (plus the remainder of her estate) to Mary Esther (Polly), £100 to Minnie, £150 to Carrie, £50 to William Henry. It is possible that she drew up this will after the sale of her house. Aunt Anne who died in 1927 had lived with Polly and there must have been little point in keeping Louie's house if there was room for her to live with Polly next door. Mrs Ethel Whitehouse Adams recalled "...one (of the daughters) married and the youngest Louie lived with her at Acock's Green, Birmingham, both rather deaf ;..."
Later Life
The late Marjorie Mitchell is believed to have said that, in her later life, Louie became housebound and she took great pleasure in her embroidery. Items of Louie's embroidery that survived were exquisitely done. Some were made as gifts for relatives and on special occasions. One item celebrated the late Marjorie's Mitchell's wedding. Some of those done in colour, though good, were not of such excellent workmanship and it is thought that maybe her eyesight began to fail her and hence she moved to the use of coloured silks. In the executor's account drawn up by J.H.Trease for Aunt Annie's estate there is reference to ordinary and preference shares in a company called "Louise & Co. Ltd., for which at present there is no market value". Could this have been a company formed to market Louie's prolific output of embroidery? Louie's bible is annotated and indicates that certainly at some stage in her life she was an attentive church goer. Louie died on the 17th September 1934, three months after the death of her sister Annie. She was 63.
RETURN to START of LIFE STORY of daughter LOUIE
| William & Caroline Loft | Life Story | Photos | Data | Tree (Generation 20) |
| Data | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
William Trease
Sp. Caroline LOFT
William's family
Daur - Annie Loft
Son - William Henry
Daur - Caroline
Daur - Minnie
Daur - Mary Esther
Daur - Louisa
| Data: William Trease | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
William TREASE ? List of siblings including details of his birth 1841 Census. 6June1841 HO107/975/8 Horninglow Road John Trease 40 Supervisor Inland Revenue
Esther Trease 35
John Trease 13
Esther W Trease 10
William 8
Jane 6
Mary 3
George 6mos
No street numbers are given. The next house is West Cottage. Subsequent houses are recorded as Little Burton for several pages until the next entry Hawkins Lane. There are 15 previous households entered for Horninglow Road following an entry for Brook Lane.
Modern maps show Little Burton as the area on the East side of Horninglow St. from Hawkins Lane onward. Further research may reveal that the houses in Horninglow Road were subsequently reallocated to Horninglow St.
Currently it appears that John and Esther first lived in Horninglow Road, then moved to Winshill across the other side of the Trent where Ann was born and then moved back across the bridge to Horninglow St.1845 Schoolbooks 1851 Census. 30Mar1851.71 Horninglow Street (HO 107.2012 D29 P26 E217?) John Trease Head M 53 Supervisor Inland Rev Poundstock,CON
Esther Wife M 46 Tipton, Stafford
John Son Um 23 Devonport, DEV
Esther Whitehouse Daugh Do 20 "
Jane Do Do 16 Scholar Plymouth, Do
Mary Do Do 12 " " "
George Son Do 11 Burton, Stafford
Henry Do Do 7 "
Ann Do Do 5 "1851 Census. 30Mar1851. High Street, Burton-on-Trent. Joseph BRUNT Head 75 Woollen Draper & Tailor employing 30 men b. Allstonefield, Staffs
Joseph WARD Grdson 21 Tailor
Joseph BRUNT Grdson 17 Woollen Draper's Apprentice
William TREASE App 17 Woollen Draper's Apprentice
Mary PEPPER Visitor Widow 60 Annuitant b. Allstonefield, Staffs
Hannah HILL Servant
Marty BRUNT Daur Unmar 31 Housekeeper
Ann WARD Visitor 52 Farmer's Wife1860 August 4th 1860. Copy of William and Caroline's marriage certificate dated 16th May 1887. Page 134, entry 267, St. John's Church in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Leeds, York.
August 4th 1860
William Trease, 21, bachelor, commercial traveller, of Cobourg St. Leeds, father John Trease, Supervisor of Excise.
Caroline Loft, 21, spinster of St. George's Parish, Leeds, father Richard Cook Loft, Gentleman.
By license. In presence of Richard Cook Loft and Mary Loft. Edward Monro Vicar.1861 1861 census Sch 15. 15 Grove Place, Leeds (RG9/3387 f44 p3) William Trease, 27, Head (Commercial Traveller in Woollens), b. Plymouth
Caroline Trease, 24, Wife, b. Portsmouth
Annie Loft Trease, 1m, Daur, b. Yorks
Mary Trease, 22, Sister, b. Plymouth1871 Census. 2nd April 1871. 10 Midland Road (RG10/4569 District E1 Page 20 Sch 79) Sarah Berrie, Widow, aged 49, plus her 7 sons and daughters aged 21 - 6 plus a domestic servant. 1871 Census. 2nd April 1871. Headingley cum Birley, Kirkstall, Leeds. (FS Head William Trease M 37 Plymouth
Wife Caroline Trease F 34 Portsmouth
Daughter Caroline Trease F 6 Leeds, Yorkshire
Daughter Mininie Trease F 5 Leeds, Yorkshire
Daughter Louisa Trease F 0 Leeds, Yorkshire
Nurse Anne Neale F 46 Ireland
Servant Sarah Ann Nickols F 18 Appleby, Westmorland1871 Census. 2nd April 1871. Horninglow Street, Burton on Trent Head John Trease M 73 b. Poundstock, CON
Wife Esther Trease F 66 b. Tipton, Staffs
Daughter Mary Trease F 32 Plymouth, Devonshire
Daughter Ann Trease F 25 Winshill, Derbyshire
Grandson William Hy Trease M 8 Leeds, Yorkshire
Granddaughter Mary Esther Healy F 7 Liverpool, Lancashire1871 Census. 2nd April 1871. Burton Road, Holbeck, Leeds, Yorks. George M LOFT Head 36 Mgr Cloth Mill b. Portsmouth
Ellen LOFT Wife 22 b. Bristol, Somerset
Annie Loft TREASE Niece 10 Scholar b. Leeds, York
Mary Esther TREASE Niece 3 b. Leeds, York1874 Electoral Register LEEDS Polling District 8 Headingley P135 582 Trease William House 10 Midland Rd 1881 Census 3Apr1881 Horninglow St., Burton-on-Trent John Trease Head Mar 83 Retired Supervisor of IR CON,Poundstock
Esther " Wife Mar 76 Staffs,Tipton
William " Son Mar 47 Commercial Traveller Devon,Plymouth
Mary " Daur Unm 42 School Mistress "
Ann " Daur Unm 35 " Derby,Winshill
Caroline " GrDaur Unm 16 Visitor Yorks,Leeds
Mary E " " Unm 13 Scholar1891 Census 5Apr1891 Horninglow St., Burton-on-Trent Esther Trease Head Wid 86 None (As before)
William " Son Widr 57 Commercial Traveller Clothing
Mary " Daur S 52 None
Ann " " S 45 None
Mary E" GrDaur S 23 None
Louie " " S 20 None1892 21Feb1892 Letter to daughter Carrie :-
Castle Hotel Scarbro.
Feb 21st 1892
Dear Carrie,
I have been here since Thursday Evening and shall leave for
Whitby tomorrow. It has been the most severe week I have known for years, it
rained last night and has cleared most of the snow away. I keep very well, have
a good fire in my bedroom and keep indoors as much as possible.
My cough has not troubled me and I have had only one dose of Crosby's this week.
Since I wrote you, I have put my Cheque in the Bank until I can buy a few
shares. I expect to do so in a few weeks. I will then send you £22 and should
advise you to put all you can in the PO Savings Bank, if before then you would
like £5 for immediate use, send me word for Wednesday to the Black Swan Hotel,
York. I can spare it. I shall make you a present of the cloth -
Be sure to get any extra warm clothing you may require, also do not neglect
consulting a doctor, when needful, it may save further expense.
There are six of us sitting down to dinner, so must conclude,
With love,
Yours affy,
Wm Trease.
NOTE: Letter appears to relate to money William has received - possibly an inheritance, but whose?
1898 17Oct1898. Transcript of letter enclosing contract
Telephone No. 69
Lord & Parker, 3, Foregate Street,
Solicitors Worcester, October 17th 1898
Arthur E. Lord, A.P.Parker
Dear Sir,
Malvern Hall Estate
Land in Malvern Road, Acocks Green
By direction of Mr H.H.West we send draft contract for your approval,
Yours faithfully,
Lord & Parker
JS(?)
Mr. Wm. Trease,
Ferndale
Stockfield Road
Acocks Green,
Birmingham.
1898 Attachment to previous letter. Draft building contract for 2 villas - Malvern Rd.
This is a pre-printed form with entries pencilled in. It is not repeated in detail below. The key information is :-
"between William Trease, Gentleman, of Stockfield Rd., Acocks Green
and ... West of Stockfield Rd., Acocks Green, builder and contractor
to build two villas in Malvern Road"
1901 Census. "Ferndale", Stockfield Road, Acocks Green, Solihull William Trease Head Widr 67 Retired Traveller b. Plymouth, Devon
Louise Trease Daur S 30 No occupation b. Hyde Park, Leeds Yorks
Mary E Trease Daur S 33 No occupation b. Hyde Park, Leeds Yorks1904 24Mar1904 Letter of condolencies from W.H.Spice
St. PAUL'S STREET, (this is an embossed heading)
LEEDS.
24th March 1904
Dear Madam,
Will you permit me on behalf of myself and partners in the late firm of John
Barran & Sons to express the sympathy we feel for you and the other members of
your family in the loss you have sustained.
While glad to know he passed away so peacefully, still a great blank will be
felt which time alone can alleviate.
We would add our tribute of esteem and respect for your father's memory and his
long and faithful service will ever be remembered by each of us.
With kind regards,
Believe me,
Yours sincerely,
W.H.Spice
Miss Trease,
1904 Letter of condolencies from A.C. & C. Kellett
ACK Malvern House,
(elaborate monogram) Trafalgar Road,
Moseley,
Birmingham.
(the above is in pale blue embossed printing)
March 27th 1904
Dear Miss Trease
My wife and I join in tendering to you and your sisters, our heartfelt sympathy
in the loss you have all sustained in the death of your dear father. I
always found him a straightforward colleague, who had made many friends amongst
his customers, and was held in high estimation by them and I feel sure they will
all feel great regret when they hear of his death.
At the same time as he has suffered so much pain it is a release we may be
thankful for as I presume there was no means of alleviating it.
Again tendering to you our deepest sympathy,
? (illegible word)
Yours sincerely,
A C & C Kellett
1904 09May1904. Probate
Probate Register Entry : 9th May 1904. William Trease of Ferndale Stockfield-road Tyseley near Birmingham died 22nd March 1904 Probate Worcester 9 May to George Frederick Whitehouse brewer's manager and Mary Esther Trease spinster Effects 1818.4s.4d
Handwritten copy of Will : This is the last Will and Testament of me William Trease of Ferndale, Stockfield Road, Tyseley near Birmingham out of Business Whereby I direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid and subject whereto I give and bequeath all my household furniture pictures plate plated articles jewellery linen china glass consumable stores wines liquors and all other goods and effects being the contents of my dwellinghouse at the time of my decease equally to my two Daughters Mary Esther and Louise and in the event of any dispute arising as to the division thereof I direct my Executors hereinafter named to sell the same by public auction and divide the net proceeds of such sale equally between my said two Daughters I also give devise and bequeath unto my said two Daughters Mary Esther and Louise. All those my two freehold houses named Lyndhurst and Hazelhurst with the appurtenances situate in Malvern Road Acocks Green for their own use and benefit absolutely and subject as aforesaid I give devise and bequeath the residue of my real and personal Estate unto George Frederick Whitehouse of Malvern Road Acocks Green and my said Daughter Mary Esther Trease whom I hereby appoint Trustees and Executors of this my Will. Upon trust as soon as conveniently may be after my{decease to collect get in or sell and dispose of the same by public auction or private contract and after payment of my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the expenses of such collection and sale to stand possessed of the net proceeds In trust to divide the same equally between my Daughters Annie Loft Whitehouse Caroline Taylor Minnie the Wife of Sidney Smith and my Son William Henry Trease as tenants in common And in the event of any of my said children dying before receiving such share as aforesaid leaving issue I direct that such issue shall take his her or their parents share if more than one in equal shares as tenants in common and if but one then the same shall be paid to such one only In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty fourth day of October 1901
Wm Trease
Signed by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
J.C.Lane Solr Birmingham
W.H.Kimbell Clerk to Messrs Lane Clutterbuck & Co Solicitors)
Minories Chambers: Birmingham )
On the ninth day of May 1904 Probate of this Will was granted at Worcester to George Frederick Whitehouse and Mary Esther Trease the Executors.
RETURN to START of DATA for WILLIAM OR to WILLS
| Data: Wife - Caroline Loft | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
Wife: Caroline LOFT 1849 25Aug1849 Certified copy of baptism of Richard Cook Loft Baptisms 1804
December
Richard Cook & Luke Killick, twin children of Luke and Mary Loft.
The above is a true copy of the Baptism Register of Parish of Milton next
Gravesend, extracted this twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord,
one thousand, eight hundred & forty nine by me
Wm. Dawes
Curate of Ifield and Cobham.
1851 1851 Census. 12 Bentinck Street (HO 107/2321 F601/2 E113) Richard C Loft Head Mar 46 Bank of England Manager Kent, Milton
Ann E Do Wife Mar 46 Do, Do
Mary Do Daur U 24 Do, Gravesend
Luke B Do Son U 21 Ironmonger's clerk Do, Milton
Emma M Do Daur U 19 Do, Milton
George M Do Son U 16 Railway clerk Hants,Portsmouth
Caroline Do Daur 14 Scholar Do, Do
Alice Do Daur 12 Do Do, Do
Selina Do Daur 11 Do Do, Do
Richard C Son 6 Do Yorks, Leeds1861 Census. With husband and some of family in Leeds 1871 Census. With husband and some of family in Leeds 1881 1881 Census. Greenwell, Ecclesall Bierlow, Norton (RG11/4629 F23 P5 E16) Samuel Harrison Head Mar 49 Tailor & Postmaster Greenhill, Derby
Mary Harrison Wife Mar 47 Tailor's wife Ottercliffe, Yorks
William Henry " Son 13 Scholar Greenhill, Derby
Caroline Trease Boarder Mar 48 Com Traveller's wife Plymouth, Devon
(Caroline appears to have given William's birthplace and his age in error for her own?) Register: June 1887 Caroline Trease Ecclesall B. 9c2391887 Copy death certificate dated 1992: 1887 Sub district Ecclesall Bierlow in county of York
40 26th May 1887 at 340 London Road Ecclesall Bierlow Caroline Trease 50 years old, wife of William Trease Commercial Traveller, caused by Morbus Cordis ?
certified by A.H.Laver M.R.C.S. notified by Annie Trease daughter 63 Horninglow Street Burton-on-Trent present at death on 28th May 1887. J. Taylor Registrar.
| Data: William's Family | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
Data relating to whole family
Family register of William and Caroline Trease and their children This is a pre-printed form with the following written on it. It is folded into four and is somewhat fragile. Name Born In Christened At (LEFTHAND SIDE) William Trease Apr 9 1833 Plymouth May 5 1833 St. Charles Church Caroline Loft Oct 31 1836 Portsmouth Nov 20 1836 Portsmouth Parish Ch. Annie Loft Trease Feb 17 1861 Leeds April 1861 St.Georges Church William Henry Trease Jul 16 1862 Leeds Aug 12 1863 Wesleyan Chapel, Burton-on-Trent Caroline Trease May 11 1864 Leeds July 9 1879 Boston Spa, Yorks Minnie Trease Sep 3 1865 Leeds July 9 1879 Boston Spa, Yorks Mary Esther Trease Dec 27 1867 Leeds July 9 1879 Boston Spa, Yorks Louise Trease Mar 22 1871 Leeds Name Married At Died At (RIGHTHAND SIDE) William Trease Aug 4 1860 St.Johns Mar 22 1904 Tyseley Church, Caroline Loft Aug 4 1860 Leeds May 26 1887 Sheffield (list also states that William was buried on March 24 1904 in Yardley Cemetery Birmingham and Caroline was buried on May 28 1887 in Norton Cemetery Sheffield. Bracketed with Norton Cemetery are the entries "R.C.Loft & A.Loft" which may indicate that Caroline was buried with her parents.) Annie Loft Trease July 15 1891 St.Pauls (no further information given) Moseley George Frederick July 15 1891 Birmingham Whitehouse William Henry Trease (no further information given) Caroline Trease Mar 22 1893 St.Lukes Barrow in Charles Henry Taylor Mar 22 1893 Furness (no further information given) Minnie Trease (no (No Mar 5 1955 "Lyndhurst" married (date (location 16 Malvern Rd. Sidney Smith (given (given Acocks Green (buried ) Mar 10 1955 Yardley Cemetery Mary Esther Trease (no further information given) Louise Trease (no further information given) NOTE: Some entries are in ballpoint - all the others are old and appear to have been entered in one or possibly two sessions List of William and Caroline's children This appears to be a leaf out of a family Bible. On one side is an engraving of John Bunyan. On the other is :- Surviving children of above Annie Loft Trease born at Leeds Sunday February 17th 1861 Christened at St. Georges Church Leeds 30.3.61 William Henry Trease born at Leeds Wednesday July 16th 1862 Christened at Wesleyan Chapel Burton on Trent August 12th 1863 by Rev. Geo. Halbrey. Caroline Trease born at Leeds May 11th 1864 Minnie Trease born at Leeds Sunday September 3rd 1865 Mary Esther Trease born at Leeds Saturday Decr. 27th 1867 Louisa Trease born at Headingley March 22nd 1871 copied from Books of Dr James Braithwaite St John's Hill. Leeds. NOTE: The first line uses word "above", presumably in reference to a previous page that was not kept.
| Data: Daur - Annie Loft Trease | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
Daughter - Annie Loft Trease 1861 c. 25Mar1861 Annie Loft d/o William & Caroline Trease of Grove Place Commercial Traveller (Ancestry Image) 1861 Census. Living with parents and Aunt Mary Trease in Grove Place Leeds 1871 Census. Living with her Uncle & Aunt George & Ellen LOFT in Holbeck, West Riding, Yorkshire 1881 Census. 40/41/42/43 Great King St., St George Ward, Birmingham (RG11/2999 F98 P1 E1) Henry E Rippon Head Mar 44 Draper
Wife, Son and two daughters ..
Annie L Trease Bord Unm 20 Draper's apprentice York Leeds
about 12 assistants and others ..
1891 Census 1891 Marriage certificate 1901 Census. 154. Fairholme, Malvern Road, Acocks Green (RG13//2922 f183 p25 ) George F Whitehouse, Head, 39, Brewers Secretary, b. Tipton, Staffs
Annie h Whitehouse, Wife, 39, b. Leeds, York
Ernest D Whitehouse, Brother, 30, Cashier Ironworks, b. Tipton, Staffs
Gertrude Parrish, Servant, 17, Domestic b. Langley Green Worcs
1901 Census. 153. Heathmere, Malvern Road, Acocks Green Joseph Luckman, 30, Manager Wire Mills & wife 1901 Census. 152. Hazelhurst, Malvern Road, Acocks Green William Marzell, 27, Jeweller, Employer, & wife 1901 Census. 151. Lyndhurst, Malvern Road, Acocks Green Richard Mander, 54, Photograph Frame Maker, Employer, wife, & family NOTE Annie and George's house was next door but one to Hazelhurst 1904 Yardley Cemetery - Grant of right of burial. This is a printed document with handwritten entries. This is not shown in full, only key information is given.
Yardley Burial Board Certificate no. 4008
In consideration of six pounds paid by Mrs Annie Loft Whitehouse of Henley St.,
Alcester .... exclusive rights are given .... unbricked grave no. 6936 ..
Section A1 .... for two coffins .... 10th November .... 1904.
1st interment George F. Whitehouse 10th Nov. 1904
2nd interment Annie Pitchford 18th June 1934
3rd interment Caroline White - 82 20th February 19471909 m. Thomas Pitchford & Annie Loft Whitehouse (Kings Norton RD Jul-Aug-Sep 1909 6c849) 1911 Census. 55 Addison Rd., Kings Heath, near Birmingham (RG14/17851 sch28) Thomas PITCHFORD, Head, 63, Agent for steel trader b. Wolverhampton, Staffs Annie Loft PITCHFORD, Wife, 50, b. Leeds, York
House has 7 rooms excluding bathrooms1916 02Nov1916 Witnesses James Lavell's will with Louie. Both give address 14 Malvern Road. 1916 25Mar1932 Louie's Will gives Annie's address as 27 Boden Road, Hall Green, Birmingham 1934 d. Annie L Pitchford age 73 (Birmingham RD Apr-May-Jun 1934 6d 461)
Annie's 1st husband - George Frederick Whitehouse 1861 Copy Birth Certificate dated 19th January 1993 1861 District Dudley Sub district Tipton in County of Stafford
244 14th October 1861 at Bloomfield, George Frederick, Boy, Father Elisha Whitehouse, Brewer,
Mother Eliza Whitehouse nee Nicklin. Registered by Eliza Whitehouse, mother, of Bloomfield, Tipton,
on 20th November 1861. Geo M Waring Registrar.
1904 Extract from The Alcester Chronicle in British Newspaper Library, Colindale, N.W.9. Page 5, column 4 of the issue dated Saturday November 12th 1904 :-
" DEATH OF MR G.F.WHITEHOUSE, OF ALCESTER. FATAL RESULT OF A FALL It is with much regret ....... death ensued about three o'clock on Monday morning. (The above newspaper report is shown in full in the text on Annie Loft Trease and is not reproduced here. Below is the report on the inquest not shown in the text ) THE INQUEST The inquest was held before Mr G.F.Lodder (Deputy Coroner) on Tuesday morning - Mr S.A.Gothard was appointed foreman of the jury - Mrs Whitehouse was first called and stated that the deceased was her husband and was 43 years of age. Previous to the accident he was in his usual health. During the night of Tuesday, October 18th, she was feeling unwell, and deceased went to the small medicine chest outside the bedroom for some tincture of rhubarb. This had been previously used during the day and was left in the kitchen. About a quarter-past one deceased went to go downstairs in the dark to fetch medicine, when she heard him fall. Witness having procured a light went to him and found deceased at the bottom unconscious. She bathed him, and he soon came round. She saw he had injured his face and legs but did not think there was anything serious the matter. The first thing in the morning she sent down to Mr Adcock's for something to remove the discolouration of the eyes as this appeared to trouble her husband. Mr. Whitehouse did not consider he was seriously injured and refused to have a doctor. When she went to her husband he said something about having dropped his match box, and in picking them up stepped on his dressing gown which threw him down the stairs. He was able, however, to get upstairs again with her assistance. On the 21st October she sent for Dr. Spencer as her husband complained of pains in his head, and he attended him until the time of his death. Deceased the previous night attended the annual meeting of the Fire Brigade - Dr R.H.Spencer (Alcester) stated that he was called to deceased on October 21st. He found him suffering from an injury to his head and face, and slight abrasions on his legs. His wife, in presence of deceased, said she wished to send for him immediately after the incident happened, but deceased would not see a doctor, and when witness saw him Mr. Whitehouse did not appear to think him much injured. There was a great tenderness over the left side of the forehead and both eyes. Deceased was conscious and remained so up to Saturday last. The cause of death was a fracture of the front portion of the base of the skull. - Replying to a question from the Coroner, witness said he did not think if he had been called earlier it would have prevented death - The Coroner remarked that that was all the evidence he proposed to call. It was quite clear that death was due to an unfortunate accident. - The jury returned a verdict that death was due to fracture of the front portion of the skull, occasioned by an accident in falling down the stairs. They also recorded their great sympathy with the widow in the loss she had sustained - The Coroner addressing Mrs Whitehouse said the jury desired him, on their behalf, to convey to her their deepest sympathy in the sad and unfortunate accident which had caused the death of her husband, and also their sympathy with other of deceased's relatives."1904 d. George Frederick Whitehouse 43 (Alcester RD Oct-Nov-Dec 1904 6d 439) 1904 24Dec1904 Grant of Probate of Will
Annie's 2nd husband - Thomas PITCHFORD 1912 d. Thomas Pitchford age 64 (King's Norton RD Apr-May-Jun 1912 6c 365) 1912 Probate - Thomas Pitchford RETURN to START of DATA for ANNIE
| Data: Son - William Henry Trease | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
Son - William Henry Trease 1871 Census. With grandparents at Burton on Trent 1881 Census. 6 The Crescent,East St Mary Ward, Leicester (RG11/3173 F20 P14 E82) About 15 occupants all draper's assistants, and apprentices including :-
William H Trease Appr Uum 18 Draper's apprentice b. Leeds, Yorkshire1891 Census? 1901 Census. 1909 27Apr1992. Letter from Royal Hospital Chelsea ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA London SW3 4SR Telephone 071 730 0161 Fax 071 823 6871 Living person Plaxton (!) RH/M3 Sevenoaks Kent TN15 0QR 27 April, 1992 Dear Sir Thank you for your letter dated 23 April 1992 enquiring about William Henry Trease. We have been able to find the following information about your relation. (a) He left the colours 29.04.1909 having served in the Royal Artillery. (b) He was admitted into the Royal Hospital 13.04.34. (c) He died here on 02.11.40 and was buried at Brookwood Cemetery in grave number 20 25 95 E40 I am afraid that that is all the information which we possess here but if you want more I would suggest you write to the Army Records Office, Bourne Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex. Yours sincerely, Robert Ho...(?) CURATOR1909 Army Discharge Papers. (PRO - KEW. Class WO97 Lot 6101) Transcripts of main information on forms. Attestation Paper (signs up for 12 years) Date 9th December 1884 Place Royal Artillery Woolwich Age 22yrs 4mos Occupation Draper Apprenticeships Adderley & Co, @ Leicester Period December 1877 to December 1882 Enlist in what corps? Royal Artillery Who gave you a notice? Wm Forington Corps P Pensioner Height 5'8 1/2" Weight 144lbs Chest 35 1/2" Complexion Fresh Eyes Brown Hair Brown Religious denom. Church of England Marks Scar right leg. Moles back Service Record Home 9th December 1884 - 6th November 1886 1yr 334days Gibraltar 7th November 1886 - 7th July 1894 7yr 242days Home 8th July 1894 - 8th December 1896 2yr 154days Certificate of Education 3rd Class 5/10/85 Classes of Instruction Depression Range Finding 15/9/92 Position Finding 1/11/94 Joined Gunner 9Dec84 31May85 RA 1st Brigade Transferred Gunner 1Jun85 27Oct85 1 Brigade Lancashire Div RA Appointed aBombr 28Oct85 6Jan86 Promoted Bombr 7Jan86 13May86 Awaiting Trial 14May86 23May86 Tried & Reduced Gunner 24May86 24May86 Continued Gunner 25May86 19Dec87 20Dec87 30Jun89 Reorganisation 1Jul89 Eastern Dvn 3 Transferred 16Sep92 Dist Estb Reorganised 1Apr94 Dist Est Gib Transferred 2Jul94 EDRA Depot " 23Jul94 Dist Estb Thames Discharged 8Dec96 Dist Est Eastern Dn. History Sheet Home 9th Dec 1884 6th Nov 1886 Gibraltar 7th Nov 1886 7th Jul 1894 Home 8th Jul 1894 8th Dec 1896 Father William Trease, 63 Horninglow St., Burton on Trent, Derbyshire Classes of Instruction Depression Range Finding 15/9/92 Position Finding 1/11/94 Certificates of Ed. 3rd Class 5/10/85 NOTE: Appears to have left Army from 8th December 1896 to 9th April 1900. Attestation - Short Service (signed up for 1 yr) Date 9/04/00 Place London Enlist R. Garrison Artillery Age 37yrs 8mos Height 5'8 3/4" Weight 172 lbs Chest 38 1/2" Service record Joined at Sheerness 9/4/00 Posted 9/4/00 EDR GA 27th Co Eastern Division Discharged 8/4/01 Father Mr J Trease, 63 Horninglow St., Burton on Trent Staffordshire (NOTE: Why has this been entered incorrectly?) Character Very good Intended residence 16 Victory St., Mile Town, Sheerness Attestation - Short Service (signed up for 4 more yrs) Date 25/04/01 Place Sheerness Age 38yrs 8mos Weight 184lbs Service record Joined at Sheerness 25 April 01 Discharged 24 April 05 Home 25/04/01 19/09/04 Gibraltar 20/09/04 24/04/05 Attestation - Short Service (signed up for 4 more yrs) Date 25/04/05 Place Gibraltar Age 42yrs 8mos Details As before Weight 182lbs Medical Notes He has somewhat defective vision with the right eye but taking the circumstances into consideration I do not consider that this will affect the service. Next of kin Sister, Mary Trease Service record Gibraltar 25Apr05 - 12Feb09 3yrs 294days Home 13Feb09 - 24Apr09 71days Discharge Papers No 4036 Rank Gunner Name William Henry Trease Corps Royal Regiment of Artillery (RGA) Company No 67 Company Date of Discharge 24th April 1909 Place Portsmouth Age 46yrs 8mos Height 5ft 9.5ins Chest expanded 42.5ins Range of expansion 2.5ins Complexion Fresh Eyes Grey Hair Brown Trade Draper Intended place of res. Lyndhurst, Malvern Rd., Acocks Green Descriptive Marks Scars - Inner surface right leg Scar - back of neck Mole right shoulder Vacc marks left Scars front left knee Discharge in cons. of With less than 21 years service towards engagement but with 21 or more years service towards pension (KR Para 390 (xxii)) WO letter No19/Arty/18/Als2dte24/2/09 Reg Records B1/3/666/1 dte 26/02/09 Conduct Exemplary - No Offence during the last 10 years service - Is a hard working & reliable man Special Quals for Draper - having served his time as an apprentice. Has emp. in civil. life been employed as storeman for the last 9 years of his service and has kept the clothing & equipment ded.jus? in the absence of the CQMS Medals & Decorations Silver medal for long service & good conduct 1908 Certificate of Education Third class Statement of Service To 24/04/08 21yrs 0days NOTE: Court Martial Records The records at PRO Kew designated WO86/35 which cover the year 1886/1887 have been inspected. He was court martialled on 24th May 1886 and the offence should be recorded in the above book but no record was found. The book was written up daily as notifications of minor offences were received. Considerable delays between date of receipt of notification and the date of the court martial were observed particularly for garrisons overseas. The book was searched from April 1886 to January 1887 - it is felt unlikely that notification would be after January 1887.1911 Census. Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham William Henry TREASE Patient 48 Single Draper's warehouseman. Employed b. Leeds 1931 07Sep1931. Postcard from sister Louie. 1934-38 Electoral Roll. No 6 Royal Hospital, Kensington & Chelsea William Henry TREASE RETURN to START of DATA for WILLIAM HENRY TREASE
| Data: Daur - Caroline Trease | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
Daur - Caroline Trease 1864 Copy birth certificate dated 09Mar1928 1871 Census. With parents in Leeds 1881 Census. With father and grandparents in Burton on Trent 1891 Census. 1893 Original copy of marriage certificate 1895 Birth Certificate of Doris May Taylor copied on 22nd April 1921. 1917 d. Charles H TAYLOR age 49 (Ulverston RD Oct-Nov-Dec 1917 8e823) 1934 Original copy of marriage certificate 1947 Original copy of death certificate
| Data: Daur - Minnie Trease | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
Daur - Minnie Trease 1871 With parents and some of the family in Leeds 1881 Census. 3Apr1881 22 George St,Kings Norton,Balsall Heath,St. Pauls (RG11/2952 F111 P5) Charles P Brown Head Mar 42 Grimsby, Lincs
Jane " Wife 46 Devon, Plymouth
Ellena J " Daur Unm 12 Scholar Birmingham
Charles H " Son 10 " "
Florence M " Daur 9 " "
Minnie Trease Niece 15 " York, Leeds
Louise " " 15 " " "
(next door but 1, at 11/12 George St lived Christopher Whitehouse (45) born at Great Budge, his wife Mary (43) born at Tipton,
and their 2 daughters, Eliza (25) and Elizabeth Cooper (23) and her husband John)
1891 Census. The Elms, Bridgnorth, Shropshire (RG12 2096 f28 p12) Philip GILBERT, 45, Head, Living on own means, b. Birmingham, Warwicks
Wife and two stepdaughters: -
Isabel M Draper 10
Grace M Draper 7
Minnie Trease, F 25 Governess, b. Leeds, Yorkshire
1900 Original copy of Minnie's Marriage Certificate 1901 Census. Mayfield, Devonshire Rd., Handsworth (RG13/2711 f129 p 16) Sidney SMITH, Head, 44, Carpet Factor, Employer b. Birmingham, Warwicks
Minnie SMITH, Wife, 34, b. Leeds, York
Harriet HATHAWAY, Servant, 32, b. West Bromwich, Staffs1911 Census. Oakdene, Ashleigh Road, Solihull, Warwicks (RG14 18643) Albert Henry SMITH, Head, S, 49, Cabinet & Builder's Brassfounder, b. Handsworth, Staffs
Marion Sophia SMITH Sister, S, 53, b. Birmingham, Warwicks
Frances Mary SMITH, Sister, S, 48, b. Handsworth, Staffs
Ellen ELLIS, Servant, S, 27, Gen serv, b. Oldbury, Worcs
Sidney SMITH, Visitor, M, 54, Cabinet Maker & Carpet Factor, b. Birmingham, Warwicks1911 Census. Churchill, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffa (RG14 16977) Eric Oswald STIRK, Head, M, Corn Dealer, b. Tettenhall, Staffs
Grace Martha STIRK, Wife, b. Kersley, Warwicks
Minnie SMITH, Visitor, 45, b. Farhedingley, Yorks
Elsie HARRIS, S, 24, Gen Servant Domestic, b. Bromsgrove, WorcsF1921 Original copy of Sidney Smith's Death Certificate 1921 Administration of of Sidney Smith's Estate Entry in Register : Sydney Smith of Oakdene Ashleigh-road Solihull Warwickshire died 11 July 1921 Administration Birmingham 31 July to Minnie Smith widow. Effects £5. Pre-printed Admon form (with handwritten insertions) : BE IT KNOWN that Sydney Smith of Oakdene, Ashleigh Road Solihull in the County of Warwick who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Oakdene aforesaid within the District of The County of Warwick died on the 11th day of July 1921 at Oakdene, aforesaid intestate AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder writeen Letters of Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said intestate were granted by His Majesty's High Court of Justice at the District Probate Registry thereof at Birmingham to Minnie Smith of Lyndhurst Malvern Road, Acocks Green in the City of Birmingham the lawful widow and relict of the said intestate Sureties Lizzie Kathleen Lowe of 10 South Road Handsworth in the said City, Spinster Dated the 31st day of July 1922 Gross value of Estate £5 " 0 " 0 Net value of Personal Estate £5 " 0 " 0 36 & 37 Vic Ch 52 Extracted by The Administratrix Francis Rabnett Deputy District Registrar1955 Original copy of Minnie Smith's Death Certificate
| Data: Daur - Mary Esther Trease | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
Daur - Mary Esther Trease 1867 Copy of Mary Esther Trease's birth certificate 1871 Census. Living with Uncle George Loft his wife and sister Annie in Leeds 1881 Census. Living with father, grandparents, Aunts and some of her family in Burton on Trent 1891 Census. Living with father, grandmother, Aunts and sister Louie in Burton on Trent 1901 Census. Living with father and sister Louie in Acocks Green 1911 Census. Lyndhurst, Malvern Road (RG14 ?) Mary Esther TREASE Head 43 Single Private Means b. York
Louise TREASE Sister 40 Single Private Means b. York
Ernest Woodhouse SMITH Boarder 27 Director of High Pressure Gas Laboratories Worker b. Gorton. Lancs
John Edward ALLEN Boarder 29 Chemist & Druggist Worker b. USA
Mary Miranda SMITH Visitor 55 Mar b. Gorton, Lancs
Mary ALLEN Visitor Single b. Stretford Lancs
House has 7 rooms inc Kitchen exc Bathroom
NOTE: Next door on one side is Mrs Quaife living at "Hazlehurst"
On other side is Mr Vann living at "Homeville"1916 Otiginal Copy of Mary Esther Trease's Marriage certificate 1943 Probate for James Lavell 1943 Probate for Mary Esther Lavell
| Data: Daur - Louisa Trease aka Louie | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
RETURN to START of DATA for LOUIE TREASE OR to WILLS
| William & Caroline LOFT | Life Story | Photos | Data | Tree (Generation 20) |
| Data | Data Index | Data Change History | Data Standards |
| Date | Section | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nov2013 | ALL | Text expanded, photos and source data added |