Henry Lowe was born 16 March 1851 in Bolton Road, Elton, Bury, Lancashire. In some records, he was shown as Henry Joseph and in others simply Henry. His birth certificate shows Henry without Joseph. My theory is that his mother called him Henry Joseph but that his father was the one to fill out the birth registration and he told them the child's name was simply Henry. To distinguish the senior Henry from the junior Henry, I will refer to the junior by Henry Joseph.
Today, the area known as Elton is considered a suburb of Bury, which is part of Greater Manchester. But in 1851 when Henry was born, Elton was the location of the Wellington Army Barracks. Henry Joseph's birth certificate shows that his father was Henry Lowe, a private soldier in the 3rd Dragoon Guards and that his residence was at the Barracks at Elton. Those barracks were on Bolton Road and since that's the location of Henry Joseph's birth, it's possible he was born in the barracks as they contained married quarters.
Henry Joseph's father was born in Nottinghamshire in 1822 and joined the army in 1844. His regiment was sent to Ireland the following year where he met an Irish lass named Bridget Fox. The two were married in Dublin in 1846, and Bridget followed Henry when the regiment was moved to Scotland at the end of that same year. The couple had a daughter in Edinburgh in February 1848, which was where Henry must have been stationed at the time. The 3rd Dragoon Guards were then moved from Scotland to England and the couple had their second child, another daughter, in Nottingham in September 1849. Since Henry was from Nottingham, it could be that his wife was staying with his relatives but it's also possible that Henry was stationed in that area by coincidence and that she gave birth in the barracks.
Henry Joseph was likely their third child based on the timing of the births. The 1851 English census was taken just two weeks after his birth, but only his father appears — in residence at the barracks at Bury. Neither Henry Joseph nor his mother or sisters appear in that census, so it's possible that Bridget took her three children home to Ireland shortly after Henry Joseph's birth. There was also an Irish census taken in 1851 so they'd have likely appeared in that, but those records were destroyed and are not available today.
We don't know if Bridget and the children moved back and forth between England and Ireland after that, but her husband's regiment returned to Ireland in 1852, so the family should have been reunited then for sure. More children were born over the next few years to the couple in Dublin, so it would seem that Henry Joseph spent his youth in Ireland.
In 1857, the 3rd Dragoon Guards regiment was sent to India. Henry Lowe's military records show that he spent the next two years serving in India. We don't known if Bridget and the children went with Henry or if they stayed in Ireland. Another son named Arthur was baptised in 1859 but it is unclear when he was actually born (he could have been born years earlier and somewhere else).
Military records show that Henry Joseph's father left the army in 1860, and he was back in Ireland with his wife in time to father another child, Joseph, born in 1862. After his discharge from the army, he became a tailor, an occupation he carried out in Dublin until his death in 1892.
Henry Joseph followed in his father's footsteps and joined the 3rd Dragoon Guards, probably around 1868 when he would have been only 17 or 18 years old. His attestation papers have not been found so it's not known where Henry signed up for the army, but he would have grown up in Dublin. The regiment had a presence in Ireland, so he might have enlisted in that city. He might also have travelled to another location to enlist. We don't know at this time.
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| A photograph of the Wellington Barracks showing the married quarters. This was likely how it looked in 1851 when Henry Lowe was born. |
Henry Joseph was likely their third child based on the timing of the births. The 1851 English census was taken just two weeks after his birth, but only his father appears — in residence at the barracks at Bury. Neither Henry Joseph nor his mother or sisters appear in that census, so it's possible that Bridget took her three children home to Ireland shortly after Henry Joseph's birth. There was also an Irish census taken in 1851 so they'd have likely appeared in that, but those records were destroyed and are not available today.
We don't know if Bridget and the children moved back and forth between England and Ireland after that, but her husband's regiment returned to Ireland in 1852, so the family should have been reunited then for sure. More children were born over the next few years to the couple in Dublin, so it would seem that Henry Joseph spent his youth in Ireland.
In 1857, the 3rd Dragoon Guards regiment was sent to India. Henry Lowe's military records show that he spent the next two years serving in India. We don't known if Bridget and the children went with Henry or if they stayed in Ireland. Another son named Arthur was baptised in 1859 but it is unclear when he was actually born (he could have been born years earlier and somewhere else).
Military records show that Henry Joseph's father left the army in 1860, and he was back in Ireland with his wife in time to father another child, Joseph, born in 1862. After his discharge from the army, he became a tailor, an occupation he carried out in Dublin until his death in 1892.
Henry Joseph followed in his father's footsteps and joined the 3rd Dragoon Guards, probably around 1868 when he would have been only 17 or 18 years old. His attestation papers have not been found so it's not known where Henry signed up for the army, but he would have grown up in Dublin. The regiment had a presence in Ireland, so he might have enlisted in that city. He might also have travelled to another location to enlist. We don't know at this time.
What we do know is that by the time Henry Joseph married Georgina Dawson on 31 May 1875 he was a private in the 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards stationed at the Fulford Barracks in the city of York in the county of Yorkshire. The brick cavalry buildings were built around 1795, and the 3rd Dragoon Guards were the first to occupy the barracks the year they were completed. The barracks were in continuous use until they were demolished in 1935. But the 3rd Dragoon Guards were not headquartered there. As home guards, they were barracked wherever they were deployed throughout the United Kingdom and were often broken up to police different areas at the same time. This is unlike combat regiments, which tended to stay together attached to one headquarter barracks until they were sent off to a war. Then they returned to the same location after the conflict.
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| Cavalry Barracks at York circa 1907; the buildings are now mostly gone except the gate. The location of the old buildings is now home to the North Yorkshire Police. |
Henry Joseph's wife, Georgina Dawson (whose birth certificate shows her name as Georgiana with an extra 'a'), was from Ramsey, Huntingdonshire — about 200 km south of where they were married in Yorkshire.
At the time of her marriage, Georgina was living at Hope Terrace, Cemetery Road in York. Georgina's father had died in the 1860s, and her mother, Mary, was living with one of Georgina's older bothers (John) in York in the 1871 census. Georgina's mother had moved in with her son John after her husband died<. Although Georgina was 17 and unmarried at the time of the 1871 census, she does not appear to have moved there with her mother—at least she does not show in the census record as being in the household with them.
As noted, Georgina was not listed in the 1871 census with her mother and brother John, so she probably moved to York between 1871 and 1875. Since she doesn't appear anywhere in England in the 1871 census, one possibility for her location was with another brother William who was serving overseas with the British army. William had a long military career that took him to places such as Malta and Gibraltar, and he had his wife and children with him overseas.
Georgina may have moved in with her brother William and his family possibly to look after the children as a nanny, travelling with them to where William was stationed in the army. This would explain Georgina's absence in the 1871 census as the family was overseas. This might also explain how she came to meet Henry. Although Henry Joseph Lowe and Georgina's brother William were not in the same regiment, there may have been a military connection between them of some kind. It is also possible that if she did move with her brother in York, Georgina and Henry Joseph simply met in the town while he was stationed at the barracks.
However, a letter written by Isabella Pickles Lowe to her son James Edward Lowe during World War II explains that "Grandma Lowe" was from the Galashiels area of Scotland. James Edward Lowe's "Grandma Lowe" would have been Georgina Dawson. So it is also possible that she lived in Scotland for awhile before marrying Henry Joseph Lowe in 1875, which may mean the family had a Scottish connection. Three out of four available censuses after she was married show Georgina's birthplace as Ramsey, Hungtingdonshire, but one shows her birthplace as "Scotland." This would indicate that at least one person living in the household at the time of the census believed Georgina had been born in Scotland, when she hadn't, which is an indication that she had lived in Scotland at some point. She cannot be found anywhere in the 1871 anywhere, including Scotland.
Georgina was 22 at the time of her wedding, and the marriage certificate shows no occupation for her, which is unlikely as she would have needed to contribute to whatever household she was living in. This may mean that she had been living with a family member right up until she married. If she were helping take care of children in a relative's household, she may not have been considered 'employed' as this was not technically an occupation. We don't know if Georgina was living in York already when she met Henry Joseph or if the couple met elsewhere, and Henry arranged for Georgina to come to York to be married.
In the 1871 census, Georgina's older brother was living in York and was working as a 'publican,' which means he ran a pub. The pub was called the Alma Inn and was located on the Fulford Road in Gates Fulford. Henry Joseph's residence at the time of the marriage was the Fulford Barracks, which was in the same neighbourhood. Was Georgina working for her brother at the pub or in his household and met Henry Joseph there or elsewhere in the community?
Henry Joseph's father was shown on the marriage certificate as Henry Lowe, a tailor. Georgina shows her father as a 'bailer' on the certificate, but since her mother was shown to be a widow on the 1871 census, her father had obviously died at least a few years earlier.
Henry Joseph was already serving in the British Army when they married, so when he was posted to Ireland shortly afterward, his new wife either went with him or followed him there. Wives were still permitted to accompany their soldier husbands during the late 1800s and often lived in the barracks with them. But Henry's mother was from Dublin and his parents settled there when his father retired from the army. He also had several siblings living in Dublin, so the plan may have been for Georgina to live with his family.
They had three children while Henry Joseph was stationed in Ireland: Emily Mary in Dublin in 1876, George Henry in Waterford in 1878 and Charlotte Elizabeth back in Dublin in 1880. Toddler George, however, died in 1880 while they were still in Ireland.
On Emily Mary's baptism record (which showed her name as Mary Emily even though all other records have the names the other way around), the address given was 61 Manor Street, Dublin. Henry Joseph was a soldier at the time and likely lived in the barracks. But 61 Manor Street was shown as the address for Henry Lowe, tailor, in an 1881 directory. This would indicate that Henry Joseph's wife was staying with his parents, at least when she gave birth.
At the time of her marriage, Georgina was living at Hope Terrace, Cemetery Road in York. Georgina's father had died in the 1860s, and her mother, Mary, was living with one of Georgina's older bothers (John) in York in the 1871 census. Georgina's mother had moved in with her son John after her husband died<. Although Georgina was 17 and unmarried at the time of the 1871 census, she does not appear to have moved there with her mother—at least she does not show in the census record as being in the household with them.
As noted, Georgina was not listed in the 1871 census with her mother and brother John, so she probably moved to York between 1871 and 1875. Since she doesn't appear anywhere in England in the 1871 census, one possibility for her location was with another brother William who was serving overseas with the British army. William had a long military career that took him to places such as Malta and Gibraltar, and he had his wife and children with him overseas.
Georgina may have moved in with her brother William and his family possibly to look after the children as a nanny, travelling with them to where William was stationed in the army. This would explain Georgina's absence in the 1871 census as the family was overseas. This might also explain how she came to meet Henry. Although Henry Joseph Lowe and Georgina's brother William were not in the same regiment, there may have been a military connection between them of some kind. It is also possible that if she did move with her brother in York, Georgina and Henry Joseph simply met in the town while he was stationed at the barracks.
However, a letter written by Isabella Pickles Lowe to her son James Edward Lowe during World War II explains that "Grandma Lowe" was from the Galashiels area of Scotland. James Edward Lowe's "Grandma Lowe" would have been Georgina Dawson. So it is also possible that she lived in Scotland for awhile before marrying Henry Joseph Lowe in 1875, which may mean the family had a Scottish connection. Three out of four available censuses after she was married show Georgina's birthplace as Ramsey, Hungtingdonshire, but one shows her birthplace as "Scotland." This would indicate that at least one person living in the household at the time of the census believed Georgina had been born in Scotland, when she hadn't, which is an indication that she had lived in Scotland at some point. She cannot be found anywhere in the 1871 anywhere, including Scotland.
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| Believed to be an 1875 Wedding Photograph of Georgina (Georgiana) Dawson and Henry Joseph Lowe |
Georgina was 22 at the time of her wedding, and the marriage certificate shows no occupation for her, which is unlikely as she would have needed to contribute to whatever household she was living in. This may mean that she had been living with a family member right up until she married. If she were helping take care of children in a relative's household, she may not have been considered 'employed' as this was not technically an occupation. We don't know if Georgina was living in York already when she met Henry Joseph or if the couple met elsewhere, and Henry arranged for Georgina to come to York to be married.
In the 1871 census, Georgina's older brother was living in York and was working as a 'publican,' which means he ran a pub. The pub was called the Alma Inn and was located on the Fulford Road in Gates Fulford. Henry Joseph's residence at the time of the marriage was the Fulford Barracks, which was in the same neighbourhood. Was Georgina working for her brother at the pub or in his household and met Henry Joseph there or elsewhere in the community?
Henry Joseph's father was shown on the marriage certificate as Henry Lowe, a tailor. Georgina shows her father as a 'bailer' on the certificate, but since her mother was shown to be a widow on the 1871 census, her father had obviously died at least a few years earlier.
Henry Joseph was already serving in the British Army when they married, so when he was posted to Ireland shortly afterward, his new wife either went with him or followed him there. Wives were still permitted to accompany their soldier husbands during the late 1800s and often lived in the barracks with them. But Henry's mother was from Dublin and his parents settled there when his father retired from the army. He also had several siblings living in Dublin, so the plan may have been for Georgina to live with his family.
They had three children while Henry Joseph was stationed in Ireland: Emily Mary in Dublin in 1876, George Henry in Waterford in 1878 and Charlotte Elizabeth back in Dublin in 1880. Toddler George, however, died in 1880 while they were still in Ireland.
On Emily Mary's baptism record (which showed her name as Mary Emily even though all other records have the names the other way around), the address given was 61 Manor Street, Dublin. Henry Joseph was a soldier at the time and likely lived in the barracks. But 61 Manor Street was shown as the address for Henry Lowe, tailor, in an 1881 directory. This would indicate that Henry Joseph's wife was staying with his parents, at least when she gave birth.
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| The larger building on the left is 61 Manor Street today. This building was likely built after 1900 and would not have been the same place the family lived. However, the buildings on right are older and could be the same as what was at 61 Manor Street in the mid-1800s. Note the shop built on to the front of one of the residences on the right. Henry Joseph's father was a tailor and could have run his business from the actual residence but might also have had a shop at the front. |
George Henry's birth certificate in 1878 shows the family address as Barrack Street in Waterford. Henry Joseph must have been sent from Dublin to Waterford with the 3rd Dragoon Guards. Waterford was a port city and a growing industrial region in the 1870s. Historical records show, however, that an agricultural crisis hit the area between 1876 and 1880. In the town of Dungarven, for example, people were destitute as a result of crop failures and a lack of work. The government offered them relief via the workhouse, but many men refused to go, instead demanding a plan to provide jobs. As the 3rd Dragoon Guards were essentially a policing force, they may have been sent to keep the peace during the unrest.
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| Waterford quay circa 1890. |
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| An Irish Guard's mascot outside the Waterford Barracks circa 1909. Look at the age of 'soldier.' |
On Charlotte Elizabeth's birth registration, Henry Joseph's address was shows as Islandbridge Barracks. Built in 1798, Islandbridge Barracks (name changed to Clancy Barracks after Irish independence) were located on the south side of the River Liffy in Dublin. In 1837, the barracks complex housed 23 officers, 547 soldiers, 185 horses and a 48-bed hospital. In 1860, it was proposed to add married housing to the barracks, so that may have been available by the time Henry Joseph arrived in Dublin with the 3rd Dragoon Guards. But his wife and children may have lived with or near his parents in Dublin.
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| Islandbridge Barracks in Dublin circa 1916 |
A registry book from the 3rd Dragoon Guards shows a Henry Lowe being discharged on 20 September 1880. This date was just after young George's death. The registry record, if this was for our Henry Joseph, indicates that he'd been in the army for 12 years and gives his service number as 1253. That would mean he joined in 1868 when we was 17 or 18 years old.
In the 1881 census done the following spring, the family was living back in England in Ulverston, Lancashire. The market town of Ulverston is located in the Furness area, close to the Lake District (now South Lakeland district of Cumbria in North West England).
The family was resident at 40 James Street, which today is known to be in Askam-in-Furness, but the address still exists. In the house were Henry Joseph (shown as Henry Joseph), his wife Georgina, daughter Emily Mary (4) and daughter Charlotte, who was still a baby at 9 months old. Remember that the son who was born in Ireland died.
Henry Joseph was 30 years old in 1881 and was working as an iron ore miner at the time of the census. Iron ore was discovered in the Askam area of Furness in 1850 and turned out to be the second largest deposit of iron ore ever found in England with over seven million tons of ore extracted, so there was plenty of work. Since Henry's family members were almost all in Ireland, it is surprising that the family returned to England. I can't even speculate as to why that was and how they landed in Lancashire.
But by 1882 the family had relocated again — this time to Leeds in Yorkshire. That year Henry Joseph and Georgina had a daughter they named Alice while living at 12 Old Row in Holbeck, a suburb of Leeds. Henry Joseph was listed on the birth certificate as being a labourer. Again, we can't know for sure what prompted this move, however, the 1881 census showed that Georgina had two brothers living in the Leeds. Mining may have paid more, but it is possible that Henry became ill or injured and could not do the type of work required in the mines.
The couple then lose their daughter Charlotte who had been born in Ireland in 1880. A death record for a Charlotte Elizabeth Lowe in 1884 shows that she would have been only 4 when she died. Daughter Georgina was then born in Leeds in 1885. The family was still living in Old Row but had moved to number 8, and Henry was shown to be a tailor, which is a far cry from mining 10 years earlier. Tailoring was Henry's father's occupation in Ireland after he retired from the army. We know from a letter Henry's son wrote many years later that Henry had been a sergeant master tailor for the 3rd Dragoon Guards. It is likely that Henry learned the tailoring trade from his father growing up and continued it through his military service.
Daughter Blanche was born in 1888 and then Ethel in 1890 while they lived in a place called Ellison Court in Leeds. In the Ellison Court household during the 1891 census were Henry Joseph, Georgina (wife), Emily, Alice, Blanche and Ethel. Young Georgina died in 1898 yet she does not appear in the 1891 census with the family. As she'd have been about six years old at the time of the census, the possibilities for her whereabouts include a healthcare facility (if she had been ill for some time before she died) or staying with relatives, but I've been unable to confirm either theory.
The family occupied four rooms in Ellison Court, which by the standards of the day was large. There would have been a kitchen, living area, bedroom for the parents and another for the children. Henry was 40 and still working as a tailor, and his wife Georgina was working as a tailoress. Henry Joseph may have taught the family trade to his wife. And if it were an occupation that the couple did from home, it could explain the extra room in the house, which may have been a workshop rather than a living room.
Daughter Emily, who was 14, was shown as working as a general servant. Children were required to attend school until they were 14, but many were permitted to leave younger if the family needed them to contribute to the household and if the school master gave permission. Emily may have just begun this job but she may have been working for awhile by then.
A son named Thomas Arthur was born to Georgina in 1892 at 32 Charley Street. Sadly, Thomas died in the first half of 1893; he was no more than seven months old. On the death records, Henry was listed as a groom, which would mean he was working with horses. Since he was in a cavalry regiment when he served in the British Army back in the 1870s, he would have learned to care for horses then.
In the 1881 census done the following spring, the family was living back in England in Ulverston, Lancashire. The market town of Ulverston is located in the Furness area, close to the Lake District (now South Lakeland district of Cumbria in North West England).
The family was resident at 40 James Street, which today is known to be in Askam-in-Furness, but the address still exists. In the house were Henry Joseph (shown as Henry Joseph), his wife Georgina, daughter Emily Mary (4) and daughter Charlotte, who was still a baby at 9 months old. Remember that the son who was born in Ireland died.
Henry Joseph was 30 years old in 1881 and was working as an iron ore miner at the time of the census. Iron ore was discovered in the Askam area of Furness in 1850 and turned out to be the second largest deposit of iron ore ever found in England with over seven million tons of ore extracted, so there was plenty of work. Since Henry's family members were almost all in Ireland, it is surprising that the family returned to England. I can't even speculate as to why that was and how they landed in Lancashire.
But by 1882 the family had relocated again — this time to Leeds in Yorkshire. That year Henry Joseph and Georgina had a daughter they named Alice while living at 12 Old Row in Holbeck, a suburb of Leeds. Henry Joseph was listed on the birth certificate as being a labourer. Again, we can't know for sure what prompted this move, however, the 1881 census showed that Georgina had two brothers living in the Leeds. Mining may have paid more, but it is possible that Henry became ill or injured and could not do the type of work required in the mines.
The couple then lose their daughter Charlotte who had been born in Ireland in 1880. A death record for a Charlotte Elizabeth Lowe in 1884 shows that she would have been only 4 when she died. Daughter Georgina was then born in Leeds in 1885. The family was still living in Old Row but had moved to number 8, and Henry was shown to be a tailor, which is a far cry from mining 10 years earlier. Tailoring was Henry's father's occupation in Ireland after he retired from the army. We know from a letter Henry's son wrote many years later that Henry had been a sergeant master tailor for the 3rd Dragoon Guards. It is likely that Henry learned the tailoring trade from his father growing up and continued it through his military service.
Daughter Blanche was born in 1888 and then Ethel in 1890 while they lived in a place called Ellison Court in Leeds. In the Ellison Court household during the 1891 census were Henry Joseph, Georgina (wife), Emily, Alice, Blanche and Ethel. Young Georgina died in 1898 yet she does not appear in the 1891 census with the family. As she'd have been about six years old at the time of the census, the possibilities for her whereabouts include a healthcare facility (if she had been ill for some time before she died) or staying with relatives, but I've been unable to confirm either theory.
The family occupied four rooms in Ellison Court, which by the standards of the day was large. There would have been a kitchen, living area, bedroom for the parents and another for the children. Henry was 40 and still working as a tailor, and his wife Georgina was working as a tailoress. Henry Joseph may have taught the family trade to his wife. And if it were an occupation that the couple did from home, it could explain the extra room in the house, which may have been a workshop rather than a living room.
Daughter Emily, who was 14, was shown as working as a general servant. Children were required to attend school until they were 14, but many were permitted to leave younger if the family needed them to contribute to the household and if the school master gave permission. Emily may have just begun this job but she may have been working for awhile by then.
A son named Thomas Arthur was born to Georgina in 1892 at 32 Charley Street. Sadly, Thomas died in the first half of 1893; he was no more than seven months old. On the death records, Henry was listed as a groom, which would mean he was working with horses. Since he was in a cavalry regiment when he served in the British Army back in the 1870s, he would have learned to care for horses then.
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| Charley Street in Leeds circa 1930, but the street would not have changed since the family lived there |
In 1894, Georgina gave birth to James Alfred, who turned out to be their only son who survived to adulthood. Traditionally, the first male gets the mother’s maiden name as a second name, but since the previous male children had died, James Alfred had the name Dawson added after his middle name. The couple had moved to 4 Back Park Street in Leeds, and Henry Joseph was shown on their son's birth record to be working as a groom.
As noted earlier, daughter Georgina died in 1898 at age 13. There is a gravestone in Beckett Street Cemetery in Leeds for a Georgina Lowe. The burial records shows Henry Lowe as the father and that her abode was at 29 Cardigan View in Leeds. This is an anomaly, because the family was living at 4 Back Park Street in 1894 when James Alfred was born and were also at 4 Back Park Street in the 1901 census. Did they move from there and then back again? Or was Georgina staying elsewhere? This address appears to be a residence where a family named Hainsworth was living in the 1901 census, so it does not appear to be a hospital or other institution.
In the 1901 census, the family was at 4 Back Park Street and occupied four rooms. In the household were Henry (now 50), Georgina (47), Alice (18), Ethel (14), Blanche (12), and James (6). Note that Emily was not shown and was already married with her own child. Henry was employed as a painter at a wheel and axle works.
Henry Joseph was still employed at the wheel and axle works in the 1911 census, but the family had moved to 37 Chatham Street, and this home also had four rooms. Henry Joseph was 60 and Georgina 54 by this time. The only one of their children living at home was James Alfred, their youngest at 17.
As noted earlier, daughter Georgina died in 1898 at age 13. There is a gravestone in Beckett Street Cemetery in Leeds for a Georgina Lowe. The burial records shows Henry Lowe as the father and that her abode was at 29 Cardigan View in Leeds. This is an anomaly, because the family was living at 4 Back Park Street in 1894 when James Alfred was born and were also at 4 Back Park Street in the 1901 census. Did they move from there and then back again? Or was Georgina staying elsewhere? This address appears to be a residence where a family named Hainsworth was living in the 1901 census, so it does not appear to be a hospital or other institution.
In the 1901 census, the family was at 4 Back Park Street and occupied four rooms. In the household were Henry (now 50), Georgina (47), Alice (18), Ethel (14), Blanche (12), and James (6). Note that Emily was not shown and was already married with her own child. Henry was employed as a painter at a wheel and axle works.
Henry Joseph was still employed at the wheel and axle works in the 1911 census, but the family had moved to 37 Chatham Street, and this home also had four rooms. Henry Joseph was 60 and Georgina 54 by this time. The only one of their children living at home was James Alfred, their youngest at 17.
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| View towards Chatham Street circa 1909 |
The census shows they had taken in a boarder who was a colleague of Henry Joseph's. In addition, there was a 12-year-old granddaughter who was the daughter of Emily (who had married John William Douthwaite in 1897). Grandchildren spent time staying with their grandparents (without their parents) for many reasons. One is that a member of the child's household was ill and the child was sent away to avoid the contagion. Another is that the child's mother was pregnant and about to give birth, so one or more of the existing child was sent away to take pressure off.
Son James Alfred left home when he married in 1913, and he enlisted in the military to serve in the First World War the following year. A pension record shows that Henry Joseph also served in the army in the First World War, even though he'd have been over 60 at the time he enlisted. It's possible he lied about his age and said he was younger. Again, an attestation has not been found but he served in the King's Own West Yorkshire regiment then.
Henry Joseph and Georgina continued to live at 37 Chatham Street, and Henry Joseph died there on 27 February 1919 of acute bronchitis and cardiac syncope. A letter written by one of his daughters many years later indicated he'd had 'enlargement of the heart.' He was listed on the death certificate as Henry Joseph a railway wagon painter, so he may have been working right up until his illness. If a person had retired, the certificate normally showed that.
His son, James Alfred was present at the time of death even though James Alfred was living in Halifax, Yorkshire at the time. He may have been called home from Halifax to Leeds because of his father’s illness. Henry Joseph was shown as being 67 years old.
Georgina applied for a soldier's widow pension after Henry Joseph's death and received that in 1923. She was still living at 37 Chatham Street in Leeds.
Georgina lived another 25 years after her husband died, all apparently in Leeds, and appears not to have remarried. She appears in the 1939 at 27 Lea Farm Grove, which is in the suburbs about four kilometres from Leeds city centre. The buildings that are there now were likely built at a later date.
Georgina Dawson Lowe died in 1945 at the age of 90 of a pulmonary embolism. The death certificate showed that this followed a fracture of her left femur in a fall. However, modern medicine tells us that it is more likely that the leg broke and then she fell. An inquest was held on 27 March 1945 and the death was ruled accidental. She was still living at 27 Lea Farm Grove, but died in hospital.
Prepared using information available as of 09 July 2021.
Son James Alfred left home when he married in 1913, and he enlisted in the military to serve in the First World War the following year. A pension record shows that Henry Joseph also served in the army in the First World War, even though he'd have been over 60 at the time he enlisted. It's possible he lied about his age and said he was younger. Again, an attestation has not been found but he served in the King's Own West Yorkshire regiment then.
Henry Joseph and Georgina continued to live at 37 Chatham Street, and Henry Joseph died there on 27 February 1919 of acute bronchitis and cardiac syncope. A letter written by one of his daughters many years later indicated he'd had 'enlargement of the heart.' He was listed on the death certificate as Henry Joseph a railway wagon painter, so he may have been working right up until his illness. If a person had retired, the certificate normally showed that.
His son, James Alfred was present at the time of death even though James Alfred was living in Halifax, Yorkshire at the time. He may have been called home from Halifax to Leeds because of his father’s illness. Henry Joseph was shown as being 67 years old.
Georgina applied for a soldier's widow pension after Henry Joseph's death and received that in 1923. She was still living at 37 Chatham Street in Leeds.
Georgina lived another 25 years after her husband died, all apparently in Leeds, and appears not to have remarried. She appears in the 1939 at 27 Lea Farm Grove, which is in the suburbs about four kilometres from Leeds city centre. The buildings that are there now were likely built at a later date.
Georgina Dawson Lowe died in 1945 at the age of 90 of a pulmonary embolism. The death certificate showed that this followed a fracture of her left femur in a fall. However, modern medicine tells us that it is more likely that the leg broke and then she fell. An inquest was held on 27 March 1945 and the death was ruled accidental. She was still living at 27 Lea Farm Grove, but died in hospital.
Prepared using information available as of 09 July 2021.
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