THE EASTHOPE FAMILY3: The Family at the End of the 19th Century
Ernest Easthope The eldest son, Ernest, married Ann Williams on 28th December 1873 at St Patrick's RC Church, Wolverhampton. They had 8 children before leaving for Canada in 1889:
So it seems that Ernest and his family moved into the Old Grammar School complex soon after it was bought by Edwin senior. Ernest's occupation, as listed on each of his children's birth certificate, was "Pawnbroker" (except on George's birth certificate where he is listed as "Cabinet Maker"). It is likely that he chose to work as a pawnbroker because that was the occupation of his father-in-law, Benjamin Frederick Williams (who was also a "japanner"). A Trade Directory relating to 1879-1880 lists:
By 1881 (census), those living at 24 St John St were:
The 1883-84 Post Office Directory lists:
Ernest Easthope and his family had sailed to Canada in 1889. The only photograph of Ernest available, is this one taken in Vancouver in December 1910:-
In Canada, Ernest and Ann had one more daughter, Teresa. Ernest initially worked for Armstrong-Morrison, an engineering business, then he started out on his own making bicycles. His son, Vincent got interested in making gasoline engines and, before long (1900), he and his father had started up a marine engine business. Vincent died aged 23 after complications following surgery. The oldest son, Ernie, joined his father after Vincent's death. However, the family firm was bought out by others and then failed in 1910. Another son, George, also worked for Armstrong-Morrison but in 1914 joined with younger brother, Percy (Peck), to rebuild the marine engine business, which thrived until the 1950s, making its last Easthope Engine in 1968. Edwin Frederick (known as Frederick) became a photographer. He died aged 92 on 24th December 1967. Maud Easthope Maud married Paul Willcox on 6th July 1873. Paul was the son of William Day Willcox, Town Clerk. They had at least 4 children. In the 1881 census there is the following listing for Fern Cottage, Finchfield, Tettenhall, Staffs.
This photograph of Paul & Maud was taken in 1923:-
Their house, Fern Cottage, still stands in Finchfield:
Paul Willcox died in 1933 aged 80, and Maud died in 1937 aged 82. Edwin Easthope (junior) Edwin (junior), married Florence Willcox on 20th February 1882 at St Peter's Church, Wolverhampton. Florence was a sister of Paul, who had married Edwin's sister Maud. On Edwin and Florence's marriage certificate both were given as living at St John St. At the time Edwin was 24 and Florence 25. They had at least two children, Gertrude Albina Easthope, born 18th December 1882; and Alfred Edwin Easthope, born 22 February 1886. On Gertrude's birth certificate, Edwin's occupation is "upholsterer"; on Alfred's certificate, Edwin is listed as 'General Dealer'. Gertrude married, at age 21yrs, Alfred John Davis, aged 26yrs, of Blakenhall. The date of their marriage was 18th June 1904. Her residence at the time was given as 'Art Gallery', and her Father's occupation as "Caretaker". Edwin Easthope had got work, at an unknown date, as Caretaker at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which had opened in 1885. The photo below, from an old postcard, shows the gallery at about the turn of the century, probably while Edwin was the caretaker.
He was able to live at the gallery. Phillipa Tinsley, a member of the gallery staff, says that there is anecdotal evidence that the basement rooms, now used for storage, were once living quarters. Most of the windows are now blocked off but you can still see where the fireplaces were and one fireplace still exists. This would probably have made quite a cosy room and the accommodation was probably luxurious in comparison with the old half-timbered houses that used to line Lichfield Street. No photographs of Edwin are available. He died on 8th September 1924 at 'Rockstone', Penn Rd, Upper Penn. His occupation was given as 'Caretaker of Wolverhampton Art Gallery'. Alfred Newman Easthope This photo shows Alfred as a young man:-
Alfred (22) married Clara Albina Bigwood (22) on 22th June1882 at St John's Church, Wolverhampton. Clara was the youngest daughter of Joshua and Maria Bigwood. The Bigwoods lived in Tempest St, just a few streets away from St John's St. By chance, this advertisement column links the two families:
Alfred and Clara had 3 children:
This photograph shows Mabel and Lillian around 1886 ...
... and here is a very much later photo!
Clara died 30th November 1887 at the age of 27, just 8 days after Cyril's birth. This photograph of Clara was published at the time of her funeral:-
And here is a photo of Mabel as a young woman - note the family resemblance.
Alfred married again, on 31st October 1889, to Helen May Robinson (19), at the Church of St. Mary, Tenbury. They had 6 children:-
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