Week 37: 'Closest to your Birthday'
It is quite common and an interesting coincidence that many of my family members have the same birthdates or match with deaths or marriages. I have one born on the same day as me - my great Uncle Charles Albert Pearce, however, I wrote about him in Week 35 for the 'Back to School' prompt. Other than him I only have very distant ones such as - a great Uncle of a 6th great uncle, and a father-in-law of a 1st cousin twice removed and unfortunately, they died on my birthday.
So, I decided I would try my husband’s birthday and there I found something a little happier - a marriage on his birthday. Thus, they are the lucky ones selected for this story.
Meet - Charlotte Elizabeth Palmer my great, great Aunt
and her new husband Lewis Hopkins who married on 25 January 1876 in Chorlton Upon Medlock, Lancashire, England (sadly no photo of Lewis).
Charlotte was 28 years of age and Lewis was older at forty.
I am lucky to have a nice picture of Charlotte, although she looks a little severe. Mind you I think I would in those days too with trusses and heaven knows what on. And don’t they say that the photographer asked you to sit very still for quite a while whilst he did all the things you had to do then to take a photograph.
Now of course working in genealogy can bring about some funny, strange and serendipitous things. When I researched Charlotte’s vital stats, lo and behold I found her baptism was - 27 July 1847 - the day after my birthday! Ha Ha, I do have a closer direct line person born near my birthday after all.
Charlotte was the sixth child of Esau PALMER and Mary Ann WALL born in their home at Broad Street Ross on Wye in Herefordshire, England. She had eight siblings, namely: Mary Sophia, James Esau George, Edward, Edith Annie, Arthur Samuel (my great grandfather), John Henry Wall, Gertrude Edith, and Herbert William.
I have these old-fashioned little photocopies - little thumbnails that will go fuzzier if I enlarge them. I have been given the page by other family members, probably copies of copies of copies – but I am happy to have them and put them on display.
Mary Sophia, James Esau, Edward - Top row
Edith Arthur S, Charlotte - Centre
John H W Gertrude Herbert - Bottom
Edith Arthur S, Charlotte - Centre
John H W Gertrude Herbert - Bottom
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It seems that Charlotte lived at home until she married and then she and Lewis resided at 175 Castle Road Cardiff. Later, 02 Apr 1911 the family are living at 189 City Road Cardiff.
189 City Road Cardiff in 2018
Charlotte died 29 Dec 1921 at home in 17 Howard Gardens, Cardiff, Wales (Information from Kath Gillespie, from D Morgan).
This Row of houses is ‘Howard Gardens’ in Cardiff in 2018.
Lewis and Charlotte’s home would have been one of these.
(A very similar style to the City Road row above)
Charlotte and Lewis HOPKINS had the following seven children, all born in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales.
(From Kenneth Palmer Humpidge via Kath Gillespie)
1. Lewis Ernest - Oct 1877.
2. John Blount - Oct 1878. He died 14 Jan 1923 in Cardiff.
3. Edith Frances – unknown year
4.Miriam Olive - about 1881.
5. Florence Palmer - 09 Jun 1882. Married Roland James SULLY on 28 Jul 1909 in Plasnewydd, Chap, Cardiff, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Died on 22 Dec 1984 in Evergreens, Abbots Leigh, Avon,
6. Mary Elizabeth - about 1884 (Molly).
7. Bertram Lewis - 1888. He died on 17 Mar 1962 in Cardiff.
The 1881 Wales Census tells me that they had a nurse living in to help with the four babies aged from 0 to 3. They also had a domestic tenant. Sounds like it was a pretty big home and there was a little money in the family.
Charlotte was buried on 01 Jan 1922 in Cathays Cemetery, Plot V255, Cardiff, Wales.
(From Kath G. from Diane Morgan in Wales who is also a descendant of Charlotte E Palmer. Also listed in 'Find A Grave' but unfortunately no picture.)
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Lewis Hopkins was born to John Blount HOPKINS and Martha EDY, 10 May 1835 in Angel St, Cardiff, Wales. He was the first child and had six siblings, namely: Elizabeth, George, Samuel P, Sarah Amelia, Francis R, and Miriam Martha.
Birth Register for Lewis Hopkins 10 May 1835
As a young lad of 15 years, Lewis worked in his father’s grocery shop while all his younger siblings were scholars.
Dad – John Blount Hopkins, was a chandler and grocer according to the 1851 Wales Census.
In the 1871 Wales Census, Lewis has become an Iron Dealer’s clerk. He was 35, head of the house ‘Dunster House’ in St John, Glamorgan sharing with 3 of his sisters (single) plus a one-year-old nephew John Norman Sully and a girl servant. Sarah Amelia was 28, Elizabeth 24, and both are school teachers with Miriam Martha 23, being a Music Teacher.
The next we know Lewis is a Real Estate Agent and Auctioneer as well as a Registrar of Marriages in 1881.
He died 1 year after Charlotte on 29 Dec 1922 at home in 17 Howard Gardens, Cardiff, Wales. He was buried on 01 Jan 1922 in Cathays Cemetery with Charlotte in the same plot. One son John Blount who died in 1923 is also buried with his parents.
Lewis Hopkins signature 1911
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And what was happening in Wales in the years of Charlotte and Lewis’ lives?
Well, for a start when Charlotte was born the large railways were opening up – 'The North Wales' and 'The Great Western' Railways, transport was easier.
Coal mining was rapidly developing.
The secret ballot was introduced in 1872.
Foreign competition caused agricultural depression in 1878
and seven years later brought the first Tithe riots.
When Charlotte was 50 years old, Marconi transmitted the first ever wireless communication across the open sea. From Lavernock, just outside Cardiff, to Flatholm Island.
Mining disputes were breaking out and with other troubles would lead up to the General Strike of 1926.
In 1914 an important person was born - Dylan Thomas.
1914-1918 World War One.
In 1918, in Wales, women were awarded limited female suffrage.
Now through all of this, Wales continued to lead in rugby league winning many home nation competitions
I wonder how much of this had any impact on Charlotte and Lewis and the family?
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