The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge in week 6 is favourite name. I have some interesting names in my tree – both first and last names. Interesting first names that you certainly don’t hear today are Dorcas, Fanny, and Hilton. The surnames that fascinate me most and I want to find their origins are Washbrook, Crittal / Criddle, and Osbaldstone.
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Week 6 – Favourite Name
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However, for today I have chosen my great-grandmother, Alice Elizabeth Washbrook. I chose her as for some reason whenever I think about her I always say Alice Elizabeth Washbrook. Never just Alice or Alice Washbrook – it is always Alice Elizabeth Washbrook. It’s not like my tree is teeming with Alice Washbrook’s or Alice’s for that matter. However, to me, she is always Alice Elizabeth Washbrook.
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Alice Elizabeth Washbrook was born on 17 October 1868 in Lane Head, Willenhall, Staffordshire to Frederick Washbrook and Sarah Taylor.1 Alice was the fourth of six children, and the youngest of two girls.2,3 She married Aaron Walker on 2 June 1888 in the Register Office, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.4 They had eight children – Phoebe, Sarah, Howard (my grandfather), Aaron, Abraham, Alice, Lilian, and Florence.5,6
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At the outbreak of WWII she was a widow, living with her son Abraham and his wife Winnie, at 5 Forge Road, Willenhall, Staffordshire.7 She died about 1957 at 89 years of age, having lived her entire life in the Willenhall area.8
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What name in your family tree fascinates you? Search for your surname at Findmypast today.
Bibliography
- 1. Birth Certificate for Alice Elizabeth Washbrook Born 17 October 1868, Civil Registration District of Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, No.320/1868, (London, England, UK: General Register Office, 2009), accessed February 9, 2009, https://www.gro.gov.uk.
- 2. 1871 Census England, Wales & Scotland, Frederick Washbrook Household, Lane Head, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Archive Ref.RG10, Piece no.2947, Folio 10, P.15, (Online digital image at Findmypast of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed March 7, 2015, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1871%2F2947%2F0022&parentid=GBC%2F1871%2F0006942701.
- 3. 1881 Census England, Wales & Scotland, Frederick Washbrook Household, Lane Head, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Archive Ref.RG11, Piece no.2811, Folio 13, P.19, (Online digital image at Findmypast of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed March 7, 2015, https://www.findmypast.co.uk.
- 4. Marriage Certificate for Aaron Walker and Alice Elizabeth Washbrook, Married 2 June 1888, Civil Registration District of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, No.65/1888 (General Register Office, 2009), https://www.gro.gov.uk.
- 5. 1901 Census England, Wales & Scotland, Aaron Walker Household, Lane Head Bentley Lane, Short Heath, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Archive Ref.RG13, Piece no.2687, Folio 20, P.31, (Online digital image at Findmypast of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed March 7, 2015, https://www.findmypast.co.uk.
- 6. 1911 Census England, Wales & Scotland, Aaron Walker Household, 13 New St, Short Heath, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, RG14PN17091 RG78PN1053 RD369 SD6 ED9 SN181, (Online digital image at Findmypast of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed March 7, 2015, https://www.findmypast.co.uk.
- 7. 1939 Register – England and Wales, Abraham Washbrook Household, Database online. Digital image reproduced by Findmypast, Ref: RG101/5381E/008/15 Letter Code: ORGT, Sordfield Hospital&Institution Wordsley, Wordsley, Brierley Hill U.D., Staffordshire, England, (London, England, UK: The National Archives, 2017), accessed June 29, 2017, https://search.findmypast.com.au/record?id=TNA%2FR39%2F5381%2F5381E%2F008&parentid=TNA%2FR39%2F5381%2F5381E%2F008%2F15.
- 8. Death Certificate for Alice Elizabeth Washbrook (Walker) Died 30 October 1957, General Register Office, Bilston, Staffordshire, England, No.153/1957, PDF Pilot, (Southport, England, UK: General Register Office, 2018), accessed August 2, 2018, https://www.gro.gov.uk.
Hi, this is very interesting.
Some old stories can be found here and read about. I actually don’t have a clue of what country you are talking about, but this might not be that important.
They seem to have huge families back then, a lot of children. It was more like that in Switzerland too these days.
And they really had some strange name back then I have never heard of.
Hi Stefan
Thank you for reading and commenting. It is strange coming across some of the names these days. This particular family was in England and I have just always thought of her as Alice Elizabeth Washbrook. Dad said he knew her as Grandma Walker. Different names for different roles in your life!
Regards
Megan
Being of the Osbaldstone clan, I have some further information if you are interested.
Hello Shaun
Lovely to hear from you. I would definitely be interested in information on the Osbaldstone clan as I am at a brick wall with this name. I will send you an email.
Regards
Megan