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Emily Ann Blackmore b 1869

SHIRLEY THOMAS NEE WYATT

THE WOMEN WHO MADE ME - MY MATERNAL GREAT GRANDMOTHER

EMILY ANN BLACKMORE b 1869

Emily was born in 1869 ( Jan-Feb-Mar, Clifton, 6a, 161 ) to Thomas and Mary Ann Blackmore. She was baptised at Westbury on Trym parish church on 21st Mar 1869.

Emily's mother Mary Ann was previously married, widowed and had two children.

Susanah and Frederick Hamlyn.

Thomas and Mary were married in Clifton, Bristol 1867.(Jan-Feb- Mar, Clifton Glos, 6a, 160 )

In the 1871 census the family  lived in The Crown Tavern, Clarence Place, Bristol.

John Rawlings ( Mary's father ) Beer Retailer

Thomas Blackmore, age 31, Tailor.

Mary Ann Blackmore, age 37.

Emily A Blackmore, age 2.

Ada Blackmore, age 7 months.

Susanah Hamlyn, age 12.

Frederick George Hamlyn, age 6.

Sadly Mary Ann died age 40 in 1874 when Emily was only age 4. (Oct-Nov-Dec, 6a, 111)

Thomas remarried to Anne Coles in 1875 ( July- Aug- Sep, 6a, 182 )

Anne was previously married, widowed and had two children

Jenny and George Coles.

In the 1881 census the family were living in Pipe Lane, St Augustines, Bristol.

Thomas Blackmore, age 44, Tailor.

Anne Blackmore, age 32, Tailoress.

Emily A Blackmore, age12.

Ada Blackmore, age 10.

Jenny Coles , age 11.

George F Coles, age 10.

Alfred E Blackmore, age 2.

Susanah and Frederick Hamlyn seemed to have left home.

In the 1891 census Thomas, Anne and Alfred are living in 47 Mill Lane, Reading.

Emily and Ada Blackmore, Jenny and George Cole are not living with the parents.

So what did Emily do from age 12 in the 1881 census?

She would have had to leave school and get a job at an early age.

In 1889 Emily was living in 1 Dorset St, Cardiff. I think probably with her Father, Thomas Blackmore. He was a Tailor and as shown in 1891 lived in Reading. He would have taken work wherever he could and called Tailor Journeyman.

Age 20, she married William John Guy, age 21, Shipwright, at St Mary the Virgin, Cardiff, on 25 Dec 1889.

In the 1891 census William and Emily are shown as visitors at 12 Knole St, Grangetown, Cardiff.

Williams occupation shown as General Labourer.

William and Emily had four children. All born in Cardiff.

Ada Mabel born 10 Dec 1892

William born 2 April 1895

Annie born 22 Mar 1897

Archibald Frederick born 28 July 1901

The 1901 census shows the family living at 90 Penhaved Street,Cardiff.

William J Guy, age 31, occ Shipwright, born Padstow, Cornwall.

Emily A Guy, age 32

Ada Mabel, age 8.

William, age 6.

Annie, age 4.

Thomas Blackmore, Father,married,age 61,occ Journeyman Tailor.

There was also another family of 4 people living in the house.

Also in the 1901 census other family lived nearby in 5 Van St, Grangetown, Cardiff

John Henry Tyrell, age 27, occ Chainman (Civil Engineer).

Alice, age 26, (sister of William John Guy) born Padstow, Cornwall.

Annie G , age 8 months.

Annie Guy, age 52 ( mother of William , Alice and Thomas Guy.) born Padstow , Cornwall.

Thomas Guy, age 29, occ Barge Ferryman (Dock),  born Padstow , Cornwall.

On 24 Dec 1902, Tragedy struck the life of Emily and her children.

William John passed away age 33 at home 42 St Fagans St, Grangetown, Cardiff.

Cause of death Acute Lobar, Pneumonia 2 days, Cardiac Failure. His occ was Shipwright Journeyman.

Informant his Brother-in-law. John Henry Tyrell of 21 Rutland St, Grangetown, Cardiff.

 On the 31st Jan 1905 a letter was written on Emily's behalf to Mr Richard Harvey at The Muller's Orphanage, Bristol.This was making an application for 1,2 or 3 of her children to be taken into the orphanage.Even though Emily had family it seems that they were unable to help her support the children.The letter states that she is a poor woman left with 4 children and through ill health unable to work and maintain them. At the time of application the family were living at   63 Constellation St, Adamsdown, Cardiff. The children were Ada age 12, William age 9, Annie age 7. Archibald age 3.

The lady who made the application was Mrs Margaret Pring of 7 Raleigh Rd, Stoke Bishop,Bristol.

Emily also had to write and confirm the application , this was made on the 6th Feb 1905.

She writes that she has been a widow for 2 years. Has managed to struggle on but find that is failing in health, having recently gone under an operation.Emily also has to agree that the children would not be allowed home for visits.

The Clerk to the Governors,Cardiff Union and five of the closest relatives had to agree and sign.  Alice Tyrell paternal aunt

Thomas Guy uncle

Ada Biggins maternal aunt

Thomas Blackmore grandfather

Annie Guy grandmother.

On the 26th May 1905 Emily took Ada age 12 and Archibald age 3 and they were admitted to Muller's Orphanage.

What desperate times for Emily and her 2 children even though Muller's Orphanage looked after the children in their care very well.

Emily had been able to find a place for 2 of her children and then tried to get Annie into Dr Barnardos in July 1905.

On the 28th June 1906 Annie age 9 was also admitted to Muller's Orphanage. So now Emily had only had son William to look after and he was aged 11.

It was sometime in 1906 Emily had moved back to Bristol with William to live with her Father.

They lived at 45 Princess St , Bedminster, Bristol. On the papers signed in May it shows that Emily's father Thomas is now receiving relief.

Emily and William moved house or most likely rented rooms, in 1908 they lived in  2 James Place, Clifton and 2 Portland Place, Clifton.

In 1910 there were many changes in Emily's life. On the 17th Feb her daughter Ada was age 17.  Muller's orphanage sent all the girls at age 17 to work. Ada was placed with Mrs Curtis,Stokeleigh,Stoke Bishop,Bristol as House Parlour Maid.

Emily married Joseph Beacham, oct-nov-dec 1910,Gloucestershire,vol 6a,page 308.

On the 30th Nov 1910 Emily collected  Annie and Archibald from the Orphanage.

The papers state that the Mother removed the children ,Mrs Beacham, 7 Sion Place, Clifton, Bristol.( a christian), she having remarried (not a christian).

That must have been wonderful for the children and Emily. Joseph Beacham was a Dock labourer and able to support them.

Sadly her Father Thomas Blackmore passed away oct-nov-dec 1910 age 70.

Joseph was a widower and had 3 sons Sidney,Frank and Fred,also one daughter Edith.They had all left home to work.

The 1911 census shows

Joseph Beacham age 48

Emily Ann age 42

Ada Mabel Guy age 18

William age 16

Annie age 14

Archibald Frederick age 9

Living at 7 Sion Place, Clifton,Bristol.

Emily gave birth to Doris Ellena Beacham 14 April 1911.

Years later Emily told her granddaughter Elizabeth Guy that she would have never remarried if she had known she would have another child.

It was because of the marriage that she was able to get her children from the orphanage.

1914 the Great War started. Her son William was enlisted to the 2/6th Gloucesters on or around 30th January 1915 age 19 nearly 20.

He had always been with Emily and was quiet and reserved.

On the 23rd August 1916 it was reported in the local press that William had been wounded.

He was one of the casualties of The Battle of Fromelles 19th July.

After treatment, convalescence and retraining he was posted to the 1/4th Gloucesters, C company.

It was on the 2nd July 1917 as part of a large draft of reinforcements.The 1/4th Battalion was involved in the battle of Third Ypres, or Passchendaele.

The 48th Division was then moved into reserve near Arras.The 8th November 1917 was ordered to the Italian Front.

They reached Granezza in the southern Alpine foothills on the 21st April 1918.They were held mostly in reserve in the Austrian summer offensive.

Then fierce fighting for the possession of the village of Bosco was where William was wounded for the second time, on the 1st Nov 1918.

William was discharged from the army but not as a result of his war wounds.He did not receive the Silver War Badge Roll. He received the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.

Emily must have been so worried about her son and how cruel after he was wounded and recovered sent back again to fight in the war.

1918 was also the year of the Flu Epidemic and Joseph Beacham died of the flu at age 59.

The 28th Nov 1918.

They lived at 1 Oxford St, Kingsdown, Bristol.

Next door at 2 Oxford St, lived John Brown and his family.John had been a Ward Orderly in the Army.He nursed Joseph during his illness.

Emily turned the front room of her house into a Sweet Shop and did very well.She was a widow again for the second time and needed to provide for her family.

All Emily's children married

Ada married Charles Crane, 22 Mar 1919 age 26.

 William Guy married Elizabeth Brown, 7 Dec 1925 age 29.

Annie married Reginald Lucas,  31 Dec 1917  age 20.

Archibald married Madge Waller, 13 June 1923 Tasmania, Australia age 21.

Doris married Reginald Bawdon, 10 Aug 1929 age 18.

When all Emily's children had married ,what did she do then?

There are photos of Emily enjoying outings in a charabanc (coach) to places such as Cheddar Gorge. Later with son William and family, trips to Bees Tea Gardens,Hanham, Bristol and Weymouth.

There were many grandchildren.

Ada and Charles had 4 girls and 2 boys.

William and Elizabeth had 1 daughter.

Annie and Reginald had 2 daughters

Archibald and Madge had 2 boys and 1 girl.

Doris and Reginald had 1 son.

Emily's first grandchild born in 1920, Annie Crane (Nancy).

In 1930  Emily's granddaughter(Elizabeth Guy) later wrote in her memories, saying that Emily was living with Doris and Reg Bowden in Elvaston Rd near Victoria Park, Bedminster, Bristol.

Nearby lived Emily's son William and his Family in Windmill Hill by the park gates.

William still had shrapnel in his body from the 1914-18 war and in April 1933 at the age of 38 he died.The shrapnel had pierced his lungs and then his heart.

The whole family was devastated.

Archibald came back from Tasmania for his brother's funeral and later his wife Madge and son Freddie.

Williams' wife Elizabeth ( Lizzie) and daughter Elizabeth ( Betty) went to live with Doris and Reg,also Emily, in Elvaston Rd.

In Sept 1933 Betty started at Victoria Park school and Emily would take and fetch her each day.Her daughter-in-law Lizzie had to work.

Emily would also take her little granddaughter to visit family. Her daughter Ada, husband Charlie and the six children.Also her brother Alfred Blackmore ,wife and family.

By the time that the second world war started in 1939,Doris,Reg and Emily had moved to 110 St Michaels Hill,Kingsdown,Bristol .Doris and Reg used the house as a Guest House for the stars appearing at The Bristol Hippodrome.Next door Emily's son Archie and wife Madge also ran a guest house for the stars, at 112 St Michaels Hill.

Emily's eldest granddaughter Nancy married Jack Sennett( an Airman) and during the celebrations the sirens went.All the wedding party had to shelter in Clifton Rocks Railway. Her daughter Annies, two girls Joyce and Jean were dressed in nice bright clothes. Betty sat with her Gran and Emily said” what do those two girls think that they look like”.

During the war Emily became ill with heart trouble and always wanted her daughter- in -law to look after her. Lizzie and Betty moved into 110 St Michaels Hill for a while to look after Emily until she was better.The bombings were so bad in Bristol, Reg put beds for them all in the cellar.

Emily had a cousin and her husband who lived in a village called West-Harptree,Somerset.

Doris, Reg, their son David, also Emily went to live with Mr and Mrs Pearce.

Emily was still unwell and asked Lizzie and Betty to join them.

The village was lovely and so much better than living amongst all the bombings in Bristol.

Each day Lizzie went into Bristol to work and Emily's young granddaughter Betty helped to look after her.

One day Betty could recall hearing her Grandmother Emily struggling to breath in her bed. By then Emily was a big woman and Betty took all her strength to sit Emily up in the bed.

Emily died in a nearby hospital on the 15th Jan 1941 age 72.

Emily had  a hard life, she had lost her Mum at the age of 4.

The family were living with her maternal grandfather at The Crown Tavern, Clarence Place, Bristol.

Emily's father remarried.

Her father was a tailor journeyman and they moved to Cardiff.

Emily married her first husband on Christmas Day 1889, age 20.

Her husband died and she had to put three of her four children in Muller's Orphanage.

She remarried at age 41 and  was able to get her children from the orphanage. Her husband died in 1918 from the flu epidemic.

Her eldest son served in 1914-18 .war and was injured twice.

Emily then opened a sweet shop in the front room of her house.

Her eldest son died and she helped to look after his daughter Betty.

Ran a Boarding House with her daughter Doris.

Became ill with heart problems

Then died aged 72 in 1941.

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