WHEATON, Eric William (b. 10 APR 1911, d. 7 JUL 1991)

Note: Birth
Birth was registered in March 1930 "by order of the Registrar General"

Addresses
1911 18 Cromwell Road, Grays, Essex
1918 Park Street, Grays, Essex
1930 26 Bellvue Place, Southend, Essex
1931 167 Eastern Esplanade, Southend, Essex
1933 71 Sandringham Road, Southend, Essex
1938 166/167 Eastern Esplanade, Southend, Essex
1940 Nelson Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
1940 Stonecot Hill, Morden, Surrey
50 Palmer Avenue, North Cheam Surrey
1951 13 Bhylls Crescent, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
The Swan Hotel, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire
115 Stubby Lane, Wednesfield, Staffordshire
1977 20 Banksia Court, Elizabeth Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
1985 F.11/4 Breamore Street, Elizabeth North, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
1991 Trevu Nursing Home, 70 East Terrace, Gawler East, South Australia, Australia

Steward P & O Line; Gardener; Groundsman; Parks Corporation Gardener; Chauffeur; Hotel Manager; Stocktaker; Salesman; Clerk-Brewery; Cost Clerk; Progress Clerk (Iron & Steel Works)

ERIC WILLIAM WHEATON 1911 - 1991
Eric William WHEATON was born on the 10th April 1911 at 18 Cromwell Road, Grays, Essex, the home of his mother, Beatrice JACKSON, who omitted to register her son's birth. This was not remedied until the time of Eric's marriage in 1930 when the entry in the Birth Index, and on his certificate, indicates that the information was recorded "by order of the Registrar General". His parents, Ernest WHEATON and Beatrice JACKSON, did ultimately marry in 1916, but Ernest was already in the army, the marriage took place at a dock yard church probably just before Ernest was embarking for France, where he was "missing presumed dead" in the Battle of the Somme six months later. So, Eric was brought up in Grays by his mother and her family and knew very little of his WHEATON ancestors, although, apparently he did visit his grandparents, Philip and Emma on one occasion.

In 1916 Beatrice, and probably Eric, were living in Park Street, in Grays, and in 1918, Eric's mother, Beatrice remarried to William Henry MILLER, a widower. Eric would have been about seven years old when this event took place, but it appears that he did not get on with his step-father, and as soon as he was able he became a steward on a P & O Liner on the Australian route. Whether he actually "ran away to sea" we are not certain, but the experience certainly made him, all the rest of his life, want to return to that part of the world.

By 1929 he must have returned to Essex as he and Gladys May CROSS, the youngest daughter of William and Florence (née JEWELL) CROSS were engaged in August 1929 and married in 1930. The ceremony took place at the Register Office in Rochford, Essex, witnessed by Eric's mother, Beatrice MILLER, and Harold and Lilian CROSS, brother and sister of the bride. Eric and his Gladys began their married life probably at "White Heather", a guest house situated at 167 Eastern Esplanade, Southend, Essex which was run by William CROSS and his family. Later they moved away to 71 Sandringham Road, still in Southend. Three children were born to Eric and Gladys, Valerie Daphne in 1931, Peter Ernest in 1933 and Dennis Ian in 1936. All were born at Southend Municipal Hospital in Southend, which is where Peter also died within hours of his birth of Anencephaly.

Eric and his young family had moved at some time to Nelson Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex, but at the beginning of the war, in about 1940, all those living in Southend and district were told to pack a suitcase and were given only a short time to leave the area. Whether Eric was still living in Southend at this time, or if he had already joined the forces, we are uncertain. The Company for which Lilian CROSS, the sister of Gladys May (née CROSS) WHEATON, worked, Norris Warming (ledger section) bought a property at Stonecot Hill, in Morden, Surrey in case of emergencies. This house was offered to Lilian and her sister's family, and in 1940 Gladys, the children, Valerie, Dennis, and "Aunty Lily" moved to Surrey. They eventually found another house to rent at 50 Palmer Avenue, North Cheam, Surrey.

After leaving the P & O Line and marrying Gladys, Eric had worked as a Corporation Gardener, Groundsman and Parks Gardener for Southend Council. During World War II he was in the Royal Air Force as an Airfield Controller at a fighter station. At some time during the war he was stationed in Holland and on one leave brought home a wooden letter opener, the handle of which was painted in the shape of a Dutch girl in national costume and a purse-wallet for his son, Dennis.

After the war, Eric's sister-in-law, Lilian CROSS, was able to help Eric find employment with Norris Warming Company where he became chauffeur to the Managing Director, Mr CARAMEL whose car was a Humber Super Snipe. At this time it would appear that the relationship between Eric and his wife, Gladys, was not a very happy one. As he often took Mr CARAMEL to Birmingham Eric was able to visit the home of his brother-in-law, Harold Victor CROSS, and his wife Gladys Emily (née WILLIAMS) known as Babs. We are told that the atmosphere in this home contrasted with that of his own home and made him more discontented with the situation as regards his own family. Harold CROSS died in 1948, and two years later Eric had decided to leave Cheam and make his home, with Babs CROSS in Bhylls Crescent in Wolverhampton. His son, Dennis, remained in Cheam with his mother and Aunty Lily. The knowledge that her husband had left her devastated Gladys May, and on the 22nd January 1951 she committed suicide at the house at 50 Palmer Avenue, Cheam. Just under three months later Eric and Babs were married in the Register Office in Wolverhampton with friends and relations of Babs acting as witnesses.

Some time before 1954 Eric and Babs moved to Stourport-on-Severn where they took over the running of the Swan Hotel, Eric as Manager, and Babs as Cook. Probably about 1957 they moved to 115 Stubby Lane, Wednesfield, near Wolverhampton, Staffordshire where they continued to live until 1977. Whilst there Eric had several jobs: Stocktaker, Salesman, Clerk and Cost Clerk, mainly for different Breweries. Later he was a Progress Clerk working for an Iron and Steel Works.

When he married Babs, Eric had doubled his family, as his niece and nephew, Pamela and Victor CROSS, became his step children. Whilst living in Stourport-on-Severn in 1954, Eric's daughter, Valerie, had married Harold WOOD, with her father and her brother Dennis as witnesses. Valerie and Harold provided Eric with two grandsons, Ian and Peter, before Valerie died of cancer in 1962. During her illness one or other of the two boys spent much time with their grandparents. Step-daughter, Pamela CROSS married Roger FARLEY in January 1960, and with their three sons decided in 1967 to emigrate to Australia. In 1960 son, Dennis, married Jean TERRY, and in 1963 step-son, Victor CROSS married Margaret DAVIS. These two marriages produced a total of another three grandsons and two granddaughters for Eric and Babs.

After his step-daughter, Pamela (née CROSS) FARLEY and her family had emigrated to Adelaide in Australia, Eric became more and more interested in travelling to the other side of the world again, just as he had done in the early years of his life. After much discussion, Eric and Babs also decided to emigrate and they left this country for Australia in 1977.

For most of the rest of their lives they lived at 20 Banksia Court, Elizabeth Park Adelaide. After the death of his wife in 1985 Eric moved to F.114 Breamore Street, Elizabeth North, still in Adelaide, where he spent much time with Pamela and her family. After suffering a stroke Eric eventually moved to the Trevu Nursing Home, 70 East Terrace in Gawler East, where he died on the 7th July 1991.

PENINSULAR & ORIENT (P & O) LINE
The company was begun about 160 years ago with the prime purpose of carrying the mail and once it was the largest company in the world. The early ships had black hulls and funnels and stone-coloured superstructure although this was changed in the 1930s. The flag is quartered using the royal colours of Portugal and Spain, the area to which the company first sent their mail ships. During the Spanish Civil Wars in the 1830s they were involved with both sides in the struggle for the throne, and at this time their ships, besides the mails, were carrying such cargoes as guns, troops, machinery and giraffes for London Zoo! The first passenger journey was on the 22nd August 1837 and was made by the 800-ton Don Juan although this vessel was wrecked on the return journey. However, the mail was saved, so retaining the company's reputation, and within three years they had extended their business to Egypt, and another three years later to India. For these longer runs larger ships of 2,000 tons were necessary and they had to be built to withstand the monsoon weather in the Far East. By 1845 the service reached Singapore and Hong Kong, and by 1852 the route to Australia had also been established.

Besides the mail the ships travelling east of Suez carried such goods as silks and indigo and had a near monopoly of long-distance steamer services in the far east. However, with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 there had to be much economising and many changes to ensure the company survived. There were larger and faster ships, and two thirds of the passengers, which included civil servants, diplomats, soldiers, bankers, industrialists, missionaries and world travellers, went to India. Although originally limiting travellers to First and Second class only, in 1910 the company started carrying emigrants to Australia. Gradually the Australian routes replaced those to India as the most important and Australian passengers encouraged the introduction of games decks on board the ships.

Even before the company had started, ideas had been put forward about cruising around the Scottish coast and to Iceland. Modern-style cruises were begun in the 1880s by the Orient Line and the North of Scotland Company, both later to be taken over by P&O. The first programme of P&O First Class only cruises with shore excursions was organised by Thomas Cook in 1904; the activity became more and more popular and the company used the newest ships in the fleet. Tourist class cruises began on the 1930s, whilst cruises from Australia had begun a few years earlier.

By the 1930s the ships had become floating cities, as tall as skyscrapers and as big as mainline railway terminuses. Their machinery was as large as that of a power station enabling them to travel at 30 knots. The passengers were provided with every comfort to make them feel separated from the ocean itself. The fittings and furnishings on the ships were therefore very elaborate and very luxurious. Everything was done on a lavish scale so that the individual cabins and magnificent public rooms could be compared favourably to any stately mansion.

Apparently, Eric William WHEATON could see the masts of the liners in Tilbury Docks from his home in Grays. This encouraged him to become a steward on P&O liners on the route to Australia. Whether this actually entailed "running away to sea" we are not certain, but he could not have been very old as he had returned to land and to Essex, where he was married in 1930 when he would have been only nineteen years old.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0300/CROSS 0300/WHEATON 0200

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Event: Type: Administration
Date: 26 SEP 1991

Occupation: Place: Steward P & O Line; Gardener; Groundsman; Parks Corporation Gardener; Chauffeur; Hotel Manager; Stocktaker; Salesman; Clerk-Brewery; Cost Clerk; Progress Clerk (Iron & Steel Works)

Will: Date: 24 OCT 1978
Place: Assets to son, stepson, stepdaughter and two grandsons, Dennis WHEATON, Victor CROSS, Pamela FARLEY née CROSS, Ian and Peter WOOD

Reference: 00002

Note: Addresses
1911 55 Stamford Road, Kingsland, Hackney, London
1926 166/7 Eastern Esplanade, Thorpe Bay, Essex
1931 167 Eastern Esplanade, Southend, Essex
1933 71 Sandringham Road, Southend, Essex
1936 166/167 Eastern Esplanade, Southend, Essex
1938 Nelson Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
1940 Stonecot Hill, Morden, Surrey
50 Palmer Avenue, North Cheam Surrey

Gladys CROSS née WILLIAMS (known as Babs) was married to Harold CROSS, brother of Eric William WHEATON's first wife. Harold and Gladys had two children, Pamela and Victor. Pamela married Roger FARLEY and had three children, Neil, Nicholas and David. Victor married three times, and by his first wife Margaret had Stuart, Nicholas and Deborah

Source: (Death)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Education: Place: County Secondary School, Colverstone Crescent, Dalston, Middlesex; Westliff High School, Westcliff, Essex

Event: Type: Inquest
Date: 25 JAN 1951
Place: F T Paterson, Deputy Coroner for Surrey

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: CROSS 0300/WHEATON 0300/WHEATON 0200

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Reference: 00003

Cause: Asphyxia - Coal Gas; Self Administered Suicide while balance of mind disturbed

Note: Addresses
1931 167 Eastern Esplanade, Southend, Essex
1933 71 Sandringham Road, Southend, Essex
1938 166/167 Eastern Esplanade, Southend, Essex
1940 Nelson Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
1940 Stonecot Hill, Morden, Surrey
1940 50 Palmer Avenue, North Cheam, Surrey
1954 Swan Hotel, Stourport-on-Severn Worcestershire
???? 13 Lion Hill, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0200/WOOD 0200/WOOD 0100

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: Grocery Shop Assistant

Reference: 00022

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0200

Event: Type: Informant of Death
Place: E W WHEATON, father of 71 Sandringham Road, Southend-in-Sea. Essex

Reference: 00026

Cause: Anencephaly 13 hours old

Note: Addresses
1951 13 Bhylls Crescent, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
The Swan Hotel, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire
115 Stubby Lane, Wednesfield, Staffordshire
1977 20 Banksia Court, Elizabeth Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: CROSS 0300/WHEATON 0300/WHEATON 0200

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: Hotel Cook

Reference: 00027

Note: Addresses
1893 8 Rylston Terrace, Fulham, Middlesex
1895 23 Lizban Street, Blackheath, London
1897 25 Maple Road, Grays, Essex
1901 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Grays, Essex
1911 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1916 2 Whitehall Road, Grays, Essex

ERNEST WHEATON, 1893 - 1916
Most of the information about Ernest was told to us by Kenneth and Gladys SLACK and the late Mrs Min FIELD
Ernest WHEATON was born on the 29th June 1893 at 8 Rylston Terrace, Fulham, Middlesex. He was actually the third son of Philip and Emma but both boys had died, Phillip within thirty minutes of his birth, and the first Ernest in 1891 at the age of twenty one months.

When he was born Ernest already had two sisters, Florence and Ada (known as Bob), and another sister, Minnie (Min) was born two years later. Ernest had to wait another ten years for a brother when twins William Alphonso and Frank were born, but Frank died within hours and William was blind. There was also the ten year gap in their ages, so probably Ernest would have found it difficult to play "boys games" with William.

Ernest did not grow up in Fulham where he was born as the family had moved to Blackheath by 1895, and then to different addresses in Grays, Essex.

His sister, Min, remembered Ernest as being very kind, and in particular recalls a blue elastic beaded bracelet which he gave her as a birthday present.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME
The 9th Battalion of the Essex Regiment was the first of the Service or "Kitchener" Battalions to be especially recruited for the war and it was formed on the 26th August 1914 at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe. The C.O, Adjutant and several officers and N.C.Os were from the Regular Essex Regiment so a "valuable spirit was unstilled" in the men at an early stage. By the 9th September the Battalion was 2,000 strong and half of the men were then used to form the 10th Battalion although as groups of friends had enlisted together, official thinking was that they should stay together. In February 1915 the Battalion marched in stages from Shorncliffe to Aldershot via Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Redhill, Leatherhead and Woking arriving in Aldershot on the 1st May 1915. Here the Battalion spent a month completing its musketry training and left the U.K. for Boulogne on the 29th May. In June the Battalion was inducted into trench warfare in easy stages and took its first tour of front line duty on the 7th July. Ernest WHEATON survived the Battle of Loos in September 1915, and the "scrap" at the Craters of Noyelles in March 1916, but he fell on the third day of the Somme Battles.

Ovillers la Boisselle is a village, just north of the Amiens to Bapaume road and to the east of Albert. It was protected by rising ground and parapets which were part of the enemy's powerful preparations. There were three Brigades in the attack and it was considered that success could only be achieved if all made progress at the same time. To "prepare" the Germans for the battle ahead their lines were bombarded for eight days before the first British advance.

On the 1st July 1916 the 9th Battalion of the Essex Regiment was held in reserve at Hénencourt Wood. Meanwhile the attack had began early as the final bombardment was just before 7.30 a.m. At that time a brigade began crossing no man's land, which in places was about eight hundred yards wide, to be met by appalling gun fire. The first wave of soldiers managed to reach the German lines, but in the face of the heavy German gunfire, they were held back, and so became mixed up with several of the following waves of men. In the confusion the British soldiers were driven out of the German lines. A second brigade were caught in cross fire and had to withdraw several times. Similarly the third brigade was unable to make progress, losing many of their leading officers.


Ernest worked as an overhead crane driver at the Globe Works where his father also worked. Their lunch used to be taken to them by Min, who had to climb the steps of the crane to reach them. When there, Ernest would show her the controls and teach her how to work the crane!

He was a keen footballer and played for Grays Athletics. One particular occasion is well remembered when they played the boys on the training ship, the s.s."Exmouth". It is not recalled because of the score, but because Ernest broke his leg.

At some time before 1911 Ernest met Beatrice JACKSON, and their son, Eric William WHEATON was born on the 10th April of that year, although his birth was not registered until 1930. In his early years Eric was brought up by his mother's family, and was known to the WHEATON children as Eric JACKSON. However, the families must have been friendly as Ernest's sister, Priscilla, was engaged to Harold JACKSON.

At the beginning of the war Min worked as a housemaid and her employer frequently asked her about her brother Ernest, mentioning the war, talking about enlisting, and referring to the issuing of white feathers. Min passed the comments on to her brother Ernest who, despite his mother trying to persuade him to stay at home, enlisted in Grays, Essex.

By 1916 he was Private 23901 in the III Essex Regiment. It is probable that he was on the point of embarking for France when on the 15 January 1916, at St Mark, Victoria Docks, West Ham, Essex, he married Beatrice by licence. The witnesses to the marriage were probably her father, Alfred JACKSON, and her sister Mabel CROUCH. Six months later, having been promoted to Lance Corporal in the 9th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, and having fought in France and Flanders, Ernest was killed on the 3 July 1916, probably on the first day his regiment was involved in the Battle of the Somme.

Emma, Ernest's mother was of course very bitter when the telegram from the War Office arrived stating that Ernest was missing presumed killed, one telegram which was soon followed by another reporting the death of Harold JACKSON. Ernest was not found, and his name is on the Thiepval Memorial in the Anglo-French Cemetery in France.

A day later the 9th Battalion of the Essex Regiment moved up to the front line and although there was no attack Ovillers was still bombarded in order that the enemy would think that an advance was imminent. However, it is thought that the German forces either withdrew from their trenches, or sat safely in strong, deeply cut, dugouts.

The attack toward Ovillers on the 3rd July began at 2.15 a.m. where the targets were the same as on the 1st. The digging of trenches in no man's land had been carried out in the time between the two attacks in an attempt to lessen the distance between the two armies. The 35th Brigade (of which Ernest was a part) was to the right "with the 6th R Berks. and 7th Suffolks in front and on their left was the 37 Bde. with the 6th Queen's and 6th R.W. Kents. The extreme left of the Division's line was held by the 36th Bde. who were to cover the flank with the help of a smoke discharge." The men began their advance about 3.15 a.m. (when our First World War expert thinks Ernest was probably killed). By 9 a.m. it was being reported that the attack had failed. The reasons for the failure were later given as inadequate flank protection and the lack of surprise.

On the 3rd July there was 2mm of rain, the temperature was between 55 and 68 degrees, and there were thunderstorms around.

This is the day on which it is estimated that a total of 60,000 men lost their lives, one of them being Ernest WHEATON, so he obviously took no part in subsequent events. On the 8th July the Battalion was in action again, and advanced two hundred yards but lost their Commanding Officer, Major C I RYAN. This event was followed by a withdrawal to Albert-Bouzincourt on the 9th, and following action on the 10th, 11th, 21st, 22nd, 25th, 26th and 30th July, the Battalion were again back in Albert-Bouzincourt on the 8th August. The Battalion continued to see action in various sectors until the 22nd October. The Battle ended on the 18th November when the armies were faced by the onset of winter and exhaustion. In all the Battle of the Somme lasted 140 days and a total of 400,000 men were killed, 125,000 of them from all parts of the British Empire as well as the United Kingdom.

By the time it was possible to search for the missing all traces of 72,085 men who had died in this particular sector of the battlefield were lost. Over 9073545714f the names on the Thiepval memorial to the missing are men who lost their lives from July to November 1916. In addition to the memorial there are three hundred French and three hundred British graves in the Anglo-French cemetery. The monument stands in 40 acres of ground, on a ridge overlooking the battlefield, and is the largest built by the War Graves Commission. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and is 150 feet high. It is mainly built of brick, but the sixteen piers on which the names are engraved are of Portland stone. "It was built between 1928 and 1932 and was unveiled by the Prince of Wales in the presence of the President of France on the 31st July 1932."

Paul WHEATON, the great grandson of Ernest, and Lorraine (now his wife) visited the memorial. It can be seen from quite a distance, and Paul has taken a considerable number of photographs as they approached the site, until he was able to take one of the name of Ernest WHEATON.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Source: (Burial)
Title: War Graves Website

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400/JACKSON 0400/WHEATON 0300

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: 1911 Electrical Traveller Driver Machine; Crane Driver (Public Works)

Reference: 00004

Cause: Missing assumed dead in the Battle of the Somme

Note: Addresses
1893 2 Lawn Place, Little Thurrock, Essex
1901 122 William Street, Grays, Thurrock, Essex
1911 78 Cromwell Road, Grays, Thurrock, Essex
1911 18 Cromwell Road, Grays, Essex
1916 67 Parkes Street, Grays, Essex
1918 Grays, Thurrock, Essex
1930 26 Bellvue Place, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
1941 23 Ridgeway, Grays, Essex

Beatrice WHEATON née JACKSON married William Henry MILLER on the 31st August 1918. William had been married before and had children by his first wife.

Source: (Name)
Title: Birth Certificate

Source: (Death)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: JACKSON 0400/WHEATON 0400/WHEATON 0300

Event: Type: Informant of Death
Place: E W WHEATON son of 50 Palmer Avenue, Cheam, Surrey

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: 1911 School

Reference: 00005

Cause: Carcinoma of Gall Bladder

Note: Philip WHEATON was registered as John. He had an older brother of this name, born two years previously and we assume their father was confused! When Philip retired he had many problems as he needed his birth certificate so that he could obtain a pension.

Occupations continued
1901 Engine Driver Globe Works, Iron & Steel Sawyer M Mach, Traction Engine Driver; 1907 Engine Driver for Building Contractor; 1911 Plater and Fitter; 1919 Engineer's Fitter; 1920 Engineer; 1921 Engine Driver; 1930 Stoker; 1948 Engine Driver retired; 1950 Maintenance Fitter dcd; 1953 Stoker (Engineering Works) dcd

Addresses
1863 Somersham, Huntingdonshire
1864 Somersham, Huntingdonshire
1871 Squire Lane, Somersham, Huntingdonshire
1881 Woolvey/Wolby Farm, Warboys, Huntingdonshire,
Farm Servant to George WITSEY, wife and 2 daughters
1884 Enfield, Middlesex
1884, 1887, 1889
Warboys, Huntingdonshire
1891 38 Burrard Road, Hampstead, Middlesex (RG12/114 folio 59 page 41)
Also in same property were:
Robert UTTERIDGE, his wife (both from Warboys) and their son
John LAWRENCE from Warboys, and
Thomas WHEATON, brother of Philip, with his wife and 4 children
1891 20 Protheroe Road, Fulham, Middlesex
1893 8 Rylston Terrace, Fulham, Middlesex
1895 23 Lizban Street, Blackheath, London
1897 25 Maple Road, Grays, Essex
1901 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1911 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1919 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
? 229 Rectory Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1925/26 Rectory Road, Little Thurrock, Essex (Kelly's Directory)
1940/45 Warboys, Huntingdonshire
1945/48 8 Roy Walk, Blackshots Estate, Little Thurrock, Essex

PHILLIP WHEATON 1863 - 1948
Much of the information about Philip and Emma was told to us mainly by Kenneth and Gladys SLACK, and also the late Mrs Min FIELD. We are very grateful to them for all their help and interest.

Phillip (or Philip) WHEATON was born in Somersham, Huntingdonshire on the 15th May 1863. He was William and Ann's ninth child, and sixth son, although one son and two daughters had died before Philip was born. When Philip's father registered the birth he gave the registrar the name of John for his new son, although this name had been given to a child born two years previously. This mistake caused Philip problems later in his life when he applied for a pension!

William and Ann were not all that prompt in having their children baptised and the new baby was one and a half years old when he was given the correct name of Philip in the church of St John the Baptist in Somersham on the 11th December 1864.

In 1861 the WHEATON family were living in Main Street South Side in Somersham, but by 1871 had moved to Squire Lane (now Parkhall Road). Philip was already at work at the age of eight, engaged in "Field Work" and by 1881 he was lodging at the Woolvey Farm in Warboys where he was a Farm Servant.

Woolvey Farm is just over the hill from the village of Warboys itself where Emma HYDE lived with her family in the High Street. Perhaps the couple had met whilst walking in the fields between the village and Woolvey Farm. However, before they married, it is probable that in 1884 Philip had either moved to Enfield in Middlesex, or was staying there with a cousin, another Philip, son of Robert and Margaret (née PARKER) WHEATON. Nevertheless, "our" Philip obviously returned to Warboys because on the 29th July 1884 Philip and Emma HYDE were married in the church of St Mary Magdalene in Warboys, Huntingdonshire with Emma's sister Annie and Annie's future husband, John LAWRENCE as witnesses.

At this time Philip was still working as a Farm, or Agricultural Labourer and the couple were living in Warboys where a few months after their marriage their first child was born prematurely, living for only half an hour. In 1887 a daughter, Florence was born, and two years later, a son Ernest. It must have been about this time that Philip decided that farm work in Warboys was not going to make his fortune so he walked to London to see if he could find work there. It would seem that Emma and the children must have followed soon after for the baby, Ernest, died at twenty-one months of congestion of the lungs and acute bronchitis at Burrard Road, Hampstead, Middlesex in January 1891.

Philip's brother Thomas, and his wife's future brother-in-law, John LAWRENCE may have accompanied him to London because in April 1891 Philip, Emma and their daughter, Florence, were still at 38 Burrard Road, and also living in the same property were Thomas and his wife and family, and John LAWRENCE, all from Warboys. Philip did not stay long in Hampstead, however, as by the August of the same year, when daughter Priscilla was born, the family had moved to 20 Protheroe Road, Fulham, to be followed by yet another move by 1893 when at the time of the birth of Ernest they were at 8 Rylston Terrace, still in Fulham. Again, they did not stay long at that address for in 1895 the family were as 23 Lizban Street for the birth of another daughter, Ada (known as "Bob").

Lizban Road was in Blackheath, Kent, where they had moved with "Aunty Ginny and Bob" so the family were gradually moving out of London, and they moved even further when Philip found out that the building of houses had begun in Whitehall Road in Grays, in Essex for he was able to obtain the first plot. In 1897, whilst they were waiting for the Whitehall house to be built they lived at 25 Maple Road where another daughter, Minnie, was born.

It was at this address, ten years later, that Emma had her last children. During her pregnancy Emma had a miscarriage but she was told that a baby remained. There were, however, two babies who were born two months early on the evening of the 13 January 1907. Both were not very strong and Frank died two days later. Philip and Emma thought there was something wrong with their other baby, William Alphonso, and held the baby up to lights and lanterns to test his sight before they found he had been born blind. It was thought he would not survive but Emma carried him around in her apron and a year later he was strong enough to have an eye removed. William grew up to play the piano and to have a beautiful voice.

Life must have been very hard for Emma, for besides having to bring up a blind baby, their first born daughter, Florence, was backward. Emma would not let her go to school, and instead looked after her, and taught her at home. And, as well as looking after her growing family Emma was also a Dressmaker, advertising in local Directories for many years. Her youngest daughter, Min, can remember helping pick up the pins, putting them in a pin cushion, threading needles and whipping seams as her mother worked. Emma used to make Min's clothes. Annie (née HYDE) LAWRENCE worked in a factory in Kettering and used to provide the tweed material. Min could remember a fawn light summer-weight coat with a mock ocelot collar and cloche hat. Emma was very strong willed and ambitious. She was nervous of noises, and her husband called her a "messer". Emma used to take Min to Kettering, together with her own mother, Rebecca (née MARSHALL) HYDE, to see other members of the family. There they met Uncle Jack HYDE and George "with the apples". Emma also used to take the family to the fair, also with Gran-Becky who wore a black bonnet decorated with violets. Gran-Becky was also there at Christmas time when the meat was carved on the table. Min's memories of the home in Grays included a kitchen range, and a leather sofa with buttons.

Whilst living at Whitehall Road, Emma saw that land was for sale in Rectory Road. Two men were selling 1½ acres so she sent her daughter, Min, to the Globe Works where Philip was working and when he returned they went to the agents, Pearson and Sons in Orsett Road, Grays for the land, and to the Co-op Building Society for a loan!

Although the plans were properly drawn up, it was Philip who designed the bungalow that was to be built on the land at 229 Rectory Road. In addition he was his own bricklayer and carpenter, collecting the timber from a yard in Barking where the merchant would provide the wood for the window frames and doors according to the information on the plan. Philip pebble-dashed the outside of the bungalow with the help of Min. When the chimney was finished off they flew the Union Jack and called the bungalow Colne Villa, probably to bring back memories of life in Huntingdonshire.

The garden had to be productive and it was planted with peas (again with Min's help). There was a stall in the field from which they sold their produce while Philip, accompanied by Bill (William), would take the vegetables he grew to market in baskets on a Coster Cart drawn by a spirited pony called Molly. Previously Philip had visited Romford Market with a rope and bought the Dartmoor pony intending to lead it home. However, the rope broke, so he had to ride her instead.

Philip was a hard worker all his life. He was a very patient and contented man, a "sober sides" and a good provider. When in Grays, Essex he worked at the Globe Works as a stationary engine driver for £2. 10s. 0d a week. When he went to work he used to take a pint jug of beer, bread and cheese and a pickled onion.

On Sundays he used to go out with his pals and Emma used to have "a pleasant Sunday afternoon" at a meeting for Mothers and Children although on all but one occasion she was at home, where Philip expected her to be, on his return. Sometimes, after being out with his friends, Philip would come home rather merry, but one day he listened to the Salvation Army and from that Sunday he gave up drink until he gave up work. Something he suffered from for some time was digestive problems, but found a cure when he eventually had his one remaining tooth out!

Philip and Emma's first grandson, Eric William, was born in 1911 to Ernest and Beatrice JACKSON. Ernest was "missing presumed dead" in the Battle of the Somme, six months after marrying Beatrice at St Mark's Church at Victoria Dock, West Ham, Essex. Although brought up by his mother and her family, Eric WHEATON, the son of Ernest, knew that Philip and Emma were his grandparents, and it was whilst they were at Rectory Road that he went to see them. They were very proud of him, and glad that he had visited them.

After the war Priscilla, Minnie and "Bob" all married leaving Florence and William at home with their parents. During the Second World War Philip, Emma, Florence and William went to stay in Warboys with their relatives, the BLACKMANs and the HYDEs. When they returned to Grays they lived at 2 Roy Walk, a "prefab" on the Blackshots Estate, Little Thurrock. It was at this address that Philip died in November 1948, and then Emma, two years later in December 1950.

Source: (Name)
Title: 1871 Somersham

Source: (Name)
Title: 1881 Warboys, Huntingdonshire

Source: (Name)
Title: 1891 Hampstead, Middlesex

Source: (Name)
Title: 1871 Somersham, Huntingdonshire
Media: Book

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate in the name "John"

Source: (Death)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0500/HYDE 0500/WHEATON 0400

Event: Type: Informant of Death
Place: A daughter, 229 Rectory Road, Little Thurrock, Essex

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: 1871 Fieldwork; 1881 Farm Servant; 1884 Farm Labourer; 1887 Agricultural Labourer; 1891 Fixed Engine Driver, Builder's Engine Driver; 1893 , 1895, 1897 Stationary Engine Driver;1889 Engine Driver for Grinding Mortar; continued in notes

Reference: 00006

Cause: Cerebral Haemorrhage, Arteriosclerosis, Senility

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400

Event: Type: Present at death
Place: Philip WHEATON, father of Warboys, Huntingdonshire

Reference: 00033

Cause: Premature Birth, lived 30 minutes

Note: Addresses
1887, 1889 Warboys, Huntingdonshire
1891 38 Burrard Road, Hampstead, Middlesex
1891 20 Protheroe Road, Fulham, Middlesex (RG12/114 folio 59 page 41)
1893 8 Rylston Terrace, Fulham, Middlesex
1895 23 Lizban Street, Blackheath, London
1897 25 Maple Road, Grays, Essex
1901 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1911 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1919 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
? 229 Rectory Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1940/45 Warboys, Huntingdonshire
1945 8 Roy Walk, Blackshots Estate, Little Thurrock, Essex
? 22 Ashburn Place, Kensington, London

Source: (Name)
Title: 1891 Hampstead, Middlesex

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate in the name "Florence"

Source: (Death)
Title: Certificate in the name "Florence Victoria"

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400

Event: Type: Informant of Death
Place: J W FIELD, Brother-in-Law of 40 Laurel Avenue, Potters Bar, Middlesex

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Reference: 00034

Cause: Coronary Thrombosis, Arteriosclerosis

Note: Addresses
1891 20 Protheroe Road, Fulham, Middlesex
1893 8 Rylston Terrace, Fulham, Middlesex
1895 23 Lizban Street, Blackheath, London
1897 25 Maple Road, Grays, Essex
1901 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1911 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1919 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
? Canada

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400

Reference: 00035

Note: Addresses
1895 23 Lizban Street, Blackheath, London
1897 25 Maple Road, Grays, Essex
1901 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1911 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1919 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
? 329 Rectory Road, Little Thurrock, Essex

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400/SLACK 0300

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: 1911 Student Part Time

Reference: 00038

Note: Addresses
1897 25 Maple Road, Grays, Essex
1901 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1911 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1919 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1920 "Rest Harrow" Cobham, Surrey
1930 54 Hugon Road, Fulham, London
1951 40 Laurel Avenue, Potters Bar, Middlesex
1953 40 Laurel Avenue, Potters Bar, Middlesex

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400/OSBORN/FIELD 0300

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: 1911 School

Reference: 00041

Note: Addresses
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1911 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1919 2 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
? 229 Rectory Road, Little Thurrock, Essex
1940/45 Warboys, Huntingdonshire
1945 8 Roy Walk, Blackshots Estate, Little Thurrock, Essex
1948 Cranbrook, The Esplanade, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Source: (Death)
Title: Civil Registration Indexes at Family Record Centre, Myddleton House, London
Media: Book

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400

Event: Type: Informant of Death
Place: Kenneth Arthur SLACK, Nephew of 43 Ashley Gardens, Little Thurrock, Grays, Essex

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Reference: 00047

Cause: Coronary Thrombosis, Atherosclerosis, Diabetes Mellitus, Blindness

Note: Addresses
1907 1 Whitehall Road, Little Thurrock, Grays, Essex

Source: (Birth)
Title: Certificate
Media: Civil Registry

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400

Event: Type: Present at death
Place: Sarah BRADD of 9 College Road, Little Thurrock, Essex

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Reference: 00048

Cause: Premature Birth, lived 1 day 6 hours, 7 month twin

Source: (Name)
Title: Civil Registration Indexes at Family Record Centre, Myddleton House, London
Media: Book

Source: (Name)
Title: Ken and Gladys SLACK

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400

Reference: 00036

Source: (Birth)
Title: Approximation

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400

Reference: 00037

Note: Addresses
1903 25K Beaconsfield Buildings, Islington, London (address at baptism)
Parents Walter SLACK - Iron Moulder and Elizabeth.
1901 27K Beaconsfield Buildings, St Mary Islington, London
1911 16 Buckingham Street, Islington, North, London
A sibling of Arthur's was the Head, Frederick SLACK (26). Living with them was their
mother Elizabeth (59) Widow born City of London, John SLACK (23) Librarians
Assistant and George SLACK Engineers Fitter. both born Islington, London.
1921 Grays, Thurrock, Essex

Source: (Baptism)
Title: John Terry's web site 24/2/2011

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: WHEATON 0400/SLACK 0300

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: 1911 Electrical Fittings Warehouseman; then Assistant Librarian

Reference: 00039

Note: Addresses
1975 43, Ashley Gardens, Little Thurrock, Grays, Essex

Source: (Death)
Title: Fred SLACK 5/2/2010

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: SLACK 0300/SLACK 0200

Event: Type: Residences
Place: See Notes

Occupation: Place: Engraver's Artist

Reference: 00040

Source: (Death)
Title: Denis STEELE

Source: (Death)
Title: Findmypast web site

Event: Type: A Chart Number
Place: OSBORN/FIELD 0300/STEELE 0200

Reference: 00043