Albert William Whiting 1890-1957

Parents: Daniel Whiting and Laura Shipp (1,2)
Born: 28th December 1890 in Burton End, Haverhill.(1,2)
Baptised: 2nd September 1896 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill.(2)
Married: None
Children: None
Died: 15th August 1957 at High Street, Haverhill. Buried at Haverhill Cemetery.(4,5,6)

Bio: Albert William was born in 1890 in Burton End and baptised several years later in 1896 at the same time as his brother Daniel. His parents were living at Hazelstubbs Farm at this time.

He features on the 1891 census living at 106 Burton End with his parents and older brother Daniel. The 1901 census finds Albert with father Daniel, mother Laura, and brother Daniel living at 6 Nunns Yard, Haverhill. Albert is at school.

Daniel's father died the next year, and whereas his brother Daniel was to leave Haverhill, Albert remained with his widowed mother at 7 Nunn's Yard.

On the 1911 census we see him and his mother both working as hair-cloth weavers at a factory, presumably Gurteen's.

When war came, Albert joined the 5th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment as Private no.2135 on 18th August 1914. He appears on a 'roll of honour' published on 26th September 1914 in the South West Suffolk Echo which list the men of Haverhill and surrounding villages who had joined up.

We can also deduce this from the Silver War Badge records(3) which also show that he was discharged through sickness on 28th January 1916, badge number 90669. They say he did not serve overseas. There is no age given with this record, so we cannot state conclusively that this is the same Albert, but given the match in middle names and the appropriate regiment it seems highly likely.

Another Albert William Whiting served in the Suffolk Regiment, and was discharged with a Silver Badge too, but his age rules him out as being 'our' Albert.

Albert shows up on the 1939 Register living at 7 Nunn's Yard, Haverhill, with his widowed mother Laura, who is a retired textile weaver (7). Albert is single; it seems likely that he never married.

What is clear from probate records is that he died on 15th August 1957 at High Street, Haverhill, and that his address at this time was still 7 Nunn's Yard. He left £202 0s 6d to Daniel Whiting, a retired caretaker, who we can presume was his brother.(4,5)

Albert William was buried at Haverhill cemetery.(6)

Sources:

(1) Birth Register. 1st Quarter 1891, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 693/698
(2) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4/p38 of 41
(3) War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War. Silver War Badge. RG WO 329, 2958–3255. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.
(4) Death Register. 3rd Quarter 1957, Newmarket District, Volume 4b Page 784
(5) Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 [database on-line]
(6) Haverhill Cemetery, Compartment V, Space No. 302, Grant No. 190, Grave Ref. 7691
(7) 1939 Register, Ref: RG101/6661C/002/38 Letter Code: TYDO, www.findmypast.co.uk