Bertram Whiting 1900-1961

Parents: William Whiting and Elizabeth Binks (1)
Born: 19th March 1900 in Haverhill.(1,5)
Baptised: ?
Married: Winifred M E Shilling, Barnet district, Second Quarter 1924 (6)
Children: none.
Died: 6th January 1961 at Melton, Suffolk.(3,4)

Bio: Bertram was the fourth son of William Whiting and Emily Binks, and although no baptismal entry from St Mary's Church, Haverhill, exists it is clear from censuses and a GRO birth index that he was born in 1900 in Haverhill.(1)

He appears on the 1901 census aged 1 living at 76 Burton End, Haverhill, with parents and siblings and grandmother Emma Whiting, the wife of Moses Whiting. Bertram's father William was a cloth cutter at Gurteen's on this census, but went on to start his own business with the Rope, Twine and Sack company at the Rope Works in Camps Road. Bertram, aged 11, is on the 1911 census living there with his parents and siblings.

It is not clear whether Bertram served in the forces during the First World War. However, he features in a picture of the Rope Works at Camps Road circa 1920 (top left) which suggests he was employed here post-war at least. (for the original picture see William Whiting)

The 1939 register reveals that Bertram did marry, to Winifred Mary E Shilling, in 1924 in the Barnet District(6). Winifred was born on 16th June 1897 in Lewisham, London(7), the daughter of Alfred Shilling, a pub landlord originally from Sittingbourne, Kent, and Emma Elizabeth Coston of the same. They had married in St Saviour in 1894(8). Winifred can be seen living with her parents on the 1911 census at 66 High Street, Lewisham. Winifred was the cousin of Florence Mabel Shilling who had married Bertram's elder brother Albert James Whiting in 1921.

Bertram and Winifred are shown living at 29 Sicklesmere Road, Bury St Edmunds on the 1939 register. Bertram is a dairy farmer. It seems likely he may have worked with his younger brother Percy at 'Dairy Farm', Bradfield St Clare, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Percy is shown on the 1939 register as 'Assisting brother, dairy farm'.

Bertram died on 6th January 1961 at Melton, Suffolk. It is not thought that he had any children with Winifred. Probate records show he was living at 51 Sicklesmere Road, Bury St Edmunds at the time. On 8th February 1961 probate was granted to his nephew Kenneth Ernest Whiting (son of his brother Leonard), wine merchants manager, with effects of £15,635 13s 6d.(3)

This was a large amount of money at the time. Especially when you consider Bennett Whiting, who owned a chain of shops, had died the previous year and left several thousand pounds less!

A notice in the London Gazette, 13th January 1961, which refers to the Trustee Act, 1925, publishes Bertram's name as a deceased person, with the proviso that anyone seeking to make a claim on his estate must do so before 27th March 1961.(2) These notices, also known as 'Notices to Creditors', were placed to minimise the liability of executors to outstanding debts for which a deceased's estate was liable. The London Gazette confirms his profession, noting that he was a retired farmer.

Sources:

(1) Birth Register. 2nd Quarter 1900, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 823
(2) London Gazette, 13th January 1961, Issue 422949, p323. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/42249/pages/323/page.pdf
(3) England and Wales, National Probate Calendar, Ancestry.com
(4) Death Register. 1st Quarter 1961, Deben District, Volume 4b Page 982
(5) 1939 Register, Ref: RG101/6659E/021/21 Letter Code: TYAI, Findmypast.co.uk
(6) Marriage Register, 2nd Quarter 1924, Barnet District, Volume 3a Page 865
(7) Birth Register. 3rd Quarter 1897, Lewisham District, Volume 1d Page 1217
(8) Marriage Register, 2nd Quarter 1894, St Saviour District, Volume 1d Page 165