Edith Whiting 1866-1960

Parents:      David Whiting and Elizabeth Buttle (1,2)
Born:           19th May 1866 in Burton End, Haverhill. (1,2)     
Baptised:   17th June 1866 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill.(1)                  
Married:       Elijah Barrett in the 4th quarter of 1887 in the Risbridge district.(3)    
Children:     Albert Whiting (Barrett) b.1885, Emily Barrett b.1889, Esther Elizabeth Barrett b.1890, Norah Barrett b.1892, Laura Barrett b.1893, James William Barrett b.1894, Ethel Barrett b.1896, Charles Barrett b.1899 and George Barrett b.1901, Edith Barrett b.1905 and Bertram Barrett b.1905 died in infancy.
Died:            Apr 1960 in Watford district, aged 93. Buried 17th April 1960 in Ealing and Old Brentford Cemetery (7,8)

Bio:               Edith, the youngest child of the family, is on the 1871 census living with her parents and siblings in Burton End. She is there again on the 1881 census, working as a factory hand. She married Elijah Barrett, who was about 22, in 1887. They must have moved to Acton shortly after, for their first child Emily is born there in 1889 and baptised on the 28th August 1890 along with her younger sister Esther at All Saints Church, South Acton.(4) At this time Edith and Elijah are living at 3 Hanbury Road, and Elijah is working as a labourer. Some of Edith's elder brothers and sisters would have lived nearby, in particular Frances, Joseph, and also Esther and Frederick Squire. On the 1891 census the family are at the same address, and Elijah and Edith's birthplace is entered as Ipswich, Suffolk, which must be a census takers error. They have two daughters Emily and Esther living with them.

At the time of the baptism of their third child, Norah, in 1893, the Barretts are still at 3 Hanbury Road, but Elijah is referred to as a 'pig killer' - perhaps he was working for Frederick Squire who was a pork butcher at first.

Edith's first-born, Albert is baptised at All Saints, South Acton, on 8th November 1893 and she is entered as a single-woman living at 3 Hanbury Road. It looks as if the surname 'Barrett' has been crossed out and 'Whiting' entered instead. Presumably, her status at the time of Albert's birth is being referred to here.(4)

By the 1901 census, Edith and Elijah remain in Hanbury Road. Elijah's occupation has changed again, he is a navvy here. They have an eldest child, Albert, 15, who was not living with them on the 1891 census as he was living with his grandparents David and Elizabeth in Burton End, Haverhill. Because of his age he is likely to have been an illegitimate son of Edith's. He is working as a van boy for the Great Western Railway. The Barrett family has swelled to 10 in number including all the children, and new additions are Laura, James, Ethel, Charles and George.

Elijah was to die in 1908,(5) and the 1911 census finds widow Edith (or Edie, as she is known here) living at 2 Princes Terrace, Acton. She is a charwoman, and she has seven children living with her. Esther, 21, who is in the brush trade, Laura, 19, who is a laundry hand, James, 17, who is a carman, Ethel, 15 who is a nurse maid, and Charles, George and Edith who are at school. There is also a married couple lodging with them. The census maintains that Edith had 10 children, 8 of whom were living in 1911 and two dead. This leaves one that we know of unaccounted for, perhaps Edith's first-born.

From Electoral Registers we can see Edith is still living at 2 Princes Terrace, Acton in 1937. Also staying there are daughters Edith and Ethel.(6) 

On the 1939 Register Edith and her two daughters Edith and Ethel are still at the same address.

Edith died in April 1960 aged 93 and was buried on 17th April 1960 at Ealing and Old Brentford Cemetery in Grave 17C, Section LL, No. 1789, New Cemetery. This was in the same plot as her daughter Edith's husband, Albert Jennings (7,8)

 Sources:         

(1) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4/p13 of 37
(2) Birth Register. 2nd Quarter 1866, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 422
(3) Marriage Register. 4th Quarter 1887, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 1076
(4) London Metropolitan Archives, All Saints, South Acton, Register of baptisms, DRO/056, Item 003
(5) Death Register. 1st Quarter 1908, Brentford District, Volume 3a Page 121
(6) Ancestry.co.uk, London Electoral Registers, 1835-1965
(7) London Borough of Ealing Council; Ealing, London, England; Ealing Council Burial Records. Ancestry.co.uk
(8) Death Register. 2nd Quarter 1969, Watford District, Volume 4b page 301