Emma Farrant 1854-1937

Parents: Arthur Farrant and Maria Bacon.(1,2)
Born: 6th April 1854 in Mill Lane, Haverhill. (1,2)
Baptised: 16th April 1854 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill.(2)
Married: Walter Whiting, 23, batchelor, labourer, of Chauntry Croft, Haverhill, son of John Whiting, labourer, on 20th October 1877 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill. Witnessed by George and Mary Sizer(2,3)
Children: None.
Died: 8th October 1937 at White Lodge, Newmarket. Buried on 12th October 1937 at Haverhill Cemetery.(4,5)

Bio: Emma is living in Chauntry Croft on the 1861 census with her parents and family. Her father Arthur is a cotton weaver. She has four older sisters, Mary Ann, Matilda, Julia and Caroline, and two younger brothers Robert and Ebenezer.

The 1871 census sees the Farrants still living in Chauntry Croft, but now Emma is of working age and is a cotton weaver. Her sister Caroline is living with them as well as brothers Robert and Ebenezer. There is also a lodger, Conrad Farrant, who is presumably a relative.

In 1877 Emma marries Walter Whiting, a labourer also of Chauntry Croft. It appears they had a double wedding with Walter's younger sister Emily and Emma's brother Ebenezer Farrant.

On the 1881 census they are living in Clements Road, Walter is a labourer and Emma is a clothing factory hand. By the 1891 census they have moved to 45 Mill Road, where Walter appears to have taken up weaving as he is listed as a 'brush hair weaver'. Emma's mother Maria is living with them, her father Arthur having died in 1886. Nothing has changed on the 1901 census, again Maria is living with them, now 83.

We see Walter and Emma at 23 Clements Lane, Haverhill, on the 1911 census. Walter is a horse hair weaver.

Walter died in 1936 at White Lodge, Newmarket. At this time it was still the Newmarket poor law union Institution, and apparently didn't become a hospital until 1942.

Emma died the next year at Newmarket Infirmary(5), and like her husband was buried at Haverhill Cemetery.

A funeral notice appeared in the South West Suffolk Echo of 16th October 1937:
'The funeral took place at Haverhill on Tuesday afternoon of Mrs Emma Whiting, whose death, at the advanced age of 82 years, had occurred the previous Friday at Newmarket Infirmary. She was a widow, and she formerly resided with her late husband in Swan Yard, Haverhill.
The remains were interred at the Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev. W. Rose (Circuit Minister of the local Methodist Church) Deceased left no children, and her only brother was unable to attend, owing to illness.
The mourners present were: - Arthur Farrant, nephew; Mrs A Preston, Mrs W Cowle, Mrs E Backler, Mrs W Sizer, Miss Lilian Farrant, nieces; Mrs R Farrant, sister-in-law. Mrs J Basham, niece, was unable to attend.'

Newspaper extract courtesy of Judy Stratford

Sources:

(1) Birth Register. 2nd Quarter 1854, Risbridge District, Vol 4a Page 358
(2) Suffolk Baptism Index, SFHS, Clare Deanery 1813-1900.
(3) Marriage Register. 4th Quarter 1877, Risbridge district, Vol 4a Page 824
(4) Haverhill Cemetery, Ref:5152. http://www.haverhill-uk.com/pages/burial-records-137.htm
(5) Death Register. 4th Quarter 1937, Newmarket District, Vol 3b Page 573