Joseph Whiting 1884-1960

Parents: Henry Whiting and Mary Ann Poole
Born: 28th January 1884 in Burton End, Haverhill.(1)
Baptised: ?
Married: Kate Elizabeth Meade, 28, spinster, of Haverhill, daughter of George Meade, labourer, in 1905 in Haverhill.(2)
Children: Dorothy Frances Whiting b.1907, Bessie J Whiting b.1914, Jack Clarence Whiting b.1917
Died: 2nd Quarter of 1960 in Cambridge district. Buried at Haverhill Cemetery, compartment U, Space 406, Ref.7846.(3)

Bio: Joseph first appears on the 1891 census as a scholar living at 21 Burton End with his parents and siblings.

At the time of the 1901 census he's still living at home, this time with seven other siblings as well as his parents and it looks like he's an agricultural labourer of some sort.

In 1905 Joseph married Kate Elizabeth Mead, of Haverhill, the daughter of George and Frances Mead. George had died prior to the 1901 census, and on the 1901 census Kate can be seen working as a shirt finisher and living at 12 Waveney Terrace with her widowed mother and siblings.

At some point later on in the next ten years Joseph and Kate decided to move to Steeple Bumpstead, which is where we see them on the 1911 census. They are living at Rylands Cottages, and have a daughter of 3 - Dorothy Frances, who was born in Haverhill. Also with them as a visitor, is William Meade, who was Kate's brother. He is a haircloth weaver. Joseph is working as a farm labourer, most likely at Rylands Farm.

With the advent of war, Joseph volunteered and attested for the 5th Battalion Suffolk Regiment as Private no.2887 for 4 years service with the territorial force on 19th December 1914.(3) He gave his address as End Way, Steeple Bumpstead, and he was passed fit. His height is listed as 5ft 10ins and his chest measurement 36 ins. He had good physical development and vision.

Joseph ended up serving at home until the 28th April 1916, whereupon he was discharged for being 'no longer physically fit for war service'. This was down to stiff joints which 'originated 10 years ago at Haverhill. Not due to military service. Incapacity permanent.' His character was listed as 'good'.

It seems that Joseph and Kate had at least three children, Dorothy, Bessie and Jack Clarence Whiting.

On the 1939 Register, Joseph and Kate are shown living at 58 Crowland Road, Haverhill. Son Jack is an agricultural labourer (heavy worker), and their son Jack Clarence is living with them, working as a clerk for the co-op society (7). Jack Clarence served as a sapper in the Royal Engineers in WW2, and he married Kathleen Grace Jacobs in November 1940 at the Methodist Church, Haverhill(8). They lived in Haverhill in later years and died on 19th June 2007.

Kate died in 1948(5), and was buried at Haverhill Cemetery. Joseph died twelve years later in 1960 and was buried alongside her.(4,6)

Sources:

(1) Birth Register. 1st Quarter 1884, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 596
(2) Marriage Register. 3rd Quarter 1905, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 1465
(3) Ancestry.com. British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920. Source Citation: WO364, Piece 4647
(4) Death Register. 2nd Quarter 1960, Cambridge District, Volume 2a Page 403
(5) Death Register. 1st Quarter 1948, Newmarket District, Volume 4b Page 934
(6) Haverhill Cemetery. 1960. Compartment U, Grave space 406, Ref: 7846
(7) 1939 Register. 58 Crowland Road, Haverhill, Suffolk. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: Rg 101/6661b. Ancestry
(8) South West Suffolk Echo, 23 Nov 1940. Copy taken by Judy Stratford.