Alfred Bates 1856-1929

Storekeeper.  Timekeeper.  'Thoroughly honest, sober and trustworthy.'

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Facts

Date   Event   Source
5 May 1856   Alfred Bates was born in the Earlsdon area of Coventry, the first child of George Bates (23), journeyman silk dyer, and his wife Emma (24), formerly Emma Manning.   Birth certificate
6 Jul 1856   He was christened at St Thomas's Church, Coventry, at just over a month old.   Parish register
24 Jul 1856   His grandmother, Phoebe Manning, formerly Anderson, died of TB aged 46.   Death certificate
1859-74   Six known brothers and sisters were born.   Censuses
?1864-1870   Family tradition has it that the young Alfred was a choirboy at Coventry cathedral. It is not known if records survived World War 2.   Mary Thacker
5 May 1870   He was apprenticed on his fourteenth birthday to a firm of metal workers in Coventry. As usual for the time, the apprenticeship was for seven years, during which Alfred undertook faithfully to serve his Masters while refraining from fornication, marriage, gambling or haunting taverns and playhouses. In return, they acquainted him with the art of book-keeping. He continued to live at home. The pay started at 4/6d a week, rising to 10/- in the last year.   Indentures
1877 (-1913)   At 21, he started work at W Richards and Son, Phoenix Ironworks, Leicester. He stayed there 36 years, rising to the position of timekeeper and storekeeper.   Reference from W Richards
22 Mar 1880   When he was 23, he married Mary Hannah Manger in Leicester Registry Office. She gave her age as 21 (she was actually 19) and was 2 or 3 months pregnant (not unusual at this time). The wedding was witnessed by her father and (probably) her cousin. The address of both bride and groom was given as Forest Road, Leicester.   Marriage certificate
26 Aug 1880   His first child, Mary, was born.   Birthday Book - Mary H Manger
3 Apr 1881   His address was 48 Ash Street, Leicester.   Census
18 Jun 1881   Mary was buried, aged about 9 months.   Birthday Book
2 Sep 1881   His second child, Emma Ellen (Nellie), was born.   Birthday Book
24 Sep 1882   His third child, Annie, was born.   Birthday Book
14 Oct 1883   His fourth child, Margaret, was born.   Birthday Book
18 Apr 1884   His maternal grandfather died in Coventry workhouse.   Death certificate
6 Nov 1884   His fifth child, Eliza (Lizzie), was born.   Birthday Book
6 Dec 1885   His sixth child (first son), George, was born.   Birthday Book
31 Mar 1886   Lizzie was buried at Welford Road. The family address was still Ash Street.   Welford Road burials register
29 Mar 1888   His mother-in-law (Hannah Benn) died.   Death certificate
1 Apr 1888   His seventh child, Mary Hannah, was born. His address was now 63 Ash St.   Birthday Book + Birth certificate
1891   His address was now Percy Street, Belgrave, Barrow on Soar. His occupation was timekeeper.   Census
30 Aug 1891   His eighth child, Henry (Harry), was born.   Birthday Book
14 Apr 1892   Henry (Harry) died, aged 7 months.   Birthday Book
19 Apr 1892

   Henry (Harry) was buried at Welford Road Cemetery.   Welford Road burials register
20 Mar 1894   His ninth and tenth children (twins), Gertrude and Alfred, were born.   Birthday Book
23 Mar 1894   Alfred died, aged 2 days. He was buried on 27 Mar at Welford Road, in plot UQ 93.   Birthday Book
5 Mar 1895   Gertrude died, aged about 11 months.   Birthday Book
8 Feb 1899   When he was 42, his eleventh and last child, Winifred, was born.   Birthday Book
1901   His address was 50 Larch Street. His widowed father (68) was staying with the family.   Census
Apr-Jun 1905   His daughter, Emma Ellen (Nell), married William Freeman Brooke, a railway clerk.   BMD index; 1901 Census
Jan-Mar 1908   His son, George, married Florence Harriet Veasey.   BMD index
1911   His address was now 48 Larch Street.   Census
12 Sep 1912   His daughter, Mary Hannah, married William Ernest Thacker, commercial traveller for John Thacker Ltd.   Marriage certificate
15 Jul 1913   At the age of 57 he left his employment at the Phoenix Iron Works. His testimonial said he had been thoroughly honest, sober and trustworthy for the last 36 years, and that he was leaving owing to ill health and going to Canada. His position as timekeeper [it continued] made it necessary for him to be very punctual of a morning, and only on rare occasions had he been late.   Reference
26 Jul 1913   With his wife and two daughters (two others were already there) he emigrated to Canada. He therefore missed the birth of his first grand-daughter, Mary Thacker, on 9 Sep 1913.   Doreen Angrave; Outward passenger list, National Archives
10 May 1915   He returned with his wife from Canada, leaving his daughters there.   Doreen Angrave; Passenger list
1918   On hearing from Canada of his youngest daughter Winifred's pending marriage, Alfred cabled to Canada "Stop this wedding at all costs!" Apparently he objected to the prospective groom's mother.   John Dallaston
11 May 1918   Winifred died in childbirth in Canada aged 18. Her son survived and was named Wilfred.   John Dallaston
21 Oct 1919   When he was 63, his wife died aged 59 at 27 Baggrave St. His occupation was 'ink and stain mixer'. This was one of the jobs required at John Thacker Ltd, and it is possible he was working for the family business at this time.   Death certificate
11 July 1929   He died at the age of 73 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, 83 Uppingham Road, Leicester, of 'myocarditis', an infection of the heart. His occupation was recorded as shoe findings warehouseman.

   Death certificate