Corry Family Tree
of

Bristol, Southampton & Dublin

 
Ernest CORRY (1883 - unknown)
Born:
Saturday, 24th March 1883
Location:
Southampton, Hampshire
Married:
Tuesday, 28th December 1909 aged 26
Location:
Registry Office, Wellington
Children:
1910 - Sydney Ivor - died 1915
1912 - Phyllis Freda - died 1993
  1915 - Ronald Kenneth Napier - died 1972  
Died:
UNKNOWN
Age:
UNKNOWN
Location:
UNKNOWN
Home

Ernest was born on Saturday 24th March 1883 at 12 Crosshouse, Southampton in Hampshire. He was born the son of Arthur an Engineer from Dublin, Ireland. His mother was Ann Elizabeth BENNETT, whose father George was recorded as an Innkeeper on the marriage Certificate. George is also listed as a beer retailer of 12 Standford Street, Southampton in the 1876 list of Householders and Residents.

He had an older sister ANNIE plus six brothers. His brothers and sister are listed below:

  Born
Age at Death
Annie 1878
Albert 1881
ERNEST 24 March 1883
Unknown
Henry 1885
Frederick W 1888
Frank P 1890
74
Bertie Arthur 13 December 1891
94
Alfred George 1893
84

 

 

 

   It must have been a lively household!!

In the 1891 census Ernest or his mother/father/family cannot be found, although Annie has moved out and at the age of 13 has become a Domestic Servant in a nearby household.

In the 1901 census the CORRY family has returned from wherever they were in 1891. Ernest is now aged 18 whose occupation is listed as an apprentice gas fitter living with his parents at 12 Crosshouse. (Crosshouse Road today has virtually no houses and is a light industrial area).

He is living with his parents Arthur and Annie together with his brothers:

  Age
Occupation
Henry 16
Assistant in Refreshment Rooms
Frederick W 13
Errand boy for a firm of Book-keepers
Frank P 11
None
Bertie Arthur 9 None
Alfred George 7 None
>

 

 

 

 

Missing from this list is his sister Annie and younger brother Albert. Albert had got married on 23 December 1900 to Maud Alicia MORGAN and they had moved only a few streets away to 31 Melbourne Street. Annie would be 23 at this time so maybe she has married or still in service and living elsewhere. Ernest's father Arthur is listed as being an invalid for 3 years.

On 28th December 1909 he marries Eveline Maud Johns shown as a sewing machinist from Wellington. She the daughter of James Johns an Insurance Superintendent. Interestingly her age is given as 21 on the marriage certificate but a year later, in the 1911 census, her father gives her age as 20. 15 days later she gives birth to their first child.

On 12th January 1910 his first child, Sydney Ivor was born. Their address is shown as 7 Clifford Terrace, Wellington, Somerset about 100 miles away from where Ernest was born. This house is still there as at June 2015, click HERE to see.

The 1911 census records him as a boarder at St Helena, Nelson Road, Freeland Rd, Clacton On Sea whereas his wife Eveline and son Sydney Ivor were shown to be with her parents at Queens Terrace, Church Street, Wiveliscombe, Somerset! Perhaps Ernest was working away on a contract and Eveline went home for help with young baby Ivor (who died at the age of 5 years). His occupation is now shown as Engineer (electrical) whereas 10 years previously he was an apprentice gas fitter.

On the 25 March 1912 Ernest's second child, a daughter, Phyllis Freda, is born. She was always known to me as Auntie Freda and we spent many a pleasant Christmas with her and her husband Ron HEXT. She is four years old in the picture below.

Tragedy was to strike the family in March 1915 with the death of Sydney Ivor at the age of 5. The death certificate records the cause as acute pneumonia coupled with heart failure. Their address is shown as The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey. His occupation is recorded as Plumber and Fitter.

His third child, my father, came forth on 25 September 1915 magnificently named Ronald Kenneth Napier. To that date few Corrys had a middle name let alone two! They were still recorded as living at The Common, Cranleigh. RKN is just over 1 year old in the photograph below on his mothers knee, wearing a natty dress!

This is the only photograph I have of my Grandfather which was taken in October 1916 in the studios of George S Moore of Denmark Hill, London.

It shows his wife, Evelyn Maud and (left) Phyllis Freda and (right) my father, Ronald Kenneth Napier.

The photograph is inscribed on the back - "With Love From - Evelyn, Ern, Freda and Ken" and dated November 5th 1916. The date it was taken is also noted.

EC is wearing a military uniform, not unusual in 1916 in the middle of the great war. However all attempts to uncover a military record have failed. Did he actually ever enlist or was this just a photographers prop?

1916 was the first year of compulsory military service and EC was within the required age range.

To add to the mystery I can find no death certificate issued in the UK or any record of his being killed in the Great War.

What did happen to EC after 1916?

The only other record of him is on my parents marriage certificate dated 1942 where he is recorded as deceased.

His addresses   
Date Address Source Comment
March 1883 12 Crosshouse, Southampton BC Probably Crosshouse Road which exists today but as light industrial estate
April 1901 12 Crosshouse, Southampton Census with parents
Dec 1909 7 Clifford Terrace, Wellington MC  
Jan 1910 7 Clifford Terrace, Wellington BC First child's birth certificate
April 1911 St Helena, Nelson Road, Freeland Rd, Clacton On Sea Census Temporary address whilst on business? Wife with parents.
March 1912     Birth of second child Phyllis Freda
March 1915 The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey DC  
Sept 1915 The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey BC  
Author: John Michael CORRY
Email:john@corry.org.uk