| James and Phoebe also seemed to be going for another record. In the space of twenty years they lived at no less than twelve different addresses. Why? We don't know. All the houses, except the last, were within a stone's throw of each other, all were of a similar size, perhaps they kept getting evicted, we just don't know, or perhaps, behind with the rent, they did a "moonlight"! Alfred himself was born on the 8th. May, 1890, at Mount Street, Northwood, when Phoebe was 38yrs. old., so once again I think that me and Marj. are lucky to be here. Well done Phoebe! She even managed another one after Alfred, just for good measure!......Charles. I couldn't find them for a while in 1891, and gambling that Charles was the last, and that they may have left our beloved Northwood, we applied for his Birth Certificate. From that we got a new address....Shelton New Road...found them at last. They were all there waiting for us, little Alfred was just 11 months old, James was 40, still a potter's fireman. Just before we resume our journey and there is a fair way to go, there is the matter of the marriage of James and Phoebe Gould. This took place on 4th. September, 1870, at the Holy Trinity Church in Northwood. (of course!). Neither could write, both left their mark, and Phoebe said that she was 18 years old. In the census of the following year she is 17 years old! Mistakes? Who knows.....except to say that in 1881 she gives her age as 26 years, so it seems that she was only 16 when she married James.... Now don't forget, whenever I mention a marriage, don't you dare think of shiny black cars adorned with white ribbons.!......horses, remember? James and Phoebe have a special place in our hearts, so many children, so many houses, what a pity that we don't know anything about their appearance. Their son Alfred was slim and of medium height, so if he took after his father.....? We have always thought of Phoebe as a small woman, but there's nothing to say she wasn't. We'll never know now, will we... |
| From Inner tube to Shoemakers |
| Part seven... |