Following on from my last post, I’d decided to revisit the people in the photo above, just to consolidate what I know about them – meet my 2x Great Grandfather Charles Bateman.
Charles was born on the 9th November 1852 in Headington, Oxfordshire to parents Charles and Elizabeth (née Robins). His baptism took place the following January at the parish church, St. Andrews. He had three older sisters; Jane, Elizabeth and Ann.
Charles’ first appearance in the Census was in 1861, aged 9, living in Church Lane (now Larkin’s Lane) in Headington. Charles Snr. was working as a carpenter. Jane, 15, had gone into service in Oxford and Elizabeth, at the young age of 13, was working as a nursemaid. Ann, aged 10 was living at home.
Charles began work at the age of 14; working as a messenger for the Electric & International Telegraph Company and in April 1869 he was promoted to the position of Clerk. In January 1870 he began working at the Post Office in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire as a telegraphist, later moving to the Post Office in Nottingham in the same role, where he stayed until 1881.
The 1871 Census finds Charles living in Trinity Street, Nottingham, lodging with the Swikes family. He married from this address in 1874, to Louisa Baker at St Nicholas in the City. Louisa was also living away from her family, who are from around Burton-on-Trent, and was working in service in Nottingham.
Charles and Louisa welcomed their first two children; Louisa Rose, known as Rose, in 1875 and Charles Nelson in 1879. Rose was baptised back in Headington, so Charles must’ve felt strong family ties to the area he grew up in.
In April 1881 Charles was working as a First Class Telegraphist, still for the Nottingham Post Office. The family were living at Crown Street in Nottingham. Louisa was working as a mantle maker. They had five more children; Bertie Fawcett in1882, Margaret Elizabeth also known as Marguerite in 1883, Winifred J in 1886, Florence Mary in 1887 and Dorothy Maud in 1892 who sadly only lived for a month. Over this time the family moved away from Crown Street to Noel Street North then to Burford Road and later Claypole Road around 1891, where they are in the Census that year and again in 1901.
Charles received a promotion to Assistant Postal Telegraph Superintendant 2nd class in October 1900, still with the Post Office in Nottingham.
Sadly, Louisa died in early 1905, at the family home in Claypole Road. She was 52 and had been suffering from cirrhosis of the liver for five years. The following year Charles retired from the Post Office, on the grounds of ill health. He later moved to Birrell Road and then Osbourne Grove in Sherwood, where he was recorded in the 1911 Census with daughters Marguerite, Winifred and Florence.
In March 1914 Charles wrote his Will;
I give and bequeath my vioncello to my eldest son Charles Nelson Bateman, my gold watch to my youngest son Bertie Fawcett Bateman, my antique tea set to my daughter Louisa Rose, my gold chain to my daughter Marguerite Elizabeth, my gold keeper ring to my daughter Florence May.
Last Will & Testament; Bateman Charles; Nottingham Archives
My household furniture and other effects in and upon my dwelling house at 45 Osbourne Grove Sherwood to my daughter Winifred Jane Bateman if she is single or if married in equal shares of the proceeds of the sale of the above mentioned household furniture and effects at 45 Osbourne Grove Sherwood Insurance policies.
Ten pounds to my eldest son Charles Nelson, ten pounds to my youngest son Bertie Fawcett,
ten pounds each to my daughters Louis rose, Marguerite Elizabeth & Florence Mary
to my daughter Winifred Jane Bateman the remainder after all just debts testamentory and funeral expenses have been paid.
The First World War (1914-1918) affected the whole family. Both sons, Charles Nelson and Bertie served with the Royal Engineers. I haven’t followed up Bertie’s service as yet, but Charles was in Egypt in 1915.
Marguerite’s husband, George Currie, served with the Middlesex Regiment to begin with, then moved to the 7th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. He died in April 1917, leaving his wife and two sons, and is buried in the Dorian Military Cemetery near Thessaloniki, Greece.
Florence’s husband, Charles Jowett, served with the Royal Flying Corps in Italy as a mechanic. He was brought home in July 1918 due to his daughter’s illness and by the time she had recovered the war had ended.
Charles Bateman died on the 29th December 1919 and is buried in Nottingham’s General Cemetery along with Louisa his wife and their daughter Dorothy Maud.
- Baptisms from Ancestry
- Census Info from Find My Past & Ancestry
- Photos from Geograph; Headington: Nottingham
- Charles Bateman’s career info from The Post Office Museum Archives, London
- Last Will & Testament from Nottinghamshire Archives
Caroline's Chronicles 