Edwin K Perks & Lucy Brereton

People that know me through Twitter and this Blog, know that we enjoy going to Car Boot Sales at Weekends. I have found all manner of bargains, some for the Grandchildren like Clothes and Toys, particular reading Books that I am looking out for, lately finding items for the home & to help with making The Wedding Cake I have just finished, like the Cake turntable I picked up for just £2 !

But my absolute love is Old Photos and Old Books, sometimes we pay a little & sometimes a lot more, but then I try to pick out a few to resell, then what I sell pays for what I keep.
This Bank holiday weekend I was very lucky we actually went to 3 Boot Sales and on one of the Sunday ones, my Husband haggled with the chap and managed to get 2 old photo albums and a shoe box full of photos for a very reasonable price.
The whole lot is I am sure now, from the same family, although I still have more researching to do.
In the shoebox I found a piece of paper with details of a Wedding written by the Bride herself, so have been on Ancestry to find out more about who she married etc....These are my findings so far......
Edwin Kesterton Perks born 30 November 1887 Ipswich, Suffolk (Tailor Cutter in 1911) Parents George Edwin Kesterton born 1862 Colchester, Essex and Elvina Maria Gallant born 1859 in Chelmoniston, Suffolk..Edwin also had three siblings.
Edwin married Lucy Brereton on the 27th December 1916. Lucy I think was born in the late 1890's (needs more research) I do know that when they married her parents were both desceased, her fathers name was Henry A Brereton and her mother Sarah Ann Brereton, Lucy did have at least one sibling as it states in newspaper cutting.
I managed to find a child of this couple, a daughter Margaret Lucy Perks born in late 1923 and looking at some of the photos that I thought might be her, I was intrigued to see a lady in later life and wearing no wedding ring, so I thought aahh could be clue ! and I was right I looked up Margaret Lucy Perks and found that the details of her funeral were in the Telegraph & Bournemouth Echo and she only actually died last December 2012 in a nursing home in Lymington, Hampshire, not too far away from us here in Christchurch.... So she never married or had children to pass the Photos on to, but you would have thought that maybe her Mum or Dads siblings may have had children that would want to have them?...very sad I think.

Says 'Margaret Christmas 1928' so she was 5

says 'Sept 1938' so Margaret was 15


ABOVE Picture................Lovely Happy Family Photo with her Mum Lucy and Dad Edwin (Ted)

Margaret Lucy Perks in her later years

  This is the account of her wedding in Ipswich that Lucy Brereton wrote:

Dec 27th 1916, My Wedding Day
The day proved very bright but cold. Wedding at 1.30 at St Margarets. Mr Job played the organ. We then went on to Mildreds (33 Lacey St).  Ted's (Edwin)  friends & my own. Left Ipswich Station by the 4.20. Very thick fog, arrived at Liverpool St 21/2 hrs late. We then went on to Strand Palace Hotel where arrangements had previously been made. Did not go out again owing to fog. Married in Navy Blue Costume, Wine shade Velour Hat, Squirrel Furs and wearing bunch of white Heather. Went away in large niggor Brown Coat (Teds present to me)
Thursday 28th Good bit of walking in the morning, went to see Westminster Cathedral. Afternoon Drury Lane Pantomine 'Puss in Boots' Evening Savoy Theatre 'The Professors Love Story'
Friday 29th Morning Madam Tussauds. Afternoon Colosseau. Evening Lyric Theatre to see Doris Keave in 'Romance'
Saturday 30th Morning went through Houses of Parliament & on to the Grafton Gallery to see lovely war Photograhs.
Home by the 3.10. Received home by friends at 141, then on to Upland Rd, where we stayed the following three weeks.

Ted joined up & went to Bury Jan 18th 1917.
Passed into Royal Flying Corps Jan 20th 1917.

Lucy had inserted the Newspaper clipping of their Wedding at St Margarets into a postcard of the church, I wonder if that's why they called their daughter Margaret, after the church they married in ?

If any Perks or Brereton family are out there anywhere it would be great to return this lot of photos to the family......................

I have started a new Twitter account just for Pictures that I have found at various Car Boot Sales, so if you Love old Photos please give me a follow..........See link above....many thanks

Till next time then.............................................

WDYTYA Magazine Index Part 6

Here we are Part 6 of the WDYTYA Magazine Index, amazing it has been a year since I put Part 5 on My Blog...All you have to do is Copy & Paste the list in Alphabetical order, then Print out to keep with your Magazines...Please remember though not everything is listed, you still have lots of other Articles and Subjects covered in the Magazine, Like Q & A and On The Record & don't forget The Guide which is a wealth of information...........Was surprised to see April 2013 through my letterbox today, little earlier than usual...Lovely for the Weekend....

April 2013 WDYTYA Magazine

1688 The Glorious Revolution Issue 72 Page 77
1817 Elgin Marbles Issue 67 Page 77
1834 Parliament Fire Issue 66 Page 77
1842 Kabul Retreat Issue 68 Page 77
1847 Ten Hour Act Issue 64 Page 77
1863 The Underground Issue 63 Page 77
1870 Education Issue 69 Page 77
1884 English Earthquake Issue 71 Page 77
1897 Queen Victoria Jubilee Issue 61 Page 77
1922 Tutankharmuns Tomb Issue 62 Page 77
1930 Airship R101 Issue 70 Page 77
1930-1970 Pictures Issue 65 Page 30
50 Hidden Gems UK Issue 65 Page 17
50 Websites to watch 2013 issue 69 Page 22
Adoption Issue 70 Page 24
Almshouses Issue 68 Page 55
Annie Lennox Story Issue 66 Page 25
Army Lists Issue 64 Page 61
Asylums Best websites Issue 61 Page 51
Athletic Ancestors Best websites Issue 63 Page 51
Australia Child Migrants Issue 72 Page 64
Australian Newspapers Issue 72 Page 94
Baking History of Issue 67 Page 64
Beach Photos Issue 64 Page 54
Bedfordshire Brickmakers Issue 62 Page 73
Berkshire Ancestors Issue 70 Page 81
Blitz Research Sites Issue 66 Page 30
Bolton Pictures Issue 67 Page 32
Brighton Streets History Issue 62 Page 30
Buckinghamshire Ancestors Issue 61 Page 81
Buckinghamshire Men Issue 69 Page 50
Business/Trade  Ancestors Issue 71 Page 30
Canadian Island shipwreck reader story Issue 64 Page 98
Catholic Registers Issue 62 Page 61
Census Online help Issue 67 page 17
Cheshire Ancestors Issue 64 Page 81
Child Migration Issue 65 Page 63
Childbirth Issue 65 Page 66
Chris Payne Family Detective story Issue 61 Page 36
Christmas Diaries Issue 68 Page 66
Christmas Wartime Farm issue 68 Page 24
Common Names Tips Issue 70 Page 29
Convict Children issue 69 Page 66
Court Records Issue 62 Page 16
Coventry School issue 70 Page 48
Cremation Records Issue 67 Page 61
Criminal Petitions Issue 72 Page 59
Derbyshire Ancestors Issue 72 Page 81
Dickens Manager family story Issue 63 Page 98
Emigrants Letter 1839 Issue 72 Page 46
English Civil War Issue 69 Page 53
Essex Parish Registers Issue 71 Page 94
Farm Accounts 1881 Issue 63 Page 48
Female Road Racer Issue 65 Page 76
Fever Hospitals Issue 66 Page 64
FIBIS (India Society) Issue 61 Page 94
Firefighter Reader Story Issue 72 Page 98
Gardeners of the Past Issue 62 Page 64
Gentlemens Magazine Issue 69 Page 63
Glasgow Ancestors Issue 62 Page 81
Glasgow history Issue 71 Page 75
Glasgow Papermakers Issue 72 Page 71
Glasgow record 1903 Issue 64 Page 48
Glove Makers Devon Issue 66 Page 71
Gresford Mining Disaster Issue 65 Page 77
Heanor Local Hisory Soc Issue 64 Page 70
Heroes & Villains reader story Issue 66 Page 36
Herring Trade workers Issue 67 Page 71
Hertfordshire Records Issue 69 Page 94
HMS Belfast Pictures Issue 72 Page 30
Hospital Archives Issue 71 Page 51
Houghton le Spring Issue 71 Page 70
Huguenots Best Websites Issue 62 Page 51
iPad to Scanner Issue 72 Page 62
Irish Civil Registration Issue 67 Page 94
Irish Forebears Issue 71 Page 54
Irish Northern Ancestors Issue 66 Page 81
Jewish & Gypsy family Reader story Issue 67 Page 34
Jewish Roots reader story Issue 64 Page 34
John Bishop story Issue 69 Page 30
Jury Lists Issue 63 Page 61
Kent Ancestors Issue 71 Page 81
Kent Archaeological Society Issue 72 Page 70
Klondike Gold Rush Issue 64 Page 75
Lancashire Archives Issue 65 Page 72
Lancashire Clog Makers Issue 63 Page 71
Lancashire Glass Issue 70 Page 71
Lancashire project Issue 64 Page 94
Land Tax Records Issue 63 Page 54
Leyland Cars Issue 61 Page 73
Lincolnshire School 1849 Issue 66 Page 50
Living Relatives Issue 64 Page 27
London Archives Issue 70 Page 54
London Parish Records Issue 62 Page 94
London Traders Issue 68 Page 73
Lost Birth Records Issue 61 Page 16
Maps Issue 68 Page 58
Mariner Ancestor family story Issue 65 Page 32
Marriage Myths Issue 68 page 27
Mechanics Institutes Issue 70 Page 66
Medal Indexes Issue 66 Page 94
Metal Miners Best websites Issue 72 Page 49
Military hero? family story Issue 68 Page 38
Mills & Mill Workers Issue 64 Page 51
Missionary in Africa family story Issue 61 Page 98
Mutiny on the Bounty family story Issue 69 Page 36
Napoleons generals Family story Issue 62 Page 98
National Archives wills catalogue Issue 68 Page 94
Naturalisation Immigrant Ancestors Issue 61 Page 63
Navy Journal 1890 Issue 68 Page 52
Navy Man Reader story Issue 66 page 98
Newspaper Collection Issue 70 Page 94
Newspaper Pics 1914-1918 Issue 65 Page 48
Newspapers Expert Advice Issue 71 Page 19
Northants Shoemakers Issue 71 Page 71
Northumberland Ancestors Issue 68 Page 81
Nurses Murder reader story Issue 63 Page 36
One World Family Tree Issue Issue 72 Page 17
Ormskirk FHS Issue 66 Page 70
Orphaned Ancestors Issue 65 Page 28
Outposts& Enclaves Issue 69 Page 56
Oxfordshire Record Issue 67 Page 48
Paisley Shawl Makers Issue 64 Page 71
Parish Registers Issue 66 Page 17
Passenger Lists Guide Issue 72 Page 52
Patrick Stewart story Issue 67 Page 24
Petworth/Canada project Issue 67 Page 70
Photograph Fashion Dating Issue 65 Page 51
Photographs dating Family Issue 66 Page 56
Photographs Sharing Issue 70 Page 17
Police Constables Volunteers Issue 68 Page 63
Post Mortems Issue 70 Page 61
POWS Far East Issue 72 Page 24
Prison Hulks Issue 66 Page 61
Queen Elizabeth 11 Past in Pictures Issue 61 Page 32
Reform Schools issue 67 Page 51
Roosevelts Guest family story Issue 69 Page 98
Rootsweb research Issue 64 Page 58
Royal Household Archives Issue 62 Page 25
Samantha Womack story Issue 65 Page 24
Scottish Poor Records Issue 64 Page 22
Scottish Research Issue 69 Page 81
Seafaring Ancestors records Issue 71 Page 61
Self Publishing Family History Issue 61 Page 27
Servant Ancestor family story Issue 70 Page 34
Servant Ancestors Issue 62 Page 54
Sheffield Roots Reader story Issue 62 Page 36
Sheffield Steel Issue 69 Page 73
SOG Catalogue Issue 63 Page 94
Sporting Fashion Issue 63 Page 64
Stockport Plaza Cinema Issue 61 Page 72
Suicide History Issue 71 Page 64
Swindon Photos Issue 68 Page 36
Swing Rioters family story Issue 71 Page 34
Tanks Hero family story Issue 71 Page 98
Tattoos Meaning of Issue 67 Page 54
Tax & Customs
Temperance Ancestors Photos Issue 70 Page 32
Thames Navigation Book Issue 71 Page 48
TNA new Catalogue Issue 61 Page 60
TNA Tips for best use Issue 63 Page 27
Transport Photos Issue 69 Page 34
Travelling Showman family story Issue 70 Page 98
Turn Back Time TV Issue 63 Page 24
TV Series preview Issue 64 Page 16
US Pioneers Issue 64 Page 64
Victoria Cross family story Issue 68 Page 98
Victorian Wars Issue 65 Page 56
Warwickshire Ancestors Issue 65 Page 81
Welsh Ancestors Issue 61 Page 54
Welsh Flannel Makers Issue 65 Page 73
Welsh Newspapers Issue 71 Page 16
William Roache story Issue 71 Page 26
Wiltshire Ancestors Issue 67 Page 81
Worcestershire Ancestors Issue 63 Page 81
Working Ancestors records Issue 63 Page 16
WW1 Diaries family story Issue 67 Page 98
WW1 Homefront Issue 66 Page 53
WW1 Nurses Issue 61 Page 66
WW1 Photos Issue 66 Page 30
WW1 RAF family Issue 65 Page 94
WW1 Soldier story Issue 66 Page 75
WW1 war diary Issue 61 Page 48
WW2 Ancestors Issue 67 Page 30
WW2 Artic Convoy Issue 62 Page 76
WW2 Children Family story Issue 65 Page 98
WW2 Desertion& Heroism issue 67 Page 75
WW2 Evacuee family story Issue 63 Page 75
WW2 News Issue 72 Page 75
WW2 Polish Ancestors Reader Story Issue 72 Page 32
WW2 Unsung Weather Heroes Issue 61 Page 76

Hope you all find it Handy...

Till Next Time Then.............................................................

St Stephens, Spitalfields..Marriage Puzzle

The very first marriage certificate that I ever sent for was for my Great Grandparents Edward Henry Jordan and Phoebe Bird, they had eleven children in total, and as I was very new to Family History I was so very disappointed when after a couple of weeks I received the certificate and both the fathers names were missing from it ! 
So frustrating to a newbe..But actually it made me realize that it wasn't all plain sailing this Family history stuff and you come across many many brick walls that have to be broken down, and it also always leaves you with many many questions that you never seem to have answered however many certificates and records you manage to attach to your particular Family Tree.
I have already written a couple of Blogs about the first 2 of Edward Henry and Phoebe's children,      ALICE  and PHOEBE
There are niggling things about them though that I would love to know, one of these little questions was who were the two people that were witnesses at their wedding, it took place at St Stephens Church in the Parish of Spitalfields on 10th March 1863...... After their first 2 children were born.
I have looked at neighbours or family members, in case they were in-laws maybe..but by sheer chance I was looking through the records and realized that now the original picture of the record book when they got married was on ancestry.co.uk, and I hadn't even looked at it, purely because I already had the certificate..and what did I find..a revelation..the 2 chaps who witnessed their marriage were John Bell, who was the Bridegroom of the marriage before theirs and George Lynn, the Bridegroom of the marriage after theirs !! they were both able to sign their names, (unlike my Great Grandparents) so they obviously were asked........mystery solved at last.

Click to Enlarge

Its taught me that sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture, when looking at the records.....

I do, like a lot of people look at neighbours in the same & ajoining streets on census records, when looking for missing family members, and often look at other people on the same page just in case I might find twins in Birth records or other family members dying at the same time in Death records, but this just honestly never occurred to me..

Has anyone out there come across a Photo of St Stephens, Spitalfields ?? I would love to see what it looked like, I just can't seem to find one. It had only been built three years, when my Great Grandparents married, as it was built in 1860 but was demolished in 1930- the adjacent vicarage is all that remains...There must be a Picture somewhere surely.

Till next time then..........................................................

World War 1 Letters to a Cousin from Arthur

Arthur Jnr..writer of letters

Coming up to Christmas and a time when all families would like to be with their loved ones, I thought you might like to read some more of my families letters...from World War 1, all written in 1916 and written by Arthur Jordan Jnr from France......... they once again were written to my Uncle Dan, who it seems because he wasn't able to join up, kept the family and friends who were in the fighting line, up to date with Home life and gave them a valuable life line to let them know that they were always in the thoughts of those at Home. There are some interesting bits of information in them too, about the 'teddy bear' suits they were issued with and about the Zeppelin.
So you know who the people are in the letters, there are brothers Daniel Snr b1873 and Arthur Snr b1875, so both in their 40's and served in the Army Service Corps..Then you have Daniel Jnr b1897 (receiver of letters) and Arthur Jnr b1897 (writer of these) Aunt Nell & Jane were sisters of the Snr brothers and Kate and Edie sisters of Daniel Jnr..and Alf, the proper little terror was My Dad ! ha ha ......age 14 and one of Daniel Jnr brothers. 
Sunday Sept 10th
Dear Dan
Just a few lines in answer to your most kind and welcome letter in which I am very pleased to hear you are keeping quite well, I have received a letter from cousin Kate and have answered it, very sorry to hear that Uncle Dan is in hospital let us hope he will soon be better, Mother tells me that she is going to your place today Sunday with I think Aunt Nell and Jane?, I dare say at the time of my writing you are enjoying yourselves. I only wish I was there with you, but never mind Dan if I am not home by this Christmas I shall be home by Christmas twelve months thank god I am spared from this lot, you say you are going to be attested again on the 30 of September, but I dont suppose you will pass, if you do it will be for home service, you are lucky to be out of this lot, Mother tells me that Dad has left Salonika, lets hope he will soon be home. You say that the Colonels daughter is getting engaged to a chap, what a nice thing to get tied up to Dan I am sorry for the fellow.
Glad you are still at work at the same place, Kate tells me that Edie has left the Fish Shop, I hope she is keeping quite well, tell her to drop me a line as I dont get much time for writing it is all a rush for me. Do you remember my Mate Bill that came over to your place with me in my Regiment, he has been wounded with shrapnel, I think he is getting on alright Dan. Remember me to Aunt Kate hoping she is keeping quite well, I shall write to her next. How is Alf getting on.. a proper little terror now I suppose, him and Fred are just a pair. I have wrote to Uncle Dan time after time but I cant seem to get an answer, has he another address..I write to the address that Edie gave to me when I was there with Bill.
I think I have said all at present hoping my letter finds you and all at home in the best of health as I am in the pink at present, write back soon, 
Good night and Good luck 
from your loving cousin 
Arthur xxxxxx
Pte A Jordan
Same Address
Friday Sept 29th

A.Jordan

Dear Dan
 Just these few lines in answer to your most kind and welcomed letter very pleased to hear you are all quite well as I am at present, I am very pleased to hear you got exempted again Dan I only wish I was in your place, you are lucky to get out of this lot, but I dare say you are eager to go like I was. I am very sorry to hear the Zepp got to Clapham I dont know what Mother must have been like, I have not heard from home since the 10th of September and I have wrote a letter and I cant make it out I feel sure something must be wrong, have you heard Dan, let me know if anything has happened.I have answered Kates letter, very pleased to hear that Uncle Dan is getting on alright, I hope he has the luck to get home, remember me to him when you write at home. Very pleased to hear about the Zepp being brought down, Dear Dan I have not heard from Bill yet but I as soon as I do I shall let you know. We have had good weather through until this last day or two, we had a heavy thunder storm out here last night I dare say you had one there the same time. Dont forget to let me know if there is anything wrong at home. Pleased to hea you all had a good time with Mother and others last Sunday, Jane told me that she is fairing up alright with you. I think this is all at present Dan so write back soon, remember me to all at home hoping they are all in the peak of health.
Good Night from your Loving cousin
Arthur xxxxxx

Arthur Senior

Monday October 16th                                              A.Jordan

Dear Dan

In answer to your most kind and welcome letter which I was very pleased to receive, and hear that all at home are quite well. Very pleased to hear that aunt Molly is at Southend for a few days holiday. I hope the weather keeps fine for her. Well Dan I wrote to Dad and I sent him Uncle Dans address at the hospital but I shall write again now and send him the new address and tell him about Uncle Dan advertising in the ………………… Chronicle, and am writing again to Uncle Dan and tell him where Dad is, he is at a place called, Macedonia, I could not tell you where that is Dan? very pleased to hear Uncle is getting on alright, let me know how you got on when you went to be re-examined as Kate told me that you had to go up again, we are not getting bad weather out here now for this time of the year we would expect it now we have been served out with under clothes and body belts also our teddy bear coats for the winter you ought to see us in these fur coats just like a lot of teddy bears it does make us look comical, I dare say you are having a bit of cold weather at home now, I am afraid Dad and I shall be away from home this xmas  as there is no hope of me getting home for xmas  unless I get wounded and I don’t want that if I can help it, I don’t suppose Uncle Dan will be home for the xmas but never mind you must all make the best of it this xmas and lets hope that we will all be together xmas twelve months we will make up two xmases Dad has been from home. Remember me to Aunt hoping all are keeping quite well, tell Aunt Kate that she must go over to Mother on xmas or get Mother to go over to her, and you must all make the best of it together, so don’t worry, cheer up and lets all hope and fancy that this war will soon be over, I think I know said all this time Dan so cheer up and best of luck. Remember me to all at home, Good Night from
                    You Loving Cousin
                              Arthur    xxxx
Write to same adress
Write soon  
Your Family Tree Magazine put a great Picture on Facebook Page showing the 'Teddy Bear' clothing mentioned in letter above......click on link below

Winter Clothing for Troops via YourFamilyTreeMagazine


Same address
Tuesday. Nov.14.                               Pte. A. Jordan.
Dear Dan
              Just a few lines in answer to your most kind and welcome letter, which I was very pleased to receive and hear that all at home are quite well, as I am my self at present.
I have wrote to Uncle Dan,  but I have had no answer yet, I should have thought they would have given him a short leave before sending him back to Selonika, but why they don’t give them leave is owing to them being so far away, if Dad was not so far away, he would have had a leave before now, he’s been away over 18 months.
                I thank you very much for your photo Dan, I think it is very good of you,  its quite a treat to see someone in civilian clothes, I showed it to my mates up the line, and I told them you could not get into the Army, oh Christ you should have heard them Dan, they all wished that they were you, I only wish that I was there with a chit like it instead of this, but it is not so bad out here, I have got used to it now, it is a case of you’ve got to get used to it, I think Dan. I received Kates letter the same time as yours, I am going to answer it now. I dare say you will get them together.
                I have just received a letter from Dad, pleased to say he is keeping quite well, the first letter I have had from him for months, he said he should be pleased to hear from Uncle Dan, he has not heard from him for a long time, and Dad has a new address now,  I shall put his address at the end of my letter.
                I cant make it out Dan I have not heard from Bill yet I have wrote a letter to his Mother and she will tell me how he is getting on. We are not getting bad weather out here for now, I dare say it is not up to much at home.
                Well Dan I hope you will excuse my bad writing, as the time is getting on, and I have to write ? letters to night.
??????????????????????????????????????   From your loving cousin             Arthur
Pte A Jordan 7829
3rd Battalion Middlesex Reg
xxxxxxxxx   Salonika Force

Daniel and Arthur senior survived the War and so did Arthur Jnr I am glad to say.

If you have some spare time and enjoy writing the odd letter, I'm sure the men and women of our forces today would love to receive a letter or two this Christmas...there is still time to let them know they are not forgotten...
There are 2 links here below of Websites that can help, I expect there are more too if you look....... 

MOD Support Members of the Armed Forces 

Any Soldier.com Letters etc

Forces Pen Pals..support soldiers 

A Very Happy Christmas Everyone and a Peaceful New Year
Till Next time then..................................