LIFE GOES ON: AN INTRODUCTION

MY GRANDPARENTS - I - MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS - I - MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS - I - MY GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS

THE SIXTEEN FAMILIES

KNOTT - I - BOWLES - I - WATERS - I - HARRALL - I - PAGE - I - WISEMAN - I - CROSS - I - CARTER

CORNWELL - I - HUCKLE - I - MORTLOCK - I - MANSFIELD - I - REYNOLDS - I - CARTER - I - ANABLE - I - STEARN

CHRONOLOGY - I - DRAMATIS PERSONAE - I - WHERE PEOPLE CAME FROM - I - CALENDAR

MAP OF ELY - I - MAP OF MEDWAY
MAP OF CAMBRIDGE AND DISTRICT

THE WORKHOUSE

WORLD WAR I - I - WORLD WAR II

simonknott.co.uk I home I e-mail

LIFE GOES ON


Winifred Ellen Reynolds
born Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire, 4th February 1904
died Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, 23rd February 1983

on the Reynolds family tree
part of the
Reynolds, Carter, Anable and Stearn family stories

married to Edmund Stanley Cornwell

daughter of
Thomas Reynolds
and
Alice Mary Anable

Cambridge Peace Celebrations (detail)

The Reynolds family: 1918? Cornwells, July 1938 1947: Hunstanton?

Linda's wedding Winifred Ellen Reynolds 1955?: Winifred Ellen Cornwell Winifred, Shirley and Alice Gary's wedding



Winifred Ellen Reynolds (1904-1983). My Mother's Mother. My Grandmother.

Winifred Ellen Reynolds was born in Dry Drayton, a village on the outskirts of Cambridge, in 1904. She was the oldest child. In about 1908 the family moved to Great Wilbraham on the other side of Cambridge where they still were for the 1911 census. They then moved to Hildersham, before settling in Cambridge in 1915. Her father was a brewery drayman. She married Edmund Stanley Cornwell, who came from Oakington, the neighbouring village to Dry Drayton, but they married in Lichfield, Staffordshire on 10th July 1923 when they were both just 19 years old. They gave false ages to acquire the certificate, as one of them had to be of age, that is to say 21 or over. They were in Staffordshire because my grandmother was pregnant, and they had run away to get married. Stan's older sister Ruth lived at Colton on the outskirts of Rugeley, and she arranged the marriage for them. Their first child was born less than three months later. He had a learning disability, and lived with his mother for the rest of her life. Winifred's parents never really forgave her for her pregnancy and hasty marriage to someone of whom they did not approve. It is only in the last few months that I have discovered that Winifred's mother Alice was also six months pregnant when she married Winifred's father in 1903. Winifred was that child.

They returned to Cambridge after the birth of their first child, living at Oakington with Stan's parents and then in Castle Row, Cambridge, near to Win's parents. However, they seem not to have got on well with them, and after the birth of two more children they moved to Barway near Ely and then to Grunty Fen on the other side of the river, before settling in Little Thetford. They had nine children altogether. Although my grandfather died before I was born, Winifred Cornwell was the grandparent I knew best. I spent the first three years of my life living in the same house as her at Green Hill, Little Thetford in the Isle of Ely. After we moved to Cambridge she would often visit us, and I would go and stay with her. I spent a lot of the spring of 1966 living with her because of complications with the birth of my youngest brother. I remember her as being a very comfy, smiling old lady, although she was actually only in her late fifties when I was born. The thing that strikes me about her now when I look at her on earlier photographs is quite how stunningly beautiful she was when she was young, and that my own daughter, who of course she never met, looks uncannily like her.

 
1901 census:

Winifred was not born at the time of the 1901 census. Her parents had not yet married.

Winifred's mother Alice Mary Anable was nineteen years old at the time of the 1901 census. Her surname is misspelt as 'Anabel'. She was living in the lodging house of Mary Cullum at 10 Peas Hill, Cambridge. This is in the centre of Cambridge, leading from the Market Place to Corn Exchange Street. Alice is shown as a domestic servant. She was single in 1901.

Mary Cullum was a widow, and had two daughters living with her, Gertrude aged 27 and Janet aged 25. There was one other domestic servant living in the house, Julia Marshall aged 16.

The census records that Alice was born at Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire. The transcript for the entry is here.

Winifred's father Thomas Reynolds was twenty-two years old at the time of the 1901 census. He was living at home with his parents at High Street, Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire. The street still exists today. Thomas is shown as an agricultural labourer. He was single. Significantly, Alice Anable was also from Dry Drayton.

Thomas's parents are shown as Robert Reynolds, a stockman on a farm, aged 59, and Mary Ann Reynolds, aged 58. They had one other child living at home at the time of the 1901 census, Robert G Reynolds, an agricultural labourer, aged 19. Also living with them was their grandson Ernest Joseph Elzey, aged 3, born in North Bow in London.

The Reynolds household had three lodgers on the night of the census. They were George and Albert Sheet, apparently father and son, and William Jackson. All three were agricultural labourers.

Thomas was born at Duxford, Cambridgeshire according to the 1901 census (although the BMD Index suggests a different Cambridgeshire registration district). The transcript for their entry is here.

 


Win
1904:
Winifred Ellen was born in Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire on 4th February. She was baptised at St Peter and St Paul, Dry Drayton, on April 3rd, which that year was Easter Sunday.

1905: Winifred's sister Cecilia was born in Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire and baptised at St Peter and St Paul, Dry Drayton, on Christmas Eve.

1907: Winifred's brother Ernest was born in Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire and baptised at St Peter and St Paul, Dry Drayton, on 5th May..

1910: Winifred's sister Abigail was born in Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire on 21st April and baptised at St Nicholas, Great Wilbraham, on 5th June.

 


1911 census:

Winifred was seven years old at the time of the 1911 census. Her name is misspelt on the census as 'Winefred'. The Reynolds family were living at Valley Farm, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire, actually on the outskirts of the parish, and nearer to the village of Fulbourn, today a suburb of Cambridge.

Winifred's father Thomas is shown as a horse keeper. He was 32 years old. Winifred's mother Alice was 30 years old. They had been married for 7 years.

Winifred was the oldest of four children at the time of the 1911 census, and her father spelt her name as Winefred. The others were Cecila (Cecilia) was 5, Earnest (Ernest) 4 and Abbgale (Abigail) 1.

Winifred was born in Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire, as were Cecilia and Ernest. Abigail was born at West Wratting.

Winifred's father had been born at Duxford in Cambridgeshire, her mother Alice at Dry Drayton. The transcript for their entry is here.

 
 
1914: Winifred's sister Lydia Frances was born in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire and baptised at St Peter and St Paul, Dry Drayton, on 1st November.

1915: Lydia Frances died and was buried in Histon Road Cemetery, Cambridge on 22nd May after a funeral service at St Luke, Victoria Road. Her age was recorded as 12 months. The family were living at 3 Benson Place, North Street, Cambridge.

1916: The family were recorded as living at 3 Benson Place, Cambridge for the birth of Winifred's sister Salonika Ruth. She was baptised at St Peter and St Paul, Dry Drayton, on 5th March.

1918: At the end of the War, the family were living at 3 Shelley Row, Cambridge.

 


1921 census:

Winifred was seventeen years old at the time of the 1921 census. She gave her birth place as Dry Drayton, and she was recorded as a visitor at 85 Searle Street, Cambridge, the household of Florence Emma Dann, a 29 year old widow who gave her occupation as a domestic laundress. Winifred gave her occupation as a general domestic servant at 50 St Barnabas Road, Cambridge. The census return is here.

The rest of the Reynolds family were living at 4 Shelley Row, Cambridge. Winifred's father Thomas is shown as a Brewer's labourer at Dales Brewery, Gwydir Street off of Mill Road, Cambridge. He was 42 years old. Oddly Winifred's mother Alice gave her age as 43 years 11 months. In fact, she was 39.

The other children in the household were Ernest, aged 14, a bakery assistant at Drinkwaters Confectioners, Kings Parade, Cambridge, Abigail aged 11 and Salonica aged 5. The census return is here.

 

Stan and Win get married
1923: Winifred married Edmund Stanley Cornwell on the 10th July at the Register Office, Lichfield, Staffordshire. Their address was recorded as Colton Hall Barn Cottages, Colton, Staffordshire. This was near the home of Stan's sister Ruth and her husband John Wheeldon, who were witnesses. On 29th October, their son Cecil Thomas Walter was born and his birth registered in the Lichfield registration district.

1925: Their son Stanley Arthur James was born. he was baptised at St Andrew, Oakington, Cambridgeshire on 27th September, suggesting that Stan and Win were living with Stan's parents.

Given that there were nine children altogether, the three year gap here is interesting.

1927: The electoral roll shows Edmund Cornwell living at 2 Castle Row. Winifred is not listed on the roll as she was under the age of 30.

1928: Their son Jack Travers was born at 2 Castle Row Cambridge and baptised at St Giles, Cambridge on 4th March. He was named after Jack Travers Cornwell, a 16 year old posthumous winner of the Victoria Cross, who at the time was one of the great heroes of the First World War.

The 1928 electoral roll shows Edmund Cornwell at 2 Castle Row. Winifred is not listed on the roll. She was under the age of 30, but the Representation of the People Act 1928 would entitle all women over the age of 21 to vote from that year.

1929: The electoral roll shows Edmund Cornwell living at 2 Castle Row, Cambridge. Winifred is not listed on the roll although by 1929 women under the age of 30 were entitled to vote.

1930: Their son Reginald Trevor was born at River Bank, Barway, Cambridgeshire. His baptism on 6th April was recorded in the Soham parish registers as being at St Nicholas, Barway, which served as a chapel of ease to Soham.

1931: Their son Edward Malcolm was born. When he was baptised at St Nicholas, Barway on 7th June his abode was given as 'of Little Thetford', but he was probably born in Barway. Little Thetford was the larger village on the other side of the river.

1932: Their daughter Betty Katherine was born, and at her baptism at St Nicholas, Barway on 2nd July 1933 her abode was recorded rather confusingly as 'River Bank Little Thetford Barway Soham'! It is likely that the family were still living at River Bank, Barway as they were in 1930 and presumably in 1931.

1933: The family moved across the river to Grunty Fen.

1934: Their daughter June Frances was born at Red Fen Road, Grunty Fen, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. There is no baptism record in the parish registers for Little Thetford, Stretham, Barway, Witchford or for Cambridge St Giles where her maternal grandparents lived.

1935: The electoral roll shows Stan and Win living at Ware Hall Terrace, Little Thetford (is this the house on Red Fen Road?)

1936: Their daughter Marion Patricia was born on 27th February at Red Fen Road, Grunty Fen, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. There is no baptism record in the parish registers for Little Thetford, Stretham, Barway, Witchford or Cambridge St Giles.

1937: Their son Albert Paul was born in Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. Again, there is no baptism record in the parish registers for Little Thetford, Stretham, Barway, Witchford or Cambridge St Giles.

1939: On National Registration Day, 29th September, Win is listed at 15 Council Houses, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. Her birth year is mistakenly given as 1903. Her occupation is recorded as unpaid domestic duties. Stan was not at home , suggesting that he had already joined up with the Cambridgeshire Regiment. There were eight children listed in the household.

1943: Stanley Arthur James, 'Jim', their second son, was badly injured on 16th September aboard HMS Warspite. He was just 17 years old. The battleship was taking part in the Salerno Landings off the toe of Italy when it was hit by a German glider bomber. This photograph shows the ratings being addressed shortly before the battle. Jim is in this photograph somewhere.

1946: Their son Stanley Arthur James died and was buried in Little Thetford cemetery.

1949: The Little Thetford electoral register for this and subsequent years up until 1953 shows the family living at Council House, Front Street, Little Thetford. Front Street was later renamed Green Hill. Those in the household old enough to vote were Stan and Win and their sons Cecil and Jack.

1950: The Little Thetford electoral register shows those in the household old enough to vote as Stan and Win and their sons Cecil, Jack and Reginald. The family surname was recorded as 'Cornwall'. Malcom was also by now of voting age, and was probably doing National Service. Reginald had been excused National Service because of his acute asthma.

1951: The Little Thetford electoral register taken on 20th November shows those in the household old enough to vote as Stan and Win and their sons Cecil, Jack and Reginald. By now, Betty was also of voting age, and so it is likely that by now she was at Manfield Hospital in Northampton. Malcolm was probably still doing National Service. The family surname was recorded as 'Cornwall'.

1952: The Little Thetford electoral register taken on 20th November shows those in the household old enough to vote as Stan and Win and their sons Cecil, Jack and Reginald. The family surname was recorded as 'Cornwall' except for Reggie who was recorded correctly as 'Cornwell'.

1953: Win's husband Stan died of a heart attack on 2nd October at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. He was fifty years old. The family address was given as 15 Green Hill, Little Thetford. The Little Thetford electoral register taken on 20th November shows those in the household old enough to vote as Win and her sons Cecil and Jack. The family surname was recorded as 'Cornwall'.

1967: Win and her son Cecil moved from 15 Green Hill, Little Thetford to a new, smaller council house at 8 New Close Road, Little Thetford.

 
 


1983:
Win died at Chesterton Hospital, Cambridge.

 
   

 

LIFE GOES ON: AN INTRODUCTION

MY GRANDPARENTS - I - MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS - I - MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS - I - MY GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS

THE SIXTEEN FAMILIES

KNOTT - I - BOWLES - I - WATERS - I - HARRALL - I - PAGE - I - WISEMAN - I - CROSS - I - CARTER

CORNWELL - I - HUCKLE - I - MORTLOCK - I - MANSFIELD - I - REYNOLDS - I - CARTER - I - ANABLE - I - STEARN

CHRONOLOGY - I - DRAMATIS PERSONAE - I - WHERE PEOPLE CAME FROM - I - CALENDAR

MAP OF ELY - I - MAP OF MEDWAY
MAP OF CAMBRIDGE AND DISTRICT

THE WORKHOUSE

WORLD WAR I - I - WORLD WAR II

simonknott.co.uk I home I e-mail

LIFE GOES ON