The Woolven Family of Sussex
Edgar George Woolven was born on 19 October 1886 in Ashington, Sussex. He was the sixth child of George Frederick Woolven and Harriet Haslett. By the time Edgar was 14-years-old, he had left school and was working in a grocery store. In 1903, at the age of 18 years, Edgar entered the Royal Navy.
In about June 1908, Edgar married Edith Nelly Tingley, the eldest daughter of George Thomas Tingley and Ellen Eliza Warton. They were most likely married in the Patcham Church, Sussex. In 1911, Edgar and Edith were living at 7 Millers road, Brighton, Sussex and Edgar was working for the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway as a plate-layer. Their daughter Bessie was born on 11 April 1909. Two more daughters followed, Doris Ellen in 1912 and Irene Joan in 1918. To complete their family, a son, Frederick, was born in 1921. |
Bessie Woolven married Harry Leslie (Les) Parrack in about September 1928 in Brighton, Sussex. They had two children, Leslie Edgar James and Sylvia. In 1939, Les and Bessie were living at 23 Windmill road, Slough, Buckinghamshire and Les was employed as a Highway’s superintendent.
Doris Woolven married William Frank Ward on 25 December 1931. In 1939 Bill and Doris were living at 3 Tower road, Worthing, Sussex with their two eldest children. By 1939, Edgar and Edith had moved to 9 Scarborough road, Brighton. Edgar was employed as a ganger on the Permanent Way Railway. Irene was at home but employed doing daily domestic work and Frederick was working as a railway apprentice body maker. Also living with Edgar and Edith at that time were Ronald Whittaker and his sister Joan Whittaker. The children of Edith’s sister Kate Selina Tingley, both were bought up by Edgar and Edith while their mother was working as a live-in domestic servant. Ronald, aged 21, was a coach trimmer for the railways and Joan, aged 18, was doing daily domestic work. |
On 10 May 1940 Edgar Woolven was at the railway works. An electric train hit him and he was killed. He didn’t hear the train coming at all. Edgar was 53 years old.
Later the same year Irene Woolven married Robert Merrett in Brighton, Sussex. They had one son, Ashley, who was born in 1946. Frederick Woolven married in about June 1944 in Brighton, Sussex. He and his wife, Annie Dunn, had four children, Christine, Alan, Graham and Philip. |
Edith Woolven decided to get married again when she met William (Bill) Hill. They were married in about March 1945 in Patcham, Sussex. They were both 59 years old.
Bill died in about March 1964 in Brighton, Sussex at age 78 years and Edith died two years later in about June 1966 in Brighton, Sussex. She was 82 years old.
Descendants of Edgar George Woolven
Edgar George Woolven was born on 19 October 1886 in Ashington, Sussex and died on 10 May 1940 in Brighton, Sussex at age 53 years. Edgar married Edith Nelly Tingley in June quarter 1908 in Patcham, Sussex. Edith was born on 20 June 1885 in Wivelsfield, Sussex, christened on 9 August 1885 in Hayward’s Heath, Sussex and died in June quarter 1966 in Brighton, Sussex at age 82 years. They had four children: Bessie Katherine Edith, Doris Ellen, Irene Joan and Frederick George H. Edith next married William Hill in March quarter 1945 in Brighton, Sussex. William was born in about 1885 in Patcham, Sussex, christened on 8 March 1885 in Patcham, Sussex and died in March quarter 1964 in Brighton, Sussex at age 78 years.
- Bessie Katherine Edith Woolven was born on 11 April 1909 in Preston district, Sussex and died in September quarter 1959 in Maidenhead, Berkshire at age 50 years. Bessie married Harry Leslie Parrack in September quarter 1928 in Brighton, Sussex. Harry was born on 8 July 1902 in Brighton, Sussex and died in June quarter 1967 in Windsor, Berkshire at age 64 years. They had two children: Leslie Edgar James and Sylvia J.
- Doris Ellen Woolven was born on 6 May 1912 in Brighton, Sussex and died on 29 April 1994 in Brighton, Sussex at age 82 years. Doris married William Frank Ward on 25 December 1931 in Brighton, Sussex. William was born on 6 July 1904 in Ashford Kent and died on 24 February 1984 in Brighton, Sussex at age 79 years. They had three children: Joyce Edith, David Frank and Brian Frederick.
- Irene Joan Woolven was born on 1 February 1918 in Steyning district, Sussex and died in September quarter 1993 in Chichester, Sussex at age 75 years. Irene married Reginald Robert Merrett in September quarter 1940 in Brighton, Sussex. Robert was born on 14 February 1914 in Steyning district, Sussex and died in December quarter 1964 in Brighton, Sussex at age 50 years. They had one son: Ashley T. Irene next married George Henry Paine in December quarter 1966 in Brighton, Sussex. George was born in December quarter 1912 in Steyning district, Sussex.
- Frederick George H. Woolven was born on 27 February 1921 in Steyning district, Sussex and died in March quarter 2005 in Brighton, Sussex at age 84 years. Frederick married Annie D. Dunn in June quarter 1944 in Brighton, Sussex. Annie was born on 24 June 1923 in Greenwich, London. They had four children: Christine A., Alan J., Graham F. and Philip C.