Person:Annie Moles (1)

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Annie Maria Moles
m. 29 Sep 1860
  1. John Thomas Moles1860 - 1861
  2. Eliza Moles1862 - 1863
  3. Herbert Moles1864 - 1928
  4. George Moles1866 - 1929
  5. John Moles1868 - 1926
  6. Annie Maria Moles1871 - 1944
  7. James Moles1873 - 1928
  8. Ernest Moles1876 - 1954
  9. Julia Moles1879 - 1958
  10. Minnie Moles1883 - 1939
  • WAnnie Maria Moles1871 - 1944
  1. Ellen Moles1890 -
m. 8 Apr 1899
  1. James Nicholls1899 - 1904
  2. Rose Nicholls1901 - 1985
  3. Minnie Nicholls1903 - 2005
  4. Lily Nicholls1905 - 1998
  5. Daisy Nicholls1907 - 1907
  6. Arthur Nicholls1909 - 1973
  7. George Nicholls1911 - 1946
Facts and Events
Name Annie Maria Moles
Gender Female
Birth[1] 18 Jan 1871 Hitchin, Hertfordshire, EnglandThe Riddy
Christening[2] 15 Feb 1871 Hitchin, Hertfordshire, EnglandSt Mary
Census[3] 2 Apr 1871 Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England1 The Riddy Mow
Census[4] 3 Apr 1881 St Ippolyts, Hertfordshire, EnglandIppollitts Folly
Census[5] 5 Apr 1891 St Ippolyts, Hertfordshire, EnglandThe Common
Marriage to Unknown
Marriage 8 Apr 1899 Harpenden, Hertfordshire, Englandto George Nicholls
Census[6] 31 Mar 1901 Harpenden, Hertfordshire, EnglandWheathampstead Road
Census[7] 2 Apr 1911 Harpenden, Hertfordshire, EnglandWheathampstead Road
Census[8] 29 Sep 1939 Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England68 Cravells Road
Death[9] 6 Sep 1944 Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England68 Cravells Road
Burial[10] Harpenden, Hertfordshire, EnglandWestfield Road Cemetery

Childhood

Annie Maria Moles was born on 18th January 1871 at The Riddy in the parish Hitchin, Hertfordshire, daughter of a straw plaiter (and later midwife) named Fanny Moles, formerly Worbey, and her husband Thomas Moles, a mole and rat catcher. She was baptised at the parish church of St Mary's in Hitchin on 15th February 1871. Annie appears to have been the sixth of ten children, although her parents' first two children died as babies. This left eight children who survived to adulthood, of whom Annie was the eldest girl.

The Riddy was a small group of cottages at the end of Riddy Lane. The cottages stood in the middle of open fields to the south-east of Hitchin, well removed from the town itself. They are shown on the 1844 Tithe Map of Hitchin. Riddy Lane is still there, just, as a footpath weaving between late 20th century houses, but the cottages at The Riddy appear to have been demolished shortly after Annie's birth - the 1871 census was the last one to list properties there, whilst the 1881 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map shows no cottages at the end of Riddy Lane.

By 1881 the family was living at a place called Ippollitts Folly, also known as The Common and Osier Bed Cottage. This stood on the south side of Blackhorse Lane, which was the parish boundary between Hitchin and St Ippolyts. Being on the south side of the road put it in the parish of St Ippolyts, but the family continued to have their children baptised at St Mary's church in Hitchin rather than at St Ippolyts.

Annie initially went to school at Sunny Side, a school on the Stevenage Road in Hitchin close to Blackhorse Lane. In 1879, when she was eight years old she transferred to the Girls' School at Hitchin British Schools on Queen Street in the centre of Hitchin. Annie appears the 1881 census living with her parents and siblings.

Adulthood

On 3rd December 1890, aged 19, Annie had daughter named Ellen. The 1891 census finds Annie living at The Common in St Ippolyts with her parents, siblings and baby daughter. Annie left home some time in the 1890s and went into domestic service, leaving young Ellen to be brought up by Annie's mother. Annie's father Thomas Moles died in 1895 at St Ippolyts, when Annie was 24, but it is not clear whether this was before or after Annie moved away from the Hitchin area. By 1899 Annie was working at Hammonds End Farm in Harpenden, some 12 miles south-west of Hitchin.

Annie with husband George and their children, circa 1918
Enlarge
Annie with husband George and their children, circa 1918
Annie was married on 8th April 1899 in Harpenden to George Nicholls, a bricklayer's labourer from Wheathampstead, near Harpenden. They settled in Harpenden, living initially on Wheathampstead Road (renamed Southdown Road in 1923). They had seven children together between 1899 and 1911, although their eldest child, James, died as a boy of four years old, and their daughter Daisy died as a baby. The other five children all survived to adulthood. The 1911 census describes Annie as a straw hat machinist.

Back in Hitchin, Annie's mother died on 30th December 1922.

After living at two different houses on Wheathampstead Road, the family moved to 68 Cravells Road, which was to be the family home for the rest of Annie and George's lives. George died on 16th October 1931, aged 57.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Annie was living with her youngest son at 68 Cravells Road. They had a nine year old boy living with them, who may have been an evacuee.

Annie died on 6th September 1944 at home at 68 Cravells Road. She was 73, and had lived to see all seven of her grandchildren.

References
  1. Birth certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    Registration District: Hitchin
    1871. BIRTH in the Sub-district of Hitchin in the Counties of Hertford and Bedford
    No.1126
    When and where born: Eighteenth January 1871, The Riddy, Hitchin
    Name: Annie Maria
    Sex: Girl
    Father: Thomas Moles, Farm Laborer
    Mother: Fanny Moles, formerly Warboy
    Informant: X The mark of Fanny Moles, Mother, The Riddy, Hitchin
    Registered: Thirteenth February 1871

  2. Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Hitchin. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

    BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Hitchin in the County of Hertford in the yead One thousand eight hundred and Seventy one
    No. 567
    When baptised: 15 Feb 1871
    Name: Annie Maria
    Parents: Thomas & Fanny
    Surname: Mole
    Abode: The Riddy
    Father's occupation: Labourer

  3. England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class RG10; Piece 1368; Folio 88; Page 23, 2 Apr 1871.

    Address: 1 The Riddy Mow, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Thomas Moule, head, married, male, 33 [1837/8], Ag Lab, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
    Fany Moule, wife, married, female, 29 [1841/2], Straw Platter, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Herbert Moule, son, male, 7 [1863/4], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    George Moule, son, male, 5 [1865/6], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    John Moule, son, male, 2 [1868/9], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Annie M. Moule, daughter, female, 2mos [1871], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Emma Worbey, sister, unmarried, female, 20 [1850/1], Straw platter, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Clara Worbey, neice, female, 10mos [1870], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire

  4. England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class RG11; Piece 1420; Folio 62; Page 8, 3 Apr 1881.

    Address: Ippollitts Folly, Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
    Thomas Moules, head, married, male, 42 [1838/9], Agrl Labr (Mole & Rat Catcher), b. Willian, Hertfordshire
    Fanny Moules, wife, married, female, 39 [1841/2], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    [page RG11/1420/62/9]
    Herbert Moules, son, unmarried, male, 17 [1863/4], Agri Labr, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    George Moules, son, unmarried, male, 15 [1865/6], Agri Labr, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    John Moules, son, male, 13 [1867/8], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Annie M. Moules, daughter, female, 10 [1870/1], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    James Moules, son, male, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Ernest Moules, son, male, 5 [1875/6], Scholar, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Julia Moules, daughter, female, 3 [1877/8], Scholar, b. Ippollitts, Hertfordshire

  5. England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class RG12; Piece 1108; Folio 71; Page 1, 5 Apr 1891.

    Address: The Common, St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
    5 or more rooms occupied
    Thomas Moles, head, married, male, 56 [1834/5], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
    Fanny Moles, wife, married, female, 51 [1839/40], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    John Moles, son, single, male, 22 [1868/8], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Annie M. Moles, daughter, single, female, 20 [1870/1], General Servant, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    James Moles, son, single, male, 17 [1873/4], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Ernest Moles, son, single, male, 15 [1875/6], Agricultural Labourer, employed, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Julia Moles, daughter, single, female, 12 [1878/9], Scholar, b. St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
    Minnie Moles, daughter, single, female, 7 [1883/4], Scholar, b. St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire
    Ellen Moles, grand daughter, female, 4mo [1890/1], b. St Ippollitts, Hertfordshire

  6. England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class RG13; Piece 1310; Folio 13; Page 17, 31 Mar 1901.

    Address: Wheathampstead Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
    4 rooms occupied
    George Nicholls, head, married, male, 26 [1874/5], General Labourer, worker, b. Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire
    Annie M. Nicholls, wife, married, female, 29 [1871/2], b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    James Nicholls, son, male, 1 [1899/1900], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire

  7. England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class RG14; Piece 7656; Schedule 170, 2 Apr 1911.

    Address: Wheathampstead Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
    4 rooms occupied
    George Nicholls, head, male, 36 [1874/5], married, General Labourer, worker, b. Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire
    Annie Maria Nicholls, wife, female, 38 [1872/3], married 12 years, 7 children born, 5 children still living, Straw Hat Machinist, worker, working at home, b. Hitchin, Hertfordshire
    Rose Nicholls, daughter, female, 9 [1901/2], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
    Minnie Nicholls, daughter, female, 7 [1903/4], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
    Lily Nicholls, daughter, female, 6 [1904/5], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
    Arthur Nicholls, son, male, 2 [1908/9], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
    George Nicholls, son, male, 1 month [1911], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire

  8. General Register Office. 1939 Register
    Harpenden Urban District, 29 Sep 1939.

    Address: 68 Cravells Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
    Nicholls, Annie M. / female / 18 Jan 1872 / widow / unpaid domestic duties
    Nicholls, George / male / 5 Feb 1911 / single / Builders Labourer Heavy Work
    Charles, Derick / male / 10 Nov 1929 / single / at school

  9. Death certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    Registration District: St. Albans
    1944 DEATH in the Sub-district of Harpenden in the County of Hertford
    No.237
    When and where died: Sixth September 1944, 68 Cravells Road, Harpenden UD
    Name and surname: Annie Maria Nicholls
    Sex: Female
    Age: 73 years
    Occupation: Widow of George Nicholls, Builders Labourer
    Cause of death: 1(a) Carcinoma of Uterus (Body), Certified by Gertrude H. Kennie M.B.
    Signature, description and residence of informant: L. Hucklesby, Daughter, Present at the Death, 21 Sibley Avenue, Harpenden
    When registered: Sixth September 1944

  10. Monumental Inscription.

    Grave No. U5
    (Inscription badly faded and difficult to decipher when visited on 9 Jul 2011.)
    IN LOVING MEMORY
    GEORGE NICHOLLS
    DIED OCT 16 1931
    AGED 57 YEARS
    AT REST
    ALSO OF
    ANNIE M NICHOLLS
    DIED SEPT 6 1944
    AGED 73 YEARS
    BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES
    SHADOWED BY GRIEF

  11.   Hitchin British Schools, Queen Street, Hitchin: Girls' School Admission Register
    Admission No. 556
    Admission 2 May 1879
    Parent: Thomas
    Residence: Folly
    Last School: Sunny Side