Person:Catherine Meekins (1)

Catherine Meekins was born on 15th June 1896 at the Infirmary adjoining the Woolwich Union Workhouse at Plumstead in the south-eastern suburbs of London. She was the daughter of a laundry hand and field hand named Alice Meekins, formerly Keating, and her husband Henry Meekins, a general dealer. Catherine had a twin brother, Joseph, born just under two hours later.

Catherine was baptised on 29th July 1896 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in the village of St Mary Cray in Kent. The family then moved to Dartford, where Catherine’s twin brother Joseph sadly died from whooping cough, aged about two months old. The family then returned to the Woolwich area.

As a small child, Catherine was a frequent visitor to the Woolwich Union Workhouse, with her father Henry often deserting his wife and children, then reappearing. Sometimes the older children would be sent away from the workhouse to other institutions whilst their mother and the youngest children stayed behind. In November 1901, Catherine and her older sister Mary Ann were sent to a Catholic school at Hampstead, where they stayed for over six months before being sent back to Woolwich in June 1902. A similar thing happened in October 1903, with Catherine and her sisters Mary Ann and Hannah being sent to Hampstead and staying there about six months before returning to their parents in Woolwich in April 1904. Catherine was sometimes referred to in the workhouse records as Kate, which may therefore have been how she was known.

Things came to a head in November 1904 when the authorities found Catherine and three of her sisters (Mary Ann, Hannah and Alice) wandering destitute in the streets of Woolwich. These four were taken from their parents and sent to live at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Industrial School for Girls in Croydon. Catherine and her sisters Hannah and Alice were still living there at the time of the 1911 census.

Catherine later moved to the Isle of Wight. She was married there in 1916, aged about 20, to Charlie Lockyer, a merchant seaman.

Catherine’s father died in 1917 at Swanley in Kent.

Catherine and Charlie went on to have five children between 1918 and 1923, including twins in 1921. Their eldest daughter died as a baby in 1918. All the children were born on the Isle of Wight.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Catherine and Charlie were living at 16 Albany Road in Newport on the Isle of Wight.

Charlie died in 1943, aged 53.

Catherine’s mother died back in Kent in 1945.

On 6th September 1947, Catherine married again. Her second husband was Ernest Botten, an upholsterer from New Zealand. He had travelled to the United Kingdom in 1946 with his first wife, Hilda, who had been born and brought up on the Isle of Wight before emigrating to New Zealand. Hilda had died in hospital in Newport in April 1947, less than five months before Ernest married Catherine.

Catherine and Ernest married at the Catholic Church of St Thomas of Canterbury in Newport. Less than a year after their marriage, Catherine and Ernest emigrated to New Zealand. They sailed from London on 19th June 1948 (when they gave Catherine’s sister Alice’s details as their last address in the United Kingdom), and arrived in Wellington 39 days later, on 28th July. By 1949 they were living at 28 Courtville Flats, in the centre of Auckland.

Catherine returned to England in September 1950, apparently alone, staying for nearly two years before returning to New Zealand in May 1952. The 1954 electoral rolls show her being back at 28 Courtville Flats in Auckland with Ernest.

In May 1956 Catherine and Ernest separated, entering into a separation agreement, although they did not actually divorce. Catherine stayed in New Zealand for another year afterwards, supporting herself by working as an assistant in a cafeteria.

On 12th July 1957 Catherine left New Zealand for the last time, sailing from Wellington. She arrived in Liverpool on 14th August. She went to live in Maidstone in Kent; her brother George and sister Norah both lived in that area.

Back in New Zealand, Ernest died in 1960. As they had not formally divorced and he left no will, Catherine was his next of kin. She was contacted and wrote back via solicitors in Maidstone indicating that she did not want to take on the administration of his estate.

Catherine later returned to the Isle of Wight, living at 11 Yarborough Road in the village of Wroxall. She died on 13th July 1981, aged 85.

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

   REGISTRATION DISTRICT Woolwich
   1896 BIRTH in the Sub-district of East Plumstead in the County of London
   No.	When and where born	Name, if any	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden name of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
   304	Fifteenth June 1896 10.50pm The Infirmary	Catherine	Girl	Henry Meekins	Alice Meekins formerly Keating of 83 High Street Woolwich	General dealer in market	Alice Meekins Mother The Infirmary, Plumstead	Twenty ninth June 1896	W.J. Vincent Registrar

2. ↑ Baptisms register, in St Mary Cray, Kent: Roman Catholic Parish Registers of St Joseph, St Mary Cray (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark, London).

   Meekins / DIE 15 Junii 1896 nata et die 29 Julii 1896 baptizata fuit Catarina Meekins filius [sic] Henrici et Aliciae Meekins (olim Creedin) conjugum a me E. Carroll Misso.
   Patrinus fuit E. Carroll Matrina fuit Anna Self
   Approximate translation:
   Meekins / Born 15th June 1896 and baptised 29th July 1896 Catherine Meekins daughter of Henry and Alice Meekins (formerly Creedin) his wife by me E. Carroll Priest
   Godfather E. Carroll Godmother Anna Self

   Baptised same day as brother Joseph.

3.   London: Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records (London Metropolitan Archives, London).
   Summary table of information drawn from Admission, Discharge and Creed registers.
   

   Admitted	Discharged	Workhouse	Notes
   11 Mar 1897	24 Mar 1897	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother, "Husband Henry left her Friday 5 March 97", and brothers Edward and George. Discharged with mother and brothers.
   30 Apr 1898	10 May 1898	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother, "Husband Henry deserted her 25th", and siblings Edward, George, and Mary Ann. Discharged to infirmary.
   23 Nov 1898	28 Nov 1898	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother and siblings Edward, George, and Mary Ann. Discharged with mother and siblings.
   19 Oct 1899	26 May 1900	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother and siblings Edward, George, Mary, and Ann [Hannah]. Discharged to infirmary.
   15 Jun 1900	23 Jun 1900	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted from infirmary. Discharged to mother.
   7 Nov 1901	25 Nov 1901	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother, "Husband Henry deserted", and siblings Edward, George, Mary Ann, and Hannah. Name given as Kate. Discharged "To Hampstead".
   5 Jun 1902	6 Jun 1902	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted "From Hampstead", "Parents in House". Discharged with mother and siblings.
   2 Dec 1902	18 Dec 1902	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with parents and siblings George, Hannah, and Alice. Name given as Kate. Discharged with mother and siblings.
   24 Jan 1903	30 Jan 1903	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother, "Husband Henry, 42, left her 19th Jan 1903", and siblings George, Hannah, and Alice. Discharged with mother and siblings.
   6 Feb 1903	13 Feb 1903	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother and siblings George, Hannah, and Alice. Discharged with mother and siblings.
   23 Feb 1903	7 Mar 1903	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother, "Husband Henry in Infirmary", and siblings George, Hannah, and Alice. Discharged with mother and siblings.
   9 Oct 1903	19 Oct 1903	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with mother, "Husband Henry left her 7th Oct", and siblings George, Mary Ann, Hannah, and Alice. Discharged "to Hampstead R.C. Schools".
   15 Apr 1904	16 Apr 1904	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted "from Hampstead". Discharged with mother and siblings.
   4 May 1904	6 May 1904	Woolwich Union Workhouse	Admitted with parents and siblings George, Mary Ann, Hannah, and Alice. Discharged with parents and siblings.

4. ↑ 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 3322, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: St. Mary's Roman Catholic Industrial School for Girls, Wellesley Road, Croydon
   Many girls, including:
   Kate Meekins, inmate, female, 14 [1896/7], School, b. London
   Hannah Meekins, inmate, female, 11 [1899/1900], School, b. London
   Alice Meekins, inmate, female, 8 [1902/3], School, b. London

5. ↑ General Register Office. 1939 Register
   Newport Municipal Borough, 29 Sep 1939.

   Address: 16 Albany Road, Newport, Isle of Wight
   Lockyer, Cha[rle]s / male / b. 31 Oct 1889 / married / Wharf Labourer Heavy Work
   Lockyer [later crossed out and replaced with “Botten”], Cath / female / b. 15 Jun 1897 / married / Paid Domestic
   [one record closed]

6.   UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890-1960 (The National Archives, Kew)
   BT27.

   Ship: Rangitata
   Departed: London, 19 Jun 1948
   Port at which contracted to land: Wellington
   BOTTEN, Mrs. Catherine
   Last address in the United Kingdom: c/o Mrs. Savage, 3, Hazel Road, Dartford
   Age: 52
   Country of last Permanent Residence: England
   Country of Intended Future Permanent Residence: New Zealand

   This entry bracketed together with the previous passenger, being Mr. Ernest Botten, 54, upholsterer.

7.   New Zealand Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 (Archives New Zealand, Wellington).

   Ship: Rangitata
   Departed: London
   Arrived: Wellington, 28 Jul 1948
   Botten, Mr. E. / 54 / British
   Botten, Mrs. C. / 52 / British

8.   New Zealand Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 (Archives New Zealand, Wellington).

   Ship: Rangitoto
   Departed: Auckland, 16 Aug 1950
   Destination: Southampton
   Botten, Mrs. C. / 53 / Dom[estic] Duties / British

9.   UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 (The National Archives, Kew)
   BT26.

   Ship: Rangitoto
   Departed: Auckland
   Arrived: Southampton, 12 Sep 1950
   BOTTEN, Catherine /53 / H[ousehold] D[uties]
   Proposed address in UK: 3 Carisbrooke Road, NEWPORT, I.O.W.
   Country of last Permanent Residence: N.Z.
   Country of Intended Future Permanent Residence: England

10.   UK Outward Passenger Lists 1890-1960 (The National Archives, Kew)
    BT27.

    Ship: Rangitane
    Departed: London, 17 May 1952
    Destination: Wellington
    BOTTEN, Mrs. C. / c/o Trans Pacific 39 Panton Street, S.W.1 / Home Duties / 54
    Country of last Permanent Residence: England
    Country of Intended Future Permanent Residence: New Zealand

11.   New Zealand Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 (Archives New Zealand, Wellington).

    Ship: Rangitane
    Departed: Tilbury
    Arrived: Wellington, 17 Jun 1952
    Botten, Catherine / 54 / Household Duties / born England

12.   New Zealand Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 (Archives New Zealand, Wellington).

    Ship: Wanganella
    Departed: Auckland, 16 Dec 1954
    Destination: Sydney
    Botten, Catherine / 58 / H[ousehold] D[uties] / born UK

13.   New Zealand Passenger Lists, 1839-1973 (Archives New Zealand, Wellington).

    Ship: Southern Cross
    Departed: Wellington, 12 Jul 1957
    Destination: Liverpool
    Botten, Mrs. C. / 61 / Cafeteria Ass[istan]t / born England

14.   UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 (The National Archives, Kew)
    BT26.

    Ship: Southern Cross
    Departed: Wellington
    Arrived: Liverpool, 14 Aug 1957
    Botten, Catherine
    Date of birth: 15 Jun 1896
    Married or Single (Widowed or divorced to be entered as single): Single
    Address in the UK: 8, Fant Lane Estate, Maidstone, Kent
    Occupation: Cafe Ass[istan]t
    Country of last permanent residence: New Zealand
    Country of intended future permanent residence: England

15.   New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853-1981.

    1949, Auckland Central:
    Botten, Ernest, Courtville Flats, C.1., upholsterer
    Botten, Catherine, 28 Courtville Flats, C.1., married [listed in Supplementary Roll]
    
    1954, Auckland Central:
    Botten, Catherine, 28 Courtville Flats, C1, married
    Botten, Ernest, 28 Courtville Flats, C1, upholsterer

16. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    d. Catherine BOTTEN, September 1981, Isle of Wight Registration District, Volume 20, page 1841, born 15 Jun 1896

17. ↑ England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

    1981
    BOTTEN, Catherine of 11 Yarborough Rd Wroxall I of W died 13 July 1981 Probate Winchester 25 August £14220
    813313384X

18.   Woolwich Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 12 Feb 1904.

    AN ABSCONDING PARENT.
    Henry Meekins, 42, labourer, was charged on Monday on a warrant with unlawfully running away and leaving his wife and 5 children chargeable to the Common Fund of the Woolwich Union. – Mr. A.J. Godfrey, relieving officer, prosecuted, and said prisoner’s family had been chargeable since Oct. 9, and were still in the Workhouse. – Warrant-officer Williams said prisoner had been travelling the country and he arrested him that morning at common lodging house. – Two months.

19.   Woolwich Gazette, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 25 Nov 1904.

    In the Police Courts
    WOOLWICH
    A DESTITUTE FAMILY.
    Mary Meekins, 10, Kate, 8, Hannah, 4, and Alice, 2, were charged with wandering without visible means of subsistence, and Alice Meekins, the mother, was charged with being drunk and disorderly and neglecting the children. Henry Meekins, of 4, Warren Lane, was summoned for neglecting the children. All the cases were taken together. – P.C. 283R said at 12.45 on the 14th he saw the four children crying in Powis street. They were cold and said they had nowhere to go. He took the children to the station where they were charged with wandering. About 5 p.m. the same day he saw the mother and asked her if she knew where her children were, and she said she had heard they were at the police station. He asked her why she had left them outside a public house in High street, Woolwich, and she said she did not leave them there, but had sent them to a woman in Powis street, and she supposed they had been turned out. Prisoner said she was frightened to go to the police station after the children, for fear she would be charged. Prisoner also said her husband was out of work; that they had no money, and that the husband was in a lodging house and did not care about his family. Prisoner also said her husband had fetched her up from the country and had then left her as he had done before. Witness saw the father on the 15th, and asked him why his children were in the street. He said, “I can’t help it, I’ve got no money; and it’s a job to get lodgings here with children.” He alleged that his wife got drunk with the money he gave her. – P.C. 26RR said on the night of the 13th he locked the prisoners up for being drunk. – Mr. Bristow, an inspector of the N.S.P.C.C., said he examined the children on the 15th. They were well nourished, but their clothing and boots were dirty, ragged and worn. Defendant told him that he had not had a home for seven years, and that his wife sold up the other and spent the money in drink. Prisoner told him that he earned on the average 25s. a week, and that he had sent his wife £3 during the last two months. Defendant’s employer said he was a good worker and a sober man. – Mr. Mark Bristow, relieving officer, said he had known prisoner’s family for seven years. The woman had been constantly in and out of the workhouse. – Mrs. Meeking denied that she sold the home up or drank the money. – Mr. Baggallay sentenced the woman to a month’s hard labour and discharged the man. – The children were sent to St. Mary’s School, Croydon, the man to pay 4s. a week towards their maintenance.

20. ↑ 1921 Census of England and Wales.

    Address: 3 Wapshott Terrace, Cross Lanes, Newport, Isle of Wight
    Charlie Lockyer / head / 31y 8m [1889] / male / married / b. Newport, Isle of Wight / Mariner (Captain) / Crouchers Ltd, Household Removers & General Carriers
    Catherine Lockyer / wife / 25y [1895/6] / female / married / b. Woolwich, Kent / Home Duties
    Lilian Marian Lockyer / daughter / 1y 11m [1919] / female / b. Newport, Isle of Wight
    Charles Henry Lockyer / son / 1m [1921] / male / b. Newport, Isle of Wight
    Alice May Lockyer / daughter / 1m [1921] / female / b. Newport, Isle of Wight