Person:John Marshall (134)

Childhood

John Marshall was born on 8th September 1870 at Albert Road in Luton, Bedfordshire. He was the son of Rachel Ellen Marshall, formerly Linney, and her husband George Marshall, both of whom worked in the straw hat making industry. John appears to have been the fifth of eight children.

The 1871, 1881 and 1891 censuses all find John living at home with his parents and siblings in Albert Road. However, the family did spend a brief period living in Peterborough, where John's father worked as a railway labourer. John's sister Rachel was born there in 1877, but by 1881 the family had returned to Luton. By 1891, John was described as a bricklayer.

Adulthood

On 25th March 1894, aged 23, John married Elizabeth Kempson, who was 20.They had five children between 1895 and 1904: four boys and one girl. Having been a bricklayer in 1891, John described himself as a blocker when he married in 1894. He was a bricklayer again in 1901, when the family was living at 33 Albert Road. Come the 1911 census he was a straw trade blocker again - clearly he worked both as a bricklayer and a hat blocker at different times.

Some time between 1901 and 1903 the family settled at 44 Cambridge Street, which was to be John's home for the rest of his life.

In the First World War, John's eldest son, Ralph, enlisted in the army and served in northern France. Ralph was injured on 9th April 1917 and invalid back to a military hosptial at Le Treport on the Normandy coast. A telegram was sent to John on 19th April 1917: "Regret to report 31508 Cpl Marshall Machine Gun Corps dangerously ill at 16 General Hospital Le Treport France. He may be visited at public expense. Wire if you wish to go and await instructions"

John replied that same day: "Father and Miss Wildman wish visit Corpl Marshall" Lily Wildman was Ralph's girlfriend.

The next day (Friday 20th April 1917) John had to get a certificate signed by a sergeant in the Luton police, confirming that the family would not be able to afford the cost of a trip to France. Arrangements were made and John travelled with Lily Wildman, leaving Luton at 4.17am on Saturday 21st April 1917 to make the journey to Le Treport. They visited Ralph in hospital, where he died on Sunday 22nd April 1917. John and Lily returned home on Tuesday 24th April 1917.

After the war, Lily Wildman actually married John's second son, Stanley.

John and Elizabeth on their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1944

John died at home at 44 Cambridge Street on 4th June 1945, less than a month after the Allied victory in Europe. He was 74. Elizabeth outlived him by over 15 years.

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

   1870. BIRTH in the Sub-district of Luton in the Counties of Beds of Herts
   No. 179
   When and where born: Eighth September 1870, Albert Road, Luton
   Name: John
   Sex: Boy
   Name and surname of father: George Marshall
   Name, surname and maiden surname of mother: Rachel Marshall, formerly Linney
   Occupation of father: Bonnet Blocker
   Signature, description and residence of informant: X The mark of George Marshall, Father, Albert Road, Luton
   When registered: Thirtienth October 1870
   Signature of registrar: Charles Maffey, Registrar

   
2. ↑ 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 1573; Folio 18; Page 27, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 39 Albert Road, Luton, Bedfordshire
   George Marshall, head, married, male, 33 [1837/8], Straw Hat & Bonnet Blocker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Rachael Marshall, wife, married, female, 29 [1841/2], Straw Hat & Bonnet Sewer, b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   George Marshall, son, male, 9 [1861/2], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   William C. Marshall, son, male, 7 [1863/4], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Marshall, daughter, female, 5 [1865/6], Scholar, b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   Joseph Marshall, son, male, 2 [1868/9], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   John Marshall, son, male, 6m [1870], b. Luton, Bedfordshire

3. ↑ 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 1651; Folio 76; Page 16, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 46 Albert Road, Luton, Bedfordshire
   George Marshall, head, married, male, 43 [1837/8], Engine driver at iron works, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Rachael E. Marshall, wife, married, female, 39 [1841/2], Straw hat machinist, b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   George Marshall, son, unmarried, male, 19 [1861/2], Straw hat blocker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   William C. Marshall, son, male, 17 [1863/4], Bricklayer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Sarah Marshall, daughter, female, 15 [1865/6], Straw hat machinist, b. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
   Joseph Marshall, son, male, 13 [1867/8], Domestic servant, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   John Marshall, son, male, 10 [1870/1], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Rose E. Marshall, daughter, female, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Emily E. Marshall, daughter, female, 6 [1874/5], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Rachael E. Marshall, daughter, female, 4 [1876/7], Scholar, b. Peterborough, Northamptonshire

4. ↑ 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 1273; Folio 93; Page 24, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 46 Albert Road, Luton, Bedfordshire
   5 or more rooms occupied
   George Marshall, head, married, male, 53 [1837/8], Straw manufacturer, employer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Rachel Marshall, wife, married, female, 49 [1841/2], Straw manufacturer, employer, b. Leighton Buz, Bedfordshire
   John Marshall, son, single, male, 20 [1870/1], Bricklayer, employed, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Rose Marshall, daughter, single, female, 18 [1872/3], Straw hat machinist, employed, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Emily Marshall, daughter, single, female, 16 [1874/5], Straw hat machinist, employed, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Rachel Marshall, daughter, single, female, 14 [1876/7], Straw hat finisher, employed, b. Peterborough, Northamptonshire

5. ↑ 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 1516; Folio 119; Page 3, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 33 Albert Road, Luton, Bedfordshire
   5 or more rooms occupied
   John Marshall, head, married, male, 30 [1870/1], Bricklayer, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth Marshall, wife, married, female, 27 [1873/4], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Ralph Marshall, son, single, male, 6 [1894/5], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Stanley George Marshall, son, single, male, 4 [1896/7], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Stewart John Marshall, son, single, male, 2 [1898/9], b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Agnes Kempson, visitor, single, female, 21 [1879/80], Straw hat finisher, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

6. ↑ 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 8995 Schedule 230, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 44 Cambridge Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   5 rooms occupied
   John Marshall, head, male, 40 [1870/1], married 17 years, 5 children born alive, 5 still living, Straw Trade Blocker, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth Marshall, wife, female, 38 [1872/3], married, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Ralph Marshall, son, male, 16 [1894/5], single, Straw Trade Clerk, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Stanley Marshall, son, male, 14 [1896/7], single, Foundry, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Stuart Marshall, son, male, 12 [1898/9], single, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Cissie Marshall, daugher, female, 9 [1901/2], single, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   George Marshall, son, male, 6 [1904/5], single, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

7. ↑ General Register Office. 1939 Register
   Luton Municipal Borough, 29 Sep 1939.

   Address: 44 Cambridge Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Marshall, John / male / 8 Sep 1870 / married / Felt steamer Hats
   Marshall, Elizabeth / female / 10 Oct 1873 / married / unpaid domestic duties

8. ↑ General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office)
   Death certificate.

   1945. DEATH in the Sub-district of Luton in the County of Bedford
   No. 34
   When and Where died: Fourth June 1945, 44 Cambridge Street, Luton UD
   Name and surname: John Marshall
   Sex: Male
   Age: 74 years
   Occupation: Retired Hat Blocker
   Cause of death: (1a) Carcinoma of Rectum, Inoperable, Certified J.S. Ballas M.B.
   Signature, description and residence of informant: G. Marshall, Son, Present at the death, 73, Cambridge Street, Luton
   When registered: Fifth June 1945

   
9.   Kelly's Directory of Luton, 1903
   J. Marshall, 44 Cambridge Street