My great-grandfather : Walter John Bourne (born 1886)

Walter John Bourne (Artist Photographer Harry Boyd, 115 High Street Old Town & 21 White Rock, Hastings- photo number 26465)

WALTER JOHN BOURNE was born on 2nd February 1886 in St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, Sussex (source : short birth certificate). His birth was registered six weeks later on 15th March 1886 (source : short birth certificate). On the 1891 census, Walter, aged 5, is listed at 32 St George's Road, Hastings (St Mary in the Castle), Sussex with his parents and siblings. On the 1901 census, a 15-year-old grocer's porter, he is living with his parents at 84 St George's Road, Hastings, Sussex. On the 1911 census, he is at 4 Bromgrove Road, Hastings, with his parents and siblings and is listed as a 25-year-old unmarried grocer's porter.

Edith Grace Bourne nee Sands (Artist Photographer Harry Boyd, 115 High Street Old Town & 21 White Rock, Hastings- photo number 26464)

A daughter was born - MABEL EDITH BOURNE SANDS - in 1906 out of wedlock. On the 1911 census, she is listed as Mabel Sands but was called Mabel Edith Bourne Sands on her birth certificate - presumably Walter Bourne was her father, so they must have been together for some time before getting married. Walter would have been 19 and Edith 17 when she was born.

On the 1911 census, Walter, aged 25, a grocer's porter and single, is with his parents and family at  4 Broomgrove Road, Hastings, Sussex

 Walter married EDITH GRACE SANDS on 3rd March 1912 in Christchurch, Ore, Hastings, Sussex (source : wedding certificate). The witnesses were JOSEPH WILLIAM SANDS (her father or brother) and EDITH ANNIE BOURNE (his sister) (source : wedding certificate). She was 23, a spinster, living at 104a High Street, Hastings, Sussex, and he was 26, a bachelor, occupation porter, living at 4 Broomgrove Road, Hastings, Sussex (source : wedding certificate).

 EDITH GRACE SANDS was born circa 1889 in Hastings, Sussex (source : 1891 and 1901 census). She was christened on 20th June 1888 in Hastings, Sussex (source : Clare Jeffery gencircles). On the 1891 census, age 2, she is living with her parents at 5 Providence Row, Hastings, Sussex; on the 1901 census, a scholar, age 12, she is living with her parents at 7 Providence Row, Hastings, Sussex (presumably the same address). On the 1911 census, she is with her parents, brother and 4-year-old daughter Mabel at 104C High Street, Hastings, and she is listed as an unmarried domestic servant.

 WALTER JOHN BOURNE died in February 1918, after 3 and a half years' illness (source : family letters). He was a shop porter, from the parish of Halton, Hastings, Sussex (source : Hastings cemetery). He was buried on 28th February 1918, aged 32 years, in Hastings cemetery, division K, section H, row D17. This is an ordinary grave (no owner or headstone), which is slightly strange as his little brother Albert also died tragically young, aged 28, in 1922, and his parents were later buried with him. Maybe Walter's grave was shared by his young wife, who died shortly after him.

 EDITH GRACE BOURNE nee SANDS also died in 1918, just a few months after her husband, aged 30 (source : death register (1837online) district Hastings volume 2b page 51). Her funeral took place on 2nd November 1918 in Hastings, Sussex (source : Hastings cemetery).

This left their children, Mabel aged 12 and Fred aged 4, as orphans.

 The Children of WALTER JOHN BOURNE and EDITH GRACE SANDS: 

 MABEL EDITH BOURNE SANDS was born, several years before her parents' marriage, on 13th July 1906 in Hastings (All Saints), Sussex (source : short birth certificate) in September quarter 1906 (source : Free BMD, district Hastings, volume 2b, page 25). Her birth was registered a month and a half later on 20th August 1906 (source : short birth certificate). On the 1911 census, she is listed as Mabel Sands, aged 4, at her grandparents' home at 104C High Street, along with her unmarried domestic servant mother and uncle. In 1921, aged 15, she was living at 22 Hardwicke Road, Hastings, Sussex (source : family letters). She married HERBERT VICTOR PRIVETT.

 FREDERICK WALTER ALBERT BOURNE was born on 7th July 1914 in Hastings (All Saints), Sussex (source : short birth certificate). His birth was registered two weeks later on 30th July 1914 (source : short birth certificate).

 Census entries for WALTER JOHN BOURNE and EDITH GRACE SANDS: 

 1891 census for Edith ( fiche of enumerator's script - RG12 0759 Folio 52(1) )
 address : 5 Providence Row, Hastings (All Saints)

Joseph SANDS, head, married, 37, ironmonger's porter, employed
Mary A SANDS, wife, married, 39
Alice SANDS, dau, single, 12
Amy SANDS, dau, 10, scholar
Edith SANDS, dau, 2
Joseph SANDS, son, 7 months
All born Hastings

 1901 census for Edith :
 address : 7 Providence Row, Hastings

 Joseph SANDS age 47 carman born Hastings
Mary A SANDS, wife, 50 born Hastings
Alice A SANDS, dau, 22 ironer born Hastings
Amy F SANDS, dau 20 ironer born Hastings
Edith G SANDS, dau 12 born Hastings
Joseph W SANDS, son 10 born Hastings

 1901 census for Walter
address : 84 St George's Road, Hastings

 Walter A BOURNE age 38 born Arlington occupation baker
Ellen BOURNE wife age 37 born Hastings
Nellie BOURNE dau age 16 born Hastings dom ser
Walter J BOURNE son age 15 born Hastings grocer's porter
Florence M BOURNE dau age 13 born Hastings
James H BOURNE age 12 born Hastings
Edith A BOURNE age 10 born Hastings
Albert E BOURNE age 7 born Hastings