My grandfather's sister : Mabel Edith Bourne Sands (1906-1972)

Mabel and Fred with their mother, Edith Grace Bourne nee Sands - this must be just before her death in 1918, when Mabel was 12 and Fred 4. Edith is possibly dressed in black in mourning for her husband, who died 3 months before she did.

MABEL EDITH BOURNE SANDS was born on 13th July 1906 in Hastings (All Saints), Sussex (source : short birth certificate. Her birth was registered a month and a half later on 20th August 1906 (source : short birth certificate). She was therefore born several years before her parents' (Edith Grace Sands and Walter John Bourne) marriage, on 3rd March 1912 in Christchurch, Ore, Hastings, Sussex.

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.

For much of Mabel's childhood, her father was ill - he died after three and a half years' illness in 1918. Tragedy struck again just a few months later when her mother also passed away, leaving Mabel, aged 12, and her brother Fred, aged 4, orphans. Fred was adopted by his aunt Kate (his mother's sister).

 In 1921, aged 15, she was living at 22 Hardwicke Road, Hastings, Sussex (source : family letters).

Mabel and Bert

She married HERBERT VICTOR PRIVETT .at St Clement's Church in Hastings on 3rd January 1932. He was 32, a linesman for the GPO (General Post Office), living at 7 West Street, father (deceased) Benjamin John Privett, a goldsmith. Mabel, 25, no profession, address 17 Hardwicke Road, father (deceased) Walter John Bourne, a baker. (She gives her name as Mabel Edith Sands Bourne, not Bourne Sands.) The witnesses were A A Eldridge and KAE Burgess.

 Herbert was born on 25th July 1899 at 6 Clarence Road in Leytonstone, Leyton UD. His father was Benjamin Alfred Privett, a walking stick mounter, and his mother was Isabel Privett formerly McNay. The registration district was West Ham.

On the 1901 census, Herbert, aged 1, was at 6 Clarence Road, Leyton, with his father Benjamin (36, umbrella & walking stick mounter, born Shoreditch Middlesex), mother Isabel (35, born Islington), four sisters and three brothers. Herbert's father died some time between 1901 and 1911, so he lost his father at about the same early age as Mabel. On the 1911 census, the family were at 54 Cecil Road, Leytonstone - Isabel is head of the household (44, widow), and only the three youngest children remain at home.

In 1935, she was/they were living at 1 Manor Road Steps, under Burton’s, Hastings; in 1937, she was/they were living at 3 Ratcliff Road, Forest Gate, London E7 ; between 1947 – 1969 (at least) they were living at 90 Southend Road, East Ham, London E6 (as per family letters). They had no children.

Herbert died on 30th June 1951, aged 51, of coronary thrombosis and his death certificate gives his job as general labourer. The informant was Mabel, who was present at the death and their address was 90 Southend Road, East Ham.

Mabel was present at Marion Linda Joan Bourne & Michael Thomas Delonnette's wedding in  1970 in Hastings.

Mabel died in 1972 in Newham, Essex, aged 66. Her death is registered in 4th quarter 1972 in Newham.

My great-grandfather's sister : Georgina Delonnette 1897 - 1954

GEORGINA DELONNETTE  was born circa 1897 in Brighton. (1901 census). Her birth was registered as Georgina Victoria Brown. Her mother, Emily Brown, aged about 30, was working as a servant for her father, Frenchman Alphonse Joseph Delonette, aged about 57, who she later married, but he was still married to wife Phoebe, aged 77, at this point. Big age differences obviously weren't an issue ! Georgina's birth almost coincided with Phoebe's death in August 1897. By the time of Phoebe's death, Emily had had four children (all with Alphonse?) : Joseph Brown, Victor Alphonse Delonnette, Josephine Delonnette and Georgina.

On 1901 census, age 4, Georgina is living with her parents at 13 Queens Road, Hastings. Her father died in 1908 when she was 10. On the 1911 census, a 14-year-old unmarried domestic nursemaid, she is with her widowed mother  at 45 Victoria Avenue, Ore.

On 9th August 1919, she had a son, AUGUSTUS JACK KNOWLES in Hastings. (He died in 1972)

She married JOHN WILLIAM KNOWLES (known as JACK) (1899-1965) in 1923 in Hastings.

On 30th October 1924, they had a daughter, BETTY JOAN  KNOWLES. She died in 2002.

She had a daughter DOREEN M KNOWLES in June 1927, but she sadly passed away a year later, in June 1928.

In October the same year, on October 15th 1928 she had a son, JOHN ARTHUR KNOWLES (1928-2005).

In 1931, she was at her sister WILHEMINA DELONNETTE's marriage to CHARLES MANSER - she is sitting to the right of the bride.

In December 1944, Georgina and Jack are listed amongst the mourners at her mother Emily's funeral.

Hastings Observer, 4th December 1948

Daughter Betty married Idris Harding in December 1948 and her parents' address was listed as 29 Middle Street.

Georgina died in 1954, aged 57. Her address is given as 29 Middle Street

Hastings and St Leonards Observer East Sussex, England

14 Aug 1954

My great-grandfather's sister : Wilhelmina Delonnette 1901-1976

WILHELMINA DELONNETTE (or MINNIE) was born on 31st January 1901 in Hastings. Her parents were Alphonse Joseph Delonnette (born 1836 France) and Emily nee Brown. (Click here to see their page)

 On 1901 census, age 2 months, she is living with her parents at 13 Queens Road, Hastings. On the 1911 census, a 10-year-old scholar, she is with her widowed mother and siblings at 45 Victoria Avenue, Ore. 

She married CHARLES MANSER in 1931 in Hastings. This is a photo of their wedding day - you can spot Emily, the bride's mum, behind her daughter and sitting next to her is presumably her sister Georgina.

They had two sons DEREK MANSER and TONY MANSER.

Wilhelmina died in 1976 in Hastings.