Leonard ARDRON I (1873 - 1955)

Father: Henry Ardron I (1835 - 1921)
Mother: Emma Turner

 

 

Tree extract starting with common ancestor to me:

 

My 1st cousin 4 times removed was born at Birdwell Flatts, Swinton on 20 December 1873. His father was a coal miner. (GRO cert BXBY524265 + GRO ref Rotherham 9c 644 Dec 1873 A-J)

 

1876 Invention of the telephone by A G Bell

1879 Britain fights the Zulu war in South Africa

On the 1881 Census (3 April) Leonard was aged 7, living with his parents at 70 Charles Street, Swinton. (PRO ref RG11 piece 4682 folio 115 pg 34)

1883 Married women obtain the right to acquire their own property

1884 The Third Reform Act - voting extended to agricultural workers (triples the electorate)

On the 1891 Census (5 April) he was aged 17, a miner, living with his parents at 70 Charles Street, Swinton. (PRO ref RG12 piece 3855 folio 126 pg 48)

1893 Invention of motion pictures by Thomas Edison
1895 Invention of wireless telegraphy by G Marconi

1899-1902 Britain fights the Boer War in South Africa

1901 Death of Queen Victoria, succeeded by King Edward VII

On the 1901 Census (31 March) Leonard was aged 27, a coal miner trammer, living with his parents at 131 White Lee Road, Swinton. (PRO ref RG13 piece 4402 folio 84 pg 37)

On 24 December 1906 at the age of 33 and resident at 6 Dunn (?) Street, Swinton, Leonard married Florence (otherwise known as Florrie) Hewson. The ceremony took place at the Rotherham Register Office. He was a coal miner (Datallerat Colliery) and his father was a shoe maker. Florrie was resident at 6 Bridge Street, Swinton. Her father was Charles Hewson, a traction engine driver. Witnesses were Albert Tyler and Mabel Grant. (GRO cert MB480489 + GRO ref Rotherham 9c 1357 Dec 1906)

1908 on 27 April Olympic Games open at White City in London

1908 on 27 October Parliament approves old age pensions (weekly means-tested pension of a maximum of five shillings to all those aged over 70)

1910 Death of King Edward VII, succeeded by King George V         

1911 National Insurance Act provides cover against sickness and unemployment

 

On the 1911 Census (2 April) Leonard was listed as head of household for 66 Bridge Street, Swinton:

a) Leonard Ardron, head, 38, married (4 years), coal miner hewer, coal pit, worker, Swinton Yorkshire, British

b) Florence Ardron, wife, 27, married (4 years), Wath Yorkshire, British

c) Frank Ardron, son, 6, Wath Yorkshire, British

d) Leonard Ardron, son, 1, Swinton Yorkshire, British

The record shows Florence having had a total of 3 children born alive in present marriage, 2 still living and 1 having died.
The property consisted of 2 rooms (including kitchen but excluding scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom, warehouse, office or shop if present).

(PRO ref RG14 ??)

 

1912 on 15 April sinking of the SS Titanic
1913 on 4 June Suffragette Emily Davison is killed by the king's horse

1914-18 The Great War (World War I)
1918 in May a massive flu epidemic reaches Britain and kills more than 200,000 people in Britain and up to 50 million worldwide

1918 All men over 21 and all women over 30 get the vote

1921 in July unemployment reaches a post-war high of 2.5 million

1922 The Irish Free State is established

1927 on 1 January the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is created

1928 Equal Franchise Act - All women are given the same voting rights as men (all over the age of 21)
1928 on 30 September Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1929 on 24 October the Wall Street Crash sparks the Great Depression

1931 Financial crisis and run on the pound (Britain abandons the gold standard)

1935 in July the first Penguin paperbacks go on sale, costing just 6 pence, bringing literature to the masses

1936 Death of King George V, succeeded by King Edward VIII
1936 Abdication of King Edward VIII in order to marry Wallace Simpson, succeeded by King George VI
1939-45 World War II
1944 Butler Education Act - framework for new free comprehensive secondary education for all
1947 on 1 January Britain's coal industry is nationalised

1948 National Health Service established

1948 on 29 July the Olympic Games open at Wembley Stadium in London

1952 Death of King George VI, succeeded by Queen Elizabeth II
1954 Rationing resulting from ends

1955 on 22 September commercial television starts with the first ITV broadcast

Leonard died on 5 November 1955 aged 82 and is buried at Swinton Parish Church. (MI Dean Ardron) This agrees with a GRO index entry. (GRO ref Rother V. 2e 628 Dec 1955 - though his age is shown as 81)

“In loving memory of
Leonard Ardron,
Who died Nov. 5th 1955
Aged 82 years
Also of his wife
Florry
Who died Feb. 20th 1956” (MI)

Florence (Florrie) HEWSON (1883 - 1956)
She was born in 1883, daughter of Charles Hewson. (Based on age at death on MI Dean Ardron) There is a GRO Birth Index entry for Florry Hewson. (GRO ref Rotherham 9c 682 Mar 1883)

On the 1891 Census (5 April) Florrie is aged 8, living with her parents (Charles, an engine driver (34), Eliza (30)) and one brother (Walter (11)) at 67 Townend, Wath on Dearne. (RG12/3854/72/20)

On the 1901 Census (31 March) she is aged 19, living with her parents (Charles, an engine driver (40), Eliza (38)) and one brother (Walter (22)) at Townend, Wath. (RG13/4400/87/18)

Florrie died on 20 February 1956 aged 73 and is buried at Swinton. (MI Dean Ardron) This agrees with a GRO index entry. (GRO ref Rotherham 2c 795 Mar 1956 - aged 73 - name shown as Florry)

LEONARD AND FLORENCE HAD THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN:

1) Frank Ardron I - HEWSON? (1905 -)
My 2nd cousin 3 times removed was born on 17 February 1905, however was only baptised on 6 April 1909 in Swinton . (APR)

It must be noted that Frank was born before the marriage of Leonard and Florence. As a result it is quite possible that Frank had the surname of HEWSON at birth. Only being called Frank Ardron later - as per the APR in 1909. The GRO Birth Index has an entry for Frank Wilde Hewson in 1905 (GRO ref Rotherham 9c 866 Mar 1905)

On the 1911 Census (2 April) Frank was aged 6, living with his parents at 66 Bridge Street, Swinton. (PRO ref RG14 ??)

2) ?? Ardron (?? -)

My 2nd cousin 3 times removed  - Based on the information that Florence had 3 children born to the present marriage, but 1 having died at the time of the 1911 Census. (1911 Census entry)

 

3) Leonard Ardron II (1909 - 1991)

 

4) Ernest Ardron III (1911 - 1982)

5) Doris Ardron (1913 -)
My 2nd cousin 3 times removed was born on 17 November 1913 and baptised on 17 December 1913 in Swinton  Her father was a miner of 66 Bridge Street. (APR) The birth is confirmed by a GRO index entry. (GRO ref Rotherham 9c 1653 Dec 1913)

Doris married Lawrence Ward in 1932. (Dean Ardron + GRO ref Rotherham 9c 1308 Mar 1932 - Ward)

6) Emma Ardron II (1915 - 2009)
My 2nd cousin 3 times removed was born on 4 November 1915 and baptised on 8 December 1915 in Swinton . Her father was a miner of 66 Bridge Street. (APR) The birth is confirmed by a GRO index entry. (GRO ref Rotherham 9c 1418 Dec 1915)

Emma married Charles Kirby in 1934 in the district of Rotherham. (Jack Ardron II + GRO ref Rotherham 9c 1724 Dec 1934 - Kirby)

Interestingly, they had a daughter named Joyce who went on to marry her 3rd Ardron cousin, Jack Ardron II (1942 -).

 

Emma died in 2009 aged 93. (Jack Ardron II)

 

7) Walter Ardron (1918 - 1978)

 

8) Charles Henry Ardron (1921 - 2000)

9) Hilda Ardron (1923 -)
My 2nd cousin 3 times removed was born on 3 December 1923 and baptised on 13 February 1924 in Swinton . Her father was a miner of 66 Bridge Street. (APR) The birth is confirmed by a GRO index entry. (GRO ref Rotherham 9c 1323 Mar 1924)

Hilda married Stanley Sands in 1941. (Dean Ardron + GRO ref Rother V. 9c 1601 Mar 1941 – Sands)