VAD Joseph Albert Jowett
Quartermaster; Air Raids, Convoys, Transport of Wounded and Secretary for Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital
Joseph was born on 22nd April 1864 in Keighley, to parents Joseph and Mary Jowett nee Hartley. He was baptised on 30th October at St Michael and All Angels Church in Haworth. His father was described as a ‘servant man’ on his baptism record.
The baptism record of Joseph Albert Jowett
In 1871 the family lived on Smith Street in Keighley. Joseph (senior) was 47 years old and his occupation was farmer’s man. Mary was a year older. Older siblings were Ann (23), Hannah (21) and Elizabeth (17) who all worked as worsted factory girls and older brother John (14) who was a worsted factory boy.
The Jowett family shown on the 1871 census
Joseph (senior) died the following year in Keighley, and his wife Mary died in 1879, also in Keighley.
In 1881 Joseph was living at 8 Smith Street with his older sisters Ann, Hannah and Elizabeth who were all worsted weavers. Elizabeth was married, her surname now Wright although her husband was not at the address that night. Joseph was 16 and working as a clerk for the Midland Railway Company.
By 1891 they had moved back to number 6 Smith Street. Ann and Hannah remained unmarried, working as woollen weavers and Elizabeth was no longer with them. Joseph was still working as a railway clerk.
On 19th September 1898 Joseph married Ann Elizabeth Rowland Calvert, a 32 year old worsted reeler, at the Wesleyan Chapel on Temple Street in Keighley. Joseph must have moved in the interim as his address was Harold Street in Bingley.
Joseph and Ann’s marriage record
Joseph and Ann made their home at 56 Mannville Road in Keighley. They can be found there on the 1901 census with Ann’s mother Mary Ann Calvert (72) who was from Barnoldswick, and a boarder named Ada Holmes.
The 1901 census
They still lived there at the time of the 1911 census. Ada was still boarding with them but Mary Ann had died in 1910. The census shows that Joseph and Ann had not had any children.
From May 1915 Joseph worked as a VAD, acting as quartermaster and secretary at Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital as well as convoys and transport of wounded soldiers and air raids. He also spent some of his 2,250 hours service at Morton Banks War Hospital.
Joseph died on 12th July 1921 in Keighley, Ann died in 1953.
Sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1935
1871 England Census
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
