Percy Feather
Ward Orderly and Convoy Work
Early life:
Percy Feather was born on the 6th February 1885. His parents were Pharoah and Mary Eliza Feather nee Holmes. They lived at 98 Lidget in Oakworth. I have not found a marriage record for Pharoah and Mary Eliza.
Pharoah, a cartwright, died before Percy was born in a rail accident. He had spent the day at the Airedale Agricultural Show in Bingley and at the train station waiting to go home, fell into some horse boxes being shunted, which knocked him between the platform and a train and a horse box ran over his head, killing him instantly. He was buried at Wesleyan Methodist Burial Ground in Oakworth, with his and Mary Eliza's oldest daughter Mary Alice who had died the year before aged 11 or 12.
Mary Eliza married in 1889 to a John Binns, though he doesn't appear on any future census documents with her. They had a son, Albert, who only lived for five months.
Percy was baptised on 27th April 1890 at St. John's Church in Ingrow, the same day as older brother Fred. Their address was given as 30 Myrtle Terrace at this time.
Percy and Fred's baptism
In 1891 they lived at 24 Hermit Hole. Percy's older siblings were Martha Ann (17, a worsted weaver), Emma (10), and Fred (8). There was a boarder, John Slack, who married Martha shortly after.
The 1891 census
In 1901 the family lived at 18 Rutland Street. Emma was working as a worsted reeler, Fred was a joiner and Percy was a jobber (a trader who bought goods from wholesalers to sell on to retailers for a profit).
Percy married Edith Ann Godwin on 13th April 1907 at St. John's Church in Ingrow. They had three daughters and three sons - Julia Mary (1908), Annie (1911), Victor (1912), Clifford (1915), Sydney (1919), and Eva (1922).
Percy and Edith's marriage
In 1911 they lived at 17B Hermit Hole. Percy was working as a manager at a worsted factory.
War service:
From May 1915 until May 1919 Percy worked at both Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital and Morton Banks War Hospital as a ward orderly as well as convoy work. He worked 1,350 hours in total.
Post war life:
Shortly after the war Percy and his family moved to 138 Ingrow Lane, but by 1939 they were living at 21 Oat Street. Percy was a roving warehouseman, his wife Edith described as incapacitated. Children Julia, Sydney and Eva were still with them, with Sydney working as an apprentice weaving overlooker and Eva as a cotton tape examiner.
The 1939 Register
Percy died in Keighley in the second quarter of 1950.
Sources:
The Oakworth Anti-Vaccinator’s Railway Accident - Railway Work, Life & Death (port.ac.uk)
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1935
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
1939 England and Wales Register
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
