Martha Ann Lowcock
Surgical Nursing Duties, St. John's Ambulance Brigade
Martha was the oldest child of William and Nancy Lowcock, nee Clarkson. William, an overlooker originally from Bradford, and Nancy, had married at Kildwick Church in August 1867. Martha was born just over a year later on 24th August 1868, and was baptised on 27th September, also at Kildwick Church.
Martha Ann Lowcock's baptism record
A sister, Clara, would follow in 1875, but sadly died aged one. She then had a brother, Alexander, born in 1879.
They originally lived at St. James' Square in Silsden. In 1881 Martha, at just 12 years of age, was working as a worsted spinner.
The Lowcock family on the 1881 Census
By 1901 the family had moved to 11 Elliott Street, where Martha would remain throughout the rest of her life. Martha continued to work in the textile industry - she is described as a weaver of cotton and wool on the 1901 census, and cotton weaver on the 1911 census.
As war broke out, Martha began working at Morton Banks War Hospital from early on. The Red Cross records show that she began working on 7th October 1914, working in nursing, bed making and other ward duties. To her credit, she is documented as paying all of her own expenses for railway travel, laundry and uniform, as well as offering to give her spare time voluntarily. For the next four years she worked 720 hours.
Martha never married, and she stayed at the family home at 11 Elliott Street until her death on 20th March 1949, though she actually died at 16 Gargrave Road in Skipton. Her estate passed to her brother Alexander. She was buried with her parents and sister at St. James' Churchyard, Silsden.
Sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
1881 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1939 England and Wales Register
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-962
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
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