Samuel Milnes
Transport Duty and Hospital Duty
Samuel was the third born child of Levi Milnes and Sarah Ann Milnes nee Ray. He was born on 24th December 1871 in Shipley. Sadly his father died during the last quarter of that year, so in all likelihood Levi never saw the birth of his son.
He had two older sisters, Martha Ann (born in 1866) and Lavinia (born in 1867).
I have not been able to locate Samuel on the 1881 census. His mother, Sarah Ann, had remarried in Keighley in 1879 to John Sunderland. I have not located them or his sisters either.
Samuel was baptised on 9th December 1883 at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on the same day as his sister Lavinia.
Samuel and Lavinia Milnes' baptism record
In 1891 Samuel was working as a mechanic and lived at 19 Feather Street in Keighley with his mother and John, who was a general labourer. A 23 year old mechanic called John Gallagher was boarding with the family. Lavinia had married by then, to a man called William Moorehouse.
Samuel Milnes on the 1891 census
Samuel married Elizabeth Ann Wardman during the third quarter of 1896 in Keighley.
In 1901 they lived at 9 Oastler Street, Worth Village. Samuel worked as a gas meter inspector. His mother, now widowed again, was living with them. He and Elizabeth had two daughters, Martha (born 1897) and Lavinia (born 1900), presumably named after his sisters. Another boarder lived with them, 23 year old Oliver May who was a railway porter.
The Milnes family shown on the 1901 census
Another daughter, Edith, followed in 1902/3, and in 1911 they lived at 2 Oastler Street. Samuel was still working as a gas meter inspector, for Keighley Corporation. His mother had died some time in the previous ten years.
The family later moved to 37 Florist Street in Stockbridge.
In February 1916 Samuel began working as a VAD, undertaking transport and hospital duties at both Morton Banks War Hospital and Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital. He did this work until May 1919.
Sadly Samuel's wife Elizabeth died at around that time, her death registered in the second quarter of that year. She was 48 years old.
He remarried the following year to Mary England, at Alice Street Primitive Methodist Chapel on 24th January. His sister Lavinia was a witness.
Samuel and Mary's marriage record
In 1939 Samuel and Mary were still living at 37 Florist Street. He was described as a retired gas meter inspector.
He died in Keighley during the first quarter of 1942 at the age of 60.
Sources:
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
England and Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1939 England and Wales Register
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
