Annie Powell
Member S.J.A.B, Nursing
Annie Powell is a little bit of a mystery. In researching her life it has not been possible to confirm many details.
According to the Red Cross V.A.D. records 25 year old Annie lived at 7 John Street in Oakworth at the time of her service. In 1911 she was at the same address with her husband, John William Powell, a wool sorter originally from Cullingworth, who was 17 years her senior. His daughter Mildred, age 15, was also living there at the time. Annie is documented as being born in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. They had been married for five years. There is a marriage record for John William Powell marrying Annie Tate in the fourth quarter of 1905 in Keighley.
In attempting to establish her earlier life I have worked backwards. The only Annie Tate of the correct age from Uttoxeter that I can find on the 1901 census was living and working as a domestic servant in Pendleton, Lancashire for a congregational minister named James Neil and his family. In 1891, again the only Annie Tate of the correct age from Uttoxeter was living with a sister called Alice, three years older. The head of the household was George Tate, a single man who was a grocer, his aunt Lois Buckley (widower), cousin Lois Ellie Buckley and nieces Alice and Annie, ages eight and five respectively.
The 1891 Census. Annie with family
The 1901 Census. Annie working as a servant for a minister in Lancashire
These details match with a BMD birth record for Annie Tate, born in the first quarter of 1886 in Uttoxeter. I have not found a baptism record but have found one for Alice Tate who was baptised in the Anglican faith on 24th September 1882 in Uttoxeter, her parents were Joseph and Mary Jane Tate. I have found an 1861 census record for Joseph Tate who was age six, living with his grandparents George and Lois Elly, and their daughter Jane Elly, presumably Joseph’s mother.
Annie worked at Morton Banks Hospital during 1916 and 1917 as a nurse, principally undertaking night duties. Although part time, she managed to clock up 1170 hours in those two years.
Her husband John died in 1931 and was buried at Oakworth Wesleyan Methodist Burial Ground with his seven year old daughter Leila (who had died in 1901) and his first wife Margaret Ann, who had died aged 26 in 1904. Another man named Maurice Clement Couffinhal of Paris, France, was also buried there in 1951.
Burial record for Annie's husband, John William Powell
Annie continued to live at 7 John Street until at least 1948 as she shows on the electoral registers until then. I haven’t found her on the 1939 Register. Sadly I have not been able to establish what happened after. I can not find a death record locally so she may have moved to another area or remarried in later life.
Sources:
1861 England Census (father Joseph)
Staffordshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1900
England and Wales, Civil registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
England and Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985
