Clara Jones
Nursing
Clara Jones was born on 29th December 1880 to David Smith Jones of Elslack and Mary Jones nee Whipp of Colne. She was one of at least five children - her older sisters were Annie and Catherine, younger sister Margaret and younger brother David Smith Junior.
At the time of the 1881 census the family lived at 69 Newmarket Street in Skipton, and David was a grocer, which he appears to have been all of his adult life. The family still lived at this address in 1891.
The 1891 Census
By 1901 Annie was no longer in the family home, I believe she had married in 1899. Catherine was working as an assistant school teacher, as was Margaret. David Smith Junior was working as a grocer's apprentice, presumably with his father. Clara did not have an occupation listed.
I have been unable to locate any of the family on the 1911 census, but electoral registers indicate that David Smith Jones was still resident at 69 Newmarket Street, and appears there for several more years. As women were not yet able to vote they do not appear on the electoral registers with him.
Clara worked at Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital from May 1915 until May 1919 in a nursing role, earning the sum of £26 per year.
Clara never married. Both electoral registers and the 1939 Register show her living with her sisters Catherine and Margaret throughout their lives. In 1939 the sisters had moved to 64 Prince's Drive, still in Skipton. Clara was not in employment. Catherine was a grocer's assistant - their brother David Smith Junior lived around the corner from Newmarket Street on Brougham Street and was by now a grocer, I assume he took over their father's business when he died in 1925 and Catherine likely worked with him. Margaret was a temporary elementary school teacher.
The 1939 Register
Clara died on 5th August 1955 at the Duke of York Home in Bradford, though her address was still Heyroyd, 64 Prince's Drive in Skipton. The two sisters that she lived with had died before her - Margaret in 1950 and Catherine earlier in 1955. Her estate was left to her niece (daughter of David Smith Junior) Catherine.
Sources:
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
