Gladys Winifred Merrall
General Service
Gladys Winifred Merrall was born on 20th October 1886 in Keighley, to Arthur Gardiner Merrall, manager of a worsted mill and Susannah Elizabeth Merrall nee Heaton, who had married in 1884. She had an older brother, Reynold (who seems to have been known as Rennie at times), who was born in early 1885. Gladys was baptised on 3rd February 1887 at Haworth.
The entry on her baptism record
In 1891 the family lived at 62 West Lane, Haworth, and in 1901 at 1 North Street, also in Haworth. Arthur’s occupation was then documented as a clerk in worsted coating manufacture, and Reynold, now 16, was an office boy. In 1911 Arthur is classed as a manager at a worsted mill again, and Rennie was a clerk, also in a worsted mill. Gladys, by now, 24, does not have an occupation documented. Their address is simply ‘Haworth’ on the census document.
Gladys began working at the Auxiliary Military Hospital, Spencer Street, Keighley on 1st March 1917 in ‘General Service’ and was still working there, four hours per day, at the time of the V.A.D. record's completion. Her address was Eastville, Oxenhope (I believe this is Yate Lane).
She married Joseph Turnbull Hartley, a bank official and son of a minister, on July 31st 1926 in Haworth, the marriage was witnessed by R. Merrall, presumably her brother. They lived initially as Sowden’s House, then 'Holmdayle', West Lane in Haworth then a few years at Oldfield House.
Gladys and Joseph's marriage
The last record I can find of either of them is the 1940 Electoral Register, though the address is not clear, other than the north west ward of Keighley. I have not found a record of Gladys’ death, but have found a probate record for a Joseph Turnbull Hartley in 1976 in the Isle of Man. They do not appear to have had any children.
Her brother Reynold is buried in St. Michael and All Angels Churchyard in Haworth, in 1954, with his wife. He lived for several years beforehand at Summerfield, Oxenhope.
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index,1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 (parents)
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
Findagrave.com (brother)
