Arthur (Simmonds) Read (1873 - 1949)

Born 21 Feb 1873 in Guildford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Sarah (Wessell) Read — married 1 Jan 1898 (to 1907) in Kennington, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Florence Kate (Bidgood) Read — married 19 Jun 1909 in Lambeth, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Died 9 Apr 1949 at age 76 in Streatham, London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Arthur was born in Guildford Surrey on 21 February 1873. He is the son of Sarah Simmonds and William Read. His parents were unmarried.

In the 1891 census at age 19, Arthur was residing in the William Porter household in Midhurst Sussex where he was working as a clerk. He would work his whole life as a railway booking clerk.

Arthur would marry twice during his life. His first marriage was on 1 January 1898 in Kennington Surrey when he wed Elizabeth Sarah Wessell (Elizabeth was a spinster who was about 12 years Arthur's senior). Arthur and Elizabeth had 1 child together, a daughter Doris who was born in 1899. The first marriage ended upon Elizabeth's passing in 1907.

Arthur's second marriage was on 19 June 1909 in Lambeth London when he wed Florence Kate Bidgood, a 32 year old spinster. We find no evidence that children came from the marriage. At the time of the 1939 England Register, Arthur and Florence were residing at 115 Telford Avenue in Streatham Hill London.

Arthur passed away in Streatham on 9 April 1949 at age 76. Wife Florence survived until October 1957.

Sources

• "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XC2-JHL : 1 October 2014), Arthur Simmonds, 1873; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Guildford, Surrey, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

• "England and Wales Census, 1881", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q277-VTNR : Sat Nov 11 14:04:11 UTC 2023), Entry for William Read and Sarah Simmonds, 1881.

• "England and Wales Census, 1891", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4DYX-5T2 : Thu Jan 11 20:40:18 UTC 2024), Entry for William Porter and Rachel Porter, 1891.

• "England Marriages, 1538–1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJ7S-Y76 : 12 March 2020), Arthur Read, 1898.

• "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9CQ-SZZ : 20 May 2019), Arthur Read, Battersea, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing South West Battersea subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DN5-V13 : 13 December 2014), Arthur Read, 1909; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1909, quarter 2, vol. 1D, p. 645, Lambeth, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

• Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 - this record states: Arthur Read; Gender: Male; Marriage Age: 35; Record Type: Marriage; Birth Date: abt 1874; Marriage Date: 19 Jun 1909; Marriage Place: Saint Michael, Lambeth: Stockwell Park Road, Lambeth, England  : Father: William Read - Spouse: Florence Kate Bidgood.

• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW8B-4ZY : 8 July 2019), Arthur Read, Wimbledon, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register - this record states: Arthur Read, b.d. 21 Feb 1873, married, Railway Clerk Retired; residing with wife Florence Read, b.d. 21 Nov 1877, unpaid domestic duties; and Edith F E Kay, b.d. 30 Sep 1878, single, dressmaker - all living at 115 Telford Avenue Wandsworth London.

• "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCS-69RG : 4 September 2014), Arthur Read, 1949; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Wandsworth, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

• Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 - this record states: Read, Arthur of 115 Telford Avenue, Streatham Hill London S.W.2 died 9 April 1949 Probate London 18 May to Florence Read widow. Effects £1827 11s 5d