Edith Emily (Pinnock) Launchbury (1887 - 1946)

Born 29 Dec 1887 in Caversham, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 28 Jun 1946 at age 58 in Caversham, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Calladine [send private message]

Biography

Edith was born in 1887. ^[1]

Edith Emily Pinnock was born the second of four children to (My Great grandfather Ahnentafel 17) Thomas Pinnock (1860-1905) and Ellen Elizabeth Fuller (1859 - November 22, 1939) on December 29, 1887 in Caversham, Oxfordshire. Caversham at this time, was being transformed from a small village opposite the Berkshire Town of Reading, by the construction of the Railways.

The river has long dominated the activities of those living around there - millers, boat-builders, ferrymen and more, all depending on the river for their livelihood. Sadly, to the immense shame of the town's Councils over the years, most of Caversham's history, interesting as it may be, can't be seen today. (The same applies to Reading as a whole too.) All the mills have long gone and only some street names recall them; there are bridges over the Thames rather than ferries and many historic buildings have been demolished. There are still boatyards in Caversham, but they don't have the importance they once did.

Reading station opened on the 30 March 1840 as the temporary western terminus of the original line of the Great Western Railway. At a stroke the time taken to travel from London to Reading was reduced to one hour and five minutes, less than a quarter of the time taken by the fastest stagecoach. The line was extended to its intended terminus at Bristol in 1841. As constructed, Reading station was a typical Brunel designed single-sided intermediate station, with separate up and down platforms situated to the south of the through tracks and arranged so that all up trains calling at Reading had to cross the route of all down through trains.

In 1860 a new station building, in Bath Stone and incorporating a tower and clock, was constructed for the Great Western Railway. In 1898 the single sided station was replaced by a conventional design with 'up', 'down' and 'relief' platforms linked by a pedestrian subway.

As a foot note - T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) lost the 250,000-word first draft of his Seven Pillars of Wisdom at the station when he misplaced his briefcase while changing trains in 1919. Working from memory, as he had destroyed his notes after completion of the first draft, he then completed a 400,000-word second draft in three months.

But it is the enlargement of the railway in and around the town that brought Ellens family into the town from frurther downstream towards Henley. They were railway workes, and Thomas who served in the Royal Marines, probally met his bride travelling on the Great Western home to Melksham.

It seems that Edith met her future husband at a wedding. Her elder brother Thomas Carey Pinnock (1883) - the eldest son of Henry Pinnock- in June 1903 married Ada Launchbury. Her family had just moved to Reading to work on the railways, and chose to live opposite the station in the Oxfordshire part of the town. Edith met Ada's younger brother, David Launchbury at the wedding, and they started courting.

David was born the third child of Frederick Launchbury (10 Nov 1856 - 1932) and Hannah Carter (1856 - 1932) on April 02, 1882. He was born in North Hinksey, and like his father started work for the Great Western Railway Company.

The 1901 census returns for both grandparents are interesting. David is seen living at his father's address at 15 Kings Rd, Caversham, which was then part of 'Southern' Or 'Henley' Oxfordshire. (RG13/1371: Henley: Caversham: 6 Folio: 124 Page: 46 schedule number: 254. St Peter Caversham Oxfordshire)

I have real problems with the census return for 1906. Edith can be found in her father's address (RG13 1371 84 15 104 South Oxon Caversham St Peters Oxfordshire) on St Johns Rd, Caversham

This document gives his name (incorrectly) as Thomas?

Thomas Pinnock Head M 41 M Navvy Worker Wilts Helen Pinnock Wife M 44 F Laundress Wash Worker Oxon Standlake Edith Emily Pinnock Daughter 13 F Undefined Oxon Caversham (December 29, 1887) Ethel May Pinnock Daughter 10 F Undefined Berks Reading

Her eldest brother Thomas CAREY might give me a clue, so I found him in the 1911 census

1911 Residence: 46 Briants Avenue, Caversham, Oxfordshire [1] Thomas Carey Pinnock, head, 30, married, labourer dredging, born in Standlake, Berks Ada Pinnock, wife, 26, married 8 years with 3 children born alive to the marriage and all still living, born in New Hincksey, Berks Gladdis Amelia Pinnock, dau, 4, single, born in Caversham, Oxfordshire Percival Carey Pinnock, son, 2, single, born in Caversham, Oxfordshire Edna May Pinnock, dau, 1 single, born in Caversham, Oxfordshire Frederick Brill, relative, 21, married, labourer salesman greengrocer, born in Reading, Berks Hannah Rose Brill, sister, 21, married 2 years with one child born alive to the marriage and still living, born in New Hincksey, Berks Frederick William Brill, newphew, under 1 month, born in Caversham, Oxfordshire

Carey being a family name, it was one of her sons names, and my mother told me that her relatives all had that name. This made Thomas born in 1881 – oh, would he be in the census? YES.

1881 census RG11 1514 folio 83 BRIGHTHAMPTON page 3 scheduel 667 Oxfordshire Henry Pinnock Head Married Male 28 1853 Farmer of 160 acres empl 4 men 2 woman & 2 boys born Northmoor, Oxfordshire, England Helen Maria Pinnock Wife Married Female 29 1852 Farmers wife Standlake, Oxfordshire, England William Henry Pinnock Son Single Male 4 1877 Scholar Brighthampton, Oxfordshire, England Alice Helen Pinnock Daughter Single Female 2 1879- Brighthampton, Oxfordshire, England Thomas Carey John Pinnock Son Single Male 0 (6 weeks) 1881-Brighthampton, Oxfordshire, England

Problem is dad is now Henry, not Thomas?

Having Returned to the 1891 census, I wasted an entire day or two in Swindon looking up the wrong Thomas. I then looked at Oxford archives for other Pinnocks who had a Henry for a day, a spelling mistake? Seems to look good, found this and somebody at the LDS church has typed up this

1871 census RG10_1452 folio 98 pg 7 dwelling 824. Hardwick, Witney, Oxfordshire Pinnock Thomas Head Married, M, 56 Farmer of 205 acres, Oxfordshire, Hardwick Pinnock, Mary A Wife Married F 50 Farmers wife. Oxfordshire Witney Pinnock Joseph Son, U M 30 Farmers son, Oxfordshire Hardwick Pinnock Henry,Son, U M 21 Farmers Son, Oxfordshire Hardwick Pinnock Selina, Dau U F 15, Farmers Daughter, Ox Hardwick Pinnock, Albert W. Son U M 10 Scholar. Ox hardwick Miles Rachel, Servant, U F 16 Ox Hardwick

This would fit my mother's story of her grandma once living in a large country house.... Then time to look at the BMD - problem, There were two Henry’s born in December 1851 but only one in 1853. I will have to double check the census returns for the child in 1853, (my ancestor).

This would be the March 1853 record Pinnock, Henry, Witney 3a, 570

So I looked for spelling mistakes and any reasons why he at 28 only would be head of large farming household in the 1881 census - Results

1871, Oxfordshire, Witney 6 Brighthampton, RG1451 foloi 85, page 2 dwelling 842 PINNOCK Anne C head, Widdow, F, 44 Farmer 450acres, Emp 12 males, 7 women, 6 boys. Born Warwickshire, Wolston. Pinnock, Harvey (mistake) Son, U, M, 18 Farmers Son, Oxfordshire Northmoor Pinnock George, Son, U M 16, Farmers son, Oxfordshire, Northmoor Pinnock William, Son, U, M, 15, Farmers Son, Oxfordshire, Northmoor Croxton, Frances, Serv, U F 18, Genreal Servant Domestic, Oxfordshire, Ramsden.

If this was my Henry, his Mum would be

Marriages Dec 1851 BAYLIS Anne Charlotte Witney 16 308 and PINNOCK William Witney 16 308

Bingo death – 2nd quarter of June 1873, Pinnock Anne Charlotte, age 47 Witney 3a 409 2nd quarter of June 1869, William Pinnock, age 44 Witney, 3a 403

To prove it I needed another census return for Henry with Anne C to confirm the spelling mistake.

1861 census William Pinnock age 36, M born 1825 from Witney in Oxfordshire Anne Sharlot (charlotte sic) Pinnock, 1827, age 34, F Witney in Oxfordshire Henry Pinnock 1853, age 8 M Witney in Oxfordshire George Pinnock 1850 age 1 (sic 11) born 1850 Witney Oxfordshire

More spelling mistakes, they must have had dreadful handwriting, but it fits.

1851 Census William Pinnock age 26 m born 1825 from Witney in Oxfordshire Ann Pinnock age 30 F from Warwick in Warwickshire (this fits the 1871 census data)

1841 Census William Pinnock age 15 m born 1826 from Witney in Oxfordshir

So I have to search the passenger records to see if i can find my g grand dad - as Edith's father Thomas Pinnock (1860-1905) had suffered from a slight alcohol problem, and had packed himself off to Canada to cure it, well the cure worked too well, for it killed him, and the estate was frozen by Canadian law firms for the next 30 years. Thomas's wife, Ellen Elizabeth Pinnock (nee Fuller) was left with children to support.

The death of Henry brought about a drastic change on the family. David Launchbury married Edith on November 10, 1906 in Caversham Parish Church (St Peters). He had returned from military service, where he had been serving as a Cook, in the notorious Black & Tans regiment over in Ireland.

The Marriage Licence of David and Edith Emily Launchbury reveals quite a bit of detail.

Certificate, number 122, of page 61 of the Parish Church of St Peters in Caversham, David was 24 years old, and his bride Edith Emily was 20. David was employed by the Great Western Railway as a railway Porter. David was living at 46 Bryant's Avenue, in Caversham, and Edith at Blenheim Cottage in Star Lane. David's father, Frederick Launchbury was a Foreman Porter, and Edith's father Thomas was a Farmer, (Deceased, the wedding was witnessed by Thomas Rushart, Dorathy Pinnock, and Ethel Pinnock. The Assistant Curate was Walter Bolden.

When Thomas/Henry died in Canada whilst trying to be cured of alcoholism, Helen had been forced to move to a small house on Gosport Rd. Edith is with the extended family of Charles Carter, at no 10 Star road. Charles is the brother of Hannah, David's Mother, and this may have been arranged by Thomas Carey and Ada, who lived just down the road. Indeed, David's parents moved a few doors away in Star Rd after Frederic's retirement- until his death in 1914. They moved into 40 Bryant's avenue, and with the arrival of her first child, took in her younger brother William as well.

David and Edith had 10 children in total, REGINALD DAVID LAUNCHBURY, b. March 23, 1907, Caversham; d. 1972, Hayes, DOROTHEA HELEN MAY LAUNCHBURY, b. 1908, Caversham,; d. 1973, Caversham, EVELYN VIOLET LAUNCHBURY, b. September 15, 1911, Caversham; d. 1980, Caversham. RONALD CECIL LAUNCHBURY, b. Bef. July 1914, Caversham, d. June 28, 1920, Caversham. CAREY FREDERICK LAUNCHBURY, b. March 09, 1916, Caversham, d. 1981. WILLIAM HENRY LAUNCHBURY, b. May 21, 1919, Caversham; d. 1970, Caversham. MAURICE LESLIE LAUNCHBURY, b. 1922, Caversham, d. 2004. PHYLLIS AMELIA LAUNCHBURY, b. April 20, 1924, Caversham, d. March 13, 1993, Bridgwater (my Mother). LIONEL DENNIS LAUNCHBURY, b. April 12, 1926, Caversham, d. August 24, 1976, Woodley. ROYSTON DESMOND LAUNCHBURY, b. October 18, 1928, Caversham -

Edith died first on June 28, 1946, and as well as a laundress, she was a local midwife, so had delivered half of Caversham at that point. Edith carried a little book with her during her visits as a midwife, "the life and memoirs of Henry Jenkins' containing 907 recipes for common ailments. Before her death, she was in the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Her younger sister Ethel wrote a letter to he on the 11 September 1945, from 20 Lennox St, Weymouth in Dorset (2.5D postage), but I do not know her married name.

David's retirement from the Great Western happened in 1947, where over the 49 years he had risen up to the position of the Goods Foreman of Caversham Coal Yard. Most of his sons also worked at some time for the Great Western as well. However, David never really got over the death of Edith, and lasted until May 24, 1963, where he died in the new house built at Woodley, 15 months before I was born there. They had brought a plot in Caversham cemetery for their son (Ronald) to be buried in (June 24 1920) and both of them were buried in the same plot.

Sources

1. ↑ General Register Office, birth registration index online (https://www.gro.gov.uk/); accessed 10 August 2023: PINNOCK, EDITH EMILY; GRO Reference: 1888 Jan-Mar Quarter in HENLEY registration district; Volume 03A Page 775; mother's maiden name: PINNOCK

• Personal recollection of events witnessed by David Calladine as remembered 2 Feb 2022.