Albert Alfred Blackburn (1888 - 1972)

Born 13 Jan 1888 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Catherine (McIver) Blackburn — married 1909 in St Mary's Church, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Husband of Mabel Ellen (Harrison) Blackburn — married 22 Dec 1939 in Registrar's Office, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 5 Dec 1972 at age 84 in 10 Marsh Street, Tauranga, Bay Of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand

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Biography

Albert Blackburn was born in 1888.^[1] He was the son of John Blackburn and Charlotte Williams. His father was a Shipwright.

He was baptised on 4 February 1888 at St Vincent de Paul, Liverpool, Lancashire, England^[2].

UK Census Date 1891: Living with his parents, three siblings and three half siblings at 6 Ashwell Street, Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England. Aged 3.

By 1901 the family were living at 31 Ponstance Place, Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England. Aged 13.

At the age of 21 he married Catherine "Kate" McIver on 4 July 1909 in St Mary's, Highfield Street, Liverpool, England.^[3] Albert was of 31 Ponstance Place, and Kate was of 38 Cockspur Street. The witnesses were Arthur Jones and Rosa Shaughnessey.

On 16 August 1910 Albert joined the Merchant Navy. He was noted to have a a tattoo of Clasped Hands and True Love on his right arm. He was 5 feet 7 inches, with brown eyes and a dark complexion.

UK Census Date 1911: Living with his wife Kate and young daughter Mary Bridget at 38 Cockspur Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Aged 23.

Occupation: SEA-GOING FIREMAN

Albert and Kate went on to have five children.

He was 28 years of age and working as a Machinist when he enlisted on 29 October 1915 to fight in the 1st World War, signing his Short Attestation Papers at Liverpool on 2 November 1915. His address was recorded as 107 Upper Stanhope Street. Service No. 113016.

Albert served in Mesopotamia (which occupies the area of present-day Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Iran, Syria, and Turkey) from 18 February 1916, and spent from 2 September 1916 until 16 October 1916 in hospital. He was then posted to 39th Infantry Brigade SAAS (Field) on 22 November 1916, until 20 May 1918.

He was on board ship from 21 May 1918 until 7 June 1918 and then served in Egypt from 8 June 1918 until 16 February 1919. He was back on board ship from 17 February 1919 until 1 March 1919, and then was back home on 2 March 1919. On 1 May 1919 he held the rank of Gunner with the 66 Battery, 53rd Brigade RFA.

He was demobilised or discharged on 3 August 1919.

Sadly his youngest daughter Agnes passed away in 1923 at the age of 1, and one of his other daughters Charlotte was later killed in the London bombings in 1941, along with her young son Terence.

He had returned to the Merchant Navy after the War, and some time after 1922 he travelled to New Zealand, leaving Kate and their young children behind.

In Auckland, New Zealand he met Mabel Ellen Harrison. They moved to Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty and raised three children; Audrey, Edward Blackburn and Joan Charlotte Blackburn.

Albert worked for Odlins Timber Mill at Sulphur Point, Tauranga. He was a Boilerman in charge of stoking the furnaces. They lived in a small cottage at 10 Marsh Street, across the road from the mill where Albert worked.

He and Mabel were married on 22 December 1939 in the Registrar's Office, Rotorua. Albert was 48 years of age, a "Bachelor", his occupation was recorded as Carpenter. Mabel was 37 years of age. The witnesses were Mabel's younger half-sisters Ada and Ellen.

His first wife Catherine passed away in England in 1948 at the age of 59. His second wife Mabel passed away in 1970.

Albert was found dead at his home on 5 December 1972, almost two years after the death of his wife. He was 83 years of age. Cause of death was recorded as Coronary insufficiency (minutes), Myocardial ischaemia (5 years), Congestive heart failure (7 years) and Senile Arteriosclerosis (10 years +).

Occupation: Retired Engineer (ex-serviceman)

Burial

7 December 1972 - Pyes Pa Cemetery, Tauranga, New Zealand. Block: PYES PA (A, Row: D, Plot Location: 25^[4]

Inscription:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

OUR LOVED WIFE & MOTHER

MABEL BLACKBURN

16th DEC. 1970

AND HER LOVED HUSBAND

ALBERT ALFRED

5th DEC. 1972

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 4 March 2021. From "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006." Database. findmypast. http://www.findmypast.com : 2012. Citing General Register Office, Southport, England. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XT7-5C6
2. ↑ Liverpool Record Office; Liverpool, England; Liverpool Catholic Parish Registers; Reference Number: 282 SVP/1/3. Title: Liverpool, England, Catholic Baptisms, 1741-1919. Author: Ancestry.com
3. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DNS-HMY : accessed 9 September 2015), Albert Blackburn, 1909; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,”
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225405655/albert-alfred-blackburn), memorial page for Albert Alfred Blackburn (13 Jan 1888–5 Dec 1972), Find a Grave Memorial no. 225405655, citing Pyes Pa Memorial Park, Tauranga, Tauranga City, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand ; Maintained by GillyR (contributor 48886083)

• Family Records

• NZ BDM Marriage Records Online: Registration No: 1939/15951 | Bride's Given Name(s): Mabel | Bride's Family Name: McGrath | Groom's Given Name(s): Albert | Groom's Family Name: Blackburn | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

• NZ BDM Death Records Online: Registration No: 1972/25501 | Family Name: Blackburn | Given Name(s): Albert Alfred | Age at Death: 83Y | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

• https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/council/services/cemeteries/cemeteries-search/cemeteries-detail/tctl/523_?plotid=PYES%20PA*B6870

Census Records

• "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7SHW-M6Z : 1 April 2016), Alfred Blackburn in household of John Blackburn, Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9VT-637 : 8 April 2016), Alfred Blackburne in household of John Blackburne, Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWRT-6ZJ : 2 August 2017), Albert Blackburn, Liverpool, Liverpool, Lancashire, England; from "1911 England and Wales census,"