Florrie Davies family tree

Florrie Davies family tree

Click on the following links for further information

Table of census return data for Florrie Davies family tree

Florrie’s story

A few weeks after their sixth daughter, Florence, was born William left Florrie, apparently because was unhappy that she had not provided him with any sons. William took Lily with him. Florrie didn’t get much maintenance from William and while he lived in a grand house Florrie and the other five girls lived in poverty. Here’s what the youngest, Florence (Flo), had to say about it.

“I was born 25^th February 1926 and named Florence Devery. The youngest of six girls, my parents separated when I was only a few months old. My father earned very good money as a foreman dyer but he only paid mother ten shillings a week. Out of that she had to pay six shillings a week rent and the rest on gas and coal. The lack of nourishment in my younger days caused me much suffering in later years. All my clothes were hand me downs. Eventually my feet got deformed from having to wear sandals much too small and big holes in the bottom. Good thing I loved playing out in the fresh air, as that kept me going, although at the time I didn’t know it. I used to be fascinated watching the horse and carts delivering milk, the chap who used a long pole to light the street gas lamps, and most people wore clogs, which were ideal for mill workers. The only present I got for Christmas was a sixpenny tin of blue bird caramels. But we were all happy. Then Father claimed one of my sisters (Lily) and gave her a life of luxury while the rest of us almost starved. But Mother did her very best and never left us. Think I was about 7yrs old when our old house was condemned and we moved into a brand new council house, which had electric lights, our very own toilet and bath; we felt like royalty. Oh how I hated school and was so happy to leave when I was 14yrs old and started work in the cotton mill which I loved. Mother gave me 2 shillings a week spending money and out of that I had to buy all my own clothes. My friends were always having something new but I never envied them, because I was so happy at home, even though all our furniture was second hand, it felt like a palace to us. When my older sisters got working Mother could afford better food. Most nights I sat and played cards with my sisters, not having a TV or wireless we entertained ourselves, we had so much fun and laughter all trying to talk at once. We were brought up to respect everyone and have good manners, not like the children in todays world. We used to play rounders in the road, skipping ropes, whips and tops. Oh! Hours of fun that cost nothing. Don’t think I ever wanted to grow up, but of course it happens, and life becomes more complicated”.


Florrie with daughters Mary, Alice and Ethel, 1918	Florrie with Flo

Florrie with (l to r) daughters Alice, Flo, Ethel and Bertha	Florrie 1971

This branch of the family tree is a bit thin on detail. I have plans to contact Middleton archives to find out what the have on Thomas Davies, Waterman, including obituaries. There are also some maps of Heap and Heywood that I want to order from my supplier of old maps (who has yet to produce a Middleton map).

Back to home page