James RANDELL 1871
James Randell born was born in October 1871 in Holt. He was the middle child and only boy in the marriage of Ephraim Randell and Mary Parker.
His childhood was spent at home in Cley St, Holt but as a teenager he left home to take an apprenticeship with a John Davies an Ironmonger in Market St. Great Dunmow, in Essex. It was here in 1891 that he met Constance Grace Staines who lived with her parents in the shop next door. In July 1898, aged 27, he married Grace, as she was always known, in Beckenham in the district of Bromley Kent.
In 1901 James and Constance Grace, together with their new baby Austin, were living with his in-laws at 10 Victoria Building, Beckenham, Kent. James Randell who in 1901 was aged 29 was an Ironmongers Assistant.
The census of 1911 was quite detailed and revealed a slightly different picture in that the roles of head of household were reversed. The extended family lived at 38 Constable Road, Felixstowe and was composed of James Randell - head of household and his wife Constance Grace Jenny Randell. James Randell was an Ironmonger aged 38, born in Holt, Norfolk whilst Grace was aged 37 and born Dunmow, Essex. The couple had been married 12 years and had one child Austin Henry James Randell, aged 11, born Beckenham Kent. Beyond this a collection of Staine’s lived with the Randells. Father-in-law Henry Staines, aged 62, retired on private means, born Chelmsford, Essex and his wife Susanna Staines aged 65, born Waltham, Essex headed the list. Beyond this Henry Austin James Staines, aged 36, and married but on the evening of the census in the company of only his son Austin Jack Staines, aged 9.
Henry Austin James Staines was an Ironmongers Clerk, suggesting that he was working with his brother-in-law. Unfortunately, James Randell does not appear in any Trade Directories of the area or period.
Grace and James had only one child, Austin Henry James Randell born 12 May 1899 in Beckenham, Kent.
James Randell died 2 February 1938. At the time of his death he was living or staying with his son Austin in 51 Dunkeld Avenue, Filton, Bristol but his home address was recorded as 34 Queens Road, Felixstowe. James Randell's left a Will passing his entire estate to his only son Austin H J Randell (draughtsman). The bequest in the Will is £3552. 7s. 11d.
Coincidence is said to be everything and to prove this, Harold Drake Randell born Ixworth and his cousin James Randell born Holt, died in the same suburb of Bristol. They died at 741 Filton Ave and 51 Dunkfeld Ave, Filton, Bristol which are less than a mile apart.
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Constance Grace STAINES 1873
Constance Grace Jenny Staines was the eldest of two children born to Henry and Susanna Staines. She was born in Great Dunmow, Essex in April 1873 and was two years older than her brother Henry Austin James Staines who was born in the same location. Both of them appear in the census record using their middle names. Austin exclusively and Constance Grace intermittently, as in 1881 she was recorded as Constance Staines a visitor with her with her aunt and uncle Walter and Emily Gilbert in Belgrave London.
Henry Staines was an employer with a Shoe and Boot making business, first in Market Street, Great Dunmow in Essex and finally in Beckenham, Kent. Henry Staines is recorded in Kelly's Directory several times and in 1903 the addresses of two premises are provided, they are 119 High Street and 10 Victoria Building, both Beckenham.
Susanna Staines was born 1846 in Great Waltham and her maiden name was Hawkes. The family lived for a long period in Market Street, Dunmow before moving to Kent. Despite the name, today Great Dunmow is a small town in the Essex countryside. The house in Market Street, which no longer exists would have undoubtedly been a shop front with living quarters to the rear. It is recorded as having six rooms.
Constance G J Randell died aged 74 in January 1948 in Deben, Suffolk.
James and Grace had one child in 1901:
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