Frances Would
- Born: 11 Jun 1881
- Marriage: Charles Widdowson
General Notes:
Notes written by Joan (Widdowson) Stevenson : Frances was born in 1881 in Roughton Lincolnshire to Maria Norton Would (nee Bradder) and John Would, when John Would was a farm labourer. She helped at home, but her main job was watching their cows at the side of the road. Farm workers were allowed to graze 1 or 2 cows at the side of the road for free, it is called something but I do not know what. She went to school for only 2 days for the whole of her life, but she taught herself to read and write. Her letters were wonderful but not a comma in sight. I think that if she had had an education she would have been very clever. She went into service when she was 12 at Rufford Abbey. She married Charles Widdowson on 10 June 1907 in Chesterfield parish church, he was a pattern maker. James Would and Mary Ellen Would were witnesses. When they were first married they lived in rooms at Wharf Lane Stonegravels Chesterfield, and then at 56 Shirland Street Chesterfield. It was a terraced house with back yard lavatory and the living room had a big black iron range and oven. The house had no bathroom, they used a tin bath in front of the fire, the hot water was a big kettle that always stood on the fireplace. I remember the room, it had one window with a treadle sowing machine under it and a aspidistra on top. There was an oil painting of a lady too, but no one knows who it is. I think my cousin Jean has it.
My Dad, Charles Sydney Widdowson was born in Sheffield on 10 Dec 1908 and my Aunt Constance (Connie) 2 years later. My Grand Father (Charles) worked at Renishaw iron works and he used to walk there every day about 12 miles there and 12 miles back. In the recession he was out of work and my Grandma (Frances) eked out a living taking in washing, dress making, knitting and even laying out dead people. They were very poor. My Grandad died in the 1940's when my Dad was away in the army during the war, she still earned money by dressmaking and taking in washing, I can remember the back kitchen being full of steam from the boiler which was coal fired. It must have been hard for her.
Sometime in the middle 1950's she went to live with her daughter Connie in Sandbach, Cheshire and then in Middlewich, Cheshire. Here she was taken very poorly and rushed into hospital. We all got summoned on the Sunday because the Doctor said she wouldn't last the night and we should say our goodbyes. While everyone was around her bed she opened one eye and said to my Dad, 'I will be out on Wednesday' - and she was - see what I mean about strong wills! She lived another 30 years.
My Auntie Connie died in the mid 60's and Grandma came to live with my Mum and Dad. I had married and left home by then. She used to knit all day and sent quite a lot to Canada. She had a short spell with my cousin in Ireland and then came back to my Mum and Dad. She had Rheumatics in her legs but otherwise she was very fit. She died aged 92 on 14 December 1973 and hadn't got a grey hair or tooth in her head. She was at our wedding and saw our 2 boys grow up.
Frances married Charles Widdowson.
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