Part 5 – Other Alchin Families of Interest

1. The Descendants of Edward Hawes Alchin

1.3.4 ~ Amy Eliza Alchin

Amy was born at Plumstead in 1873 (Woolwich 1873 September qtr Volume 1d Page 965). The 1881 census records that Amy was a school girl and she was living with her family at 31 Durham Road, Plumstead. She married Thomas Owen in 1893 (St Geo Han Sq 1893 June qtr Volume 1a Page 900); he was born at Llangollen, Wales in 1866.

The 1901 census records that Thomas was a painter and he and his wife (they had no surviving children) were living at 27 Rosebery Square, Holborn.

1.3.5 ~ Sarah Ann M. Alchin

Sarah was born at Plumstead in 1875 (Woolwich 1875 March qtr Volume 1d Page 1057). The 1881 census records that Sarah was a school girl and she was living with her family at 31 Durham Road, Plumstead. Sarah married Arthur Henry Livett in 1897 (Woolwich 1897 March qtr Volume 1d Page 1247); he was born at Woolwich in 1871.

Arthur and Sarah had at least three children – Arthur (1897), Bertie (1899) and Ernest (1901). The 1901 census records that Arthur was employed as a metal turner and fitter. He and his young family were living at 4 Oxford Terrace, Plumstead.

1.3.5.1 ~ Arthur Henry Livett

Arthur was born at Plumstead in 1897 (Woolwich 1897 September qtr Volume 1d Page 1328). The 1901 census records that Arthur was living with his family at 4 Oxford Terrace, Plumstead.

1.3.5.2 ~ Bertie H. Livett

Bertie was born at Plumstead in 1899. The 1901 census records that the toddler was living with his family at 4 Oxford Terrace, Plumstead.

1.3.5.3 ~ Ernest Edward Livett

Ernest was born at Plumstead in early 1901 (Woolwich 1901 March qtr Volume 1d Page 1346). The 1901 census records that the 2 month old infant was living with his family at 4 Oxford Terrace, Plumstead.

1.3.6 ~ Martin Frederick George Alchin

Martin was born at 3 Dunelaw Terrace, Plumstead on 4th January 1877 (Camberwell 1877 March qtr Volume 1d Page 781). The 1881 census records that he was living with his family at 31 Durham Road, Plumstead. The 1901 census records that Martin was employed as a metal turner. He was unmarried and he was living with his married sister Frances Riden at 359 High Street, Plumstead.

The following information was provided by Martin’s grand-daughter Harlene Annett:

“Martin Alchin emigrated to Canada in 1902. The attraction was free farmland in the wide open spaces of the new province of Saskatchewan. He was married to Mary Brand. We think he married her in England and that she died in childbirth. Martin wrote to his late wife’s best friend, Ellen Wall, and asked her if she would like to come to Canada and marry him. He married Ellen Louise Wall on 13th December 1907 and the marriage certificate says he was a widower. The wedding took place in Saskatchewan at the bridegroom’s home but the name of the town is indecipherable on the wedding certificate.

The witness at the wedding was Lucy Brand. It says she was the sister of the groom but it is more likely that she was his sister in law (either the wife or sister of Tom Brand who was the brother of Mary Brand). There is a comment on the marriage certificate “neighbours were scarce” which might explain why there were no other witnesses. They were married by the Methodist minister but they were both adherents of the Church of England.

Martin had a farm 6 miles out of the town of Wynyard in a very flat and bleak area of Saskatchewan. Ellen had six children without the aid of doctors – Frederick (1908), Edward (1910), Marjorie (1912), Audrey (1914), Philip (1917) and Denis (1921). In the early 1930’s farming was not too good in the west – dust bowl and depression – so the whole family moved to Windsor, Ontario in hope of finding work in the automotive factories there.

Martin eventually abandoned the family and “rode the rails” back to Saskatchewan leaving Ellen to fend for herself with the five children who were now in their teens. The girls had to leave school and get jobs housekeeping to help support the family. Eventually they had to go on the dole.

Martin was a gruff man, liked his booze and as his son said “treated his horses better than his kids”. My grandmother Ellen was a smart lady who was always knitting. She died in 1966 aged about 86 years. Of course, we knew better than to question her about her past so we didn’t hear much.”

1.3.6.1 ~ Frederick Alchin

Frderick was born at Saskatchewan in 1908. He moved to Windsor Ontario with his family where he worked for the Ford Motor Company for over 30 years. Frederick died in 1991 aged 83 years.

1.3.6.2 ~ Edward Alchin

Edward was born at Saskatchewan in 1910. He died in 1912 aged 2 years.

1.3.6.3 ~ Marjorie Alchin

Marjorie was born in Saskatchewan in 1912. After leaving school she worked as a stock clerk in a department store. Marjorie moved to England in 1947 and lived in London for the rest of her life. She married Harry Farthing but he died about 4 years later. Marjorie worked as a secretary. She died in 1998 aged about 86 years.

1.3.6.4 ~ Audrey Alchin

Audrey was born in Saskatchewan in 1914. She married Arthur Flatray, an American. They had three sons – Arthur, Denis and Leonard. Audrey died in 1965 aged 51 years.

1.3.6.5 ~ Philip James Alchin

Philip was born in Saskatchewan in 1917 and he later moved with his family to Windsor, Ontario. He was able to finish high school and he was selected to go the Trade School at the Ford Motor Company. He reached the position of Assistant Foreman of the brake department until his untimely death in a drowning accident in 1952 aged 35 years. Philip married and had two children (including Harlene).

1.3.6.6 ~ Denis Walter Alchin

Denis was born in Saskatchewan in 1921 but he moved with his family to Windsor, Ontario. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II and he served as a pilot trainer in England during the war. Dennis married Patricia in about 1945 and they had three sons – Denis, Richard and Robert. He later started a brake and steering business in Windsor, Ontario. Denis died in 1998 aged 77 years.

1.3.7 ~ Alice Maud Alchin

Alice was born at Plumstead in 1879. The 1881 census records that she was living with her family at 31 Durham Road, Plumstead. Alice may have married either George Alfred Butler or Harry Weston in 1900 (Dartford 1900 September qtr Volume 2a Page 1083).

1.3.8 ~ William Ellard Johnson Alchin

William was born at Plumstead in 1883 (Woolwich 1883 June qtr Volume 1d Page 1213). The 1901 census records that William was employed as a metal turner and he was living with his married sister Frances Riden at 359 High Street, Plumstead. William was a shoeing smith attached to the Army Service Corps at Woolwich Barracks when he travelled to Scotland in 1905 to be married.

William married Isabella Gordon at St Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church, Hawick in Roxburghshire on 28th December 1905. The ceremony was performed by Rev’d Edward Thomas Scott Reid and the witnesses were Leonard George West and Jane Ford. Isabella was born in 1884 and she was the daughter of the late John Gordon (formerly a tailor) and Catherine Gallagher. Isabella was a wool factory worker and she was a resident of Hawick.

Isabella died at the Royal Infirmiary, Falkirk on 17th January 1949 aged 64 years (Falkirk 1949 479/000036). She had been ill for about one month with thrombosis and phlebitis and finally died from cardiac failure. Her daughter Emma Thomson was the informant for her death certificate which recorded that Isabella’s normal address was Mary Street, Lauriston near Falkirk and that William was a farrier and he was still alive.