Ernest was born in 1881 at Newark and was the son of George Henry a fish dealer and Sarah Ann Cross née Winn of 56 William Street, Newark.
His father George Henry Cross was born in 1856 at Blandford, Dorset and his mother Sarah Ann Winn was born in 1861 at Newark, they were married in 1876 at Newark and went on to have 9 children, sadly three died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, George b1880, Ernest b1881, Selina b188, Rose Winn b1893, Mabel b1894, Elsie May b1896, Ethel Sarah b1898, Fred b1900 and Hilda Mary b1910, all were born in Newark.
Ernest married his wife Florence Tassie in 1899 at Newark, they went on to have 7 children, sadly three died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, Ernest b1904 Newark, George b1906 Newark, Henry b1911 Mansfield and Stanley b1913 Mansfield.
In 1911 his parents are living at 56 William Street, Newark and are shown as George 54 yrs a fish dealer, he is living with his wife Sarah Ann 50 yrs and their children, Rose Winn 18 yrs assisting in fathers business, Elsie May 15 yrs a scholar, Ethel 13 yrs a scholar, Fred 11 yrs a scholar and Hilda Mary 5 months of age.
In the same 1911 census Ernest is living with his family at 20 Church Street, Mansfield and is shown as Ernest 30 yrs a fish dealer, he is living with his wife Florence 29 yrs and their children, Ernest 7 yrs a scholar, George 5 yrs and Henry 3 months of age.
