William Fearn

William, known as Willie, was the son of Noah Fearn and Charlotte nee Copestake. Noah was born in Basford in about 1865 and Charlotte was born on 18 March 1871 in Leicester, They were married in 1888 (O/N/D Nottingham) and by the time of the 1911 census when they had been married for 23 years they had had 12 children of whom only 10 were still living. Ten children were named on the 1911 Census, all of whom were still living in the family home. The census return is difficult to transcribe but it seems that the children were: Elizabeth Charlotte (Lizzie) birth registered 1891 (J/F/M Nottingham), Noah b. 24 May 1892, William b. 1894 (J/A/S Nottingham), Bernard b. 12 April 1896 (A/M/J Nottingham), Arthur, probably Arthur Ernest b. 4 February 1898 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Lawrence (also Laurence) b. 5 or 6 June 1899 (J/A/S Nottingham), followed by two sons who were 10 and 6 years old respectively in 1911 and who may be Albert Edwin b. 1901 (J/A/S Nottingham) and Leslie b. 1905 (A/M/J Nottingham), followed by Elsie 1907 (J/A/S Nottingham) and Vincent b. 15 August 1909 (J/A/S Nottingham). All the children were born in Nottingham. In 1891 Noah (26), a hosiery trimmer, and Charlotte (20) were living in Radford with their month old daughter, Charlotte. This was probably Elizabeth Charlotte named 'Lizzie' on subsequent census. Also in the household was a lodger, George Fletcher(21), a lace dresser. By 1901 they were living in at 21 Cambridge Street, Radford, with their children Lizzie (10), Noah (9), Bernard (4), Arthur (3) and Lawrence (2). In 1911 the family was living at 22 Connaught Street, Radford, and all ten children were living at home: Lizzie (20) a blouse machinist, Noah (19) a printer, William (17) a cycle hand, Bernard (16) an errand boy), Arthur (13), Lawrence (12), a boy (10) possibly Albert Ernest, a boy (6) possibly Leslie, Elsie (3) and Vincent (2). The CWGC record gives William's parent's address as 22 Connaught Street, Radford, Nottingham. His father Noah died on 21 June 1924 aged 59. In 1939 his widow Charlotte was living with her unmarried youngest son, Vincent, in Nottingham, probably at 53 Connaught Street. Charlotte died on 19 December 1950 aged 79 years; at the time of her death she was living at 53 Connaught Street. Of William's siblings: Elizabeth Charlotte has not yet been traced after 1911. Noah married Alice Carrington (b. 4 October 1893) in 1915 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1939 at the time of the national register they were living at 65 Duke Street, Nottingham. Noah was a fish and chip fryer (own business). Also in the home with Noah and Alice were their daughter Vera Fearn (b. 12 December 1919) a hosiery machinist, and their son Arthur (b. 3 December 1924) an apprentice brass engineering. Noah died on 31 January 1956 aged 64; he was still living at 65 Duke Street. His wife Alice survived him. Bernard married Gladys Victoria Salf (b. 11 May 1902) in 1927 (O/N/D Nottingham) and in 1939 at the time of the national register they were living at 30 Ortzen Street, Nottingham, with their daughter Betty May (b. 18 May 1928. Betty married Geoffrey R Winders in 1950 and died in 2002/Dec. Nottingham). Bernard was working as a motor transport engineer. his wife Gladys. He died on 5 June 1955 aged 59; at the time of his death he was still living at 30 Ortzen Street, off Peveril Street, Nottingham. His wife Gladys survived him. Arthur was probably Arthur Ernest in which case he married Alice Caunt in 1920 (O/N/D Nottingham). At the time of the compilation of the national register in 1939 they were living on Burton Road, Carlton, with their daughter Mavis Fearn (b. 12 March 1920, married Roland Ellis in 1952, O/N/D Spilsby). Arthur was a fried fish merchant on his own account. Arthur died in 1971 (Spilsby Lincolnshire) aged 73. Lawrence married Violet M Smith (b. 15 August 1902) in 1926 (J/A/S Nottingham) and when the national register was compiled in 1939 they were living in Nottingham. Lawrence was an engineer driller while his wife Violet was a general shop keeper. Lawrence died on 24 September 1974 (Sep Nottingham) aged 75; he was then living at 58 Argyle Court, Radford. Albert Edwin has potentially been identified as one of William's younger brothers who was probably born in 1901. He has not been traced after the 1911 Census. Leslie has potentially been identified as one of William's younger brothers who was born in about 1905. If the identification is correct then he probably married Emily (b. 3 April 1910) who in 1939 at the time of the national register were living at 108 Grassington Road, Nottingham, with their son John L Fearn (b. 17 August 1938). Leslie was a tobacco cutting machine operator. He probably died on 9 February 1975; he was still living at 108 Grassington Road, Nottingham. Elsie has not yet been traced after the 1911 Census. Vincent was the youngest surviving child. At the time of the national census in 1913 Vincent was living in Nottingham, probably at 53 Connaught Street. He was single and working as a window cleaner. His widowed mother Charlotte, a lace worker, was living with him. Vincent died on 10 April 1973 at the age of 63; he was then living at 6 Gordon Grove, Egypt Road, Basford.

In 1911 he was a cycle hand

He enlisted in Nottingham

He originally served with the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys Regiment) as 3652 Private. He was killed in action and is buried in Oxford Road Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. IV.A.3).

CWGC: personal inscription on headstone: 'Far from those who loved him best in a hero's grave he lies. He did his duty' Inscription on headstone, Northern Cemetery, Bulwell, Nottingham: 'In loving memory of Noah the beloved husband of Charlotte Fearn who died June 21st 1924 aged 59 years. Rest in peace. Also Pte W Fearn son of the above killed in action Sep. 20th 1917. Also Charlotte wife of Noah who died Dec. 19th 1950 aged 79 years. Reunited. Also Bernard son of the above died June 5th 1955 aged 59 years.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 17 October 1917: ‘Fearn. Killed in action, September 20th, 1917. Bugler W Fearn, Royal Warwicks. A noble life sacrificed. From mother, father, sisters, brothers and fiancée.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 17 October 1917: ‘Fearn. Killed in action, September 20th, 1917 Bugler W Fearn, Royal Warwicks. A true brother, a true soldier. He did his duty well. From his loving brother Arthur.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His mother was his sole legatee. Probate: Fearn Charlotte of 53 Connaught-street Nottingham widow died 19 December 1950 Administration Nottingham 28 February to Bernard Fearn engineer. Effects £310 14s. 10d. Probate: Fearn Bernard of 30 Ortzen-street Peveril-street Nottingham died 5 June 1955 at the City Hospital Nottingham Administration Nottingham 11 July to Gladys Victoria Fearn widow. Effects £859 4s. 8d. Probate: Fearn Noah of 65 Duke-street Nottingham died 31 January 1956 Administration Nottingham 13 April to Alice Fearn widow. Effects £1476 10s. 3d. Probate: Fearn Lawrence of 58 Argyle Court Radford Nottingham died 24 September 1974 Administration Nottingham (-) October. £(-). Probate: Fearn Vincent of 6 Gordon Grove Egypt Road Basford Nottingham died 10 April 1973 Administration 13 June £832.