Edward was the son of Alfred and Louisa Elizabeth Gent (née Harrison).
His father Alfred Gent was born in Staveley, Derbyshire, in 1862 (A/M/J Basford). He was the son of William and Sarah Ann Gent (née Berrisford) who were married at Alfreton General Baptist Chapel in 1851. In 1871 Alfred was living on High Street, Codnor, with his mother Sarah, head of household, and his sister Ann (10) and brother Edward (5). His mother Louisa Elizabeth Harrison was born in Bulwell in 1863 (J/F/M Nottingham).
Alfred and Louisa Elizabeth (known as Elizabeth) were married at Nottingham St Mary on 14 August 1880 (J/A/S Nottingham) and had at least nine children, two of whom died in infancy: Sarah Ann b. Bulwell 1881 (J/F/M Basford); Alfred b. Bulwell 1 February 1884; Leonard b. Bulwell 1886 (J/F/M Basford) bap. Upper Langwith Derbyshire 28 November 1888; Edward b. Bulwell 12 April 1887 bap. Upper Langwith 28 November 1888; Elizabeth b. Clowne Derbyshire 1889 (J/F/M Worksop) bap. Staveley Derbyshire 5 February 1891; Harriet b. Clowne 1891 (J/F/M Worksop) bap. Staveley 5 February 1891 d. 1891 (O/N/D Worksop); Luther b. Clowne 4 May 1892 bap. Staveley 5 October 1893; Isaac b. Clowne 1894 (J/A/S Worksop) d. 1893 (J/A/S Worksop) and Lancelot b. Clowne 1895 (J/A/S Worksop) bap. Staveley 19 November 1895.
Alfred (19) a coal miner and Elizabeth (18) were living at Bride Place, Bulwell, in 1881 with their daughter Sarah (under one year). Alfred's brother, Edward (15) was living with them; he was also a coal miner.
The family left Nottinghamshire around 1896. At the time of Elizabeth's birth in 1889 they were living at 9 Pantele Row, Clowne, Derbyshire, and were still at the same address in February 1891 when Harriet was baptised.
However, by the time of the 1891 Census a few months after Harriet's birth Alfred and Elizabeth had moved to High Peak Terrace, Clowne. They now had six children: Sarah (10), Alfred (7), Leonard (5), Edward (3), Elizabeth (2) and Harriet (under one year) who died later that year. Three children were born after 1891, Luther, Isaac (d. 1894) and Lancelot.
Louisa Elizabeth died in 1897 (J/F/M Worksop) less than two years after the birth of her last child, Lancelot.
Her husband Alfred was living at Ringer Lane, Clowne, in 1901 with his widowed mother, Sarah Gent (70), a domestic servant and six of his seven surviving children: Alfred a coal hewer, Leonard and Edward who were both collier horse drivers (below ground), Elizabeth, Luther (9) and Lancelot (6). The eldest child, Sarah Ann, had married Ernest Heppenstall in 1897 (A/M/J Worksop) and in 1901 was living in Clowne with Ernest, a colliery worker, and their two children, Florence May (2) and Ernest James (1)
Edward joined the Royal Navy four years later in October 1905 and was not discharged until 1910 (see 'Military History').
His father Alfred probably died in 1910 (O/N/D Mansfield).
Edward was discharged from the Royal Navy to the Royal Fleet Reserve in October 1910 and in 1911 he and his brother Lancelot were boarders in the household of Thomas Raybould, a miner, and his wife Annie at Ash Grove House, Stanfree, Bolsover. Edward was a miner and his brother a pony driver. Their sister Elizabeth had married Thomas's son, Albert Raybould, in 1910 (O/N/D Chesterfield) and they too were living at Ash Grove House.
Edward married Caroline Thompson the following year (1912 A/M/J Chesterfield) and they lived at 3 The Grove, Adwick le Street, Doncaster. Their son Rees Edward was born on 8 September 1913 (O/N/D Doncaster) and baptised on 12 October 1913 at Adwick le Street parish church; he died the same year (O/N/D Doncaster).
Caroline Gent married Richard Smith in 1918 (J/F/M Doncaster); the CWGC record gives her address as 99 Hobcroft Terrace, Carcroft, Doncaster.
Of Edward's six surviving siblings:
Sarah Ann and her husband Ernest Heppenstall moved from Clowne where they were living in 1901 to Mansfield where in 1911 they were living at 32 Carlton Street with their children Florence May (b. 1898), Ernest James b. 1900, Alfred b. 1901 and Mary b. 1910. Three other children had died in childhood: Joseph b. 1904 d. 1908, Louisa Elizabeth b. 1906 d. 1910 and Edward Leonard b. 1908 d. 1910. She later had Dorothy b. 1913 and Lancelot b. 1915 d. 1915. Her husband Ernest enlisted in the Sherwood Rangers (Territorial Force), in May 1912 at the age of 30 but although he volunteered on the outbreak of war he was discharged on 8 August 1914 as medically unfit. Sarah died in 1916 (J/F/M Mansfield) age 35.
Alfred was living in Goldthorpe, near Rotherham, in 1911; he was a miner and a boarder in the household of the widowed Margaret Parker. He married Frances L Oscroft (b. 2 September 1891) in 1912 (A/M/J Doncaster). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled Alfred, a general labourer and his wife were living in Adwick le Street, Doncaster, with their children Alex (b. 10 November 1925 and Florence (b. 23 April 1933); the record of another member of the household remains closed. Alfred died in 1961 (J/F/M Don Valley).
Leonard married Edith Agnes Edge in St Mary's parish church Chesterfield in 1909 (A/M/J Chesterfield). In 1911 they were living at Clowne Road, Stanfree, Chesterfield, with their daughter Ethel Louisa (under one year). Leonard may have died in 1931 (J/F/M Worksop).
Elizabeth and her husband Albert Raybould (b. 26 September 1887) had at least three children: Albert b. 1911, Clifford b. 8 January 1914 and Douglas b. 4 February 1926. In 1939 Albert, who was unemployed, and Elizabeth were living in Adwick le Street, with their youngest son Douglas. Albert snr. probably died in 1961 (O/N/D Chesterfield) and Elizabeth in 1964 (O/n/D Bilston Staffordshire). At least one and perhaps all of her sons moved to Staffordshire; Clifford was living there in 1939 and his death and that of his brothers were recorded in the county.
Luther was working as a coal miner/pony driver in 1911 and living in Stanfree, Chesterfield, as a boarder in the household of another miner and his wife. He married Maud Vickers (b. 13 February 1894) in 1914 (O/N/D Doncaster). In 1939 they were living in Adwick le Street with their daughter Joyce Gent (b. 23 August 1915); Luther was a colliery conveyor erector. He died in 1957 (A/M/J Don Valley).
Lancelot enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 15 January 1913 (16689 Private) at the age of 17 years 5 months 21 days. He enrolled in Nottingham and gave his occupation as collier (clipper on). His next of kin was his brother Alfred of Goldthorpe, Doncaster. He served initially at the Recruit Depot, Deal, from 14 January to 28 October 1913 then with the Portsmouth Division until 18 January 1914 when his record is marked 'Run' [deserted]. However, Landelot served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (15560,4680523 Private) and also in the Army Service Corps (M/352909 Private and T/281722 Private) as Albert Harrison. He served in France from 26 August 1915 and was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. It appears from the notation on a Medal Index Card (in the name of Lancelot Gent, second card in the name of Albert Harrison) that his true identity was 'ascertained on disposal of estate' and there is a note of his death on 15 May 1933. It is likely that he was still serving in the army (KOYLI) and may have died in India.
