Charles was the second son of Edwin Chester and Sarah Chester nee Eastwood.
Edwin was born in Whitwick, Leicestershire, in 1853 to William Merriman and Eleanor Chester. He was baptised in Whitwick on 23 April 1854. Sarah Eastwood was born in Southray, Lincolnshire, the daughter of Jesse and Charlotte Eastwood. She was christened in Bardney, Lincolnshire, on 7 April 1850. Edwin and Sarah were married in Camberwell, London, in 1875 (marriage registered A/M/J). They had four children all of whom survived; George Edwin (birth registered 1877 J/F/M Shardlow, Derbyshire), Emma (b. 1879 O/N/D Shardlow), Charles (b. 1881 J/A/S Nottingham) and John William (b. 1884 J/A/S Nottingham).
in 1881 Edwin (27), an engine driver, and Sarah (31) were living at 2 Cremorne Crescent, Meadows, Nottingham. Of their two children only the youngest, Emma (1), was at home on the night of the census. George, who would have been about four years old, has not yet been traced on the census. Also in the household was a boarder, WT Greathead (23), a fireman.
Edwin and Sarah's son Charles was born later the same year and their third son, John William, in 1884.
By 1891 the family was living at 12 Goodhead Street, Meadows. Edwin (38) was now a coal dealer, George (14) a clerk, while Emma (11), Charles (9) and John (6) were at school. Also in the household was Charlotte Eastwood (60), Sarah's widowed mother.
By 1901 the family was living at 62 Wilford Grove, Meadows. All six were at home on the night of the census: Edwin (48), now a removal contractor on his own account, Sarah (51), George (24) a clerk at a colliery, Emma (21) described as 'at home', Charles (19), a carter, and John (17) an apprentice electrical engineer.
George Edwin married Agnes Annie Townsend (27, b. Long Eaton) on 25 May 1904 at the church of St Lawrence, Long Eaton, Derbyshire. In 1911 they were living at 36 Ryeland Crescent, Meadows. George (34) was an assistant furniture remover, presumably working with his father. He and Agnes (35) did not have any children.
Emma married William Preston in 1906 and in 1911 they were living at 9 Wilford Crescent, Nottingham. William (32) was an insurance agent. They had no children.
Edwin and Sarah were living at 62 Wilford Grove, Meadows, at the time of the 1911 Census. Their youngest son John (26), an electrical engineer on his own account, was at home on the night of the census but Charles (30) was a visitor in the household of Edward and Lily Derbyshire at 25 Devonshire Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport.
John married Ellen Pickavant in 1912 (marriage registered A/M/J Nottingham) and later lived at 49 Wilford Crescent East, Meadows.
George and John also served in the Great War. George attested in December 1915 and was not mobilized until 19 June 1917 (M/335893 Army Service Corps MT). He served in France from 9 October 1917 and may have remained in France until well after the Armistice. He was demobilized on 25 August 1919. John attested on 10 December 1915 (287171 Army Service Corps MT Coy). He transferred to the Army Reserve on 11 December 1915 and was not mobilized until 3 February 1917. He was demobilized on 11 July 1919.
Edwin Chester died aged 71 on 2 January 1925; his home address was 43 Wilford Grove, Meadows. Sarah Chester died aged 87 on 5 January 1938; she was buried in Nottingham (Rock) Cemetery. Her home address was 148 Wilford Grove.
Charles' sister Emma died on 17 October 1952; she was living at 25 Gwenbrook-road Chilwell. Her husband William survived her. Of Charles' two brothers, George Edwin died on 10 April 1960; his home address was 62 Wilford Grove, Meadows, and John William, died on 28 April 1961; his home address was 76 Bathley Street, Meadows.
