Alfred Douglas Widdowson was born 15 April 1894, the fifth and youngest son of Walter and Hephzibah Widdowson.
His father Walter was born in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire, about 1856; he was the son of Levi Widdowson a self-employed butcher. His mother Hephzibah was born in Lincolnshire in 1852 (reg. Holbeach).
Walter and Hephzibah were married in 1880 (O/N/D Spalding Lincolnshire) and had six children: William Caulton birth registered 1882 , Ethel b. 1884, Norman Boyer birth registered 1887 (J/F/M), Walter Percy b. 1889, Sydney Gover b. 1891 and Alfred Douglas b. 15 April 1894. All the children were born in Bulwell.
At the time of the 1881 Census, shortly after their marriage, Walter and his wife were living at 36 Main Street, Bulwell; he was a butcher. By 1891 they were at 83 Market Side (Main Street), Bulwell, which was probably also the premises of Walter's butcher's shop. They were living at the same address in 1901; only the five youngest of their six children were in the home on the night of the census: Ethel (17), Norman (14), Walter (12), Sydney (9) and Alfred (6). Also in the household was a female domestic servant.
By 1911 Walter (55) and Hephzibah (57) were living at 8 Ebury Road, Nottingham. Walter's occupation was now given as hosiery finisher (employer). Only three of their children were in the home on the night of the census: William a lace manufacturer, Ethel and Norman who was a butcher and probably managing the butcher's shop in Bulwell. Alfred, who would have been about 17 years old, may have been working for a silk company in France at this time.
Walter and Hephizibah later moved to 12 Ebury Road which was the family home until the death of Hephzibah in 1940. Walter senior died on 8 February 1936 and his widow on 29 July 1940 at the age of 88. Only three of their six children, Ethel, Walter and Sydney, survived them.
Of four of Alfred's siblings:
Walter Caulton died on 14 January 1921. He was unmarried and living with his parents at 12 Ebury Road. His occupation was lace manufacturer.
Ethel married Harold Leonard Pycroft, a director of Newton and Pycroft Ltd, lace machine builders, in 1911. They lived at 12 Mapperley Park Drive. Harold died at the age of 27 on 13 October 1913. Harold Pycroft's brother, Arthur, served with the RFC and was killed in England in a flying accident on 16 June 1917 (buried Nottingham Church Cemetery).
Norman Boyer married Minnie Brobson (sic) in 1924. Norman died on 1 April 1927; Nottingham Evening Post, 5 April 1927, ‘Mr CL Rothera, the Nottingham City Coroner, yesterday held an inquest at Hyson Green on the body of Norman Boyes Widdowson, aged 40, of 64, Nottingham-road, who carried on business as a butcher at 83, Main-street, Bulwell. He was found lying shot at his business premises on Friday, having apparently placed a revolver in his mouth. A brother, Mr Sydney Gover Widdowson, 12 Ebury-road, told the Coroner that Widdowson had an attack of influenza a few months ago and had been depressed since. On Thursday he complained of pains in his head. The Coroner returned a verdict of ‘Suicide’ adding that there was not sufficient evidence to determine the state of his mind at the time.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
Walter Percy served in the Army Ordnance Corps during the war (1150 Staff Sergeant), attesting on 20 January 1916, but was discharged 'no longer physically fit for War Service (Para 392 XVI KR)' on 7 September 1917.