Edwin Daws was the son of Benjamin and Kate Daws née Turner.
His father was born in 1856 in Nottingham and his mother Kate Turner in 1854, in Carrington, Nottingham. They were married at Basford St Leodegarius on 30 January 1875 and had at least eight children: Benjamin Samuel b. Carrington 1875 (J/A/S Basford) d. 2 May 1927 (Loughborough), Ann b. Carrington 1877 (J/A/S Basford), William b. Basford 28 August 1879 (O/N/D Nottingham) d. 1956 (Loughborough), Kate b. Nottingham 1881 (J/A/S Nottingham), Ada b. Nottingham birth registered 1884 (J/F/M Nottingham), James Robert b. Nottingham 1 February 1886 d. 25 March 1948, Edwin b. Nottingham birth registered 1889 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Arthur b. Nottingham 1891 (A/M/J Nottingham).
In 1881 Benjamin (25) a carpenter, and Kate (27) a silk lace mender, were living at 46 Gauntley Street, Radford, with their children Benjamin (5), Ann (3) and William (1).
They had moved to Pleasant Row, Radford, by 1891; only six of their eight children were in the home on the night of the cenus: William (11) a milk seller's assistant, Kate (9), Ada (7), James (5), Edwin (2) and Arthur (1 month).
Their eldest son, Benjamin Samuel, has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but their eldest daughter Ann was a general domestic servant at 63 North Gate, Basford, in the household of William Jickell. a brass finisher and tobacconist, and his wife Eliza Villetta. She was still working for them in 1901 and was recorded in the household as a visitor in 1911 by which time the widowed Eliza was listed as a shopkeeper (tobacconist).
Benjamin and Kate were living at 2 Randal Street, Hyson Green, by 1901. Also in the household were four of their children, Kate and Ada who were both cigar makers, James an apprentice joiner and Edwin, together with Ada Alice Daws (5) who was Benjamin Samuel's daughter.
Benjamin Samuel had married Alice Rick in 1895 and they had two daughters: Alice Ada b. 2 February 1896 and Beatrice Annie birth registered 1899 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1901 Benjamin was an inmate in the Union Workhouse, Elswick, Northumberland, while his wife Alice, a lace finisher, and her daughter Beatrice (2) were living with a householder in Nottingham as boarders. Benjamin and Alice were still living apart in 1911, he in Loughborough and she in Nottingham; each in a new relationship.
Edwin's mother Kate died in 1902 (J/A/S Nottingham).
His widowed father was still living at 2 Randal Street in 1911 with Kate a curtain dresser, Ada of no occupation, James a joiner, Edwin a law clerk Arthur a warehouseman and his granddaughter Ada Alice a provision merchant's clerk. William had married Annie Pykett in 1904 (O/N/D Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living in Loughborough with their daughter Annie (4); he was an engine fitter.
Benjamin snr. died on 10 September 1922; he was still living at 2 Randal Street. The probate record gave his occupation as joiner and undertaker; probate was awarded to his unmarried daughter Ada.
