Tommy’s Family History
Thomas Smith - Tommy’s Great- Granddad
Enid Smith - Tommy’s Great- Grandma
Cedric Boyer - Tommy’s Granddad
Mary Boyer - Tommy’s Gran
Joseph Wilkes - Tommy’s Father
Rosemary Wilkes - Tommy’s Mum
Tommy Wilkes - Tommy
Chapter 3
Tommy’s family tree.
Tommy’s gran had just about finished knitting his Jumper; all it needed was for the sleeves to be joined up and it would make a nice birthday present. She had already started the spring cleaning a week ago. The only thing needed now, was for the new curtains to be put up. She would need Tommy’s help to do that when he got back.
She was more than proud of the cottage which had been passed down to her from her father, Thomas Smith, it was owned outright. Not many people were fortunate to have their own place in those early days, many properties were rented out.
It was made possible by the kind action of benefactor farmer, Mr. Bartholomew Grey, who owned most of the land in the vicinity of the forest at the time. He was also the local Law Enforcer, a Magistrate who presided over any legal matters or breakers of the law that stood before him. He was very strict in enforcing the law too.
Tommy’s great Grandfather, Thomas Smith, had worked all his life as a Farrier and Wood Cutter on the estate of Bartholomew Grey, living in a ‘tied’ cottage. He always spoke well of Mr. Grey and was a dedicated worker to ‘His Lordship’ as he would call him, never taking a single day off for sickness in all weathers and a dedicated timekeeper.
On the passing away of ‘His Lordship’, Thomas Smith was summoned to appear before the ‘Executor’s of the Estate’, the loss of his job and the tied cottage being foremost in his mind. Was this the reason he was there, he wondered. He felt at great unease in the presence of the Grey family, his superiors, as the Will of Testament was read out:-
…and I do bequeath the whole of the said cottage at ‘Forest Edge’ together with Half an Hectare of land it be on, to Master Thomas Smith in dedication of…and further more that he shall remain in employ on the Estate…and the sum of 5 guineas in recognition of his loyalty shall be paid to him…
Thomas Smith was taken aback as he listened in silence together with his employer’s family who cast a glance in his direction but made no remarks. Two of the family however did give him a kind smile. It was clear to him now why he was summoned to the reading of the Will.
It was a very happy Thomas Smith that returned to his cottage that day to tell the good news to his wife Enid and their 15 year old daughter Mary (Tommy’s gran).
Unfortunately both parents were to be lost, by a severe fever when Tommy’s gran was only eighteen years of age. At 20 years of age after a short courtship she married a ‘Journeyman Traveler’ Cedric Boyer, who had called many times at the cottage on his rounds. After the marriage they were very happy, Tommy’s gran soon giving birth to a lovely girl, Rosemary, (Tommy’s mum) all was well until war broke out, suddenly changing everything.
Tommy’s gran took out the two Medals which she kept in the sideboard giving them a loving polish, something she did on a regular basis. She would sit with Tommy many times over the years proudly showing him his Grandfathers medals from World War One and a citation that read ‘For Gallantry – killed in action’.
Tommy’s gran had bought Rosemary up by herself doing the best she could and finding the going hard at times, but she never complained and there was never a bad word to spoil their loving relationship over the years. Having grown up, Rosemary met and married a merchant seaman, Joseph Wilkes, who was lost at sea when his ship went down, leaving her expecting a baby in a few months time. He was often away at sea and this made the loss a little easier on Rosemary, not used to him being there all the time.
Never the less, she loved him dearly and was distraught upon hearing the news.
Wiping away a tear, Tommy’s gran placed the medals back in the sideboard draw. She sadly recalled to mind the day she lost her daughter through a difficult birth. Tommy was born with leg defects and it was feared he would never be able to walk without the use of supports.
She had done her best to bring Tommy up as his mum would have wanted. Changed his nappies, taught him his first word’s and took him to school daily when he reached the age of six. She even gave him his name-Tommy, as was her daughter’s intention if he was born a boy. It was a privilege to be able to go to school in those days.
It was not unusual for children the age of seven to be working to help support the family, in most cases it was a necessity to survive. However Tommy’s gran had a few savings put by and she intended to get Tommy a full education no matter what.
Above all she loved him from head to toe and couldn’t bear to hear Doctor’s when they said ‘I’m sorry but he will never be able to walk properly.’
“Well that’s where you were wrong!” Tommy’s Gran said aloud, suddenly snapping out of it and closing the draw sharply. Pull yourself together girl you can’t live in the past, she said to herself, and my Tommy Wilkes can walk now thanks to him meeting up with Esmeralda… that’s a point, I hope they’re getting on well together, she thought to herself, remembering where Tommy had gone.
“At least they made a good start yesterday, but then again my Tommy can get along with anyone,” she muttered to herself reassuringly.
The thoughts of Esmeralda and Tommy were still on her mind as she made a nice cup of tea and sat herself down by the fire after putting an extra log on. It wasn’t long before she put the cup down; still half full, drifting off for forty winks.
Thomas Smith - Tommy’s Great- Granddad
Enid Smith - Tommy’s Great- Grandma
Cedric Boyer - Tommy’s Granddad
Mary Boyer - Tommy’s Gran
Joseph Wilkes - Tommy’s Father
Rosemary Wilkes - Tommy’s Mum
Tommy Wilkes - Tommy
Chapter 3
Tommy’s family tree.
Tommy’s gran had just about finished knitting his Jumper; all it needed was for the sleeves to be joined up and it would make a nice birthday present. She had already started the spring cleaning a week ago. The only thing needed now, was for the new curtains to be put up. She would need Tommy’s help to do that when he got back.
She was more than proud of the cottage which had been passed down to her from her father, Thomas Smith, it was owned outright. Not many people were fortunate to have their own place in those early days, many properties were rented out.
It was made possible by the kind action of benefactor farmer, Mr. Bartholomew Grey, who owned most of the land in the vicinity of the forest at the time. He was also the local Law Enforcer, a Magistrate who presided over any legal matters or breakers of the law that stood before him. He was very strict in enforcing the law too.
Tommy’s great Grandfather, Thomas Smith, had worked all his life as a Farrier and Wood Cutter on the estate of Bartholomew Grey, living in a ‘tied’ cottage. He always spoke well of Mr. Grey and was a dedicated worker to ‘His Lordship’ as he would call him, never taking a single day off for sickness in all weathers and a dedicated timekeeper.
On the passing away of ‘His Lordship’, Thomas Smith was summoned to appear before the ‘Executor’s of the Estate’, the loss of his job and the tied cottage being foremost in his mind. Was this the reason he was there, he wondered. He felt at great unease in the presence of the Grey family, his superiors, as the Will of Testament was read out:-
…and I do bequeath the whole of the said cottage at ‘Forest Edge’ together with Half an Hectare of land it be on, to Master Thomas Smith in dedication of…and further more that he shall remain in employ on the Estate…and the sum of 5 guineas in recognition of his loyalty shall be paid to him…
Thomas Smith was taken aback as he listened in silence together with his employer’s family who cast a glance in his direction but made no remarks. Two of the family however did give him a kind smile. It was clear to him now why he was summoned to the reading of the Will.
It was a very happy Thomas Smith that returned to his cottage that day to tell the good news to his wife Enid and their 15 year old daughter Mary (Tommy’s gran).
Unfortunately both parents were to be lost, by a severe fever when Tommy’s gran was only eighteen years of age. At 20 years of age after a short courtship she married a ‘Journeyman Traveler’ Cedric Boyer, who had called many times at the cottage on his rounds. After the marriage they were very happy, Tommy’s gran soon giving birth to a lovely girl, Rosemary, (Tommy’s mum) all was well until war broke out, suddenly changing everything.
Tommy’s gran took out the two Medals which she kept in the sideboard giving them a loving polish, something she did on a regular basis. She would sit with Tommy many times over the years proudly showing him his Grandfathers medals from World War One and a citation that read ‘For Gallantry – killed in action’.
Tommy’s gran had bought Rosemary up by herself doing the best she could and finding the going hard at times, but she never complained and there was never a bad word to spoil their loving relationship over the years. Having grown up, Rosemary met and married a merchant seaman, Joseph Wilkes, who was lost at sea when his ship went down, leaving her expecting a baby in a few months time. He was often away at sea and this made the loss a little easier on Rosemary, not used to him being there all the time.
Never the less, she loved him dearly and was distraught upon hearing the news.
Wiping away a tear, Tommy’s gran placed the medals back in the sideboard draw. She sadly recalled to mind the day she lost her daughter through a difficult birth. Tommy was born with leg defects and it was feared he would never be able to walk without the use of supports.
She had done her best to bring Tommy up as his mum would have wanted. Changed his nappies, taught him his first word’s and took him to school daily when he reached the age of six. She even gave him his name-Tommy, as was her daughter’s intention if he was born a boy. It was a privilege to be able to go to school in those days.
It was not unusual for children the age of seven to be working to help support the family, in most cases it was a necessity to survive. However Tommy’s gran had a few savings put by and she intended to get Tommy a full education no matter what.
Above all she loved him from head to toe and couldn’t bear to hear Doctor’s when they said ‘I’m sorry but he will never be able to walk properly.’
“Well that’s where you were wrong!” Tommy’s Gran said aloud, suddenly snapping out of it and closing the draw sharply. Pull yourself together girl you can’t live in the past, she said to herself, and my Tommy Wilkes can walk now thanks to him meeting up with Esmeralda… that’s a point, I hope they’re getting on well together, she thought to herself, remembering where Tommy had gone.
“At least they made a good start yesterday, but then again my Tommy can get along with anyone,” she muttered to herself reassuringly.
The thoughts of Esmeralda and Tommy were still on her mind as she made a nice cup of tea and sat herself down by the fire after putting an extra log on. It wasn’t long before she put the cup down; still half full, drifting off for forty winks.