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Chapter Seven

ALBERT HOPE LEA   1877 - 1964
FANNY CURTIS   1865 - 1934


Albert Hope Lea was born at 'Griffins Barn', a farm in the parish of Milbourne, Wiltshire, on the 1st October 1877.   He was the fourth son of John and Sarah Hannah.

My grandmother Fanny Curtis was born on the 22nd October 1865 at Burton Hill, an area redeveloped on the east side of Malmesbury.   Although Burton Hill still exists the particular part where grandmother was born is now named 'Parliament Row'.

Fanny had already been married to Henry, the eldest son in the family and they had three children, Bill, Fred and Alice.   Henry became ill and died at quite a young age.   Albert had promised his brother Henry that in the event of his death he would look after Fanny and the three children.   He kept his word and moved into the family home at Stroud in Gloucestershire.   They were eventually married and had their own family of six children.

Fanny Curtis was one of at least seven children, herself a daughter for Samuel and his wife Louisa Jane Curtis.   She had four brothers, William, Fredrick, John and George, and two sisters, Mary and Sarah.   Her father was a very religious man.

As stated, Albert and Fanny married after her first husband had died and like so many couples whose lives were centred around agriculture they moved fairly frequently.   Just to mention a few places they lived and worked were, 'Cowage' at Foxley, 'Hannington' Penhill, and Longcot near Shrivenham.   I am sure there were many more before they moved to Swindon where Albert found employment as a lorry driver with Colbourne Bros of Cricklade Road until he retired.   They were builders and timber merchants.

I did not know my grandmother as she had died on the 30th December 1934 when I was just eighteen months old, but thanks to my mother, who has given me photographs of her, and to my father’s sister Edith Emily (auntie Edie) and her daughter Violet, who have told me so much about her, I now have a sense of knowing my grandmother.

I would as a child visit my grandfather at his home in Chapple Street, Gorse Hill, Swindon, on many occasions and remember well the ease I felt in his company.   He was a kindly person who always had time for a chat whenever I called in.   He was very proud of the flowers he grew in his conservatory, mostly geraniums which he grew from cuttings of other plants.   My grandfather often remarked of Grampy Lea's skills and knowledge on gardening, not surprising of a person born, brought up and eventually managing farms himself.

Albert Hope spent his last years with his daughter Edie in Argile Street, Swindon, and died on the 25th August 1964.   He was eighty seven years of age.

Apart from finding a sense of belonging and warmth to a family past and present, there is also the frustration and confusion most family historians feel when they realise that there is an 'if only'.   I realised this when I was thinking of giving an account of my grandfather.   I could have got to know him so well if only I had had the interest when he was alive that I have today; could have asked him so much about his life, his childhood, his mother and father and his grandfather.   'If only' I could turn back the clock.

Albert and Fanny are resting together at Whitworth Road Cemetery, Swindon; there is a stone to mark their grave.



Grampy Lea and son Arthur at Shrivenham agricultural show.
Photograph approx 1922



Griffins Barn, Milbourne, near Malmesbury.   Birthplace of my grandfather Albert Hope Lea, also of his brother Francis and sister Winifred



Missing copy of Albert's birth certificate.
Missing copy of Fanny's birth certificate.

The name of Fanny’s mother is given as Louisa Jane Curtis formerly Skinner.   Records now show the surname of Louisa to be Shurmer; somebody has mis-interpreted the original record but we do not know which surname is correct.



Fanny Lea, born 22 October 1865, at Burton Hill, Malmesbury

     



Extract from the 1881 Census [RG11/2025, page 181]



Will of Fanny Lea. Photo: March 2006
Click on photo to see larger image; download large image and zoom in to see detail more clearly



Grave of Fanny and Albert Lea at Whitworth Road Cemetary, Swindon.


~~oo0oo~~

Additional material in the folder, not showing on this page due to copyright regulations:
Copy of Albert's birth certificate.
Copy of Fanny's birth certificate.
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This page was last updated on 10th April 2007.