Nelly Woodhurst


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Brief biography

Nelly Woodhurst was born in 1879 at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk to parents Alfred Thomas (1) Woodhurst and his wife Frances Jane Clarke [Birth Index: Bury St. Edmunds 4a 586, 1879 (Dec)]. Her forename was registered as Nelly at birth, but some later sources spell it as Nellie.

The 1881 Census finds her living with her parents at the Coach House Rooms in High Baxter Street, Bury St. Edmunds.

The 1891 Census finds her at age "11" living with her parents at 21, Meat Market in St. James Parish, Bury St. Edmunds.

The 1901 Census finds her living with her parents at 17, Guildhall Street in Bury St. Edmunds. She was occupied as a dressmaker.

She married Ernest Albert Burton at St. Mary's, Kilburn, London on June 8th 1908 [Marriage Index: Hampstead 1a 1369, 1908 (June)]. The marriage register gives her address as 5, Abbey Lane and Ernest's occupation as grocer.

The 1911 Census finds them and their 2-year-old child Jack living at "The Caledonian" inn at 17, St. John's Green, Colchester; Ernest was the publican there and Nelly was assisting him.

Ernest died aged "55" on October 23rd 1937 [Death Index: Ipswich 4a 1200, 1937 (Dec)]. Probate was granted to Nelly and their son Jack (a confectioner) on January 18th 1938, his effects valued at £9,498; he had been residing at 12, Grove Lane in Ipswich.

The National Register for England and Wales 1939 finds Nelly (and her mother Frances Jane) living in the household of her married son Jack at 544, Norwich Road in Ipswich.

Nelly died aged "84" in 1965 [Death Index: Ipswich 4b 1001, 1965 (March)].

Her child by Ernest Albert Burton

  1. Jack Burton

Jack was born on June 17th 1909 [Birth Index: North Witchford 3b 485, 1909 (Sept)]. According to the 1911 Census he was born in March, Cambridgeshire. In 1935 he married Elza [as spelt] Maud Kerridge [Marriage Index: Newmarket 3b 465, 1935 (Dec)]. She had been born on December 19th 1911 and registered in early 1912 [Birth Index: Newmarket, 3b 850, 1912 (March)]; her mother's maiden name was Murfett.

Elza had been training as nurse since 1931 at the West Suffolk General Hospital in Bury St. Edmunds. She had qualified by examination in 1934, becoming a certificated nurse on June 22nd. These details are stated in the Register of Nurses 1937 and for some years thereafter through the War.

The National Register for England and Wales 1939 finds Jack and Elza living with his mother amd grandmother at 544, Norwich Road in Ipswich; the record notes that Elza was on the Civil Nursing Reserve.

They appear to have produced a single child, John C. Burton, in 1953 [Birth Index: Ipswich 4b 1135, 1953 (March)].

Jack died on September 25th 1989 [Death Index: Ipswich 10 2458, 1989 (Sept) - DoB 17JE1909]. Probate was granted on December 12th, his effects valued at £219,761. He had been residing at 151, Valley Road in Ipswich.

Elza died in 1997 [Death Index: Ipswich B18B 7471B Entry No. 166, 1977 (Jan) - DoB 19DE1911].